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Newsletter 2005/06
Since 2003/04 the club has produced weekly match reports. From the start of the 2005/06 season this became a weekly newsletter, distributed during the season, containing match reports from each of the games played that weekend as well as other key information and a selection of adverts and offers.
Fri 27-Jan-06Issue 15
THD men took the prizes last weekend as the 2s, 3s and Tornados made it a Saturday to forget for Maidenhead and the 1s waltzed round Gore Court with ease. Goal of the week went to Nick Jacob for his reverse stick flick into the roof of the net. Celebrity of the week - well, they're everywhere.
reports by: Tim Howarth, Aidan Brock, James Terrett, Mark Jones, Gemma Baker, Sarah Longair, Claire Whitehead, Frances Baker and Victoria Wright.
Men's 1s vs. Gore Court: Won 5-0
Next Match: Saturday 04-Feb vs. Fareham
Men's 2s vs. Maidenhead 2s: Won 2-0
What a difference a week makes. A consummate performance full of grit and flowing hockey (albeit against a weak Maidenhead team). Maybe it was the sunshine, maybe (heaven forbid) it was because yours truly was shouting from the sidelines and not from on the pitch, maybe it was the news of Wiggy's impending fatherhood (congrats fella, am amazed that years of being hit in the goolies by gleeful strikers hasn't affected your swimmers) - whatever it was things clicked. From the start we played direct and flowing hockey, creating many chances (which, on a more clinical day, should have been buried) and putting into practice our mantra of 'changing the channel'. Solid at the back, brilliantly anchored by Banners in midfield and with Lorraine (this is apparently how Laurent is pronounced in South Africa, if Garth's calling is anything to go by) and Potty spearheading our attack with Henri and Crouch-esque brilliance respectively we took the game away from a hapless Maidenhead side. A great result, but we need to keep the standards up as the next few (tough) games will define our season. (AB)
Team: Wiggy(GK), Ferg, Pully, Chris Coleman, Ed Stevenson, Banners, Matt Groom, Joe Griffiths, 'Lorraine' Ferron, John Nurse, Garth Foote, Potty, Paul Harvey.
Next match: Saturday 4 February vs. Oxford Uni 2s - 12:30 @ JAGS
Men's 3s vs. Maidenhead 3s: Won 7-0
Finally we put in a quality performance that has been mostly missing this season. Fast movement, strong desire and sublime finishing meant we put the season back on track. The Burberry clad local Chavs playing football on the a stro and looking for things to steal before the game didn't affect our focus, and our new warm-up routine meant we started sharper than usual, immediately putting Maidenhead on the back foot. Swift inter-passing from Alex Brown, through to the agile Graeme Lyness, who put Nick Jacob in for a composed finish - anyone would think he had some of his goals tally removed due to St Albans' removal from the league . We pushed on, Mike Killen picking up a cut-back at the top of the D and smashing in his shot, followed by Graeme Lyness reacting first to a rebounded shot from a short corner. We were now "Roger Federer" dominant. The Maidenhead keeper also pulled off two brilliant saves at the end of the half to stop the scoreboard at 3-0 at half-time.
The second half was much of the same, all credit to Maidenhead, who refused to play defensively and our players sensed more goals. Adam Taylor found space in the D to push home before another break by Lyness found Foggy with the easiest of tap-ins. Our best goal came from a quick break, sending Lyness down the line at pace. The ball was smashed across the D for Nick Jacob to get his reverse stick on the ball, and send it into the top corner of the net. We went mental. The midfield led by MOTM Will Atkinson remained "Lance Armstrong" dominant throughout, and seconds before the end, Adam popped up again to skillfully deflect a through ball into the bottom corner. Absolute pleasure to play in, I was still smiling on Monday morning. (JT)
MOTM: Will Atkinson
Scorers: Nick Jacob (2), Mike Killen, Graeme Lyness, Adam Taylor (2) and David Fogden .
Umpire: Maidenhead provided both.
THD Tornados vs. Maidenhead 2As: Won 2-0
It was a long way to travel from Maidenhead to get your ass kicked but travel they did and ass we kicked. As the league table settles down, I think we can just about see Maidenhead from where we are but that does involve a bizzare series of magnifying glasses and mirrors. The Tornados were average and cumbersome... but quality shines through... and shine it did. Two goals to the good by the final whistle and it could have been double that... in fact counting those goals disallowed - it was! As my old mate Nicky Lauda used to say "We're on fire". (MJ)
Team: Lee Tearle (GK), MJ, Nick Thomson, Rolly Ferneaux, James Perrott, Simon Wilshire, Dougal Davis, Nick Harris, Geoff Pritchard, Rich Fenton, Irfan Begg, Tom Alexander, Dan Hopkins & Nick Jones.
Scorer: Geoff Pritchard (2)
Man of the Match: James Perrott
Umpires: Simon Riley & Aidan Brock
Next game: Saturday 28 January vs. Wanderers - 10.00 @ Tiffin Girls School
THD Diamonds: No Game
Next match: Saturday 28 January vs. H&W Spaniards @ JAGS
THD Royals vs. Maidenhead Mags: W10-0 (Walkover)
Next match: Saturday 28 January vs. Wimbledon Badgers - Away
Women's 1s vs. Brighton & Hove 1s (friendly): Won 2-0
A good training game against decent oppo that gave us a run for our money. In light of defensive shortages in the coming few weeks, we tried a few different combinations of people at the back, which in general was successful. Unfortunately, the good passing form of late had all but disappeared....on the positive side we worked our short corners well to produce two good goals - a blinder from Lou and a great strike from Martha. (GB)
Team: Pipes, Alex Crawford, Kath Sowter, Hannah Cooke, Nicky Prior, Jen Martin, Charley Williams, Gemma Baker, Faye Billing, EJ Barry, Martha Harvey-Jones, Lou Morgan and Penny Stephens.
Scorers: Lou Morgan & Martha H-J
Next match: Saturday 4 February vs. Southgate - 12.00 @ Dulwich College
Women's 2s vs. Oxted 1s: Drew 1-1
Win, lose or draw. Those are the options available and thus far this year, the 2s have succeeded on all three, remarkably, in that order. Shame that the win was the friendly, and the loss was one of those optimally irritating occasions where shocking umpiring played its role (report writer was left speechless last week). That leaves the draw and I should emphasise that it was gainst Oxted 1s who left us reeling in a 5-0 drubbing back in September.
In fact, they were a shadow of their former selves, having lost their antipodean front line for to the sunnier climes of the southern hemisphere. Tough game in the chilly morning sunshine, they scored, then we did, and thanks to virtually unanimous voting, man of the match goalie superstar George kept our dreams of a draw alive. Oz was particularly pleased that the prize brute of a woman in their defence was carded, probably for having no sense of humour, manners or etiquette. The thousands of supporters, to whom we are very grateful, would agree that it was a thrilling spectacular of end to end hockey of the highest calibre, two teams fighting til the death, short corners at either end in the last minute... Rarely has a draw felt more like a win. The illustrious title is still in our grasp. (SL)
Team: George Sykes, Kate Selway, Blumes, Lucy Muldoon, Lucy Partington, Hannah Cooke, Liz Young, Biba, Sarah Longair, Emma Kitley, Penny Stephens, Oz.
Scorer: Oz
Umpires: Simon Riley and Jo Malkin
Next match: Saturday 28 January vs. London Eds 1s - Away
Women's 3s vs. Reigate Priory 2s: Won 1-0
Next match: Saturday 28 January vs. Spencer 2s - Away
Women's 4s vs. Woking 2As: Lost 1-3
We were fairly optimistic after last week's demolition of mid tablers and old adversaries Byfleet. However the rather leaner team that travelled out to Woking had their work cut out for them. Mel, on her long awaited return, put her back out in warm up, Lynne was suffering from an over enthusiastic training session during the week, and Lynsey had just had her wisdom teeth out and was full of pain killers. Woking, on the other hand were 16 strong, young and fit. They got an early rubbish goal that trickled oh so slowly over the line, and it seemed then that our fate was sealed. Half time oranges revived us slightly but it was just too tiring. We had a moment of inspiration when Anna ran the length of the pitch and aimed at goal - Claire nudging it in, but we were not able to repeat the move and Woking came back strongly with 2 more. Oops. Oh well the army of 4s are back next week to face Surrey Uni - lets try again then. (CW)
Umpire: Simon Wilshire
Women's 5s vs. Guildford 3s: Lost 0-3
We were OK, they were better. Reasons for losing:
Team: Vix Streatfield, Jean Sutton, Rachael Fallows, Nicole Yost, Martina van der Wotsit, Frances Barber, Kathryn Oliver, Helen Fermor, Andrea Beattie, Emma Gilchrist, Penny Ganser.
MOTM: Martina
Next match: Saturday 28 January vs. Richmond - 10.30am @ Crystal Palace Bar
Women's 6s vs. Bank of England 2s: Lost 1-2
After the captain turning up late, the 6s organised themselves well to start the game without me, proving that my services are not required! I apologise again to the team (I blame the paperwork at the Priory). Thank goodness we had 14 this weekend, even managing to provide a player to the 5s no less. Good luck Emma on your sabbatical. Another strong team game this weekend. Opportunities missed in the first half saw us 1-0 behind and heads seemed down . A stiff talking to/morale boost at half time saw us equalise with a goal from yours truly, brilliantly set up by some great passing between Lucy, Pippa, Michelle, Gigi and eventually Vicky. Text book hockey girls. Our marking much improved and the speed of releasing the ball to each other paid off. That four second rule at training is obviously benefitting our team - without panic setting in either! Ellie Johnston again made some great saves along with her stalwarts Jo and Kate. How many times was the ball lifted into them? Oh how I wish we had had our own umpire - however he did provide some good coaching tips on the side line as well as those that had run their socks off in the first half with excellent support for all the team on the side lines - that is what we want to see/hear folks - much appreciated. Our spirits lifted we then slacked off on the pressure and the Bank clawed their way back to win 2-1. Still afterwards there was talk of us going on tour to Dublin at Easter. Watch out Ireland - the "Chicks with Sticks" are on their way. (VW)
Team: Ellie Johnston, Kate Straker, Jo Hillyer, Jess Beach, Clare Montagu, Mae Lynne McDougall, Pippa Haworth, Michelle Morgan, Shona Welch, Gigi Ho, Isla McGregor, Victoria Wright, Katie Stone, Lucy Gilchrist.
MOTM: Jo Hillyer
Umpire: Two guys provided by the Bank of England - when it should have been Ian Wright (well it would have been had they not arranged to have two umpires from the Bank of England "I have driven 30 miles to umpire this game" which I certainly knew nothing about - Ian certainly did not argue the point that we had driven further - he chose to be dignified about it and put the wasted journey to good use and coached from the side lines instead). Not amused from Orpington, especially as just before the team had been warned that one of the umpires gave red cards instantly for back chat. He must have a lot of paperwork to do. To say it was inconsistent would be unfair.
Scorer: Victoria Wright
Next match: Saturday 28 January vs. Kenley 1s - 12.30 @ JAGS
THD Dragons vs. Optimists: Lost 1-4
Being slightly rustier than a Roman coin meant that the oppo had an advantage. Their refusal to play with a keeper and a biased umpire ensured the advantage was clearly stayed with them. If a lecture in sportsmanship was delivered by their umpire then it would have gone something like this "If you are interested in what constitutes sportsmanship then it is the complete and utter opposite of everything we do today." So now we know...
Aside from this the team toiled fearlessly to try and restore the balance... but it was like putting feathers on one side of a scale while a fat cheating elephant sat on the other. In the end we just didn't have enough feathers! That said if I'd had four spare feathers I'd've given them to their umpire. Just like my old mate Charlie Chaplin... I was speechless.
*NB. The Optimists have since agreed to replay the game!!!
Team: Jeremy Porter (GK), MJ, Tim Howarth, Snowy, Chris Coleman, Chris Richman, Chris Smith, Rob Heath, Lou Morgan, Sarah Longair, EJ, Lucy Muldoon, Verity King, Gemma Baker & Lou Curry.
Scorer: Lou Morgan
Umpire: Chris Richman, Lucy Muldoon & Tim Howarth (in shifts!)
Next game: Sunday 5 February vs. Real Battersea - 12.30 @ Battersea Park |
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