Mens' 2 Match Reports
by Matt Groom
There are any number of philosophical summaries one could apply to this result, for now lets rest on, 'you reap what you sow'. Yet again, this game exactly met all the pre-season predictions that had been made within minutes of the end of last season, namely that training, fitness and short corners are the factors that will determine score lines and so it came to pass here. Make no mistake, this was strong opposition, possibly the strongest we have faced this season and yet in open play for the first 10 minutes yet again we demonstrated that we do know how to play and compete. We know what we need to do to get results and yet we don't do it. A naivety is creeping into our play, an old-fashioned 2nd XI mentality that a bit of swash-n-buckle, a bit of flash will get us through a tight situation. Worse, there is a sense that maybe these games against the top teams don't count because the only games that matter are still follow in the mini-league for the 'also-rans' at the bottom of the table. That would be to dangerously ignore the fact that form cannot be switched on and off in an instant and that good habits take time to form. All that and goal difference. And pride.
The game itself followed what is becoming a familiar pattern of early promise followed by a couple of very well taken opposition goals followed by some easy opposition goals followed by backs-to-the-wall for the remaining 54 minutes or so. Wimbledon short corners were dominated by a display of such high quality drag-flicking that at one point Sheldon was sent one way so that the ball could be placed right down the middle of goal. But as was observed, if you give the guy 15 opportunities to get his groove going he will run through the full repertoire. I believe he notched up 7 or 8 goals and who would deny him that? There is also a rumour that THDs own flicker is claiming a better conversion rate on the day but if that's true it only serves to further damn the collective approach, why no more TH shorties than this?
Of course it's not all doom and gloom, Gav and Ed Peerless battled well and were capable of taking the game to them, Timmy did notch, there were goal-line saves and positive contributions from the latest recruits but until as a collective there is a more strategic, longer-term approach to game situations it will be more of the same. Maybe its time for a boring, grubby, unattractive 1-0 win.
Sheldon Brathwaite, Chris Smith, Ferg Jagger, Matt Groom, James Goldsmith, Joe Bennett, Dave Casement, Gav Bewick, Tim Slyvester, Ed Peerless, Lee Snowden, Steve Rhodes, Ed Kaznowski
Shelds Braithwaite, Chris Smith , Ferg Jagger, Gav Bewick, Bungle Fotheringham, Andy Gandell, Timmy Slyvester, Will Nurse, Matt Groom, Alexei Vink, Jonny Moss, Ed Peerless, Lee Snowden
A 4 pm start at the Jewish Free School in Kingsbury, North London was not how we imagined life in the upper echelons of the London Hockey League. But the late October sunshine certainly made it easier, as did talk of a post game Nando's that lifted team moral.
I think the whole team were still thinking about that succulent extra hot piri piri chicken with a bottomless soft drink and sides of piri piri chips and corn when they completely ignored any semblance of game plan and played 70 minutes of rubbish to lose 9-2 to an experienced H&W team. THD had 2 short corners, both expertly flicked by Timmy, 1 went in the other deflected ridiculously over the bar by the man on the line. The second goal was a well taken effort by Timmy who rounded the keeper and slotted in reverse stick, we could even have had a couple more had the post not interfered but that would have flattered THD significantly.
The positives are we didn't concede 10, we don't have to go back to the Kingsbury for another year and we have got an easy game this week when we entertain league leaders Southgate 2's.
The one big negative and huge disappointment on a forgettable day is that the teams depression at being in Kingsbury at 6.15 pm on a Saturday night forced to miss our Nando's treat as we had to scurry back to the south of the river in time for Sausage and Cheese. (CJS)
Sheldon Braithwaite, Chris Smith, Ferg Jagger, Jonny Moss, James Goldsmith, Matt Groom, James Ruddiman, Steve Rhodes, Alexei Vink, Dave Casement, Andy Gandell, Tim Slyvester, Jamie Black
The 2s had barely gathered on the pitch when Steve Rhodes began flirting with the Ladies 1s opposition coach, whose repeated chants to her team of 'just one goal', amused Rhodes. Such is his way with the ladies that Rhodes turned the playful flirting into seething rage when he began to encourage the THD ladies with the same chant.
Fortunately this didn't deflect the attention from the rest of the squad. THD were a focussed unit with a strong warm up, so focussed in fact that the umpire nearly found himself in hospital after unnecessarily wandering over the check the goal size during shooting practice.
THD came out of the blocks imposing a decent tempo on the game, however from an attacking standpoint, it was Canterbury who began to dominate the early part of the game which saw several short corners go their way and a couple of excellent saves from Sheldon, keeping THD on level terms.
With a certain inevitability Canterbury's pressure eventually told, and not even Smudger's valiant efforts on the goal line, putting his body on the line for the team at the far post on another short corner, could stop a penalty flick being awarded.
Sheldon was desperately close to keeping the sheet clean but Canterbury had found their way through after 10 minutes of the first half.
THD who had caused Canterbury some issues at this stage and galvanised by conceding, stepped up a gear and started to put Canterbury under some real pressure.
This spell was sadly cut short, as from a short corner Sheldon twisted and fell awkwardly into a member of the opposition's knees. A cruel blow given a performance that had led to him being awarded man of the match. Sheldon delirious and with a number of front teeth dislodged was tended to by paramedics and eventually the ambulance (which seemed to circle the pitch a couple of times), and was then sent into shock when the inevitable cutting off of his goalie kit had to happen.
Things could have been worse as THD were fortunately supplemented with 1s keeper Will Pigden. The interlude, with 17 minutes remaining of the first half allowed THD to continue to impose themselves on the game and they soon found themselves back on level terms as a ball cut back from the right side of the goal found the incoming Bungle who slotted it into the far corner. 1-1.
THD conceded again, but with plenty of possession and some great chances, knew they could get back into the game, or could they?
A well worked move found James Ruddiman on the right of goal, who leathered the ball across goal to, usually reliable post man, Andy Gandell, who had what can only be described as a special moment, cleared the ball past the far post, leading to his TFC nomination.
Half time came and with THD 2-1 down at this stage in with a fighting chance of creating a real upset.
THD started the second half brightly off the back of their strong first half performance. It wasn't until 15 minutes from time that all the great work we had put in unravelled and THD lost their heads.
It was a final score line that, by their own admission, flattered Canterbury, but it leaves THD 2s still searching for their first win of the season.
Next Match: Hampstead and Westminster 2s AWAY
I was sat in A&E, waiting for an affable chain-smoking doctor to thread 11 stitches into my gored brow, when I got the call. It was Jamie. "You got TFC" he said cheerfully. "You get to write the match report." I argued that I had missed most of the game, and barely knew anyone's name yet, this being my first THD match. Jamie didn't seem to mind. "Don't worry too much. There's really not a lot to write about," he said, tellingly. "Just mention who scored the goals."
So let me get that out of the way. Well done to Smudger (2 composed short corner conversions) and Gandell (I don't have details, so let's assume it was a first-time, reverse stick, top corner strike from the edge of the D; possible goal of the season contender).
But there's always something to write about. My participation in the match was brief, but from the sounds of things, representative. I knew that after a sluggish warm up, THD were out the blocks slower than Gareth Barry after a heavy lunch. In the first two minutes we conceded a penalty stroke (missed) and a shot on goal (scored). Maybe we were inspired by England's performance in the rugby, but THD needed a long time to wake up. Too long.
Communication and organisation weren't there. Willingness to play the easy ball wasn't there. The ability to do the simple things - lead and re-lead, release early, percentage passes, resist diving in - all these things weren't there. By 15 minutes, we were 3-0 down. No excuses.
Eventually, it was less doomy and gloomy. For spells, THD imposed themselves as a strong collective unit. We kept the ball in the oppo half, got in the D, forced shorties and transferred the ball with a bit of aplomb. We fought the kind of fight that would later help us pull 3 back in the face of a heavy loss. From my perspective, in the early stages, there was still hope.
But then the oppo right back aerialled the ball into my face from two yards away, and I fell, hot and wet immediately pouring over my face (thankfully the blood hid the tears). I knew my contribution was over by the first remarks of the circle around me. "Uh oh. He's a bleeder," the first person said. "Somebody, for god's sake, call an ambulance!" the second cried. "Shh... Don't scare him," the third said, before asking me in a soft voice, "do you have a next of kin?"
As I was melodramatically carted off in an ambulance, I just had time to see us concede again.
When the doctor was finished with the sewing kit, he frowned at me. "I know what young men are like," he warned. "If you play again too soon, you'll re-open the stitches and the wound won't ever heal properly."
So I need potentially a fortnight to heal before I can step up and move on.
With 1 point from 9, THD men's 2s must step up and move on much faster.
by Alexei Vink
Steve Butcher, Jonny Moss, Chris Smith, Ferg Jagger, Bono Vincent, Matt Groom, Gav Bewick, Graeme Fotheringham, Jamie Black, James Ruddiman, Steve Rhodes, Dave Casement, Ed Kaznowski, Andy Gandell, Alexei Vink
So, after a rather lacklustre warm-up due to the heat, THD began the game well and soon found themselves ahead in the first 5 minutes with a very well worked goal. Rhodes received the ball from midfield, laying it off to Casement on the left wing; he carried it forward passing to Nurse in the D, who finished smartly catching the keeper off guard at his near post. Spirits immediately lifted, although we knew there would be plenty more to come.
Reading started to hit the gears and soon struck back with a couple of goals themselves to make it 1-2 with about 10 to go in the first half, but somehow THD managed to end the half 3-2 up via a Fotheringham deflected strike and a Rhodes far post tap in.
Half time was blown and we had a huge chance to pick up points. However it was not to be...in the second half, THD struggled to make the most of their lead and Reading's well drilled short corners were too much for the London Premier debutants. 3-6 the final score, Reading didn't deserve such a flattering score line, however, there were many positives THD could take from the game.
In terms of game play, there was not too much difference in the sides. But we all said at the beginning of the season that games would be lost on short corners, this was certainly one of those games. There were strong individual performances, particularly from THD Fresher and Man of the Match Jamie Black.
Bromley Becks 2's away next week again promises to be another tough encounter. If we can take our chances through determination and passion for victory, THD 1a's will have a future in this league.
The evening social however ended up a lot more light-hearted, it started off with a couple of quick pints in the first place (dont remember the name) for the under the 30's, while the over 30's enjoyed some nice glasses of red in another place, then a few more in the next few places and some more in some other places, followed by snooze on the night bus home just after midnight (in other words, I have nothing to report for the night!). Great night and a great social turnout for the 1a's.
Written by Steve Rhodes
Graeme Fotheringham, Gav Bewick, James Ruddiman, Tim Slyvester, Andy Gandell, Dave Casement, Steve Rhodes
Manager: John Nurse
Coach: Justin King
Match report written by John Enright esq. former member of THD 1st XI now playing in opposition for Spencer 2's.
What's this? The sun! A beautiful Saturday morning in September. Yes yes yes, verily what a glorious day as the new hockey season is ready to kick into action! This is living! Your boys, having successfully claimed promotion last yr, were now up a division where the oppo were likely more skilful, better drilled and quite frankly based on the evidence of the Spencer side we faced on Saturday far better looking than us THD troglodytes.
Spencer is, by all accounts, a great club. The kind of club where it's impossible NOT to pull on a night out. The kind of place where a gentleman meets many squeezes. And friendly. Our netminder was greeted warmly before pushback by the oppo keeper (an old uni mate) with the line "Butcher you fat @*%$! What the $@&! are you doing here!" Lovely.
The game started. Ying v Yang. Beauties v The Beasts. Artisans V Hunter-Gatherers. And it showed early doors as Smith coughed up possession to the most dashingly handsome of the oppo, an ex-THD stalwart with a penchant for chocolate lip balm (or so he claims), the perfect pass, the exaggerated celebration, 1-0, and this was already... already... turning into a rout.
Spencer then won (and fluffed) many corners and chances. The rout was stalled. Slowly but surely, THD began to come to terms with the pitch and the standard and ended the half strongly. The second half was even too, ex-Spencerite Rhodes took a grip on midfield and THD looked more at home at this level. And got rewarded with 10 to go after a quick break from yet another Spencer corner which was yet again - yet AGAIN - ballsed up.
1-1 your final. A solid start for both sides.
Butcher, Groom, Smith, Jagger, Moss, Rhodes S, Rhodes C, Neale, Casement, Fotheringham, Bewick, Bennett, Slyvester, Black, .
Manager: Rocco's dad - Jacob N
Lowly assistants: Ginger Nonsense - Banwell R, Fearless Leader - Nurse J
Attendance: 15
Gate receipts: 0