Ladies 1s
Just quickly as we lost and I need to go out. We played Southend and Benfleet, went up 2-0 with a roofer (not sure if that’s a thing but you can imagine) from Philippa Leguen De Lacroix and flick by Lucy Butcher. However, we then didn’t take our chances and lost out to a few quick breaks ending with a 2-3 loss.
MoM Anna-Marie Parker
DoD Lucy for being a sleep talking knife wielder
Thanks to those who came to support!
Ladies 2s
(Match report written by Dee) Ladies 2s vs County Wanderers
We woke up to a really rainy morning and (for me) a nomination for DOD before I had even left my front door (but that’s another story altogether). We started the morning with 14 players but were down to 12 before we had all arrived.
We warmed up in a bit of drizzle but the game began with cloudy but dry skies. We fought hard in first half, finding our feet against an opposition that were hungry (to win) and to have every whistle blown in their favour. But hey ho! We were pretty evenly matched and we managed to stop them from getting goals when they were in our half. We are pretty friendly bunch though so we felt that letting them have a few short corners would be the “right thing to do”. 😉
About 10 minutes before the end of the half one of their players broke past our defence, forcing Michelle (GK) to make a decision. She was on her own and decided to make like “Usain Bolt in keepers kit” and race one of their players to the ball. They got to the ball at about the same time, Michelle put her foot out to clear the ball, their player tapped it to the side (changing the course of the ball but didn’t turn herself) and tripped over Michelle. She recovered (of sorts), played on and lost control of the ball at the same time. She protested strongly, the umpires had a discussion and a penalty flick was awarded. Michelle did her best but the ball went in.
We did not let that get us down though and we fought on as though it was the beginning of the game. In the last minute of the first half Lynsey scored a great goal from what appeared to be an impossible angle, levelling the score at 1-1.
We were like a different team in the second half! We came out all guns blazing and seemed to have more fight and want than in our first half. We had more opportunities through short corners but the opposition defended them well. Fi had some great shots at goal from short corners. She has a CRACKING hit! Her first shot ricocheted off the defender’s shin pad and the second sent the defenders hockey stick flying across the oppositions D!!!
We ended the game on a respectable 1-1 draw, especially after last week’s loss. I guess next week we chase the victory! Everyone played well and fought really hard. As a result, almost everyone received a vote for MOM but I pipped them to the post. I got both DOD and MOM this week so happy to hand DOD onto whoever wants it as I feel selfish having both…. Onwards and upwards ladies 2’s! Also thanks to our team babysitter and supporter (in all weather), Kiesha.
“D”
Ladies 3s
The ladies 3s travelled to play Old Southendians at midday today with the unusual luxury of subs. OS dominated from the off but our defence were on stellar form, only letting in one, rather unfortunate, goal in the first half. As the first half closed, we had our first break of the game, thanks to Laura C, but we were unable to convert it before the whistle went.
The second half opened with us conceding another goal quite quickly and another after that, despite constantly strong defending and having a better pace on the ball. However, an excellent break from Katie led to a fabulous run from Laura, culminating in a textbook goal from Jane. Sadly, although this opened the game out considerably, the rain and tiredness were factors and they had some rather good players (along with some questionable umpiring). Ultimately, the game finished 6-1 to OS. Looking forward to seeing the spectacular bruises from Hannah, Minty and Alex.
MOM: Martha, almost unanimously. Without her epic and fierce goalkeeping today, we’d have lost about 30-1.
Definitely looking stronger this week, ladies. We will get there!
Ladies 4s
Ladies 4s travelled to John Orwell today to face a strong Wapping team in the rain. We fought hard but they closed us down at every turn and are obviously well trained in the ‘chucker’ move (purposely putting ball on oppos foot within the D for those unaware of the term). Wapping were a solid team and some of them have a particularly cracking hit, one player specifically who after breaking her own players fingers last week nearly added a broken face to her record, luckily I got my hand up quickly and protected myself. There were more injuries later in the game, poor Elizabeth took a ball to her foot and back and various other body parts but carried on. We fought to the bitter end with the final score being 0-20. Onwards and upwards for next week!
Ladies 5s
To follow
Men’s 1s
To follow
Men’s 2s
“Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”
– Sun Tzu, Art of War
Safe to say the M2s adopted the role of the Mountain with particular aplomb this day. Still.
Key moments:
– Paul Matthews = conceded p flick
– Ed Bear Stubbing = saved p flick (Yogi who?)
– Matt O’Hara = bambi on ice
– Jonathan Jones = bionic captain
Special mention to Jack Jacey who forget to use the correct amount of lubrication in screwing over his team mates over today
0-3 loss
MOM – Stubbings (Allardyce-esque 100% record. It counts, but it’s not right… we lost 0-3)
POP – Jacey.
Men’s 3s
The men’s 3s had the joy of the 10.30 game away to Old Southendians. There wasn’t but much joy about the first half going 1-0 down into half time. We started the second half better taking the game to the opposition, good passing and attacking moves but couldn’t find a goal. While we tried to get that equalising goal they grabbed another two. But we kept pushing and finally got a goal from yours truly. Full time 3-1.
MOM – Kieran for having a good game
POP – Vinay for tea drinking crimes in the changing rooms before the game
Men’s 4s
So after last week where we absolutely dominated a game, did everything but score.
Today we welcomed an unbeaten Saffron Walden 4s, to The Academy. Full of young lads, who were full of running and extremely skilful, we knew we were going to be in for a tough afternoon. So it was important for us to keep our shape, and more importantly our discipline (more of which later)
It was a very good start from us, playing very good fluid hockey, creating chances, but again we were very profligate in front of goal. Although Walden, with their pace and ability were always a threat on the break. The opening goal come from us(me)losing the ball in a dangerous area, from which we conceded a short corner, from which we conceded the opening goal. That setback, just seemed to make us play much better.
I will take a little credit for what happened next, by giving Alex Heath another run out as a striker based on his exploits last season.
And on cue after a superb run from Oliver Loessl and a lovely pass to the back post, there our fox in the D was on hand to level up the game. And it was not long before the fox was at it again, reacting quicker than anyone else to get his and our 2nd, again from no further out than a few inches!!!!
So 2-1 at HT, and the message was still loud and clear, keep our shape and discipline, as the oppo’s youth and fitness may tell later in the game.
2nd half, we started well, created opportunities but, were wasteful. Walden started to come into the game putting us under constant pressure, although we were becoming masters of our own downfall, by not completing clearances and giving the ball away, too often.
From another short 2-1, become 2-2. And in all honesty we were struggling at this time. First Frank Dijkstra green card, then Captain Gobby, got a yellow card. So twice in the space of 5 minutes we were down to 10. Matt O’Hara who was giving us great vocal support on the sideline, duly ripped myself and Frank a new one, and rightly so.
But great credit to the team, they worked they’re socks off, and with 10 began to get on top. At which point a ball was played into the D, I can’t recall by whom but from just inside the D Alex let the ball run across his body, swivelled and shot all in one movement, and the ball flew into the corner 3-2 Forest and a hat trick for Alex. Horace Keating completed the scoring, to wrap up the points with a 4-2 win and a thoroughly deserved one.
Real good team performance today, grit, determination, passion, commitment, desire, not to mention some lovely free flowing hockey. So onto next week and another unbeaten team, Chelmsford 4s, don’t get any easier.
MOTM 🎩 trick hero Alex (He Scores When He Wants) Heath
POP Gary Joy Practice What You Preach!!
Men’s 5s
After losing the game last week against Witham with what was the last play, the men’s 5’s took the positives into game against Unbeaten Romford 2’s.The 5’s started on the front foot and took the game to Romford and finally got there reward when Josh Field slotted home from just inside the D. The 5’s controlled the game for the first 25 minutes, but for the last 10 minutes of the first half let Romford into the game. The 5’s held on and went in 1-0 at half-time.
We then started the second slowly and Romford hit us on the break to equalise, we soon took back control of the game with a number of players going close before Josh Field got his and the 5’s second of the game, after a quick ball from Aamir found him in the D, with time to pick his spot.
Not long after Biel got his second card of the season, this time yellow after his green last week, after he retaliated after he had his legs swiped from under him (Biel leave it for umpires to deal with).
The 5’s soon had a third when Zain Rashid smashed home from a short corner, Romford finish the scoring with a last minute short corner of their own. So the match finished with a 3-2 win to the 5’s.
Big thanks to Gary Joy for giving up his afternoon to umpire the game
Otters
The Otters came back down to earth with a bump, losing 7-0 at home to Harlow 2s. With 15 players, and two on debut, it took us a while to find our feet and shape against experienced opposition, by which time we were 3-0 down.
We started creating chances though, and on another day one or two would have gone in – hopefully we’re saving those for the close matches. Though it was an even contest for long periods Harlow exposed our over-ambition towards the end and were slightly flattered by the final scoreline.
While the captain was man of the match from the accumulated votes cast at teas and online, there were also multiple votes for the tireless Alastair, and Mudassar who provided a constant attacking threat.
