Well it seems we’ve all woken up and smelt the coffee because the results are looking very positive this week.
Double Espresso (with a Biscotti)… M1s, L1s, M2s, L2s, M3s, L3s, M4s
Decaf (games off)… L4s, M5s
Cold Tea… L5s, Mixed
Special mention and a pain au chocolat for the M2s for an 11-2 win and a ‘most improved granola bar’ for L5s; that elusive result is coming.
More brunchy details including actual lightning in the M5s report
Ladies 1s
The ladies ones left it late but came away from their away match at BBHC with a Hard earned three points after Katherine Abbie scored the winner in the last three minutes of the game. This was a vital win to keep the team hot on the tails of the top two teams currently in promotion places. Forest settled well into the match but found it difficult to sustain their passing in the first half as BBHC disrupted their flow and made chances of their own with their hard hitting game. Forest could have taken the lead on several occasions but couldn’t finish their chances and they went in level at half time.
Waltham Forest came out in the second half determined to break through the BBHC defence and come away with a win. They dug deep and showed good application of recent training drills, switching it around and building chances through excellent passing and movement. Forest continued to miss chances and BBHC almost capitalised on those missed chances with some good counter attacking play. Morag Campbell’s man of the match performance in goal kept Forest in the game with some excellent saves, enabling Forest to snatch a late and deserved winner.
Ladies 3s
Ladies 3s won 2-1 against Havering! 0-0 at half time we went out to win in the second half! Havering scored first but we hit back 2 minutes later with a goal from Rachel Ellis. Jane Kendall scored next but it was disallowed! With 10 minutes to go we fought hard with the winning goal coming from Crystal!
Man of the match went to Crystal!
A great win team, let’s keep up the hard work!
Ladies 5s
Ladies 5s didn’t win 4-0 today against East London but they played really well overall. Keeper was awesome as always although we’re a little allergic to centre midfield! The scoreline at 2-0 in the first half didn’t reflect the play as we gave as good as we got. It was a tough match though against a good team and the last quarter saw us pretty knackered and playing football. But we’re getting better and better and when we meet some of our later teams and are able to get the passing around, we’ll get there!
Ladies of the match were Cat Cheshire Doherty and her daughter Kryssi. Mother and daughter unit!!
Men’s 1s
They say bad things happen in three’s… So with Jake Ledbrook seemingly retiring from hockey, Chris Brown being unable to play due to illness and Nico’s tyre being pierced by a nail, surely things could only get better for a travelling Forest following 2 straight league defeats.
They faced a strong Ipswich side who are pushing for promotion this season. The call from Captain Phil Peacock was that of commitment and unity, something that had lacked in recent games. The team could not have responded better. Despite a wobbly 10 minutes, where some poor marking allowed Ipswich to go 2-0 up, Forest rarely looked troubled.
Having gone 2-0 down in a short space of time Forest replied quickly with a beautiful counter attack. Forest transferred the ball from left to right and a deflected cross found Nico Kurt open at the back post for a tap in. The momentum then stayed with Forest and a well worked short corner meant that Ed Jackson could level things up for the visitors. Half time 2-2.
The second half started and Forest moved the ball well, creating space and opportunities to attack down the flanks. James Price and Liam Radley utilised their pace and held the ball up well – training had finally hit home! It was from a weighted ariel by Rich Lowe that found Pricey one on one with the keeper and as he rounded him he was fouled by the retreating defender. The subsequent short corner allowed Nico Kurt to convert with a drag flick into the top corner. It was from there that Forest closed out the game and maintained possession to the end.
Richard Arkle deputised for the ill Chris Brown and turned in his performance of the season. He and Phil Peacock dominated the centre of midfield, with Ipswich’s best player being marked out of the game by the pair.
A true team performance and a special mention must be made to Dan Metcalfe for a solid debut in goal. However, this result was down the the unity that had been called for at the start of the game. A great performance and something that can and should be repeated on a weekly basis. 3-2 to Forest and happiness in the camp has been restored… For now….
Men’s 2s
Our 11th goal today was a sight to behold. Inspired by Drewey’s unbelievably slow finishing, avoiding a Marcus Webb air hit and shocked by a rare pass from Rich Mills, I confused the keeper with a change of pace from the top of the D.
We won 11-2, but really Imran Arshad, Millsy, Marcus, Drewey and Waz’s goals as well as James Greveson Hickie’s saves were just to help pass the time while onlookers waited for the game’s true highlight. Ed Bear Stubbing was so impressed he subbed himself off so he could reflect on my glory without the distraction of playing hockey.
Tom Lowe was sick, so couldn’t make it, but still won himself POP
Men’s 3s
Great comeback win from M3s today having fallen 0-2 behind to a strong Old de Ferrians team inc. old boy Greg to battle on and eventually wear them down to finish with a 3-2 victory.
Following last week’s pain where a lack of subs and some unfortunate decisions cost us as we lost 3-2 to a short corner blown seconds before the final whistle, we were armed with reinforcements with Abby, Fergand Iain as we focused on getting back to winning ways.
Unfortunately despite a strong start in the first half, it didn’t take long before sloppy mistakes saw us fall not just one but two goals behind. We kept battling thou and with give minutes left of the half, some good pressure saw Abby fire home from the top of the D.
The half time team talk was focused on cutting out mistakes, not trying to force play and tiring out our subless opponents.
Talking they say is one thing however – doing quite another and for the first five minutes of the half we were under the cosh pushed into our own 23. We finally started to get a hold of the game however and began to dictate play with some great attacking play for Nads (who even passed!),Nati and Matt.
The pressure told and a some quick thinking from a long corner (which the oppo were too busy disputing) saw Tim fire home from a tight angle. Buoyed by the equaliser, we continued to move the ball about and it became visibly noticeable that Old de Ferrians were tiring.
As we continued to press, we scored our third, I think once again through Mr Slack but in my old age, my memory is escaping me so others will have to fill in the details…!
Old de Ferrians fought back resulting in us defending a string of 5-6 short corners in quick succession however the closing minutes were spent pushing for a 4th goal with Nads hitting the post when one on one with the keeper as we held on to win 3-2.
Great effort today guys. Am sure Paul will fill everyone in with MoM and PoP awards from the Dog and Duck!!
Men’s 4s
We travelled to Brentwood to face, their Academy side, who in the reverse fixture, absolute battered us, and somehow, we were victorious by a goal to nil. So we knew it was going to be a tough afternoon.
We had an absolutely fantastic start, we had push back, a few passes, into the D, and we got ourselves a PC, from which Amir finished with aplomb, 1-0 Forest, and the oppo, hadn’t touched the ball.
The next 25 minutes see no more goals, but both sides probing, with us creating more of the clear cut openings, I hit the post in this period, unbelievably with a shot on the reverse stick. But we had to defend very doggedly, as they had very quick and skilled youngsters playing in advanced positions.
But just before the break, Frank our goal scoring machine, give us a 2-0 lead and a little breathing space, as we went into HT.
As the 2nd half started, so did The Brentwood Monsoon, the weather was absolutely atrocious, the wind was howling into our faces, and driving the rain horizontally, also into our faces. But to the lads credit, we dealt with it very well, and played the much better Hockey, and adding another 2 goals, both scored by Frank, so 4-0.
After about 20 minutes of the half the umpires called us off, due to the storm worsening, and the introduction of some lightening for effect.
We were keen to wait for the storm to pass, and to resume the game, the oppo less so.
But as we had completed enough game time, the game was abandoned but the result stood.
So a 4-0 win for the 4s, another solid performance, and in our first of six cup finals, a win. One down five to go, onwards and upwards guys, great team effort today, especially 2nd half, in appalling conditions.
Men’s 5s
Just twenty five minutes into the Mens 5s match with Romford 3 the weather, already poor, deteriorated, as high winds, torrential rain and sleet swept in, to the point the umpires took the players off for safety reasons.
As lightning flashed nearby it was decided to abandon the game. Despite the weather we had made a fluent start to the game, with Ming on debut impressive in midfield, and created numerous chances without managing to break the deadlock.
