Slazenger Hockey Club

Mens Development

Report: 29-09-2012 – Mens 5th’s (1) vs. (1) Worksop 3rd’s

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Birkett goes aeriel and Gunning goes for goal!

A tied affair between two evenly balanced teams produced a well earned goal a piece after 80 minutes of fast and furious hockey in Worksop.

The first half saw a bolstered side for Slaz with Tony Walker, Alan Perry and Chris Hopkinson all standing in for injured or unavailable players. A reunited front two of Peter Gunning and George Fealy saw little of the ball in the first half as a talented number 4 for Worksop ran the play in midfield, in a constant battle with Slaz’s Geoff Birkett. Over the next 30 minutes the midfield players kept to-ing and fro-ing and although Slaz played well the ball was kept in the centre of the pitch as they were unable to get the ball to the wings to push forward.

This season a rejuvenated Matthew Smith had the game of his life in a sweeping role in front of Chris Hopkinson. His energy and tackling earned him many plaudits especially from experienced defender Alex Calderley playing alongside him. With the half time whistle Slaz had chance to regroup and orders were given to tighten up on players, to cut down on loose balls and to get wider to outflank the opposition. A cutting through ball from Calderley onto Elliot Goulding saw the start of a stream of constant attacks and Harry Gunning and Tom Pitchforth both showed great composure on the ball in midfield. Worthy of a mention was Ben Jackson a novice to hockey who in his first game looked like a seasoned pro already.

With the last 10 minutes on the clock Birkett hit a sweet aerial shot that landed on the top of the D to a waiting Peter Gunning. Gunning took the ball with one touch and fired decisively home past a keeper and defender to give Slaz the advantage. This didn’t last long as with a minute to go Worksop took advantage of tired legs and ran through the centre of the field swamping the back four with superior numbers to score leaving honours even on the final whistle.

Man of the Match: Ben Jackson

Report: 15-09-2012 – Mens 5th’s (Dev) (4) vs. (2) Rotherham 5th’s

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A Cracking Start for the Development Team

The Men’s Development team started the season with a fresh line up and a 4 – 2 win over Rotherham. The back line was led by Harry Buttery, possibly the
shortest goal keeper in this league, with Andy Fisher, Mayank Gupta, Danny Croxall and PJ. In midfield a positive start from Harry Gunning, George Fernly Matthew Smith and Elliot Goulding. Up front came Peter Gunning and Darren Buttery.

Last season saw a defeat by a single goal from Rotherham in a low scoring match rounding off a good season for the development team, but this match was a completely different animal. The newly formed Development team hit the ground running with a fast paced start, playing smart triangle balls between the forwards. It saw quick paced attack after quick paced attack. A goal came only five minutes into the game with one Gunning brother feeding another and Peter slotting a pacy ball into the left hand corner of the net beating the outstretched keeper. Rotherham couldn’t hold Slaz at all and George ran a quick ball into the D and scored a fine solo effort. A quick double substitution brought Ryan Denton into defence for Mayank and Tom Pitchforth into midfield for Andy Fisher.

Some tinkering with positions needed to be accommodated as we had a player or two who drifted forward and inward from the wing. Thank heavens for Tom Pitchforth a true utility player able to strongly hold any position on the field. The closing minutes of play saw a good goal from Rotherham as Slaz foolishly tried to clear up the centre of the pitch instead of down the safety of the wings.

The half time talk from team captain Andy looked at the problem that caused the goal but reinforced the quick thinking and determination the team had showed throughout the first half.

George was moved forward whilst Peter took a break with Tom for the first ten minutes of the second half, substitutions were going to be important as the day was hot and the pace was intense. After another goal from Elliot from a well worked short corner routine the play switched to the other end of the field, a well placed strike beat Harry in goal and brought the score to 3-2. Darren tried the unorthodox approach of trying to head a high ball into the goal in their D, thankfully the ball only struck his chest. A strong finish from Slaz in the last fifteen minutes of the game saw an own goal as a panicked Rotherham defence couldn’t stem the tide from the Slazenger forwards and attacking midfield.

The team throughout deserved the win, with a quality back 4 led by PJ and a team who communicated and played for each other from beginning to end.

Man of the Match: Tom Pitchforth

Report: 17-03-2012 – Mens 4th’s (Dev) (0) vs. (1) Rotherham 5th’s

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Slazengers final game of the season felt like a training match for the first 15 minutes with lots of time on the ball and no real pressure from the opposition. Consequently Slazengers started brightly and created lots of chances without ever looking likely to score.Time and again possession was either squandered in the final quarter of the pitch or the Rotherham keeper managed to save smartly by smothering the ball on the ground.

As time progressed Rotherham slowly increased the tempo and managed to make the match more competitive. Danny Smith and Harry Bullock worked hard up front pressuring the Rotherham defence into making mistakes but couldn’t find the back of the net. It was against the run of play that Rotherham broke on the counter attack and managed to go in front after some smart work in the penalty area. Half-time score was 1-0 to the opposition.

Second half Slazengers started strongly again and really started to apply pressure with wave after wave of attacking hockey with Matthew Stacey putting some excellent crosses into the penalty area without anyone managing to convert these chances into goals. Rotherham occasionally managed the odd attacking move into the opposition half but these were dealt with by Danny Croxall, James Higgins and Matthew Feather.

Slazengers ended the game practically camped in the Rotherham half but were still thwarted in their attempts to find an equaliser. Final score 1-0 to the opposition.

Report: 10-03-2012 – Mens 4th’s (Dev) (2) vs. (0) Airedale 3rd’s

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Slazengers 4’s faced top of the table Bradford on Saturday and performed very well in their last home league fixture of the season.

Bradford were a well drilled side with a good mixture of youth and a couple of experienced first teamers that ensured Slazenger 4’s had to play with a good tempo and make use of the wings if they were to compete.

Aidan Hopkinson, Tom Pitchforth and Geoff Birkett worked hard to create the space in midfield to enable the team to push forward and attack. Tim Hunter put in several crosses from the left and Matthew Stacey caused havoc on the right wing, supplying several attacking opportunities for the forwards to score.
However, it was Matthew himself who benefited from an accurate pass, when in space, at the top of the goal mouth, to accurately place the ball in the net for the home team’s first goal.

Slazengers continued to create good goal scoring opportunities but squandered several glorious chances with poor finishing, trying to hurry their passes and forcing the play. The home team had to concentrate and Chris Hopkinson and Danny Croxall were kept busy with several attacking moves from the opposition. Half time score was 1-0.

The second half saw Slazengers keep up the work rate and continue to create chances without really convincing in front of goal. As the game progressed the league leaders stepped up a gear and really pushed for an equaliser and but for Richard Smyth in goal pulling of several smart saves, the home team would have conceded.

The game became slightly fractious for a while, with the Bradford umpire not really helping the situation. However, Slazengers finally succumbed to an equaliser when the 2 senior Bradford players linked up well and slotted the ball into the far corner.

There were further scares at both ends before the game finished final score 1-1. Slazenger 4’s last game of the season is away against Rotherham.

Report: 03-03-2012 – Mens 4th’s (Dev) (2) vs. (0) Airedale 3rd’s

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Slazenger 4’s game against Airedale turned, rather surprisingly, into a fractious affair with several flash points throughout the game.

The home team started brightly, fielding just the one adult outfield player at the start of the match and once again quickly got into their stride, passing the ball around, retaining possession reasonably well and creating several goalscoring chances, that with a little composure should have been converted into goals.

Aidan Hopkinson and Tom Pitchforth once again linked up well in midfield with Matthew Smith out wide on the left and Matthew Stacey taking his position on the right wing.

Airedale whilst physically bigger lacked the team play to cause many problems initially, but midway through the first half they started to build some momentum and tried to be physically imposing against the younger players. This wasn’t going to happen against the home team despite some agricultural tackles flying in and with some composed interceptions from Matthew Feather in defence who took the ball calmly out of defence and set up several attacks.

Even though Robert Cann was nearly cut in half by one robust challenge he continued to take the attack to the opposition which served to inspire all the team. Half-time score was 0-0.

The second half continued much the same as the first with some poor tackling, the opposition arguing with one another if they made a mistake and this frustration increased when Tom Pitchforth had a shot on goal kicked over the goal line by the Airedale keeper.

Slazengers now scented victory and started to make better use of the wings and succeeded in getting behind the Airedale defence and created more goalscoring opportunities, whilst still being vulnerable to breakaway attacks from the opposition midfield.

The game was won when Matthew Stacey was found in space at the top of the goalmouth and cooly converted Slaz’s second goal.

Final score 2-0. Slazenger 4’s next game is at home to Bradford.Slazenger 4’s game against Airedale turned, rather surprisingly, into a fractious affair with several flash points throughout the game.

The home team started brightly, fielding just the one adult outfield player at the start of the match and once again quickly got into their stride, passing the ball around, retaining possession reasonably well and creating several goalscoring chances, that with a little composure should have been converted into goals.

Aidan Hopkinson and Tom Pitchforth once again linked up well in midfield with Matthew Smith out wide on the left and Matthew Stacey taking his position on the right wing.

Airedale whilst physically bigger lacked the team play to cause many problems initially, but midway through the first half they started to build some momentum and tried to be physically imposing against the younger players. This wasn’t going to happen against the home team despite some agricultural tackles flying in and with some composed interceptions from Matthew Feather in defence who took the ball calmly out of defence and set up several attacks.

Even though Robert Cann was nearly cut in half by one robust challenge he continued to take the attack to the opposition which served to inspire all the team.

Half-time score was 0-0.

The second half continued much the same as the first with some poor tackling, the opposition arguing with one another if they made a mistake and this frustration increased when Tom Pitchforth had a shot on goal kicked over the goal line by the Airedale keeper.

Slazengers now scented victory and started to make better use of the wings and succeeded in getting behind the Airedale defence and created more goalscoring opportunities, whilst still being vulnerable to breakaway attacks from the opposition midfield.

The game was won when Matthew Stacey was found in space at the top of the goalmouth and cooly converted Slaz’s second goal.

Final score 2-0. Slazenger 4’s next game is at home to Bradford.