A tough game from the start with things being fairly even until nearly half time when York managed to score.
After plenty of chances Slazengers just couldn’t find the back of the net and then York scored again sealing the deal.
Final score 2-0 to York. Man of the match went to Ellie Page.
Slazengers second team welcomed unbeaten league leaders City of York Mens 4’s on Saturday and put in arguably their best performance of the season to record a solid 3-1 win. York had won their previous 13 games so were always going to be tough opposition but Slazengers started with intensity refusing to allow York time to settle on the ball. Both teams had early chances but it was Slazengers who broke the deadlock when good work from Dan Atkinson down the right found Simon Randall on the baseline who pulled it back for captain Ben Graham to finish. York picked up their game and equalised before the break to go in 1-1 at half time.
The second half saw Slazengers extend their lead when a Ted Richardson shot was deflected over the York keeper and although Slazengers work rate was first class, James Cowden in goal was forced to make a couple of excellent saves, first using his facemask and then a full length dive to keep Slazengers in front. Slazengers nearly extended their lead when a clever short corner saw Grahams effort cleared off the line but only 5 minutes later the same routine saw Slazengers extend their league when Graham grabbed his second.
James Cowden took the man of the match award for Slazengers who will look to continue their good form away at Sheffield Hallam on Saturday.
Slazengers’ under-ten boys A team made a great start to the season by finishing the opening Yorkshire Youth Hockey League tournament with an unbeaten record. Half the squad were playing in Division D last season, so the step up to Division A was a big one – but they took it in their stride to win three and draw two of their matches at the Weetwood venue in Leeds.
A goal by Alex Stacey was enough to seal a 1-0 victory against Leeds in the first game, before Will Gascoigne’s strike earned a similar outcome against Harrogate. Keeper Aidan Coughtrey was untroubled in both these matches as Slazengers dominated and although a strong Ben Rhydding side then gave them a little more trouble, a 0-0 draw was a fair reflection of the play.
Slazengers’ best result came next as they beat York 3-0, with Luke Minchella adding to a double by speedy winger Stacey. And although Sheffield took a 2-0 lead in the final game as Slazengers gave every player equal time on the pitch, Stacey and Gascoigne returned to pull their side level.
A special mention must go to new recruit Matthew Royston, after he only picked up a hockey stick for the first time three weeks earlier, as the points earned by Slazengers proved plenty to keep them in the top division for the next tournament.
The remaining members of the successful squad were Tommy Randle, Fraser Cass and Charlie Bland.
After 2 promotions in 2 seasons, Slazengers Mens second team always knew they were going to be in for a tough season but in the end, will be disappointed to come away from their opening league fixture with nothing having gone down 3-2 away at York. Slazengers started brightly and with a mixture of youth and experience in their side, caused York a few problems early on. Slazengers early good play saw them rewarded with a short corner which was duly converted by Simon Chamberlain after Jonny White’s initial shot was saved. York began to play good hockey themselves with Slazengers beginning to sit back and look to attack on the break. It was one of these breaks which saw Slazengers win another short corner, this time captain Ben Graham converted after a neat one/two at the top of the ‘D’. York upped their work rate and began to force some chances but with the defence holding firm, York managed to win themselves a short corner. After Jonny White illegally blocked the ball on the line, a penalty stroke was awarded and converted leaving the half time score 2-1 to Slazengers.
A change of positions in the 2nd half seemed to leave Slazengers undecided on who to mark and it was this confusion which allowed York to equalise. Both teams created chances in the 2nd half but it was York who claimed a controversial winner after a seemingly blatant obstruction at the top of the ‘D’. Slazengers pressed for an equaliser but were unable to convert.
Tom Pitchforth and Jez Whawell both impressed for Slazengers who will look to gain their first points at home to Huddersfield Dragons on Saturday.
Slazenger U16 Boys made a great start to 2014 by returning to the top of the YYHL Division 1 following an unbeaten outing to Harrogate on Sunday.
Fresh from the holiday festivities, the team faced main rivals City of York as well as teams from Ben Rhydding and Harrogate.
Slazenger 1 – 1 City of York
Both teams started brightly, moving the ball confidently and creating chances at both ends. It was York who found a breakthrough with just under 10 minutes played, when an attack down the centre of the field produced a probing ball into the ‘D’ to find a striker who had lost his marker giving him time to tip the ball into the top left corner.
The Slazenger boys responded brilliantly to the early setback and within 2 minutes were rewarded with an equalising goal scored by Matthew Stacey, tipping the ball inside the right post of the York goal.
The remainder of the game continued very evenly with neither team managing to create any clear goal scoring opportunities.
Slazenger 2 – 0 Harrogate
The Slazenger team dominated the game from the start so it was no surprise when the opening goal came after 10 minutes when Aidan Hopkinson pounced on a rebound from a Luke Gueli short corner drag flick to fire the ball into the Harrogate goal.
Two minutes later, Slazenger extended their lead when Robert Cann finished off a flowing move involving Will Copley and Isaac Fisher. Despite concerted attacks the team were unable to find the net again. However, Isaac Fisher came very close when his reverse shot from the top of the ‘D’ glanced off the cross bar.
Slazenger 3 – 0 Ben Rhydding
With the Slazenger team now playing confident, flowing hockey, passing the ball quickly and working together, it was only a matter of time before they were rewarded with an opening goal inside 8 minutes. Will Copley finished another passing move with a reverse shot.
Matthew Stacey then scored 2 goals in under 5 minutes. The first picking up a rebounded shot and the second meeting a pass from Will Copley.
In other games, York beat Harrogate 3 – 0 and Ben Rhydding 1 – 0 meaning that Slazenger finished top on goal difference. The game between Ben Rhydding and Harrogate was won 3 – 2 by Ben Rhydding.
