Ladies 1s

Not much to report today after last week’s epic effort. L1s finished our Pre-Xmas season with a disappointing 0-0 draw against WGC. We weren’t on top form but at least we didn’t lose!

MoM Suzy Lovell DoD Sophie for asking to be subbed at the end so she can go for dinner in Clapham.

Thanks to mad woman Fish for supporting in her special chair.

Men’s 1s

Ladies 2s

L2s won 2-0 against Old Loughts! Slow start but picked it up after half time allowing us to score within the first few minutes with Elaine Mckenna pushing it over the line. Second was a brilliant straight strike on a short corner by Emma Jane . MOM to Nicky Palmer for her debut in mid (we can no longer hold her back…) and DOD self-selected, Kareen for near miss on a 3rd goal.

Men’s 2s

When goalkeeper Yogi Patel gets man of the match despite conceding 3, you know it hasn’t been a great day.

3-3 draw at home to a not very good Redbridge. Our goals were from me, Tom Lowe and Imran Arshad

At least we got a point though, let’s pick it up for next week and get our winning streak back on track. And let’s start passing the ball to each other now and then.

POP was Matt O’Hara for crimes against Clacton last week and the weakest story time with O’Hara of all time.

Ladies 3s

After our high last week comes this week’s Ladies 3’s low with a 0-6 loss to Thurrock 2’s . Though we have lots to be pleased with, they were a strong attacking team who unfortunately found our goal too many times in the first half, 5 to be exact. However we came out in the second half much stronger and organised in defence and only let 1 in. We had a few good breaks and chances on goal.

Laura Cleaton missed by a whisker and Abbie …well perhaps we won’t mention that one. Thank you Sian for goal keeping for us this week. Thanks Ray Russo for your fair and feisty umpiring. I’ve never seen you get so cross with players before…the oppo of course not us. Wish you’d sent them off though.

We played well and we are definitely showing promise. MoM Roisin – Some great tackles and strong penetrating hits up to our forwards. See you at training girls before the last game 2015.

Men’s 3s

Mens 3’s went 1-0 down to bottom of the league Upminster who haven’t won a game all season. If it wasn’t for the defence and a beautifully timed 16 yard free hit taken by the keeper leading to a quick counter and Tim scoring. We wouldn’t have only just won 5-1.

Goal Scorers: Ferg (2), Joe (1), Parvin (1), Tim (1).

Ladies 4s

Yippeeee!!! In our last game before Christmas, the Ladies 4s faced Brentwood away. Having drawn with them 2-2 at the start of the season, we were ready to go out fighting.

When we arrived, the other team were nowhere in sight. After a stressful 45mins wondering why, we eventually found the correct pitch, courtesy of Fiona…. so we had about 10 mins to warm up. Despite having no proper warm up, and 11 players compared to their 13 (several of whom were very young and nippy!), we played an absolute blinder. We spent most of the first half attacking, and I managed to finish a fantastic cross from Charlotte. Our passing was much better than it has been and we were actually taking shots in the D!

One of my shots hit the oppo’s foot on the line, winning us a penalty flick which Charlotte put away beautifully. 2-0 up at half time!

In the second half, we were getting tired but still played hard. Our defenders were really putting the pressure on and Rosemarie made some lovely saves. The game ended with no further goals – earning us a well-deserved 2-0 win! HOORAY!

MOM: Charlotte, for some brilliant runs, crosses and her penalty flick. POP: Also Charlotte, for managing to cut her knees open again

Men’s 4s

On Saturday the 4s were on the road @ Basildon ODF, after a hard fought 1-0 win v Brentwood last weekend @ Lee Valley. We were looking for back to back victories for the 1st time this season.

Honestly can sum up yesterday’s performance in one word AWESOME…………

We absolutely dominated our opposition, but for a poor 10 minute period before HT, in every aspect of the game. Our desire, commitment, work rate, pace, solid base, team shape and superb fluid hockey, Basildon just couldn’t live with us.

We won 6-0, and being hyper critical it could have been more, if we were a little more ruthless, and the Keeper didn’t make a string of good saves. But, that’s me just being me, always asking for more, never happy. ‪#‎JoyByNameNotByNature‬

Seriously though, couldn’t be prouder of how we have gelled as a unit, and the quality of hockey we are playing.

That win has moved us up to 4th in the league, within 3 points of the 3rd automatic promotion position. Think the top 2 are away but if we can keep the hockey, at the high level, we are currently playing, a hat trick of promotions, is not out of the question. Although it’s a very tight division outside the top 2.

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#‎NoPressureGuys‬

So onwards to Old Loughts next week, for our last game before the winter break.

Goal Scorers, Alex Heath (2) Travis Hodges Gavin Gynn Nadeem Ahmed Jon Sidwell

MOTM, Difficult this week, as everything clicked, and it was fantastic all round team performance but, the vote went to Alex Gynn for his work rate, and some unbelievably good ball distribution.

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#‎ProudCaptain‬

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#‎GreenArmy‬

Ladies 5s

At home at 4pm (again), Ladies 5s played Witham 3s, with a last minute change of kicking back to goal keeper, Claire made her debut in goal, she saved numerous goals. Ladies 5s (can’t say we as I was stood watching on the side line being too ill to play) fought hard and broke into the opposition’s D several times. Final score WF 0-3 Witham. Onwards and upwards for next week girls, a goal is sure to follow before Christmas. Be proud, you all played some great hockey.

Men’s 5s

This inter club game saw the 5’s entertain the Otter’s.

The 5’s came away with the win to maintain their unbeaten run, but the credit should go to Otters who pushed them all the way and played the better hockey and had to play with a Kicking back.

The 5’s were too complacent at the start of the game and the otters took a well-deserved lead after a great run from Gino to set up Shane Crowe, this sparked some life into the 5’s.

The 5’s got the equaliser though Ben Firth-Salam, but the 5’s continued to make too many mistakes trying to force the game. The first half ended 1-1

The second half continued in much the same way as the first, but there was a slight improvement from the 5’s. The second half was again littered with mistakes, running into tackles, sloppy passing and not coming to the ball. The frustration began to show on the captain.
For all the 5’s mistakes credit should go the Otters who challenged for everything, never gave up, putting their body on the line defending (Luke Clarke) and some great hockey.

The 5’s got their second which turned out to be the winner after a short corner fell kindly to Ben Firth-Salam for his second of the game.
The 5’s should take from this game never underestimate the opposition.

On the positive still unbeaten into the last game before the Christmas break.

Otters

The Otters took on the Mens 5s at Lee Valley and from the start showed the greater desire and sharper passing. Shane scored his first-ever League goal, past his Dad in the 5s goal, the culmination of 20 minutes of dominance in which Gino, Adam and Joao dominated central midfield. The goal sparked the 5s into life, and they equalised from close range when a short corner wasn’t cleared.

The second half saw the 5s assert their authority on the game, forcing a series of short corners, though Peter, Luke and Manu defended valiantly, and it took another scrappy goal from a short corner for the 5s to take a 2-1 lead, which proved to be the final score. The Otters pressed at times, played the better passing hockey, and created some half-chances.

Despite such small margins it was a result that moved the unbeaten 5s towards the top of the table, and put the Otters bottom of the League – but with the same effort throughout the team and commitment to play flowing hockey we should be moving upwards before long.