Slazenger Hockey Club

News

Report: 10-03-2012 – Mens 4th’s (Dev) (2) vs. (0) Airedale 3rd’s

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Slazengers 4’s faced top of the table Bradford on Saturday and performed very well in their last home league fixture of the season.

Bradford were a well drilled side with a good mixture of youth and a couple of experienced first teamers that ensured Slazenger 4’s had to play with a good tempo and make use of the wings if they were to compete.

Aidan Hopkinson, Tom Pitchforth and Geoff Birkett worked hard to create the space in midfield to enable the team to push forward and attack. Tim Hunter put in several crosses from the left and Matthew Stacey caused havoc on the right wing, supplying several attacking opportunities for the forwards to score.
However, it was Matthew himself who benefited from an accurate pass, when in space, at the top of the goal mouth, to accurately place the ball in the net for the home team’s first goal.

Slazengers continued to create good goal scoring opportunities but squandered several glorious chances with poor finishing, trying to hurry their passes and forcing the play. The home team had to concentrate and Chris Hopkinson and Danny Croxall were kept busy with several attacking moves from the opposition. Half time score was 1-0.

The second half saw Slazengers keep up the work rate and continue to create chances without really convincing in front of goal. As the game progressed the league leaders stepped up a gear and really pushed for an equaliser and but for Richard Smyth in goal pulling of several smart saves, the home team would have conceded.

The game became slightly fractious for a while, with the Bradford umpire not really helping the situation. However, Slazengers finally succumbed to an equaliser when the 2 senior Bradford players linked up well and slotted the ball into the far corner.

There were further scares at both ends before the game finished final score 1-1. Slazenger 4’s last game of the season is away against Rotherham.

Report: 10-03-2012 – Ladies 3rd’s (1) vs (2) City of York 5th’s

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Slazenger’s ladies 3rd team suffered a narrow defeat to near top of the table City of York 4.

Slazenger’s piled the pressure on with numerous attempts on goal but this proved futile.

The strong defences were broken down and city of York scored but slaz kept there heads up and pushed forward. Gemma whittam fed in player of the match Katie Browne who stormed into the D and scored bottom corner.

Second half was an interesting watch, end to end hockey with lost of positives but unfortunately the defences were broken down again and York scored.

Final score 2-1

Report: 03-03-2012 – Mens 1st’s (3) vs. (0) Thirsk 1st’s

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Slaz 1st vs Thirsk 1st Slaz were short of several players, but this was a second in the league against a team at the bottom that hadn’t won a game. 

Slaz were determined not to become the first side to loose.  Slaz were current favourites to go up in the second spot. 
Slaz got off to the usual form and seemed disjointed, but they supported each other well and got one goal before half time from Paul Wiper. Andy Fisher had a good consistent game at centre back. 

Isaac Fisher, Richard Tuddenham and Dan Perry tore apart the opposition as usual and created lots of chances, but good keeping kept slaz eager to find the decisive 2nd goal.

Thirsk battle on to keep in the game and put slax under some good pressure, but failed to create more than a few half chances before slaz found their second from Isaac Fisher. 

Slaz were on top again with a good lead and finished off the game with a good drag flick from Dan Perry, that got a lucky deflection from Richard Tuddenham to hit the roof of the net.

Report: 03-03-2012 – Mens 2nd’s (2) vs. (2) Lincoln Roses 4th’s

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Slazenger Men’s 2nd Team travelled to Lincoln Roses 4s and came away with a well-fought draw.

Slaz travelled without some key players but still produced a great team performance to earn their first point since Christmas. It was Lincoln who scored the first goal of the match from an attack that came just after Slaz had missed opportunities to go ahead themselves.

By the end of the first half the score remained 1-0 but both teams had created chances to but not taken them.

Slaz started the second half the strongest and were able to equalise early on through a goal from Eddie Taylor who chipped the ball over the Lincoln keeper. The match carried on with end-to-end hockey and Lincoln went ahead for the second time through a well worked short corner.

It was not long however before Slaz were back on level terms through a smart short corner of their own. Eddie Taylor’s first time strike from the top of the D snuck in at the right hand post just below backboard height.

The match carried on with the end-to-end hockey with both teams working hard, but turned in favour of Lincoln when slaz player Matt Middleton was given a yellow card for dissent. Slaz worked hard to cover Lincoln’s extra man and their defence were organised and man of the match Alex Calderley had an impressive first match for the second team as very little got passed him.

Once slaz were back to full numbers they pressed for a win but were unable to score. Although they picked up a point from a close match they were slightly disappointed not to get the win.

Next week Slaz are at home to Leeds Adel Carnegie 5s on Saturday, and on the Sunday they will travel to Hull University 2nd’s.

Report: 03-03-2012 – Mens 3rd’s (2) vs. (3) Garforth 1st’s

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Slazenger travelled away to Garforth 1st’s, looking for another win on the back of the previous weeks’ victory. However, its was not to be, as they fell to two last minute goals at the hands of the hosts.

Slazenger started quickly, though with the obvious absence of Skipper Andy Fisher. Ste Roberts and Luke Gueli controlled the midfield well, and with some fluid passing Garforth were quickly under pressure. Frustratingly, Slaz continue to struggle with their finsihing and were unable to convert pressure to goals. Garforth were quick and persistant on the attack and did break out several times, leading to several frantic end-to-end periods of play.

Unfortuntaley Garforth struck first, with a quick break-away earning them a penalty corner. This was duly converted putting them 1-0 up.

Slaz continued to press. A series of close efforts were unable to create an equaliser. Al Perrys’ effort went wide of the post and Steve Johnson managed to miss at least 5 (!) great opportunities. The continued pressure eventually paid off, with Johnson converting one of the many opportunites into an equaliser.

With the scoreline reset, the horbury team upped their pace. Youngster Rowan Tejura excelled in centre midfield, going close himself. A well worked run by Ian Hedges from deep in Slaz’ own half to the opposition’s “D” set up Andy Birkett to bag the lead with only 10 minutes to go.

Garforth seemed to redouble their effort, and forced through two further times, forcing errors and bagging 2 further penalty corners. These were converted to put them 3-2 up at the final whistle.

Slaz can take heart from the fact that goals were only conceded from short corners, not open play and their standard of hockey continues to improve.