With the first touch of Frost having its way with some games this past weekend not every team played…
But for those that did, there was certainly something about the Y chromosomes that played an impact on the results!
A weird week with all the men’s teams winning, even the M1s finding a way to taste the unusual fruit of success
As for the ladies, well even top of the league L1s couldn’t pull a rabbit out of the hat
You can read more about how Gary scored in the dying seconds and how the Men’s 1s actually managed to win

Ladies’ 1s Fall to First Defeat of the Season

It was an important game in Waltham Forest’s fight for promotion and nerves were high as they faced Holcombe away on Saturday. Holcombe dominated the first half of the game, they were both strong on the ball and quick to close down play, leaving Forest struggling to play their game. The home side found reward for their work and built up a good lead. The half time result was 3-0. After a motivating half-time talk Waltham Forest came out more determined, however, despite moments of great hockey they struggled to get shots on goal or short corners. Forest conceded one further goal in the second half leaving the final score 4-0. Forest ladies will be looking to atone for their first defeat of the season next Saturday when they face Southend 1s at home.

Men’s 1s Win With a Determined Display

Forest made the long trip to deepest, darkest Lincolnshire to face a Long Sutton side sitting one place above them in the league. Coach Shuhel Malique was looking for a return to winning ways and a much improved performance following two very disappointing displays in recent weeks.

The match started at quite a pace but few chances were created at either end as the battle was fought between the two midfields. The deadlock was finally broken when Coach Malique joined in the attack, finding himself in space near the bye line on the right and his pinpoint cross found Liam Radley whose first time shot was despatched to the corner of the goal. The game ebbed and flowed with both teams having periods of dominance without ever really troubling the goalkeepers. Long Sutton finally got on the scoresheet near halftime when a long ball found their centre forward on the edge of the circle and his smart turn left Oli Eaton for dead, his weak reverse stick shot should have been saved by Jake Ledbrook in the Forest goal, but wasn’t.

1-1 at halftime and Captain and Coach asked for an increased work rate to match their opponent’s. The second half was once again played between the two 25s with neither keeper really tested. That was until a decisive dribble by Rich Lowe down the right took him past two players and once again a pinpoint cross found Ed Jackson who made no mistake with a clinical finish. Long Sutton upped their game and had a period where Forest could not clear the ball and soon the pressure told when Jake Ledbrook gave away a flick after putting his had on top of the ball on the goal line. The hockey gods must have been smiling as the flick rebounded off the post. Forest then started to control the ball better and created a few chances which were not finished off. 10 minutes from the end a well worked short corner left Liam Radley free in front of goal and his cool, calm finish left the keeper with no chance. Forest then had to defend hard for the last 5 minutes, which came at a cost with both Chris Tanswell and Nick Clarke sustaining head injuries as they put their bodies on the line.

This was a good win for Forest after a long trip against a hard working side. Forest didn’t play as well as they can but the coach would have been happy with the work rate and he way the team ground out the win.

Men’s 2s

It’s rare that pre-match entertainment gets better than watching one man attach a heat pad to another man’s “top leg” with a roll of gaffer tape, but that’s what the Men’s 2s were treated to before the day’s big game against unbeaten league leaders Brentwood.

Perhaps more teams should build it into their preparations, because what followed was a masterclass. Both teams started positively and it was Brentwood who first had the ball in the back of the net, but Forest were thrown a life-line as the goal was disallowed for being dangerous. Forest upped their game after this and started to retain possession superbly, breaking with real purpose and soon found themselves 3-0 up inside 25 minutes thanks to goals from Immy and Matt Tanswell. The only downside was that Forest took their foot off the gas for the final ten minutes, allowing Brentwood to nick a goal and go in at half time 3-1 up.

Brentwood had the better opening to the second half and quickly found themselves back in the game as Cillie couldn’t get his crocs out of the way of a goal bound shot setting up a penalty flick. This was duly dispatched and made what could have been a nervous ending as Brentwood pushed for an equaliser with short corner after short corner. Forest weathered the storm with some stoic defending (including a phenomenal, head height, goal-line clearance from Cillie) and sensational goalkeeping from Yogi (who got in at 4am!) kept it at 3-2 going into the final ten minutes.

A final ten minutes which really should find itself ‘Case Study A’ in that famous hockey manual “How to finish off and send your opposition home feeling humiliated” [Authored by Tim Boxall and gang]. Four late, outstanding, brutal counter-attacking moves ensured that Brentwood really were sent home with their tails between their legs as goals from Zetter, Mills and Drewe (with the pick of the bunch) ensured that Forest took all three points and hurdled Brentwood into second place.

Men’s 4s

Redbridge completely dominated the opening exchanges and although they did not create many clear cut opportunities they were very adept at looking after the ball. They had very many players with lots of technical ability, for all that ability their fitness was not on a par with ours and we began to get a foothold in the game. 25 minutes in and Redbridge opened the scoring with a very good finish in the bottom corner 1-0.

As has been the case all season with the 4s heads didn’t drop and we responded in a way that is becoming a hallmark of the team this season. We upped our game and start to play with some thought, fluency and purpose. It wasn’t long before a Frank bullet was crashing against the backboard, 1-1 and that’s how it stayed until H/T.

So after our ******** **** ******** *** **** ***** ******* ****** ***** *** captain’s inspiring speech, we come out second half and everything about our game improved. Closing down the ball carrier, our work rate, desire commitment and above all our overall play. Early in the 2nd half a fantastic run and ball into the D by Adrian Dudd was finished off by Mick Lane who was as usual in the right place at the right time. 2-1. We were certainly going to need another goal, to make it a little more comfortable for ourselves.

Although we were beginning to create chances we just could not get that all important 3rd goal, and Redbridge were always dangerous coming forward as they started to create chances and force a series of short corners. Their equaliser came from a penalty flick for a foot on the line, which was duly dispatched despite Stephen’s valiant effort to keep it out.

2-2 with about 20 minutes to go and one of the Redbridge strikers picked up a red card. It took both teams time to settle, we certainly lost our rhythm for a while and were finding it difficult to play against 10 men. To their credit the 10 men of Redbridge were adapting better than us and still causing us problems. With about 10 minutes left, Stephen made a fantastic save from a short corner. That was a catalyst for us, as we really did see that our unbeaten record could possibly go, so again we responded positively, started to take control of the game with more possession and territory. We created a couple of chances and had short corners which we were not making enough of. Looked like the game was heading for a draw.

Knowing that time was running out and destiny was beckoning, Gary made a foray into opposition territory, then all the way to the top of the D just in case the ball broke free. And it did. Gary controlled the ball, looked up, picked his spot, didn’t strike it as cleanly as he could have, but it was across the keeper. Seconds later that glorious sound of hockey ball against backboard rang out across the Academy. Gary charged back into position, yelling to the heavens and banging the club badge. Redbridge pushed the ball back. Final whistle.

Match winner Gary Joy’s post match interview summed it up nicely. “A 3-2 win in dramatic circumstances, what a game. So proud of our team today, they thought they could intimidate us with physicality, yeah alright, bring it on! We gave as good as we got, and responded every time we needed to. Still unbeaten! Away to Wapping next up, 1st v 2nd, massive game and another massive test of the team, but as they have done all season, I’m sure we will rise to the Challenge… Well done men’s 4s, absolutely immense.”