Match Reports (Previous Seasons)

Gameweek 03 – Match Reports

MENS 1s

On another warm and sunny Saturday a squad of 14, containing 3 Ed’s and 3 Chris’ (and had our captain not abandoned us it would have been 2 Richards as well) travelled down to the coast to face a Felixstowe side which had struggled in their opening two match. The opening half was not a spectacle for the crowd s Forest struggled to find any fluency in their play, giving the ball away time after time. Fortunately Felixstowe were unable to capitalise until late in the first half when the ball ricocheted up in the air off Phil Peacock’s stick and Shuhel Malique misjudged the bounce allowing the home team’s striker through on goal and he hammered the ball past a helpless Ed Heathcock in goal. 1-0 at halftime.

After a stern talking to from the coach Forest came out a different team and totally dominated the second half. The game was turned on its head in the space of a few minutes when first Ed Jackson deflected a well worked short corner past the home teams goalkeeper and then Lloyd Francis scored his first of the game from close range. As the home team tired, due to all the ball chasing, spaces opened up which Forest exploited. The third came after Malique beat 2 or 3 players before crossing to Lloyd at the back post, who tapped in from a foot out. The scoring was wrapped up by Liam Radley and I can’t really remember how he scored but he did.

A good 4-1 win after a very rocky opening period. This Saturday the 1s look to continue their unbeaten start against Harleston Magpies who have so far struggled this season, gaining 0 points, so just the type of team the very charitable 1s normally like to lose to.

MOM – Ed Heathcock (kept us in it when we were awful)
POP – Rich Arkle (abandoning his team to go to a wedding he wasn’t really wanted at)

LADIES 1s

Sorry in a rush so to summarise: we had loads of chances, I finally scored a deflection (eyes shut, I mean open) from a cracking ball in from Rebecca Charlootey A 1-0 half time. They scored on a break, we had loads more chances and Lucy Butcher hammered one home in last minute. 2-1 win!!!!

MoM Suzy Lovell stolen from Lucy not that she’s bitter
DoD Lucy

MENS 2s

The men’s twos game today was ruined by a nasty piece of work with serious short man syndrome on a power trip. But we won’t talk about who that might’ve been.

Kristis Bubnelis managed to get TWO red cards, fortunately both rescinded as well as a yellow and a green. Obviously POP, but in a sort of awesome way.

Well done to Ashley-Mark Perhat and Imran Arshad for their goals, which helped us to a 2-2 draw. Immy got sent off for scoring, otherwise we would’ve won 3-2.
Unlucky lads, but let’s sort out our discipline – and that includes not shooting Immy / Kristis!

LADIES 2s

Great effort by Ladies 2s against Colchester, after a wobbly start we got it together with Rach Ellis winning a short then another goal from Emma Jane via a cheeky swipe from the post. 2nd half got the better of us though with an impressive hand injury to Nicky Palmer putting her off the pitch and us all off our stride. Ended with a 3 – 2 loss.

MOM: joint Rach Ellis (playing through a cold), Michelle Twitchett(great saves) & Elaine Mckenna (for intimidating the oppo with a brilliant Roar!)
DOD: I can’t remember…

MENS 3s

Home game against Brentwood saw us battle hard, make saves, tackle strong, drive forward and score good goals. Our 3 great goals came from Paul, Dan and Nadeem but unfortunately they won’t count.

Coming back out after half time leading 3-1, Nate had a mid air collision in his dodgy aeroplane ✈ causing an engine malfunction and crash landed. With a paramedic called the game had to be abandoned and replayed at a future date.Incase your worried, Nate is OK, it’s mild concussion but the blurred vision was probably because of no contact lenses.

MOM: n/a
POP: Nate

LADIES 3s

The Ladies 3s started off as they had finished the week before – exhausted, sweating and waiting for the final whistle……

No not at all, we started confidently and took what we had done in the second half the week before directly into this game. We played a good passing game and arguably missed a few good chances to take the game in the first half. However we were 1-0 up at half time. Half time talk saw destruction of a bag of minstrels and an invitation to the forwards to talk to each other then we set off on what out oppo’s coach kept shouting ‘power in domination’….

Unfortunately we conceded a goal in a moment of switch off and then another swiftly followed that not many of us could do much about. However, that rallied us back and we pulled back with some more short sharp passing and drew it back level, finishing 2-2, giving us a well-earned point and lifting us off the bottom of the table.

Isabelle Scerri was our deserved player of the match and Amber Banbury didn’t tread on anyone – honest!!

Special thanks to Matt, Katherine & Kat for pulling off the great escape for us and finding umpires at the last minute to avoid us conceding. Thank you so much.

MENS 4s

We travelled to darkest Essex, to face old foes Havering.

Having played so well, the week before, but leaving Southend with nothing, we were looking for the same level of performance, with a more positive outcome. As stand in Skipper due to an injury to Frank Dijkstra i decided to play Alex Heath in a new position, a sort of Dennis Bergkamp Role. In what turned out to be a goalless 1st half, we learnt that the young lad playing up front was lightning quick, with plenty of ability. He was a constant thorn in our side during the opening half, helping to create, chances for Havering, who were very profligate in front of goal, with our keeper Martin, making some great saves.

Again we played some fluid expansive hockey, creating opportunities if our own, but we were also profligate in front of goal. The 2nd half was completely different game, especially in front of goal. After putting us under immense pressure, Havering forced a flick and took a 1-0 lead. At this point we were under the cosh, with quicksilver, running us ragged.
His sheer pace helped him set up a 2-0 lead for Havering. Driving my troops on, and still trying to play our game, we began to create chances of our own. And after some great work by Ash Fisher i collected the ball at the top of the D and swept it into the bottom corner, 2-1 and back in the game.

Next 10 minutes of the game, were end to end, both teams creating chances and defending well, with Ben Rai-Green and Ian Bennett making miraculous goal line clearances from Short corners.
Unfortunately from a Short Corner, very poor play and loss of concentration we conceded a 3rd. 3-1 down with 5 minutes left, looking like game over, we rallied again, went straight up the other end, and after some tenacious work in The D by Martin Hands-Clarke, he crossed to Alex Heath who finished superbly. 3-2. With about 90 seconds remaining, the same combination, got us our equaliser, 3-3 and with a little mire time, sure we would have gone on to win the game. Fantastic desire, commitment, passion and never say die attitude, gained us a well deserved point.

Goal Scorers, Gary Joy Alex ‘Dennis Bergkamp’ Heath (2)
MOTM, Gary Joy ‪#‎Embarrassed‬ followed very closely by Martin H-C, Alex Heath and Martin (Keeper)

LADIES 4s

It was a solid effort from the Ladies 4s playing away against a stronger Upminster team. Upminster played with a kicking back and no keeper, which Kwai took advantage of with an early goal, putting us 1-0 ahead. However, most of the game took place in our half, with our defence and keeper Rosemarie doing a wonderful job. Two Upminster goals were disallowed but they eventually evened the score. Sadly, an own goal from our team in the second half put them ahead – final score 2-1 to Upminster.

MOM went to Alex for working like a trooper. Well done ladies for fighting so hard!

MENS 5s

The men’s 5’s travelled to Southend for there second away game off the season. The men’s 5’s dominated from minute 1, creating a number of chances and winning a number of short corners. But unfortunately there couldn’t not get the goal there deserved.

The second half continue in the same vain, with the 5’s unable to turn there dominance into goals.

Mom: Martin Doody

LADIES 5s

No Game

MENS OTTERS

The Mens 6s came up against a Chelmsford 6 side containing a similar mix of mostly inexperienced youth and adult players, with the exception of a young forward who proved a constant threat and scored all their goals.

Having come within a whisker of getting a touch on a few dangerous balls into the D we got to half-time just 0-1 down, but we carried little threat in the second half and Chelmsford converted 2 more chances for a final 0-3 defeat. Improvement from all the youngsters in only their second competitive match was a cause for optimism.

JUNIORS

The Youth tournament was GREAT! Perfect weather, good results, and with everyone pitching in to help: it all ran beautifully.

I’m listing some names who helped – but frankly it all works because it’s a fantastic team effort. Whether you give 5 hours or 10 minutes – it all contributes and makes events like today possible. Heartfelt thanks! Give yourselves a pat on the back.

THANK YOU massively to the very awesome: Matthew Hale, Peter Clark, Richard Farrow, Francis Brown, Jane Blackborow, Ben Rai-Green, Mel, Michelle Twitchett, Abi, and Abi & Cole’s dad Alex Hepper, Hendre’s mum Helena Sinclair, Mark’s mum Emma, Charis & Samuel’s mum Liz, Hevin’s dad Konrad, Oscar’s dad Ian, Shuhel Malique, Ann Billett, Kiesha Dwyer and Lydia Hale… Also: Stu & Oli’s mum Josefine, Tiana who played in goal all day, Shane Crowe, Daniel Clark, Samuel Owen & Niall Toomey.

Under 10 girls

won 2-0 vs Redbridge (Siobhan 2)
won 1-0 vs Redbridge (Cleo)
won 3-0 vs Southend & Benfleet (Siobhan, Shannon 2)
won 3-1 vs Southend & Benfleet (Siobhan 3)

Under 12 girls

drew 0-0 vs Southend & Benfleet
won 4-1 vs Redbridge (Abi 3, Ruby)

Under 10 boys

lost 0-1 vs Tower Hamlets
lost 0-2 vs S&B
won 1-0 vs Redbridge (Joshim)

Under 12 boys A team

won 2-0 vs S&B (Kayode, Mohad)
won 3-0 vs Havering (Mohad 2, Kayode)
won 3-0 vs Redbridge (Kayode, Dhillon, George B)
won 2-1 vs Tower Hamlets (Dhillon, Zaki)

Under 12 boys B team (younger kids!)

lost 0-1 vs Tower Hamlets
lost 0-3 vs S&B
lost 1-2 vs Redbridge (Simeon)
lost 8-0 vs Havering

At the end of the day U12 boys Waltham A team and Forest B team, and some spectator kids all joined together for a giant mash up match! No idea what the score was, but goals were scored and saved, the sun was shining and the faces were smiling smile

Next tournament is on 18 Oct in Southend – if you fancy a day at the seaside, just let me know!

Steve Hare