Ladies 1s
L1s won 1-3 v Gore Court! Izzy scored but then we went to pot for a bit and they scored so 1-1 at half time. A rallying half time team talk resulted in a beauty of a move from the push back straight up to Philippa Leguen De Lacroix for a peach of a goal to go 1-2 up. Then Izzy got another one 1-3!
A great team effort shown by spread of MoM votes, joint winners: Izzy, Lydia, Lucie Fish, Anna-Marie Parker, Emma Haward
DoD Sam Fish for various things including being carded, a massive swing and a miss and getting the meet time wrong when it was her who set it
Ladies 2s
Ladies 2s travelled the short distance to play Old Loughts 3s. It was a very hot middle of the day game and this definitely had an impact on our energy levels. We started strong and put them under pressure with some good attacks however we lost the pace and began to battle significantly against the opposition.
The second half was much better, we picked up the pace and put them under pressure much more, it all got a bit frantic towards the end and we were hoping to steal a goal but it wasn’t to be and the game finished 3-2 to Old Loughts.
Goal scorers myself and Olivia and MOM shared between me and Nicky Haden-Homer! Onwards and upwards team!!!!
Ladies 3s
To follow
Ladies 4s
L4s played against Brentwood L5s today at home today. Ignoring the final score of 3-1 because it definitely did not reflect how we played. Well done to all of you, we played fantastically, we dominated most of the game especially during the second half. You should all be very proud.
Mom Katie Barr!
Ladies 5s
To follow
Men’s 1s
To follow
Men’s 2s
The Men’s 2s made the short but rather pleasant trip through leafy Hertfordshire to face a strong Broxbourne team coming off a 6-0 away win last week.
Many highlights included Rob Martin falling on his head (although it was preceded by a quite magnificent diving interception), a Kristis Bubnelis goal and Ed Bear Stubbing saving a ‘P’ flick down low with his stick. Having been 3-0 down at the half, Forest rallied and looked more like themselves in the second. Final score 4-1.
The team can draw many positives from this result, which did flatter Broxbourne slightly, and go into their game with Wapping next week confident that they can get a result.
MOM was a commanding Stubbing.
POP was Chap, as a result of ‘unforeseen circumstances’ requiring him to leave his car in Read-ing. Top effort.
Men’s 3s
The Men’s 3s hosted Witham at Lee valley today looking to get our first points of the season. There wasn’t much action in the first half with neither keeper really called into action.
Forest had a good start to the second half with lots of attacking moves but couldn’t find that goal. A breakaway and a defensive error allowed Witham to go a goal up, but we responded well and finally got a goal when Parvin smashed the ball into the back of the net. Both teams kept pushing for a the winning goal, witham was had a goal overturned, sadly they grabbed 2 late goals.
There were lots of positives about today’s result as we played a hell of a lot better then last week!
Special mention to Rob Humphrey for playing after he got back from holiday this morning
MOM – three way tie between Parvin Alex & Ferg
POP – Gavin
Men’s 4s
So on Saturday the men’s 4s had the 4pm graveyard shift away @ Upminster 4s.
After an opening day loss, to Wapping we were looking to respond. To be honest we did re-spond, we played some sparkling hockey, we were solid defensively, dominated possession, terri-tory, and every other conceivable stat.
The only stat we didn’t trouble was the goal tally. We did everything but score.
Upminster were quite dangerous on the counter attack, and although he didn’t have lots to do, our GK and MOTM Martin O’Donnell, did it very well. So a 0-0 draw for our 2nd game of the sea-son.
There were many, many positives, to take from the game.
Having said that, we need to be more clinical in front of goal, vary our short corner routine much more, and when the opposition GK has a worldy of a game, which he did, he made some un-believable stops, we need to be patient and try and eliminate the GK from the game!!!
Onwards and upwards, on to a home game against 2 wins from 2, Saffron Walden 4s. So it doesn’t get any easier!!!!!
Men’s 5s
The Men’s 5’s welcomed Witham to the academy today
The 5’s started the game positively and created a couple of early chances, but it was Witham who took the lead. The rest of the first half first was a even contest with both teams going close but ended 1-0 to Witham. The 5’s also lost Gino at half time due to injury.
The second half the 5’s created a number of changes and push Witham back and the 5’s soon got the equaliser there hockey deserved. We began to control the game and continue to move the ball well, but a number decision went against them, with the captain losing his cool and receiving the teams first green card of the season(Sorry).
The 5’s were then hit with a sucker punch when there felt Witham were wrongly awarded a short corner in the last minute of game, from which there scored. The final score being 2-1 to Witham
I special mention to Morgan and Peter on their debuts for the 5’s and Abdullah on his second game, All did very well. Also big thanks to Matt Hale for helping out today.
Today as captain I take a lot positive from the game and would like to thank everyone for the effort given. Martin.
Otters
The Otters matched last season’s win total with a 1-0 victory at London Royals. With only 11 players we were bolstered by a Man of the Match guest appearance from Daniel Clark in central midfield and saw a promising debut from Stuart Cheong.
Midway through the first half Mudassar, ever-threatening on the right, worked space for a shot and Shane was on hand to tap in the rebound off the keeper. As we started to tire in the heat in the second half against a young side with substitutes, with stoic defending from Peter Clark, some excellent saves from Tom, and our slightly greater match experience, we managed to maintain our lead. It was a deserved result for a wholehearted collective effort.
