Slazenger Hockey Club

Ladies 3rd XI

Report: 20-09-2014 – Ladies 3rd’s (0) vs. (1) Chapeltown 2nd’s

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All started well with Slazengers determined to win their first league match of the season despite many new young faces in the side.

Slazengers dominated the game but failed to capitalise on several good chances and numerous short corners; Slazengers were just unable to find the back of the net.

Despite solid performances in defence from Emily Chason, Mandy Lacey and Sarah Ritchey the Slazengers team were caught on the break and Chappletown got a lucky goal in the second half.

An disappointing loss for the new look Slaz 3’s however the early signs were positive and the team shows real potential.

Player of the match was debut goalkeeper Beth Prince who made some impressive saves.

Report: 15-03-2014 – Ladies 3rd’s (2) vs. (3) Epworth 1st’s

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Battling Slazengers 3rds hit back from three goals behind at half-time to push second-placed Epworth all the way before losing their Yorkshire League clash 3-2.

Slazengers were still in danger of relegation going into the Division Five contest and were not helped by having top scorer Claire Dunstan pinched by the already-promoted second team at the last moment.

Perhaps their planning was affected as they leaked three goals to their high-flying visitors, who had won the reverse fixture 8-0, during a largely one-sided first half.

But the second half was a different story and midfielder Linda Stacey took advantage of the improvement to score twice, the first goal with a powerful shot from the edge of the D and the second via a deflection off a defender after a short corner.

Lizzie Tunstall excelled in goal to keep Slazengers in contention during the first half, while birthday girl Hetty Walker also impressed in midfield.

Despite the defeat, Slazengers had cause to celebrate later as other results went their way, meaning they would finish above the drop zone with one match still to play.

Report: 08-03-2014 – Ladies 3rd’s (1) vs. (2) Barnsley 1st’s

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Slaz ladies 3s visited 3rd place Barnsley where they hoped to claim a much needed point to aid their endeavours to stay in div 5. The game was evenly matched with chances at both ends but it was Barnsley who found the net first from open play. Claire Dunstan got the well earned equaliser minutes into the second half with a strike that bounced off the diving keeper’s chest then slipped under her and over the line.

The second half saw the Slaz ladies work tirelessly from end to end with the forwards receiving some good balls in the D from well executed play but the barnsley defence broke down play to rob them of a shot on target. Slaz were awarded a couple of short corners but were unable to convert. Meanwhile Barnsley’s short corner tally was close to 20 with 8 consecutive penalties in a row. The slaz defence worked hard to scupper Barnsley’s efforts and player of the match Lizzie Tunstall made a plethora of great saves but eventually the visitors conceded.
 
Final score 2-1 Barnsley.

Report: 08-02-2014 – Ladies 3rd’s (3) vs. (6) Ben Rhydding 4th’s

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Slazenger 3rds never recovered from a slow start which saw them concede three early goals as they lost 6-3 at Ben Rhydding 4ths in the Yorkshire League.

Three wins in four games had lifted Slazenger away from trouble near the foot of Division Five but they were not helped by two of their players going to the wrong venue and only arriving moments before kick-off.

The hosts were 3-0 up inside about 20 minutes before Claire Dunstan continued her recent scoring spree by pulling one back after a solo run.

Unfortunately for Slazenger, the comeback was shortlived as Ben Rhydding restored their three-goal cushion before the interval. Seventh-placed Slazenger were much better in the second half against a side just one place above them and Linda Stacey set up Dunstan for her second goal, only for the home side to reply again to make it 5-2.

Stacey pulled it back to 5-3 with a shot from a narrow angle that took a deflection into the net but Ben Rhydding had the final say to end the day’s scoring. Three players shared the man of the match voting for Slazenger – midfield duo Stacey and Frankie Tyrell and defender Sarah Ritchey for some excellent tackles in defence.

Report: 01-02-2014 – Ladies 3rd’s (4) vs. (0) Legolians 1st’s

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Claire Dunstan scored a hat-trick as Slazengers 3rds beat Legiolians 4-0 in the Yorkshire League to continue their climb up the Division Five table. Dunstan netted the first three goals and Donna Wood completed the tally to leave Slazengers seventh after their third win in four matches.

The opening goal stemmed from a shot by Justine Birkett which rebounded to Dunstan off the keeper’s pads.

Lauren Fealey’s cross set up the second and the third was a solo effort as Dunstan intercepted a hit-out and took on two opponents before striking home from the top of the D.

Wood wrapped up the scoring with a great shot from a narrow angle to end any hopes of a comeback by the Pontefract visitors. When second-bottom Legiolians did threaten, Slazengers keeper Lizzie Tunstall stood in their way as she logged a second successive clean sheet.

There were also good individual displays by man of the match Sarah Ritchey, who made some excellent tackles and clearances, and fellow defender Hayley Wood on her third-team debut.