Mens 2nd XI

Match Report

Slazenger men's 2nds hosted Doncaster under foreboding skies at Addingford. The away leg had been a cagey affair, with only a goal separating the sides. Slaz started on the front foot and moved the ball around. Doncaster had a font line of young lads who harried the slaz back line. However as the minutes rolled on, Slazenger became more composed and worked their way into a stronger attacking threat. Doncaster had a couple of experienced players at the back who made it hard to convert the chances into goal scoring.

However, the first breaks in the dam came from a couple of mis-hit short corners and before long, Slazenger had gone ahead from a single Richard Tuddenham penalty corner. After the break, the gap continued to grow. Tuddenham netted two more to open up a lead. Further goals came from Jack lee and James Swinden. Slazenger travels to Chesterfield next week.

Match Report

If last week had been a slightly hollow victory against bottom side Chesterfield 3’s, this week was a real test of the 2nd’s grit and determination. On a sunny Saturday morning, with the sun still wiping the sleep from its eyes, Slaz trecked out to meet Doncaster for a truly unreasonable 10am start. However the visitors were keen from last week’s win, keen enough for an unheard of 20 min warmup routine!

From the first whistle, Slazenger were the brighter. Green shirts slipped into formation with quiet confidence, and within minutes the side had found its rhythm. The midfield of Steve Roberts, Ben Graham and the impressive Owen Coughtrey ticked with energy, threading passes into the channels. The front line of Alek Thompson, Ian Hedges and James Stevenson buzzed and wove, pressing the Doncaster defence into hurried clearances. Chances came — several — yet none would yield. Doncaster really were the immovable force; an old school back line, backed up by some impressive saves from the keeper. Slazenger continued to press; an irresistible force winning multiple short corners. However the irresistible force found itself, for now, resisted.

Half-time brought a pause, a breath, and the words of young Matt Birkett, calm but certain that when the game was over, only a single goal would separate the teams. The truth of it hung there, suspended, both a warning and a promise. And so, when the second half began, it did so with fresh conviction. The press tightened, the passes snapped, and the tempo lifted. The pressure provided a penalty corner, and Lucas Smith stepped forward. His drag flick was not one for the highlight reel — a little scuffed, a touch imperfect — but perfection is rarely the measure of glory. The ball bobbled and bounced into the bottom corner. One-nil to Slazenger.

Yet the battle was far from over. Doncaster, wounded but unbroken, threw themselves forward. They pressed with urgency, but the Slazenger defence — disciplined and defiant — met every surge. James Walker picked out a couple of key saves to keep his clean sheet intact, with the whole side battling hard to deny the equaliser that Doncaster so desperately sought. As the final minutes bled away, the rhythm slowed. The morning had become a contest of will, sweat, and belief. When the whistle came at last, it carried both relief and quiet triumph. One goal had indeed decided it. Not a flamboyant goal-fest, but this one was well earned. Through grit, determination and persistence of the entire team and a single, slightly imperfect goal. Followed by a well deserved morning pint and a portion of chilli and rice. The things dreams are made of! Next week Slazenger 2nds look to make it 3 wins in a row as they host local rivals Huddersfield 2’s.

Match Report

No match report available.

Match Report

The 2nd's hosted Doncaster 4's at Addingford and played some of their best hockey of the season in a dominant display over the visitors. However, with a little more clinical finishing, they could have doubled their tally.

Slaz took a few minutes to get started, and it wasn't until Doncaster won (and fortunately missed) a penalty corner that it spurred the team into action. With that prompt, the host side began to play some constructive passing hockey. With the midfield trio of Ben Graham, Jack Mumford and Ste Roberts controlling the pitch, Slaz was able to create opportunities and pressure, resulting in Richard Tuddenham converting 2 penalty corners to put the side in control of the game. As the half went on, Slaz enjoyed the majority of possession and converted a further penalty flick to put them in a convincing lead going into the break.

The second half again showcased some strong hockey, Keith Leonard was devastating on the right wing, with one of his crosses resulting in a penalty corner, which Tuddenham scored for his fourth. After being cruelly denied a goal last week, Jack Mumford got the fifth. However it wasn't all one-way traffic, and Doncaster hit back several times, converting a scrappy goal in the D and a corner of their own to close the gap, but a sixth from Tuddenham (and his fifth in total) put the game beyond doubt. Slaz move up to 8th off of a strong performance, and take a lot of promise from the last couple of weeks into the autumn break.

Match Report

Slazenger enjoyed a comfortable 10-1 victory over Doncaster 4ths. Early in the game, it was a well contested game, with end to end action. However, after ten minutes, Slaz began to take control of the game and hold possession. Asad Baig broke the deadlock with trademark style, and after that the dam broke. A second from Baig, followed by goals from Keith Leonard, Alex Stacey and Damo Grieg gave the team a 5 goal cushion at half time.

However, the best was yet to come. In the second half, Slaz played some of theit best hockey of the season, moving the ball around the pitch and regularly finding holes in tje Doncaster defence. Credit goes to the visiting goalkeeper whose shot stopping kept Doncaster in the game. Baig netted the final of his hat trick, striking a reverse shot into the top corner so fast, the goalie had no time to react.

Hedges scored a single goal, with Grieg netting 2 more to finish his hat trick. Keith Leonard wrapped up the scoring with a spectacular top corner strike to go 10-0 up with minutes to go. Unfortunately, Doncaster managed to nick a consolation goal with seconds left. But otherwise it was an impressive performance from the team to wrap up before Christmas.

Match Report

Slazenger 2nd XI picked up a convincing 9–2 away win at Doncaster 4ths, putting in a strong attacking performance and showing what the team can do when they play together.

Asad Baig was on fire, scoring an outstanding eight goals, while Isaac Fisher added another and was deservedly named Man of the Match for his all-round performance and effort.

When Slazenger kept things simple, moved the ball well, and worked for each other, they dominated the game. When that dropped, possession was lost too easily and frustration crept in, giving Doncaster chances they shouldn’t have had. It was a good reminder of how important teamwork and communication are for the full match.

Overall, a big away win with plenty to take forward into the season

Match Report

The mens 2nd's finally got back to league action after an ice extended winter break of 5 weeks. Missing a couple of key players, the team faced a strong doncaster 4th's unit. Slaz started the quicker, and it was Mark Hammond who showed no signed of carrying excess turkey when he received a 30 meter aerial ball, beating the keeper to put the home side ahead. This seemed to wake up Doncaster, who responded quickly, with well worked movement and team coordination to catch the Slaz back line sleeping and net 2 in quick succession and putting them ahead at the break.

The second half was much the same, Slaz appeared to be recovering from their winter hibernation and began playing a better style of hockey together. Several efforts went close, but the winter rust was still apparent, and a pair of saves from the visiting keeper kept Slaz trailing. A quick break from midfield allowed Ian Hedges space to set up Hammond for his second. However, there were still signs that the home side were not fully awake, and even with some great defending from Ben Stevenson, and goalkeeper Daz Buttery, 2 defensive errors allowed Doncaster to capitalise, finishing the game 4-2.

Match Report

Slazengers Mens 2's had a double header at the weekend with contrasting results. Saturday saw them travel to Doncaster for a league encounter and came away on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline. After failing to capitalise on a bright start, Slazengers began to struggle with the playing conditions and Doncaster took advantage, getting in front and never looking back. Slazengers pegged them back to 3-2 with goals from Amir Khalil and Ben Graham however as they pressed for an equalizer, Doncaster scored their 4th and 5th in quick succession to kill off the game.

Match Report

Slazenger mens 2nd team continued their recent good form with a 2-0 victory away to league leaders Doncaster 4ths. Slazenger started the game well and were determined not to let Doncaster settle, putting pressure on the ball and not letting the Doncaster midfield time to get into the game. Doncaster were pushed into a long ball game allowing Slazenger to pick the ball up and attack at pace and in numbers.

It was one of these attacks that saw Matt Stacey clip the ball past the last defender and over the keeper to open the scoring, only for the goal to be inexplicably ruled out by the home umpire for being struck outside the ‘D’. Slazenger were understandably angered by this but channelled this in the right way, continuing to put pressure on the Doncaster defence. This paid off when Stacey grabbed the goal he deserved, finishing well on the back post after good work from Aidan Hopkinson. Staceys afternoon was unfortunately cut short however when the ball ricocheted off and stick and into his face resulting in a hospital trip and 7 stitches. Slazenger regrouped well and saw it through to half time.

Doncaster started the 2nd half well and pressed but James Higgins was excellent in defence on his debut and was well backed up by Murray Amesbury and Ralph Toon in goal. Slazenger work rate in midfield and across the top line was the difference and a well worked move resulted in Simon Randall doubling the Slaz lead. Doncaster threatened towards the end of the game but couldn’t find the net leaving Slazenger with a well deserved clean sheet.

Match Report

Slazengers mens 2nd team suffered their first defeat of the season to top of the league Doncaster on Saturday going down 3-1 at home. Given that Doncaster had scored 29 goals in their previous 4 games, Slazengers defence did well to hold them to 3 with good work through the back 4 and goalkeeper Ralph Toon.

The first half started at a fast pace with Slazenger immediately creating chances only to be denied by the Doncaster keeper. As the game progressed, Doncaster settled down and began to create some chances of their own and eventually took the lead from a debated short corner. Slazengers pressed to find an equalizer before the break but when the goalkeeper was beaten, the Slazenger forwards failed to find the target.

The 2nd half continued in a similar fashion although Slazengers were hampered by the loss of Ste Roberts due to injury. As the half progressed, the game became a bit scrappy with both sides having a player yellow carded. Doncaster extended their lead mid way through the half only for Slazengers to hit back immediately through captain Ben Graham. As Slazengers pushed for an equalizer, they were caught out by a slick Doncaster side to leave the final score at 3-1.

Slazengers will look to bounce back next week away at Lincoln.

Match Report

Slazenger’s seconds took a hard fought point off an experienced Doncaster side but will be disappointed not to take all three.

The Horbury side started brightly and used their pace to attack Doncaster down both flanks creating a number of chances only to be thwarted by the visiting keeper. As the half went on, Doncaster began to play the physical game that was expected of them, continually breaking Slazenger’s attacks down by any means necessary. It was just before the break however when the breakthrough came, Ed Richardson converting a neat short corner flick for Slazenger’s to go in at the break a goal up.

The second half started with much of the same, Doncaster trying to bully the game with Slazenger’s relying on playing fluent hockey. It was midway through the half when Doncaster drew level, however, after sneaking in at the back post. Slazenger’s continued to fight well with the package of Croucher, Amesbury and Webster linking well and when the ball finally fell to Richardson with the goal at his mercy, his slow motion flick was cleared off the line by the Doncaster defence.

Slazenger’s will still be looking for another couple of victories to ensure survival but this point will certainly come in handy come the end of the season.

Match Report

No match report available.

Match Report

Slazenger seconds entered the Christmas break period looking a shadow of heir true selves against Doncaster fourths; the team that destroyed Harrogate just a week previously drew 2-2 this time out.

Slazenger were caught napping for the opening goal but eventually Howie equalised from a penalty after Walker's goal had been ruled out only for the penalty to be awarded.

Doncaster bagged a dodgy second, but a timely penalty flick saved Slazenger's blushes.

Match Report

With defences well on top, it took until the final minutes to settle the outcome – and it was Doncaster who struck the points-winning goal. Charlie Harcourt had a solid game at the heart of Slazenger’s defence and there were impressive displays from Matthew Green and Jonathan White. However, lack of imagination and a failure to click in midfield, meant that Slazenger created little up front in what was a disappointing team performance.