Slazenger Hockey Club

Mens Development

Report: 15-02-2014 – Mens 5th’s (3) vs. (1) Airdale 3rd’s

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On 15th February Slazengers 5ths Mens Development team travelled to Keighley to play Airedale. A lot of pressure had to be soaked up in the first 10 minutes of the match but the defence and midfield kept any shots on goal to a minimum. Applying our own pressure and keeping a good formation Slazengers spent a good deal of time in the opponent’s half ending with a short corner. Unlike some recent matches we were able to take advantage of this with Harry Gunning slotting home the ball in the Airedale net.

Up by one goal at half time and showing a great team approach the second half started full of confidence.  However the second half saw Airedale determined to recover and they equalised with a high shot over Slazenger keeper Harry Buttery.  Now with a challenge, a resolute Slazengers team stuck together and played good hockey for each other providing Alex King the opportunity to score.

The great team spirit and teamwork continued to build and Slazengers provided further opportunities before Alex King again finished well.  Airedale 1-3 Slazengers.  A great team performance by everyone.

Report: 28-09-2013 – Mens 5th’s (3) vs. (6) Harrogate 6th’s

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Dan Does the Double

On another bright sunny September Saturday Slazenger’s development team travelled to Harrogate, with a warning that the week pervious the same team had destroyed Airedale 13 – 0.

With young Harry Buttery back in net, his back four lined up with Matthew and Paul Chilton, Nick Calderly and Mayank Gupta. Harrogate gave an early warning putting together six passes and scoring within the first minute of the game. Slazengers hardly had time to reset their positions when Harrogate were at them again, the midfield pair of Geoff Birkett and Harry Gunning were under the cosh again and pegged back to the sixteen yard line. Ben Stevenson and Peter Gunning on the wings just couldn’t see a way to get the ball through to Dan Atkinson and Alex King.

Matthew and Nick were composed on the ball but Slazenger’s hit outs were weak affairs and Harrogate found their short range and quickly pounced on balls in quick succession and drove their advantage home scoring two more in quick succession.

Alex and Dan made some inroads into the Harrogate half although their attacks and runs were counteracted by a solid back three from Harrogate. After a ten minute frenetic period which exhausted many Slaz players and saw the midfield defend so deep that invited another goal from Harrogate Slazenger’s position looked precarious at best. A small chink of light appeared as Harry Gunning burst forward and rolled to the left post with two oncoming defenders the small midfielder swung a precise tomahawk shot that hit the top right of the goal against the run of play, but giving a tired team some hope.

The second half started with the captain’s word stinging the player’s ears. The press and hassling of players was to be a top priority for the second half and the team came out fighting. Harrogate were pressed back from the off and the pressure told with the play being in the top half of the field and counter attacks were confidently dealt with by Nick, Paul and Matthew.

A few heart stopping moments from two short corners were confidently dealt with by Matthew Smith and as Slaz managed to counter Dan Atkinson got on the end of a long ball from Geoff and passed to Peter who did a swift one two and Dan scored a second goal for Slaz. The ball travelled to both end of the pitch but Slaz were defiantly up for the game now and after a response and goal from Harrogate Slaz returned the favour with another route one ball to Dan Atkinson who rounded the keeper and battled a defender to gain another goal for his double.

Final score 5-3

Report: 23-02-2013 – Mens 5th’s (2) vs. (5) Kingston Upon Hull 5th’s

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Slazenger Men’s 5’s faced a tough task in their latest development fixture against Kingston Upon Hull when the opposition turned up with only 11 players but 6 of them were adults.

That said, the first half saw an encouraging display from the youngsters against a physically stronger team. Matthew Chilton and Elliot Golding were particularly energetic, with Harry Gunning authoritative in midfield. It was good to see the home team go into the half time break 2-1 up after strikes from centre forward Peter Gunning and George Fealy.

Second half was a much different proposition as all the hardworking the young players had put into the first half began to tell and the adult opposition started to dominate. They snuffed out most of the home attacks and hit long passes to the skilful junior strikers who created lost of scoring chances. But for the composure and concentration of keeper Harry Buttery, Slazengers would have conceded more than the four goals they did.

Heads didn’t drop against such strong opposition but it did prove to be a long and very cold afternoon for the home team.
Final score 5-2.

Report: 16-02-2013 – Mens 5th’s (1) v (1) Rotherham 5th’s

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When Slazenger Development team took to the pitch this week they were looking forward to a third win against their Yorkshire rivals, Rotherham. However, hockey is never that simple. A very even start to the match saw Tony Walker, Danny Croxall, Dave Smyth and Steve Wood soak up early pressure from Rotherham. Some raiding down the left wing ran Danny into a bit of a lather but Slaz were equal to the challenge. Steve Wood notably hitting the ball with confidence at the sixteen.

In midfield Tom Pitchforth did what he does well tracking back and mopping up loose balls. Geoff Birkett and Harry did struggle to get the ball through the centre but the wings had some success with Elliot and Chris Gasgoinge. Peter Gunning fought to get any of the ball, he had a couple of rushed chances that came to nothing. Rotherham on the other hand took one of their chances as far as it was possible and slotted in an elusive goal. Substitutes came in the form of brothers Dan and Tom Atkinson who both showed good potential in spurts.

Harry Buttery in goal was largely unchallenged but when pressed dealt with the ball well.

The second half started brighter another goal for Peter Gunning which took his season’s tally to 20, yet it was the movement from his brother Harry and Elliot that gave him the opportunity to push the ball under the keeper to make that goal. Slaz took this levelling of the score as a boost and pushed higher up the pitch. Although have 75% possession didn’t equal more gaols, even though Peter, Harry and Elliot came close. In the end a draw seemed fair but with lots of positives from possession and pressing the ball.

Report: 15-12-2012 – Mens 5th’s (3) vs. (4) Worksop 3rd’s

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Slazenger 5’s faced a tough encounter against a physical and quick Worksop team.

Despite this it was Slazengers that started the brighter with neat passing interplay and people making themselves available for passes. Harry Gunning and Tom Pitchforth worked well linking up with veteran Geoff Birkett in midfield and wingers Chris Gascoigne and Elliott Golding were always available on the wings.

It was no surprise when striker Peter Gunning put the home side in front half way through the first half after a typically slick move.

But it was very disappointing when the away team managed to equalise soon after. This was the result of poor marking and the away team having good pace in the centre of the park.

Slazengers persevered and were soon creating other scoring chances which unfortunately were not converted.

It was slightly unfortunate that the away team scored again before the half time whistle and a little against the run of play. Half time score 2-1 to the opposition.

Second half Slazengers had to dig deep as the physically stronger and older Worksop players began to test the home team. But for some stout defending from Danny Croxall and Neil Stacey the home team would have been in trouble.

It was Slazengers turn to score against the run of play when the home team swiftly counter attacked for Peter Gunning to net his second of the game. But the problem still remained that Slazengers were a tiring side and despite Harry Buttery successfully defending a penalty flick he couldn’t stop Worksop scoring 2 quick goals.

To their credit Slazengers dug deep and with 10 minutes remaining they rallied and began to pressure the away team. Elliott Golding scored with 5 minutes remaining and it was Worksop’s turn to dig deep as Slazengers mounted wave after wave of attacks.

It was slightly unfortunate that right at the death Slazengers just failed to grab an equaliser when the ball flashed across the goalmouth for 3 Slazenger players to miss the goal scoring opportunity.

Final score 4-3 to Worksop.