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.

Wed 08-Feb-06

Issue 16

January. Jinxed, and now judiciously jilted. Reports below from the last weekend of a month, which was more about recovery than revival for THD. To February. Freezing perhaps, but it'll be fabulous. Believe.

reports by: James Ireson, James Terrett, Mark Jones, Billy Dowie, Sarah Longair, Lou Curry, Claire Whitehead, Frances Baker and Isla MacGregor.

Men's 1s vs. Maidenhead: Lost 2-5

Ladies and Gentlemen of TH&DHC,

It is my sad duty to report that John Craven, elected "TFC" (Thanks for Coming) on Saturday for wearing half-mast jeans, arriving late and missing a clear cut goal-scoring opportunity, has failed to present a match report as is his duty. This report therefore appears in its place. Please accept my apologies on John's behalf. He was unable to produce the report as he is in the well-known communications blackhole of Madrid.

THD lost a disappointing game away to a resurgent Maidenhead. Goals were scored by Andy Balchin and Dave Casement. The latter was a fine finish, the former a flick. The greatest disappointment was conceding 4 goals in a first half when the Red and Greens dictated play without threatening to score. We let ourselves down. It won't happen again.

Finally, to elaborate on John's crimes; the ball was played to the top of the dee, only the keeper to beat..... the ball is topped and fails to hit the target. The home fans as if they were Liverpool fans watching Gary Neville miss a penalty at the Kop End. (JI)

Team: Chris Roberts, Gareth Weir, Tom Hughes, Tim Howarth, Andrew Eames, Andrew Balchin (MOM) Andres Labourt, Will Nurse, James Ireson, John Craven, John Drury, Dave Casement.

Scorers: Dave Casement, Andrew Balchin.

Next Match: Saturday 04-Feb vs. Fareham

HA Trophy 2nd Round (Sunday 29 January) Men's 1s vs. Westbury: Lost 2-5

Men's 2s: No game

Next match: Saturday 4 February vs. Oxford University 2s - home

Men's 3s vs. Oxford University 3s: Won 2-1

A game to forget. After last week's awesome display, the THD performance was woeful. Nobody remembered how to pass, tackles were weak and we never really got going in a scrappy game that must have been awful to watch. Can't explain it, but its frustrating. Mike Killen pounced on a rebound from a short corner strike to give us the lead, but we failed to settle and Oxford equalised to set up a tense second half. In terms of quality, the second half was not much of an improvement, although in the last 15 minutes, we finally upped the ante and moved our short corner count into treble figures. The Oxford Uni keeper was annoyingly good and stopped everything until with a minute to go, James Huntley fired in a shot from our 213th short corner and a defender deflected it over the keeper and into the goal. A win is a win, and they are students so deserved to lose. (JT)

Team: Jeremy Porter, Wes Cole, Kieron Norris, Robby Layton, Alex Brown, James Terrett, Graeme Lyness, Mike Killen, Alex McDonald, Lee Snowden, David Fogden, Nick Jacob, James Huntley

Umpire: Billy Dowie, Mark Jones

Scorers: Mike Killen, James Huntley

Next match: Saturday 11th February vs. Southgate 3s - DC 12:00

THD Tornados vs. Wayfarers Heavies: Lost 0-1

Every winning run, runs out. You could have got seasick watching this game. End to end play, more chances than monoploy board, and enough short corners to build a dwarf's climbing frame. What the game lacked was goals... apart from the two needed to play the game and the one they scored. More frustrating than fishing in a car park, the game ended with more red-faces from anger and disappointment than exertion. Hopefully the advice of my old mate, Nick Berry, will come true - "Every loser wins". So if he's to be believed - that's next week sorted. If he's lying it'll be the last bloody HeartBeat he has. (MJ)

Team: Lee Tearle (GK), MJ, Nick Thomson, Rolly Ferneaux, Dougal Davis, Simon Wilshire, James Perrott, Rich Fenton, Dan Hopkins, Nick Harris, Geoff Pritchard & Tom Alexander.

Man of the Match: Lee Tearle

Umpire: Simon Riley

Next Match: Saturday 4th February vs. Teddington Saplings @ DC 3.30pm

THD Diamonds vs. Hampstead & Westminster Spaniards. Lost 1-6

Deprived of key players through injury, coursework and dodgy house plumbing, the Diamonds were cursing their luck even before this top-of-the-table clash got underway. They were also cursing the lack of a pitch - still under lock and key five minutes before the start of the game and forcing the team into an early-morning cross-country run rather than the normal lap of the pitch.

Once pitchside, it was easy to see why the Spaniards are the runaway leaders, although Diamonds matched them in the early stages and equalised with a fine strike from Tim Harris following a lay-off from Irfan Begg. But that was as good as it got, despite magnificient support from those in the Diamonds sick-bay. Troubled by an inability to clear their lines, Diamonds went into the break 1-2 down and were only spared a larger deficit by the fine efforts of keeper Paul Reid.

More goals were conceded in the second half, mainly because of sloppy marking and the decision of players to bicker with umpires, team-mates and the opposition rather than concentrate on the job in hand. All was sorted over a few beers afterwards, but Diamonds will need to recapture the form of the first half of the season if they are to consolidate second place in the table. (BD)

Team: Paul Reid, Billy Dowie, Richard Batty, Stuart Craig, Rob Thomas, Graeme Evans, Warren Holme, Simon Canter, Irfan Begg, Dominic Peyton, Tim Harris, Paul Burrows, Arthur Mitchell, Ryan

Scorer: Tim

Umpires: JT, JP

Next Match: Saturday 4th February vs. PHC Chiswick -16:00 away

THD Royals vs. Wimbledon Badgers: Lost 0-10

Match conceded

Women's 1s: No game

Next game: Saturday 4th February vs. Southgate

Women's 2s vs. Oxted: Drew 1-1

An Edwardian Tale: Chapter Two - In which the erstwhile victors struggle to attain former glory With the primaveral lengthening of days upon us, there was a later commencement of this week's encounter which may account for the want of enthusiasm and spark, which so typifies the ladies 2s - their dawn performances invariably outstanding, dusk brought forth a less polished display. Most ingenuity and energy was exhausted in locating the changing rooms, which was took us nearly back to Dulwich on a decidedly circuitous route. Woodland warmup completed and things appeared to be on track, especially with the hot off the press news that they didn't have a proper goalie. Heads lifted, visions of 10 goal thrashing flashed in front of our eyes. Then the game began and we realised there were ten other, actually quite good, players between us and the goalie. Damn damn and then they scored, but we responded with spectacular timing with a goal just before half time.

More than a little feist and fury was unleashed on either side, number 17's shirt pulling tactic eliciting a forthright complaint from our captain, and Penny's determination and mindboggling dribbling frustrating their defence. Still in the second half they scored again and that was that. Lots of effort to seemingly little effect. We shall goeth forth and starteth to win again. (SL)

Team: George Sykes, Blumes, Kate Selway, Lucy Partington, Lucy Muldoon, Biba, Alex Hardy, Liz Young, Penny Stephens, Emma Kitley, Sarah Longair, Rosie Carter

MOTM: Kato

Umpire: Pipes

Next match: Saturday 11 Feb vs. Barnes - away

Women's 3s vs. Spencer 2s: Lost 0-6

Spencer are currently top of the League, 8 points clear of their nearest rivals so it was with trepidation we headed to Mitcham. Unfortunately our fears when soon realized when Spencer scored 3 goals in quick succession. Although we rallied hard at the end of the first half and at the start of the second and played some good hockey as the match due to a close we conceded another 3 goals. Still at least (unlike the opposition who seemed to take everything very seriously!) we did not have a coach filming us! (KV)

Team: Lou Curry, Dulcie Davies, Karen Dodds, Lucy Gaskin, Erica Goldsmith, Julie Lapsley, Emma Matabalawu, Nens Corran, Stacey Sellman, Kate Vicary, Beth Little, Lizzy Frost

Player of match: Stacey Sellman

Umpire: Claire Byrne

Next match: Saturday 4th February vs. Phoenix - 10.30 @ Crystal Palace Bar

Women's 4s vs. University of Surrey 1s: Won 1-0

It really is not very often that we win - this is only the third time in 2 seasons....so it's very unusual indeed that we should win but not feel ecstatically happy about it!! Maybe it was the freezing cold howling wind vortexing around Crystal Palace; maybe it was the influence of the terrible game we watched on the pitch before us; maybe it was the fact that the Uni girls were incredibly late and we'd all but packed up and gone home by the time they found the pitch....but we certainly did not play our best and it was an incredibly fraustrating game. We had about 30 shots, over half of which were on target, and only one dribbled in courtesy of a ball from Jena - quite who touched it last we don't know - think it was actually the oppo, but Jena was crowned scorer. Frankly it was a relief when the footballers wouldn't let us finish the game and James had to blow time early - Surrey were starting to get into their stride and were beginning to look dangerous. All in all - fab to win but it should have been far more satisfying. So next week we will try and do just that. (CW)

Team: Jess Sellman, Mel Rees, Rona Francis, Lindsey McLaren, Rosie Le Voir, Janine Nicholls, Isabel Drewe, Emma Billsdon, Jena Kitley, Sophie Carter, Marie Smith, Claire Whitehead, Ash McDonald, Andrea Vicari.

Scorer: Jena!

Umpire: James Perrott

Next Match: Drinks on Friday in London Bridge followed by Saturday 11am JAGS vs Purley Walcountians.

Womens 5s vs. Richmond: Lost 0-4

This week we had good passing, strong defence and brave attack. Unfortunately we were a teensy bit outclassed again. I'd just like to point out that we have moved up a division this year, and we are currently lying in 6th position, so we're not downhearted. Charley said that their goal scorer should have been in the 1s. So there. Next week's game is against unbeaten top if the league Oxsted, but after that one we'll be back on winning form, I'm sure of it. No man of the match this week, because everyone played well. (FB)

Team: Frances Barber, Kathryn Oliver, Andrea Beattie, Penny Ganser, Helen Clarke, Lynsey Bilsland, Kate Wheeler, Helen Fermor, Bridget Morley, Rachael Fallows, Gaby and Ellie.

Umpires: Lou Morgan and Charley Williams

Women's 6s v Kenley Ladies 1s: Lost 1-2

It was a warm Saturday afternoon as we gathered at JAGS. Some sunbathing and a couple of margaritas, and we were ready to start yet another victorious game. Ok. Not quite. The freezing weather did bring out a stunning array of fashion for the sixes - Mae was looking particularly foxy in the leggings / shorts / jumper / hat / shirt combo. Even the McGregor/Straker cheerleading squad beat a hasty retreat to the car after 5 minutes - thanks support team! We started one woman short - but several million points to Bridget for rushing over from the fives and saving us as a storming sweeper - we owe you Bridg! A brilliant game was had by all - lots of fun, despite the hypochondriac diving from the opposition - she should really be playing premiership football instead. Isla made an attempt at goal, but yet again not to be as it bounced off the post to be nicely chipped in by Lucy. Despite another strong display by defence they got 2 past us - if only we'd had another 10 minutes to play it would certainly have been a victory! Any day now .... (IM)

MOTM: Bridget

Scorer: Lucy

Umpire: Penny Ganser

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