Slazenger Hockey Club

Mens 3rd XI

Report: 30-11-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (3) vs. (1) Doncaster 5th’s

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Slazenger men’s 3rd’s travelled away to Doncaster for the 5pm game under the lights, coming away with a hard fought 3-1 result.

The game started smartly, with Slaz playing some good passing hockey and controlling the field. Doncaster had some solid players in midfield and looked to break down the Slaz attack when they pressed. Strong play from “Man of the Match” Jack Mumford and James Walker gave the team an opening in the centre.

A quick breakaway from Slaz resulted in the first goal, the forwards working well, allowing Mumford to slot the ball under the keeper. Doncaster equalised 10 minutes later, with an unfortunate deflection off keeper Richard Smyth’s pads.

Slaz pressed on, with Luke Gueli winning a penalty corner which Mumford fired in to go ahead.

In the second half, Slaz went close with several chances, including Byron Dean, Ian Hedges and James Walker all going close. Simon Taylor was destructive down the right hand side, opening up the opposition defence with some great strikes.

However, it was Mumford again who completed his hat-trick and put the game beyond all doubt with his 3rd with 15 minutes to go. Both Doncaster and Slaz pressed for futher goals, but neither side could add to their tally.

Report: 23-11-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (3) vs. (5) Lincoln 2nd’s

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Slazengers latest match against strong opponents Lincoln was a tough, feisty encounter, with both sides keen to win. After a fairly even opening 10 minutes Slazengers did start to gain the upper hand with Jack Mumford and Rob Whawell working hard in midfield to close the opposition down and deny them time on the ball.

Slazengers created several scoring chances but failed to capitalise on these opportunities. So it was particularly frustrating when collective poor defending resulted in Lincoln taking the lead from an innocuous looking attack.

Fortunately Slazengers maintained their composure and it wasn’t long before winger Ian Hedges well executed reverse stick shot was tapped in by captain Byron Dean for the equaliser. Once again Slazengers continued to press without success and once again, against the run of play Lincoln took the lead.

After a bit of reorganisation in the team shape, Slazengers went about looking for an equaliser. Simon Taylor caused chaos down the right flank when time and again he powered his way into the opposition penalty area setting up some great chances for Slazengers to score. The equaliser finally came when Luke Gueli dragged a low flick into the bottom left hand corner, from a penalty corner.

It was time for deja vu once again when Lincoln were allowed to retake the lead after yet more defensive mistakes.

It wasn’t until the final quarter of the match that the Horbury team finally got the game by the scruff of the neck. First Jack Mumford’s well drilled shot found the back of the net. Then Mark Kitchen gave the home side the lead for the first time, from another converted penalty corner. Finally Luke Gueli sealed the points with his second of the day after some intricate passing at a good fast tempo allowed him to slip the ball under the diving keeper. He was unlucky not to get his hat-trick when after another good passing move, he was through on goal and his shot smashed into the keepers helmet, The keeper didn’t know too much about it as the power of the shot nearly lifted the helmet off his head.

Final score was a hard fought 5-3 against traditionally tough opponents.

Report: 09-11-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (8) vs. (1) Brigg 4th’s

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On a cold afternoon Slazenger 3’s latest fixture was away at Scunthorpe against Brigg Men’s 4th team. Despite a few absences due to injury and unavailability Slazengers started the match

with a good tempo and immediately took the game by the scruff of the neck. Time and again the midfield of Dan Levitt and Anwar Al-Khaili were instrumental in snuffing out any danger and starting attacks of their own.

It was captain for the day Luke Gueli who broke the deadlock against a slightly disorganised Brigg defence, scoring with a deft touch. He was involved again when a surging run into the opposition was only partially dealt with and winger Danny Moakes swept the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

By now Brigg struggled to contain the opposition who were almost rampant in their attacks. Half backs Alex Calderley and Simon Taylor were allowed the opportunity to make surging runs down the flanks to initiate further attacks.

Credit to the opposition they remained a threat and their forwards kept the Slazenger central defence of James Higgins and Mark Kitchen honest with 2 or 3 dangerous break aways.
That said Luke Gueli added a further 3 goals and striker Byron Dean added a brace of his own to make the half time score 7-0 to the Horbury team.

The match was a classic game of 2 halves for the Brigg keeper. As vulnerable as he had looked in the first half he was almost unbeatable in the second half. Despite being camped in the opposition half Slazenger’s simply couldn’t find a way past him. The Horbury team were all keen to get on the scoresheet and tried to force the pace rather than just playing the simple passing game that had brought them success in the first half. At one point it resembled a duel as forward Byron Dean sought his hat-trick goal and the opposition keeper was determined to prevent it, even saving a penalty flick.

This over commitment of players was the reason Brigg were able to score a conciliation goal late in the game. That said it was good to see Slazengers respond immediately with the best move of the half when the ball went out wide, then a quick interchange of passes resulted with Dan Levitt having time and space, in an otherwise crowded penalty area, for a successful shot on goal.

Final score 8-1.

Report: 26-10-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (6) vs. (3) Garforth 1st’s

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Slazenger Mens 3’s finally got there season up and running with a deserved victory against Garforth 1’s.

Playing away against a team that in recent seasons has proved tough opposition it was the Horbury team that started the brightest, playing Byron Dean and James Walker up front, with good assistance from Luke Gueli and Ian Hedges on the wings.

It was Slazenger’s who took the lead when skipper Andy Fisher drilled in a fierce shot outside the goalmouth which hit the keeper on his pads before crossing the goal line.

Garforth immediately showed what they are about when within a couple of minutes they equalised due to a great solo effort from midfield, with an unstoppable shot drilled low to the keepers right.
Slazengers showed great resolve, immediately going on the offensive and quickly regained the lead when winger Danny Moakes swept a low drive just inside the post and just above the keeper. It was a theme that continued through the rest of the match that whenever Garforth scored Slazengers were able to quickly reply with a strike of their own.

Slazengers next goal came from a penalty corner, Luke Gueli saw his initial reverse shot saved but he was the first to react and flicked the ball high into the roof of the net over the keeper still laying on the ground. Luke quickly added a second with the best goal of the day when Byron Dean deflected a fierce pass towards James Walker who passed first time to Luke who again roofed the ball into the net.

Despite leading at half time Slazengers were conscious that the passing needed to be sharper and people needed to be making themselves available for easy passes.

Second half Garforth tried to increase the pressure on the Slazengers defence, whilst the away team were looking to retain possession better than they had in the first half. As the game became more stretched and Garforth took more chances as they looked to score Slazenger keeper Richard Smyth was called on to make some important saves.

Garforth were always dangerous at penalty corner situations and scored a couple of goals from them. However, each time the Horbury team responded with a goal of their own. First Man of the Match Danny Moakes scored his second of the game and finally Byron Dean, one on one with the keeper slid the ball under his diving body.

Final score 6-3.

Report: 12-10-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (0) vs. (1) Leeds 6th’s

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Another frustrating game for Slazenger Men’s 3’s away at Leeds, saw the Horbury team dominate the majority of the possession, but not for the first time this season, failed to come away with any points.

Despite the early start, it was the away team that made the better start and were soon creating good attacking opportunities with centre forward Byron Dean linking well with Dan Levitt on the right hand side. On the left wing Ian Hedges was outstanding after driving through the night from Scotland, in order to make the early meet.
Once again, despite all the good possession, Slazengers failed to convert any of these chances and we’re left to rue wasted opportunities when Leeds were gifted a soft goal after a sloppy misplaced pass created an overload situation, which they didn’t waste.

Slazengers remained unperturbed and continued to play good passing hockey but time after time they lacked the little bit of skill and guile that was needed in front of goal.

Occasionally, man of the match defender Tony Walker had to be at his best when Leeds did mount a dangerous attack but keeper Rich Smyth was on hand to help out.

For the last 10 minutes it was all one way traffic with Slazengers pressing the home team into their half with wave after wave of attacks, but Leeds stood firm. Final score 1-0.