Slazenger Hockey Club

Mens Veterans

Report: 23-11-2014 – Mens Masters (4) vs. (2) Doncaster

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Slaz began with zeal and created chances early on but poor midfielder shooting resulted in a quiet half and Doncaster were able to clinch one in the first half despite great defending from Matt green.

At half time slaz realised they were in the game and we’re playing well, just needed to keep working and moving the ball round. Darren buttery steve Johnson and matt green all got goals to give slaz the win.

Great goal line saves from Mark Kitchen meant Slaz were able to keep the lead. Darren Bailey and Haydn Pitchforth had a great debut and didn’t look out of place in a difficult league.

Report: 09-12-2012 – Mens Veterans (1) vs. (0) Huddersfield Vets

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Slazenger’s Mens Veterans team played their first home game of the season against Huddersfield Vets on Sunday.

Both teams made a sluggish start to the game, probably due to the wintery conditions. Slazenger’s looked solid in defence with Matt Green and Mark Kitchen quelling any attacks from the Huddersfield front line with great determination,whilst Darren Buttery proved a thorn in the Huddersfield defence’s side with his constant hassling and enthusiastic running, but it was in midfield that Slazengers took a long time to get to grips with the opposition formation.

Time and again the home side were outnumbered in midfield and this caused Slazengers to hurry their passes, which more often than not went straight back to the opposition.

The result of this was few goal chances for either team and both sets of strikers were isolated from everyone else.
Huddersfield’s only chance of note was deep into the first half when defender Andy Fisher had to leave the field after sustaining a blow to the face during a collision with an opposition player, whilst clearing the ball.

It was left to keeper Giles Field to make a double save whilst at full stretch on the ground.

Second half the home team started with more intent, the ball was passed out to the flanks more and people were making themselves available for return passes.
It wasn’t a surprise when Darren Buttery managed to get on to a fiercely driven ball into the goalmouth from winger Alan Perry and convert the chance.

The home team continued to press for further goals with Simon Chamberlain and Ben Graham starting to dominate the midfield but the home team just couldn’t find the net for another goal to kill the game.

Despite having to weather a brief Huddersfield respite the home team were fairly comfortable at the end.

Final score 1-0.

Report: 05-10-2002 – Mens Vet’s (3) vs. (5) Alderley Edge

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In their first outing of the season, Slazenger Veterans were knocked out of the National Cup 5-3, by visiting Alderley Edge.

Slazenger went 2-0 down before Ian Garcia’s opportunistic strike pulled them back in it.

Alderley restored their two-goal cushion but Dave Smyth scored again for the hosts to give them a chance.

But the visitors sealed the win with another strike, although skipper Geoff Birkett snatched a late consolation for Slazenger.

Report: 02-02-2002 – Mens Vets (1) vs (3) Adel Vets

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Slazenger Veterans went out of the Yorkshire Veterans Cup, losing 3-1 at Adel in an entertaining encounter.

The more youthful Adel side opened strongly and the visitors had to dig deep to stay in contention with Ashley Smith working in defence and George Hutchins in commanding form in goal. However Adel’s short courner routine paid dividends and they raced into a two-goal lead.

But Slazenger responded well and pulled a goal back before the break when Keith Whittle created an opportunity for Ian Gordon to fire home. The second half was evenly contested with the visitors creating some good chances but they failed to close the gap and once Adel had scored again, the game was beyond Slazenger’s side.

Report: 19-01-2002 – Mens Vet’s (7) vs (4) Wakefield Vet’s

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Jubilant Slazenger Veterans knocked neighbours Wakefield out of the Yorkshire Veterans Cup following an entertaining 7-4 encounter that left Ian Gordon and Keith Whittle with hat-tricks and the crowd gasping for more.

A home victory looked far from being the case in the first half as Wakefield enjoyed the better play and missed several chances before opening the scoring.

Slazenger responded quickly however, and Keith Whittle scored a fine solo goal. Ian Gordon was then on hand to level for a second time before the break.

Slazenger re-organised at half-time in order to stifle Wakefield’s lively midfield led by Norman Hughes and Gordon Gray.

The tactic paid dividends as Slazenger raced into a 6-3 lead off classic counter attacking play. Gordon completed a hat-trick and Alan Killey got the sixth. Wakefield pulled one back but goalkeeper George Hutchins pulled out all the stops to deny the College Grovers further goals and Whittle wrapped things up with his third and Slazenger’s seventh.

Dave Bunney, John Clarke and M. Townend (2) scored for Wakefield.