Match Reports 2004/05

Since 2003/04 the club has produced a weekly newsletter, during the season, containing match reports from each of the games played that weekend.

Fri 04-Mar-05

Issue 17

Fffebruary. It's been freezing. Not good weather for hockey and it doesn't look like letting up yet with this weekend's matches again under threat if the big Kent freeze moves north. But don't get under the duvet quite yet. Some games have gone ahead in the last couple of weeks - see reports below - and there's the prospect of the end of season dinner on 12th March to warm everyone up. It's should be a cracker - and there's always the prospect of ledge dancing for the truly impossible. Tickets though must be booked today - let your captains and Mel Rees know you want to come, find an order form and send it in with a cheque made payable to Tulse Hill and Dulwich Hockey Club. Friends and family welcome.

match reports by: Chris Roberts, Aidan Brock, Guy Hodgson, Mark Jones, Chris Richman, Charley Williams, Kath Sowter, Joanna Reynolds, Katherine Dixon.

19-20 February

Mens 1s vs. Bournemouth: won 3-2

A long journey down to the south coast to play bottom side Bournemouth was about an attractive proposition as a night of passion with Lisa Riley. However, the skeleton crew that finally made the trip put in a pretty decent performance. A thorough pre-match warm-up took care of any niggling groin injuries that may have been sustained the previous night and we were ready for action. TH had the majority of possession during the game, with Bournemouth content to hit on the counter. Gaz Weir was revelling in his position at the back and was doing well in preventing them scoring in the first half. However, at the beginning of the 2nd half we were breached, with the Bournemouth forward cleverly slipping one home from a tight angle under pressure. We were quickly back on level terms through an excellent individual strike from Jimmy, but unfortunately fell behind shortly afterwards through a defensively poor goal from a catalogue of errors. However, we dug deep and equalised through Andy's low flick from a penalty stroke after good link up play won the stroke. The winning goal came through an excellent pattern of play which resulted in Cuzza slipping one in behind the unsuspecting 'keeper and the large partisan home crowd went home disappointed. Overall a solid performance, showing good resolve to come back twice and finishing with authority. (CRoberts)

Team: Andrew Eames, Gareth Weir, Chris 'Dead-eye' Roberts, Dave Casement, Oliver Morgan, Felix Nurse, John Craven, James Ireson, Andy Balchin, David Weir, Tom Curry.

Scorers: James Ireson, Andy Balchin, Tom Curry. Man of the Match: Gaz Weir.

Men's 2s vs. Spencer 2s: lost 1-2

The omens were good, with yours truly arriving EARLY and Potty's ever burgeoning 'Groundskeeper Willy' ginger beard striking the fear of god into us all (heaven knows what the 'Beautiful Boys of Battersea' were feeling as they lined up against it). Had we taken the chances that presented themselves in the first half and gone into the break up instead of at 0-0 the result may have been different. However after a fantastic first half performance and with only 1 sub we ran out of steam against the league leaders. We can take comfort from the fact that we gave the best team in (and now Champions of) the league a very good run for their money and never gave up. this was epitomised when a broken field ball was won and shipped to Potty who sublimely turned his defender (don't think the defender could see the approaching ball through the ginger forest) and shot in the bottom corner when we were 2-0 down with 10 to go. The difference between the two teams is that they train as a team, simple as that. On a more positive note we have everything to play for in our remaining 4 games which, (as I am reliably informed by the team stattos) if we win, should put us in with a very good chance of promotion. (AB)

Team: Wiggy, Aido, Ed, Ferg, Matt, Bungle, Timbo, Wardrobe, Smudge, Potty, Snowy, Nick Harris.

Scorer: Potty

Men's 3s vs. Beckenham 3s: won 4-0

As a non playing team member wrote "Better skill, application and fitness went most of the way to overpowering a weaker opposition. 4 goals also helped."- he wasn't at the game but a generally fair reflection of what happened. Not much else to say really - Geoff, showing off to his parents scored the first and Wes, unexpectedly playing at inside right, scored his first ever THD goal - to claim it was a well directed and cleanly struck shot would be a little unfair, more a case of deceptive bounce, but as Mr Wiltshire will agree they all count. (GH)

Team: Jeremy Porter, Simon Wiltshire, Guy Hodgson, Julian Taylor, Neil Happs, Paul Harvey, Wes Cole, Mike Killen, Nick Jacob, David Fogden, Geoff Pritchard, Neil.

Scorers: Geoff Pritchard, Wes Cole, David Fogden, Nick Jacob.

Umpire: Simon Riley

Tornados vs. Beckenham: won 2-1

Saturday saw a match that could reasonably have the Tornados being compared to Katie Price (Jordan) - it wasn't pretty, not a great deal of intelligence was used but strangely the headlines ended up going in our favour. On the positive side, none of the team, as far as I know, had to slip Peter Andre one to get a result either! Beckenham were like Sir Clive Sinclair - not very inventive and well passed their sell-by date! Beckenham who have now effectively been relegated took an early lead... minutes later that was cancelled out along with their hopes of survival. To win the match only 2-1 in no way reflected the run of play during the game but then the Tornados are often like a new parent - rather than reading Shakespeare they resort to talking baby language and blowing raspberries! There is a vague glimmer of a cup spot on the horizon, it would be nice not to accidentally snuff it out ourselves! If Uri Geller can bend spoons with his mind and Stephen Hawking can both explain the nature of the universe and be the voice of 'speak & spell'... just imagine what we could do with some concentration... now everyone at home please focus on your fixture books and think 'win'.... (MJ)

Team: Lee Tearle (GK), MJ, Neil Smith, Tom Alexander, Nick Thomson, Neil Gallagher, Nick Jones, Rich Fenton, Dougal Davis, Will Morgan, Simon Riley & Loz Mockery.

Scorers: Loz Mockery & Si Riley.

Umpire: Si Newell

Men's 6s vs. Beckenham Weasels: won 4-3

There has been a lot of talk in the Mens section of the club about naming the Mens XI's to give them an identity. After this game the Mens 6's would like to be called either the Robbers or the Pick Pockets because that is what we did to Beckenham, we robbed them blind!! Three nil down in the first 15 minutes of the game on a cold afternoon with snow falling, no changing rooms and to a man I don't think anyone wanted to be there we basically looked like we were going to get stuffed. The thing with Beckenham though is that they play really good attacking, passing hockey when they go forward but at the back, like me they suffer from a stunning lack of pace. This is what we increasingly began to exploit. We got one back just before half time and then sat on the backboard at half time scratching our heads, we had been out played but were only loosing 3 - 1. What I said at half time and the consequent effect it had on the team I would love to be able to remember, if I could I would bottle it and sell it. So we came out for the second half and after the first 10 minutes when Beckenham really pressed we came more into the game. Ok fair comment Beckenham had a lot of chances and on a different day they would have walloped us but we hung in there and took our chances, even hitting the post in the last minute which would have given us a two goal cushion. A couple of final things to say. Well done to everyone you all played and battled to the end. It would be wrong to single out anyone in particular so I won't but well done everyone involved. (Chris Richman)

Team: Tao McCloud, Will Pendrill, Tim Smith, Richard Mead, Andy Bond, Nick Phipps, James Kingdom, Ian Roberts, Mike Wright, Mehraab Nazir, Ben Lones, Kim Keats, Chris Richman.

Scorers: Kim Keats (2), Ben Lones, Ian Roberts

Dragons vs. Eds: won 2-1

It was like a fairy tale, but without the slightly effeminate Prince or the wolf eating granny. A slightly shabby team that would have made bagpuss look like the epitome of class saved the day in a way that even the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers would have trouble competing with! Eds have always been a force to be reckoned with, but today they were like more like a soggy baguette. The Dragons were like a huge great electric carving knife that sliced and diced its way into the lead. When it comes to food we are the Jamie Oliver of hockey... by that I mean we have a high profile and always come up smelling of roses not that we are mockney twats who should be pensioned off in favour of Prunella Scales. (MJ)

Team: Jeremy Porter (GK), MJ, Aido, Si Riley, Mike Wright, Gareth Norris, Mark Annear, Nicole Yost, Emma Gilchrist, Michelle Morgan, Jo Hillyer & Laura Matthews.

Scorers: MJ & Aidan Brock.

Umpire: Lucy Partington

Women's 1s vs. Basingstoke: won 3-0

A welcome return to our favoured playground of Alleyn's for the first time in 2005 saw us warm up with mirrors, wrangle over waxing appointments and (arguably most importantly) cruise to our fifth straight win of the year. But where the others had at times seen us struggle, this was not in doubt from the fifth minute when Martha put in the cheekiest of finishing touches to deflect in B's reverse stick shot on the turn. Gemma bossed the game in the middle, EJ ran them ragged up the right, and the girls at the back were heavenly - but then aren't they always, Kath? With Rosie and Emma interchanging seamlessly up front and Bettina shrugging off an Achilles scare as only she can, we had Basingstoke on the ropes, scoring another two from short corners before the end of the half and switching the ball with nonchalant ease. It was if anything disappointing not to add more in the second half. Reluctantly, I'll give in to Gordon's analysis that we'd tired ourselves out in the first by playing "proper" hockey. If that's not an incentive.... (CW)

Team: Jo Malkin, Emma Ward, Kath Sowter, Hilary Collins, Clare Byrne, EJ Barry, Gemma Baker, Charley Williams, Emma Kitley, Bettina Wolff, Martha Harvey-Jones, Rosie Carter.

Scorers: Martha, Charley (2).

26-27 February

Men's 1s vs. BBHC (4th Rnd Trophy): lost 2-3 (golden goal)

Men's 5s vs. PHC Chiswick: won 1-0 (Paul Burrows)

Women's 1s vs. Maidenhead: drew 1-1

Saturday morning brought many reasons to be excited: EJ rocked up with our very smart new kit and we welcomed back Nicky after her broken jaw and Lou after her trip to India. Maybe that was the reason why we just didn't play in the first 10 minutes? The pitch was bouncy and Maidenhead were by far the better side in the first half, winning several short corners. Thankfully some good defending and great working back from our midfield players denied them a goal. We started to get used to the pitch and in the second half looked dangerous in attack, with B working tirelessly to pull their defenders out of position. With the amount of short corners Maidenhead won they were bound to covert one, and so it was. Martha and Gemma both had wonderful opportunities to equalise, but in true THD style, we waited until the last few seconds before we struck. EJ did so well to earn us a short corner in the dying seconds and Hilary's shot was deflected in by Charley, who is becoming quite a pro in the short corner department. We need to play much better against top of the league Purley on Saturday if we are to get back to our winning ways... (KS)

Team: Pipes, Hilary Collins, Clare Byrne, Kath Sowter, Nicky Prior, Charley Williams, Gemma Baker, Martha Harvey-Jones, Emma, EJ Barry, Lou Morgan, Bettina Wolf.

Scorer: Charley

Women's 3s vs. Old Cranleighans: lost 0-3

Our match was on - hurrah - but a 10.00 start and just one of those days. Huge thanks to Erica and her passengers for trying valiantly to arrive on time with goalkeeping kit but it wasn't to be. so OC's got a walkover and we all played a happy, relaxed 20 minute each way warm up game for Sunday....talking of which....

Team: Sarah Dyke, Joanna Reynolds, Karen Dodds, Erica Goldsmith, Cath Garvey, Beth Little, Jo de Silva, Lou Curry, Tash Riordan-Eva, Roz Hornsby, Sophie Carter

Women's 3s vs. Wanderers: won 1-0

Fantastic day. Big crowd. Very small and very talented umpire (and Sean wasn't bad either!!). Day to get things right. Everybody played great from Sophie to George. Beth had fun up front, Roz enjoyed terrorising the oppo, Erica put her head down and went for it, all the midfield were outstanding - Rosie running at just the right moment, Jo running til the end(!) and Harriet making such a difference. the back line of Lou, Kate and Liz were inspirational and George kept us in the game early on. It was a very even game in the first half although Ros thought she's scored via a great touch (but lifted ball) and wanderers had chances too - especially on the break. But in the second half we had all the pressure. Masses of shorts and goal line scrambles but still no goals. But then Rosie was rewarded for her fantastic first half effort and scored from a flick at a short. 1-0 and we defended like mad and went home happy. Which was just as well cos otherwise Liverpool losing would have been all too much to bear. Very difficult to nominate a player of the match. Everybody was so good. Working together, positive, encouraging. Liz comes very close playing out of position and playing so well. So does Rosie. and Ros. But think it's Harriet. Once again, so good on the right. and never stopped running and passing and just being available. I said we had another couple of wins in us - so still one out there lurking in our last 3 games! Thank you all - it was the best we have played this season and a joy to be a part of and hope you get better soon Cath. (JR)

Team: George Sykes, Joanna Reynolds, Lou Curry, Kate Blumer, Liz (called you Morris but that's the person I work with so all confused now!), Harriet Gallagher-Powell, Jo de Silva, Rosie Carter, Erica Goldsmith, Ros Hornsby, Beth Little, Sophie Carter.

Scorer: Rosie Carter.

Umps: Jo Malkin and Sean

Next match: Epsom 3s away at 1.30

Women's 5s vs. Epsom 5s: drew 2-2

White or red, the fives just couldn't decide: who would have thought that selecting socks could have created such pre-match controversy? Several changes later and Team 5 were facing their biggest match of the season in red. The play was excellent and Team 5 were on fire. With the majority of possession and a 1-0 lead at half -time the game looked in the bag. The second half kept the crowd on the edge of there seats, as Epsom came back from defeat. Yet finally even the superb performance from the talented Dulcie couldn't keep us in the lead. An excellent game from the whole team - without exception. (KD)

Team: Dulcie, Jean Sutton, Bridget Morley, Kathryn Farthing, Katherine Dixon, Rachael Fallows, Ashley MacDonald, Sarah Smith, Wendy Tang, Kathryn Oliver, Vicky Knight, Faith Gerharty.

Umpire: Steve.

Scorer: Wendy, Ashley

Next match: Saturday 5th March vs. Wayfarers - 10.30 Crystal Palace

Dragons vs. Sinners: lost 1-2

Too cold to play hockey! Hard to work out how we lost this to be honest - like the TV remote control, you remember having it but you have no idea where it ended up. Sometimes its more about style than substance... we may have lost but we looked good while we did it! (MJ)

Team: Jeremy Porter (GK), MJ, Si Riley, Mike Wright, Gareth Norris, Will Atkinson, Dan Hopkins, Charley Williams, Linds McLaren, Lou Morgan, Emma Gilchrist, Yorkie Soquar & Holly Sardeson.

Scorers: Lou Morgan.

Umpire: Mike Wright / Dan Hopkins

Back to top <<<