Slazenger Hockey Club

News

Report: 14-04-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (6) vs. (1) Normanby Park 2nd’s – PROMOTION!

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Slazenger 3rd’s travelled to Normanby Park on Saturday, knowing only a win would see them secure promotion. After a jittery start, a 6-1 victory put it beyond doubt.

Slaz took the push back, starting brightly, though with some early nerves. However this was easily overcome after good link-up play from John Sykes and Andrew Birkett forced a mix up in the circle, allowing Birkett to slot an opening goal home. However, as in recent weeks, Slaz proceeded to make life difficult for themselves, by struggling to do even the simple things well. Normanby Park punished them for the mistakes, taking the initiative, and grabbing a scrappy equaliser. The usual strong Slaz defence struggled to clear their lines and keeper Ralph Toon couldnt stop the simple tap in which resulted, during an otherwise faultless performance.

Slaz continued to work, and the more effective passing game began to make gains. The horbury side attacked several times, cutting deep into the home teams half. Attacks from Ste Roberts, Ian Hedges and Matthew Stacey maintained pressure and it was Stacey who grabbed a vital equaliser before half time.

The game was closely contested for in the minutes before the half ended and Slaz were happy to hear the half time whistle.

In the second half, Slaz regrouped and reapplied the pressure. With only a goal in it, there was always a threat Normanby Park would equalise. John Sykes had been threatening throughout the first half, with several shots on goal. This half however, he managed to grab the goal; a powerful strike was caught by an unfortunate defender’s stick, with the keeper unable to save.

With some breathing room, Slaz really pilled on the pressure. Slaz continued to defend as a unit, with strong performances from their back line: Paul Johnson, Mark Kitchen, John Toon, and Alan Perry. This allowed the midfield to hit the opposition on the break, causing real problems in the Normanby Park goalmouth and winning several penalty corners in quick succession. It was from one of these that Paul Johnson scored Slazenger’s fourth; the ball whipped out from Birkett, and slammed in from the top of the circle.

A fifth goal completed Sykes’ brace, with a great individual effort. Receiving the ball on the edge of the goalmouth, made space for himself and struck the ball fiercely into the corner. This was quickly followed by Matthew Stacey’s second of the game, with a tap in from the right post.

Final score Slazenger 6 – Normanby Park 1 which ensures Slazenger 3’s will be promoted as runners-up having won their last 5 games of the season.

Report: 31-03-2012 – Ladies 2nd’s (3) vs. (0) Heckmondwike 1st’s – PROMOTION!

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It was going to be a day of pure excitement with possible promotion on the cards for the green army. As they travelled south to heckmondwike, they knew a win was vital to keep cleckheaton feeling nervous about their final 2 encounters. This weeks opposition were much more pleasant, the total opposite of the pure filth the ladies faced last weekend. The game got under way at midday and the determination could be felt all around. Slaz started strongly, merkin all areas of the pitch and leaving Lisa GK rather bored in her goal.

Millie Crowther and Daisy Gee-Sanders had some beauty shots at goal, but unfortunately the heckmondwike goalkeeper had obviously being doing her flexibility training or dusting her house- clawing many shots out from the top corners of the goal like a cat. Half time arrived and slaz left feeling rather vexed at the 100 missed opportunities. 

The second half got underway, the inspirational words of Nez were ringing in the green army’s ears and the faithful supporters of Houghy + Sarah Ritchey could be heard from the side lines. For the first 15mins, it was like deja vu for slaz, with the keeper pulling off some awesome saves. “Go round her” was the shout from the fans.

Pressure was piled on and heckmondwike were clearly struggling with slaz’s sik skills. The hockey was quite phenomenal and the opposition were clearly beginning to fatigue from chasing the slazenger athletes. Eventually, the moment the hockey world was waiting for arrived- the green army were a goal up!! A shot into the bottom corner from Elle Poskett that even mrs flexible goalkeeper couldn’t reach finally broke the deadlock!

Now the question was ‘could they hold on?’ The answer to this was clearly yes. In fact, the green army wouldn’t just hold on, they would go on to merk it..ending the season in true style. Another goal from Elle Poskett put them 2-0 up, this time from an acute angle of 12° . It squeezed past the keepers pad, giving slaz breathing space.

But they weren’t finished yet, Katie Browne, a 3rd team superstar, was about to step up to score a goal that can only be described as ‘like a dream.’ A short corner was taken, Katie waited at the left post and elegantly placed her reversed stick on the floor. The perfect positioning allowed the ball to be deflected beautifully into the goal.

Shortly after, the final whistle then blew for a delighted slaz. They had done all they could and the pressure was all on Cleckheaton. A few hours later, news came in that they had fallen at the first hurdle- losing their saturday game to Leeds! It was official- the green army were promoted!! Time to hit horbury and sing Spice Girls to celebrate!

Report: 31-03-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (1) vs. (0) Chapeltown 4th’s

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Slazenger Mens 3rds stand on the brink of promotion, after their final home game against Chapeltown 4th’s
 
Slazenger 3’s got of to another flying start for their final home fixture of the season against Chapeltown, scoring from a penalty corner within the first 60 seconds. A neat move was finished by Andy Birkett who deftly flicked the ball into the goal after Paul Johnson had wrong footed the oncoming defenders.
 
The home side continued to press for the next 10 minutes but as in recent games failed to convert several decent opportunities into goals. As the half progressed Chapeltown continued to work hard and began to dominate the middle of the field and limit Slazengers attacking options.

The only real threat from the home team at this time was Ian Hedges on the left wing, who had the beating of his marker.

Despite Chapeltown’s progressive work they only really created 2 scoring opportunities in the whole game, one in either half, neither was thankfully taken.

Second half Slazengers got to grips with man marking the opposition and began to exert more pressure, but again were wasteful in front of goal.

Steve Johnson was unlucky twice in the space of 5 minutes and John Sykes forced the keeper to make several decent saves.

By the end of the game it was virtually one way traffic but still the score remained 1-0. The result was always more important than the performance and if Slazengers can win their last game of the season, away at Normanby Park in 2 weeks time, they will clinch promotion via the runners-up spot.

Report: 31-03-2012 – Mens 2nd’s (3) vs. (1) Doncaster 6th’s

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Slazenger men’s 2nd team got as away win at Doncaster 6s this weekend.

Slaz started brightly and were soon ahead through a great solo effort from Jake Barras, who picked the ball up on the left wing and beat two defenders and the keeper to strike the ball home. Instead of putting Doncaster under more pressure Slaz let Doncaster back into the game and were lucky to be going into half time with a 1-0 lead.

After the break Doncaster continued to press Slaz and were soon level from a short corner. Doncaster were unlucky not to go ahead from their attacks.

Slaz however kept them at bay and then found themselves ahead with a goal from Anwar Al-Khaili. Ben Graham passed the ball from midfield to Anwar on the left side of the D who dragged the ball back out and slotted it passed the keeper. Slaz started to play the same way as they started the match and Doncaster were under pressure again and Slaz extended their lead with a goal from Ben Graham.

Bryon dean Passed the ball out to Rowan Tejura who crossed the ball to Ben who’s shot was stopped on the line by a defenders foot, a penalty flick was given and Ben scored from it to seal the win.

Slaz’s last match of the season is in two weeks time away to Lincoln Roses 3’s.