Massive props! Pop the Cristal, throw your diamonds up in the air and big up yourselves. Then you should probably pick up your diamonds, because they’re expensive and, well, you don’t want to lose them.
This week’s bumpers and grinders were… L1s M1s L2s M2s L3s M3s M4s (clean sweep for the chaps!)
Leaving only the L5s twerking alone, but once again some very positive noises coming from the L5s camp (and not just from the twerking) so well done to them. Keep at it ladies, we’ll save you a space on the winner’s dance floor for next week, dress sexy.
Scores
| Ladies 1s | 2 | 1 | Burnt Ash 1 | Lucy, Squirt |
| Ladies 2s | 4 | 0 | Southend 2 | Suzy, Hogan, Nixon, Cassie |
| Ladies 3s | 4 | 1 | Havering 3 | Lizl 2, Amy Morris, Rachel Ellis |
| Ladies 4s | 5 | 0 | Old Southendian 2 | |
| Ladies 5s | 1 | 4 | East London 5 | Emma |
| Men’s 1s | 4 | 1 | Crostyx 1 | Jacko, Stubbing, James Price, Luce |
| Men’s 2s | 7 | 1 | East London 3 | Immy 3, Nico 2, Mills, Kristis |
| Men’s 3s | 3 | 2 | Phoenix 2 | Nads, Sean, Wayne |
| Men’s 4s | 4 | 3 | Old Loughts Academy 2 | Frank 3, Aamir |
L1
Waltham Forest Ladies 1s started the game very strongly following an excellent start to their season and two successive wins. However, despite a number of clear cut opportunities for Forest to take the lead, it was the home team that went ahead shortly before half time. Forest were thankful for the break and the opportunity to re-group.
The second half was very much like the first with a lot of attacking play in the Burnt Ash 25 but the home team were always a threat with their quick passing and movement. Eventually Forest’s pressure paid off with 15 minutes left in the game as Lucy Butcher converted from a short corner. The away side got the bit between their teeth and secured all three points with 5 minutes remaining from another short corner when Lizzie Evans shot from the left hand side. Man of the match was Hannah Dobbin who put in a fantastic performance.
M1
This weekend saw Forest play hosts to their neighbours, Crostyx. Forest needed to get off the mark in the league and pick up their first points, but things started poorly as Mark Terris injured himself during the warm up. The home side rallied together and put in a solid first half performance, dominating possession but lacking that final bit of creativity in the final third. Eventually the home team got on the scoreboard when Ed Stubbing hit home his first goal for the 1’s from a short corner. A second shortly followed as James price also netted his first senior goal, following some great work in the d from his strike partner Jackson. 2-0 at half time and Forest looked comfortable.
The second half should have continued in a similar fashion, but Forest seemed to take their foot off the gas. This meant that Crostyx gradually got in to the game and threatened the home sides goals. Their persistence prevailed as they scored from a short corner to really put pressure on the homes side. The goal should have acted as a wake up call to Forest, but they still couldn’t shake themselves from a slightly muted second half performance… That was until Yogi Patel pulled off a fantastic stick save, which seemed to wake everyone up. Forest stepped up a gear and caught Crostyx on the counter and Ed Jackson roofed the ball after an aggressive run in to the d. This was then followed up by another great run and finish by Luce Da Silva, making the final score 4-1 to the home side.
Forest are up and running in the league now and will want to continue this form when Ipswich visit this coming weekend.
M2
“The finest display of beach hockey I’ve ever seen” exclaimed one passer by as WFHC Men’s 2s set about disassembling a very capable East London 3s side.
A mixture of disciplined quick ball round the back and great ball retention combined with some quick breaks saw Forest storm to a 0-5 half time lead (with a fine hat-trick from Imy).
Genuinely excellent performances from the whole team make picking a MOM almost impossible but following an Arkle love-in in the pub after the game, the man of the match has to go to the Forest new boy for poise, class and discipline in the middle.
The 2s are enjoying a fine start and continue to play an excellent style of hockey with cameos from the big names of yesteryear.
L3
A win against Havering 3s 🙂
Score was 4-1 with goals from Lizl (x2), Rachel Ellis and Amy Morris.
Man of the match went to Crystal!
M4
This was the first game of our season,having to wait 2 weeks later than the rest of the club to get into the competitive season proper we fielded a side that consisted of only half of our established M4s squad. many thanks to the M5s players who helped us out on the day. It was fortunate that the M5s did not have a scheduled match.
It took the side a little while to settle down which was only natural as Old Loughts is a club with depth of squad an a consistent reputation in their performance. Our first goal came after about 15 minutes with a strong strike from Frank followed some 10 minutes later with a back stick flick across the line from Mark after the keep had committed himself to stopping Aamir winding up for a strike himself. The side slip pass made it an unmissable opportunity near the back post. Dike was so close to scoring on is 4s debut when the ball went loose in the D beyond the keeper. In spite of his lean build the ball remained tantilisingly just beyond his reach as it rolled out of play.
Before half time Old Loughts were awarded a penalty flick for a supposed back of stick clearance from Gary. The decision was given due consideration before awarding the flick which Gary disputed with his usual vigour. Green card. The flick went wide of the right-hand post. We went in at half time feeling confident.
Old Loughts had consistently tried to come at us down the middle so we entered the second half with a narrowed mid-field and encouraged our wide full back to overlap down the channels to create breaks. Old Loughts came back at us hard with more determined runs into the D and we succumbed to the pressure; 1-2. The response was immediate with a superb strike from a tight angle on the left by Frank to restore our two goal advantage. a short short and reverse stick shot gave Old Loughts their second goal. Gary had to leave the field with about 15 minutes to go after taking a tumble and landing on the ball.We hope the back is OK now? the defence suffered from a lack of communication following Gary’s exit from the game and tiredness was setting in from having to chase the spritely young legs of the opposition.
Our fourth goal game from a short corner which frank lifted over the sticks of the advancing defence to create a solid thud on the back board. Old Loughts protested in unison as the goal was awarded and we held our collective breath as we realised what was going on. the goal stood. They came back at us a sloopy third goal which managed to squeeze its way between Stephen’s ankles but alas for them time was running out. If may be they had had the decency to retrieve one or two sideline balls for us during the 70 minutes, they would possibly have had more time to come back at us again.
A enjoyable first game and played in good spirit by both sides. The disappoint on the faces of the opposition at the final whistle was clear to see.
L5
The ladies 5s headed for their first away match with some help some of the Ladies 4s to give us a team of 10. We were met by a very full and talented East London squad replicating the Dutch team in their orange! In the first half we gained our bearings, sizing up the opposition and getting into the game. In this half, we watched Sian make some fantastic saves in goal and saw the midfield working extremely hard. In the second half we came into our own, taking on our opposition and having the majority of possession. The defenders had a break (good job – Cat and I were shattered!), the midfield made some excellent runs which enabled our forwards to get attacking on goal. There was some close misses, until Emma, hanging out on the goalpost, got one past the East London goalkeeper (who incidentally had to make some fantastic saves as did Sian). This made the final score 4-1 to East London, but what an improvement on last week!
Our Lady of the Match was Sian, for not only her fantastic goalkeeping skills, chucking herself onto the floor frequently but also some rather scary screaming at the opposition when they came close to goal! It worked! This nomination was closely followed by Katie, who was brilliant in midfield, working very hard, making chances for attack but also getting down the other end of the pitch to help the defenders out.
Thanks so much to all that played and well done ladies! We’re getting better every week!
