Slazenger Hockey Club

Mens 3rd XI

Report: 09-02-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (3) vs. (0) Chapeltown 4th’s

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Slazenger 3’s wanted to start their latest fixture with a high tempo and take the game to their hosts Chapeltown from the start. This they managed to do and penned the opposition in their own half for the first 10 minutes creating chance after chance after good link up play in midfield and by utilising both flanks with Dan Levitt on the right and man of the match Ian Hedges dominant on the left wing.

Any sign of a Chapeltown attack was comfortably dealt with by centre halves Mark Kitchen and Tony Walker.

Unfortunately, Slazengers were unable to convert any of the chances created due to an outstanding performance by the opposition keeper. Chapeltown filled the penalty area with defenders and made it as difficult as they could despite all the pressure they were under.

They were definitely the happier of the 2 teams to go into the half-time break with the goalless scoreline.

Second half Slazenger’s stuck to their game plan and finally went ahead when skipper Andy Fisher drove a fierce shot across the face of goal which was painfully deflected by a Chapeltown defender into his own goal.

It wasn’t long before Slazengers went further ahead when Aidan Hopkinson coolly converted a short corner low into the right corner. Victory was assured when all Steve Johnson’s hard work leading the line was rewarded when he instinctively deflected a low shot from Ian Hedges away from the keeper into the back of the net.

Final score 3-0.

Report: 05-01-2013 – Mens 3rd’s (6) vs. (1) Doncaster 6th’s

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Slazenger 3’s started their first game after the Christmas break against a much changed Doncaster team and it showed as it was the home team that struggled to get going. Doncaster were first to the ball, attacked with intent and over ran the the midfield.

There were some serious faces within the home team as time and again Slazengers simply couldn’t get a toehold in the game. It was only due to some stout defending by people like Man of the Match Alex Calderley, Mark Kitchen and Tony Walker, who were immense in defence that prevented Doncaster from creating any serious chances to score. It was only after the home team shuffled the team formation that they began to exert any pressure and start to create any goal scoring chances.

Slazenger’s were fortunate to go into the half-time break 1-0 up after a good strike from forward Steve Johnson. This strike energised the home team and the second half was back to the normal high tempo team of last year.

Slazenger’s began to dominate the midfield and made better use of the wingers. As the opposition began to tire Slazenger’s scored with regularity. Steve adding to his earlier goal with Luke Gueli adding a brace and winger Ian Hedges and midfielder Ste Robert adding individual goals. A late Doncaster response could not prevent the inevitable defeat. Final score 6-1 to Slazengers.

Report: 15-12-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (4) vs. (0) Brigg 4th’s

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Slazenger’s 3’s last league fixture of the year was at home against Brigg 4’s. Having beaten them twice already in league and cup this season the home team went into the match with confidence but aware that they couldn’t be complacent.

It took the home team quite a while to settle and get into their groove after some concerted pressure from the opposition.

However, once they settled into their team formation, the home team began creating scoring opportunities. It took Ian hedges breaking into the goalmouth to convert the first goal from the left hand side, after several previously squandered efforts.

Brigg were determined and had several pacy players in midfield but they were closely marshalled by the Slazenger’s midfield. Dan Levitt and Luke Gueli provided the width for swift counter attacks and it was from one of these that Steve Johnson was able to tap the ball into the goal at the back post.

Half-time score 2-0.

Second half the home team again had to work hard for decent possession and just couldn’t find the net despite several glorious opportunities to kill the game.

It was left to Man of the Match Jack Mumford to provide the killer punch with a fearsome shot, to the right of the goal, that the keeper was never going to stop. The same player then followed it up with a smartly taken shot on the edge of the goalmouth.

Final score 4-0.

Report: 01-12-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (4) vs. (1) Kingston-upon Hull 4th’s

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After a minutes silence for former player and club steward Bob France, who died in the week, Slazengers started their match against Hull in good form, dominating possession in the middle of the park and using the full width of the pitch to stretch the opposition.

After several promising breaks Slazengers won a penalty corner and Mark Kitchen was on hand to convert Jack Mumford’s previous effort after the umpire had allowed play to continue after an earlier infringement.

The away team continued to press and it wasn’t long before Darren Buttery scored a second goal, again from a penalty corner, when he unleashed a powerful shot on goal that deflected off a defenders toe into the top corner.

Slazenger’s third goal was a good team effort, with the ball moving quickly from the back, down the flank and then once Ste Roberts was put in on goal he didn’t miss the opportunity.

Hull continued to struggle against a composed Slazengers team and weren’t helped by having to play directly into the low winter sun. The home team made brief forays into the opposition half but were well managed by Tony Walker and Alex Calderley in defence.

Second half it was Slazenger’s turn to play into the glaring sunlight but after overcoming some early second half pressure the away team were relatively untroubled.

Alan Perry making a seasonal debut on the right wing had the beating of his marker and put several telling passes into the goalmouth but Slazengers failed to capitalise on these chances.

Luke Gueli, supported by left half Robin Whawell, did similarly good work on the left flank.

However Slazenger’s final goal once again was the result of a penalty corner, with Mark Kitchen getting his second of the game when the initial shot wasn’t properly cleared off the goal line.

Slazenger’s ensured they kept a clean sheet when keeper Ralph Toon raced off his line to stop a late Hull attack and the score remained 4-0.
A good team performance and a fitting tribute to a departed friend.

Report: 24-11-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (4) vs. (1) Sheffield Hallam 7th’s

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Despite a delayed start away at Sheffield Hallam and the pouring rain, Slazenger 3rd’s didn’t let the conditions distract them and started their latest division 6 match brightly and laid siege to the Sheffield goal from the first minute.

Producing one of the most one-sided halves of hockey for quite a while. Time and again the away team attacked down the flanks with Ian Hedges and Luke Gueli getting round the opposition with ease and always looking to play one of their team mates in with an attempt on goal. It was no surprise when Man of the Match Jack Mumford converted the first goal after an intricate move within the goalmouth.
The away team continued to apply pressure and denying the opposition both time on the ball and limiting the opposition to any meaningful possession by keeping hold of the ball with simple passing to team mates who were always available in space.

Slazenger’s continued to score with frequent regularity during the first half with Steve Johnson, Ste Roberts and substitute Byron Dean all adding goals. The opposition look totally shellshocked at the half time whistle.

Second half Slazengers were looking for more of the same but in a classic game of two halves, Sheffield Hallam had other ideas.
Resorting to a more physical approach that was not penalised by the umpires and giving their two playmakers more of the ball allowed the home team to get more of a foothold in the game. The game became more evenly balanced and much more of a battle, especially in midfield.
Slazengers also became the victims of their own frustrations when further goal chances were not converted and they left themselves vulnerable to breakaway attacks with their eagerness to push forward. One of these attacks resulted in a Sheffield Hallam goal and they were lucky not to concede further goals.

However despite these shortcomings if Slazengers had been more clinical in front of goal, with the chances created, they would have scored a hatful of goals in the second half. This may explain why despite a healthy win the away team left the field slightly more subdued than they should have been after the match.