Slazenger
vs.
City of York 3
All Fixtures
Match Report
Slazenger Men's 1st Team successfully edged past a resilient York 3rd team in a tense, nerve-racking match. The final score read 2-1 to Slazenger, at the end of an hard fought encounter on home soil. As the match pushed off, Slazenger quickly set the tempo, showing good control over the game. Their domination finally paid off as they scored the opener from a well-executed short corner.
Yet, York proved a tough nut to crack. Undeterred by the initial setback, they threw themselves back into the fray, levelling the score-line with a swift counter-attack that caught Slaz off-guard. This produced a powerful strike that beat the home side's keeper, resulting in honours being even at the break The York goalkeeper, in particular, was instrumental in keeping the hopes alive for the away side in the second half. With a series of stunning saves, he thwarted every attack the Slazenger team threw at him, becoming the bulwark that Slazenger found hard to bypass.
Despite the formidable resistance put up by York, Slazenger remained patient, creating chances while maintaining their organised defence - particularly impressive after the loss of stalwart, Adam 'Drakey' Drake to a calf injury. When all seemed even, the home team managed to break through York's solid defence with a crucial goal late in the fray. This was a nail-biting conclusion that left the spectators at the edge of their seats.
The performance of both teams served as a testament to the competitiveness of the sport, but ultimately, it was Slaz who were celebrating not only the win, but a move into 4th place in the table!
Match Report
No match report available.
Match Report
No match report available.
Squad
FG 12'
FG 47'
FG 63'
Match Report
Coming off a well fought draw last week, Slaz came into this game determined to get a home win. The game was off to a good start when Danny Perry fired in a stunning tomahawk within the first 5 minutes. Richard Tuddenham made his mark on the pitch, scoring two goals in quick succession, going on to complete his hattrick in the second half.
Jermaine's drag flick from a short corner bounced off the keepers’ pads, onto York’s player, rebounding back into the goal. After a few too many wide shots, Richard focused and scored his 4th goal of the match, securing a 6 goal lead. Ben Jackson gracefully handed over the flick he won to Matty Smith, who sealed the deal with a beautiful flick into the top left of the goal. Final score came to 7-0 to Slazenger’s, this performance has left Slazenger as the top goal scorers in the league, coming in at 30 goals this season already.
Match Report
No match report available.
Match Report
Slazengers 1s we’re looking to continue their winning momentum away vs York 3s.
A depleted Slazengers started the stronger of the two teams allowing Adam Drake and Mark Swinden to dictate play from the back. Gascoigne and Minchella caused havoc in midfield leading to Max Godley opening the scoring.
Much the same story as the half progressed; Slazenger opened up York with off the ball movement and accurate passing through the channels. 3 more goals from Alex Stacey, Ben Jackson and Lucas Smith saw Slazengers enter the half time break 4-0 up.
With nothing to lose, York started the second half on the front foot; pressing a lot higher up the pitch. Slazengers weathered the early storm and soon got back into the rhythm. Slazengers moved the ball quickly through the midfield to Jackson who was open on the left who then deftly played an aerial ball the right over the ‘D’ to a waiting Stacey who smashed the ball on the volley into the York goal. Slazenger 5, York 0.
A bare 11 meant Slazengers started to tire toward the end of the game. Less movement lead to some sloppy passes that helped York create 2 penalty corners that they subsequently converted much to the chagrin of Loftus who was looking for a clean sheet; playing under floodlights for the first time in a long time didn’t help.
End result 5 - 2 with a great team performance from the 1s.
Match Report
No match report available.
Match Report
The Christmas & New Year sporting break is a wonderful time of the year, however with the cold snap that preceded the festive period it was over a month since Slazenger Ones had swung a stick in competition. The Firsts kicked off 2018 with an away game in the historic city of York. Timeworn would be a good metaphor for Slazenger’s first phase of hockey. Some lethargic post mince pie play quickly allowed the home side to tap two goals past a frustrated Loftus. By half time the sustained Slazenger sluggishness had allowed York to increase this to 3. If the Firsts were to salvage some pride, let alone a point or two, then it was time to shake off the festive flab and start playing the hockey they are capable of.
It didn’t take long for Slazenger to open their score sheet in the second half. Some strong midfield play from James Swindon allowed Tuddenham to tap home his first of the match and at 1 – 3 the game was, finally, on. With every passing phase of play Slazenger were shedding the sloth and getting stronger. Two goals in quick succession from Perry brought the game level at three a piece and with less than ten minutes left on the clock Gascoigne and Chilton linked up with Tuddenham who fired home the winner to rapturous applause and shouts from himself.
Match Report
A couple of close games over bonfire weekend for the Ones; the first of which, at home on Saturday, started pretty abjectly! Repeated attempts to pull off Hollywood passes, coupled with excessive dribbling, lead to the inevitable as York put a goal away to take the lead.
Halftime couldn’t come soon enough for Slazenger - a seasonal rocket from the captain ensued… By contrast the second half couldn’t have been more different. Some nice link up play from James Swinden and Danny Perry soon started to bear fruit, and it wasn’t long before Tuddenham had added to his tally too.
Slazenger held onto a 3 -1 lead to the end despite going down to 10 men after Harry ‘the filth’ Gunning was sent off.
Match Report
Post Christmas break the men’s first eleven have only managed 40 mins of hockey. after injury forced last weeks game to finish early. But frozen pitches and injured opposition were to hold us back no more, a triumphant return to January hockey saw the men’s firsts defeat York 3 – 6 and continue the push for promotion.
It’s fair to say that 5 weeks without a full game did show on match fitness levels, substitutions were plentiful, as were tired legs. That said the game started very well for Slazenger’s with early goals from Tuddenham and Perry who linked up gloriously in the first 15 minutes to set the tone of the game.
As the game progressed York managed to keep a foot in the door with the odd goal, however a man of the match performance from super-keeper Loftus put pay to any real chance the opposition had of challenging for the win. The second half saw Tuddenham complete his hatrick, and Swinden (Mark) narrowly avoid a card for a strong tackle. On the whole a competent, if not electrifying, Slazenger performance got the New year hockey off in the right direction.
Squad
No squad recorded.
Match Report
No match report available.
Squad
Match Report
Slazenger in deep relegation trouble
Slazenger were looking forward to their game with York thirds at Featherstone Sports Centre as they needed the points to avoid relegation from Yorkshire League Division two, but their performance failed to match their ambition. Not only did Slazenger not achieve their aim of gaining valuable league points, but Horbury-based Wakefield side suffered a disappointing four goals defeat without reply. Slazenger started brightly with positive one-two work down both flanks, cutting up the York side. but 20 minutes into the game, York earned a long corner that culminated in a goal rammed in from close range.
Slazenger were not disheartened by the score but another 'soft' goal after good work down the right and a powerful drive into the top corner from the edge of the D that left the 'keeper no chance also left Slazenger with little chance of recovery. The 'home' side turned around full of determination, however, but luck was against them. And York scored two more goals to drive Slazenger ever-nearer relegation. Overall, Slazenger's midfield control was poor, the side had to rely too much on strong runs of man-of-the-match full-back Marcus Taylor, and without support, Slazenger failed to trouble the visiting defence.
