So I suppose we have to mention it, it wasn’t pretty for a lot of us, unless you are M1s or L3s pour a stiff drink. Here are the results…
Sacks bursting with Toys… M1s L3s
Sacks just bursting… L1s, M2s, M3s, M4s, M5s
Extra Ho’s go to the M1s who grabbed a big 3 tasty points away in Cambridge and the lovely L3s for bringing sexy back.
Ladies 1s
Waltham Forest Ladies 1s faced Gore Court in their last game before the festive break. Trying out a new formation Forest went 1-0 up in the first half with a reverse stick strike by Lucy Butcher. Forest pressed for long periods but despite dominating against a very strong Gore Court side failed to add to their lead.
In the second half Forest were made to pay for not closing the game out as Gore Court fought back to 1-1. Both teams then had opportunities to take the lead but it was Gore Court who took the initiative going 2-1 up with fifteen minutes to go. Despite a late flurry of attacks from the home side that was how it finished and Gore Court took the victory from a very competitive game played in excellent spirit.
Ladies 3s
Well done to my wonderful ladies 3s! Amazing to finish this half of the season with a win!!!
A massive thank you for all your hard work since September! We’ve had our ups and downs but we are definitely on the up now!! Enjoy the Christmas break…eat, drink and be merry, and I will see you for some more fantastic wins in the new year!!!
A very happy captain.
Men’s 1s
The Men’s 1s embarked on the second half of the league fixtures, by facing Cambridge University (A game Mal will remember well from the first time we met). Piling onto the ‘fun bus’ to head to Cambridge the entire team were made to wait for the Goalkeeper, despite mumblings that he may have been summoned to her majesties crown court for further illegal behaviour, he did finally turn up, which alleviated Phil’s anger a small amount. A bus ride up the M11 to Cambridge was fairly unmemorable, apart from a young James Price, claiming to have a girlfriend and that she was only a ‘bit Chavy’.
After being crammed into the smallest changing room in the world (Something that Rich had thought would lead to James having to sit on his lap!), Mal sprung the first surprise of the day on us, a change in formation. The 3-4-1-2 formation was designed to give the defence more protection, whilst also putting someone fit and energetic in the gap between the midfield and forwards. So the second surprise of the day (well it wasn’t really!), was when Mal said he would be starting in the hole! A quick warm up spent watching the attractive ladies of Cambridge playing in the game before and we were ready to test ourselves against a very fit and fast University team.
The game started quickly and Forest’s hockey was pleasing, good ball movement and work rate quickly saw us adapt to the change in formation. The pressure was good, although the counter attack threat was evident with Mark, Chris and Ed all having to make good tackles to stop the speedy breaks down the flanks. As Forest started to press a few chances were created, in fact if it wasn’t for Liam’s poor finishing (LIAM YOU ARE NOT THE BEST PLAYER, YOU COULDN’T BEAT ANYONE IN A ONE-ON-ONE, AND YOU GOT THROWN OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT FOR TRYING TO KISS STRANGERS), Forest could have established a healthy lead. Despite this other players stepped up including Rich and Nick C, to give forest a 3-0 lead at the half and a surprisingly happy coach! (Well its what I wished for, for Christmas).
The second half unsurprisingly saw Cambridge using their pace and fluidity to really attack us, as the pace of the game began to tell and our inability to hold onto possession (Chris T, I think your ‘keep the ball’ fell on deaf ears), Cambridge scored 3 goals. With the game tied one or two heads looked like they were going to drop, but not Chris Drewe! He decided to pick the ball up on the right side at the half way line and dance, jig and spin (No he did not back in, despite what their coach was saying!), through eight players. The easy thing to do would have been to pass the ball, unfortunately he didn’t! But despite not scoring on that dreamy run, it did cause a spark in the team, from a surprisingly sharp short corner routine Forest scored. A fifth goal came quickly from Luce, finishing with aplomb.
The game was all but wrapped up, but with tired legs and the substitutions a little slow, Cambridge still carried a sting in their tail. At a short corner with about 7 minutes to go, Cambridge scored a fairly pathetic drag flick. Jake, who it should be noted was claiming that he should be man of the match at half time (despite having done nothing in the first half, apart from causing the umpire to stop time to allow him to get a drink of water), decided to the leave the shot as he claimed ‘I thought it was going wide’ despite it coming down the middle of the goal! Cambridge University were spurred on by this and thought they had a chance of getting something from the game. This was compounded when Browny decided that Terris was clearly wearing a light blue sleeveless vest and so passed to their forward! With Cambridge still threatening down the wings it was time for the WWE moves, as Ed decided to body slam their winger and in the process stuff out any remaining interest he had in playing hockey!
Forest held on for a good 5-4 victory and played some excellent hockey with the new system. More importantly we have now found a position for Mal, which doesn’t result in him costing us multiple goals a game! The ‘fun bus’ home was good, but that’s for another day. All that needs to be said is that Jake and James should not be allowed in public together as they clearly attract the wrong crowd, namely Security!
Men’s 2s
With the league leaders coming to town Forest were eager to avenge their only loss of the season so far and had a team brimming with attacking talent. Unfortunately it only had 1 defender, so our strategy was to outscore the oppo. It was a fairly even opening period with both teams breaking quickly, most chances came to nothing until Maldon scored a flurry of goals leaving Forest 3-0 down just before half time with some sharp finishing. Forest managed an instant reply to leave it 1-3 at half time and a lot of work to do.
There was a bit more urgency from Forest in the second half and more chances were created. Eventually some of these chances were taken to tie the game up at 3-3 with minutes left on the clock. Forest surged forward in search of a winner, but unfortunately forgot the ball leaving Maldon the chance to break and claim all 3 points. A well contested game with some great play from both sides (occasionally), but too many errors cost Forest their chance to be top at Christmas.
Men’s 3s
We threw it away! Led 0-2 @ half time against 10 men. And lost 3-2 by the end of the second half against 11 men.
Ray Russo stepped up! Kam turned up! Paul got worked up! Nati needed picking up (from the floor)! Vinay was swinging handbags! Matt was shouting! Tim was moaning! Nads was dribbling! Jack was storming! Ray S was chasing (the left wing)! Steve was injury free! Abby was running! Ferg is back! so was Joe! And Steve is still injury free!
MOM = Ray Russo for stepping in to keep for us.
Matt = if you don’t win tomorrow night, don’t worry, we have a trophy for you! POP for too much shouting
Men’s 4s
Old Loughts, at The Academy, 2nd place in the league up for grabs, and the chance in the new year, to make a charge for the title, unfortunately that probably will no longer be the case, unless, we win our remaining games, and a few results go in our favour.
In a game we pretty much dominated for the first 50 minutes and after going a goal down, we got ourself into a winning position of 4-2.
We got to this position playing, some fantastic attacking hockey, and defending how we knew we needed to, by marking players, not diving into tackles, putting pressure on the ball carrier, and hunting in packs. All this knowing the opposition were a an attacking threat with a lot of skill.
In that 50 mins also when 4-2 up, yours truly got a yellow card, and had to leave the field of play for 5 minutes. But to the teams credit, they knuckled down, under the severest pressure, kept the score at 4-2.
Then we just folded like a paper house, stopped doing the basics that got us into a winning position, and conceded 4 goals in the last 20 minutes. To be fair the fourth of those goals came as a result of us throwing the kitchen sink at the oppo, in search of an equaliser.
So it ended in a very disappointing 6-4 loss, there were many, many gutted players at the end of the game.
At the end of a game like that, I think you have to take the positives. And hours after the game, on reflection there were many.
We created more than enough chances, when we were 3-1, 4-2 to have put the game out of reach.
Our passing and movement was superb, we again attacked with style and class, and to a point defended in the same way.
The biggest positive, though were the face’s of our players after the game, etched with disappointment, at the result, and that shows how much they (we) care, about the team, and the way we perform week in week out.
We’ve come a long way since the start of the season.
We are a very good hockey side now, who try to play the game the right way.
Much of that success, has to go down to the coaching of Ed Bear Stubbing and Shrimpy Claire Boyling, it’s been brilliant, and I’m sure all the team will agree with that sentiment too.
So onwards and upwards, to 2014. Let’s win our remaining games, keep the pressure on and who knows, we may still sneak into a promotion spot.
At this point, I would like to wish all Club Members, a Very Merry Christmas, and A Happy and Prosperous New Year… ;-))
Men’s 5s
The 5s travelled to play an Upminster side that had a similar blend of youth and experience. Missing a few regulars it took us a while to settle and we conceded 2 goals from short corners which they executed with variety and some precision. But we started to take control of the game and Nate scored after a goalmouth scramble.
The second half followed a similar pattern, we conceded another following one of many short corners, then dominated for the last 15 minutes, Nate scoring again from a free-flowing move that probably ranks as our goal of the season so far, and Upminster were forced into some desperate defending but just clung on.
A disappointing 2-3 result, but a great team effort with individual performances to be proud of – Rosti, tenacious in defence, Joshua Rennie-Smith excelling in an unaccustomed right-back role, Joshua Field marshalling midfield, Rhys with tireless efforts on the wing, and Eebbaa, composed and creative in midfield, to name just a few.
