Men's 1s -vs- Plymouth Marjon
19 October 2008
2 - 1
An early morning meet saw Cheltenham gearing up for a top of the table clash against Plymouth Marjon, with the teams having won their initial three games and looking to continue the trend.
Both teams started nervously, not wanting to concede any early goals. Plymouth saw the better of the opening exchanges, but goalkeeper Giles Rooke was alert to the threat, blocking well, and was also helped by the Cheltenham defence working effectively to limit the opposition's goal scoring chances. The visitors showed spells of the quick flowing, counter-attacking hockey that has built their impressive league start, but the final pass was lacking and finishing was amiss. The umpires' frequent stopping and starting of the game to discuss decisions did not help, but it was Cheltenham that made the break through on 28 minutes. Alex Hay's strike from a short corner was denied by the goalkeeper, but he supplied a juicy rebound to which Neil Stewart reacted to first, flicking the ball home. Half time was a welcome break as Plymouth started to press forcing visitors to sit deeper and deeper. A positive half time team talk saw Cheltenham come out the second half looking for another goal, which came after just 5 minutes. A free hit on the top of the D taken by Tom Ward was drilled wide of the goal for Pete Duffy to deflect it past a static Plymouth and into the top corner. Cheltenham enjoyed the period after doubling their lead, with opportunities from short corners amongst others, but failed to capitalise, leaving the home side very much in the game. Plymouth started to press for a goal to get themselves back in the game, but struggled to break down a resilient, hard working Cheltenham side that smothered any opportunities. With 5 minutes to go, a swift Plymouth attack down the right wing saw them get the ball in over the line, leading to a tense finish. Cheltenham held strong with some fine tackling, working back, and another good save from Rooke, which eventually saw them run out winners. Although not a great game, the team can be pleased with another ground-out performance, maintaining their 100% winning record. Cheltenham were happy in the knowledge that they were sitting pretty on top of the table, making the long journey home a little less painful - bar that of Jonny Bryan's car who found themselves broken down and a 5 hour 30 minute trip back to Cheltenham. Fun times!
Goal Scorers: Neil Stewart, Pete Duffy
Player of the Match: Pete Duffy
Men's 2s -vs- Westbury UB 2s
19 October 2008
2 - 2
Fortress Balcarras came under severe threat from Westbury and United Banks Saturday as Cheltenham fought back from a distinctly abject first half performance to secure a point; however they will reflect on the game and wonder what could have been. The game began, as it has all season, in glorious conditions. Cheltenham controlled the early play, confidently switching play and exploiting the width, it seemed at this point that Evans was dictating the game from full back and it was a matter of time before Westbury succumbed. Westbury were proving obstinate opponents and despite the intricate play of Smith and the direct running of Clayton and Hill no clear cut opportunities were fashioned. Cheltenham's failure to convert control into a clear advantage was ruthlessly exploited by Westbury as, with their first opportunity they somehow bundled the ball past the somewhat bemused Purnell into the Cheltenham goal. Instead of stirring a ruthless streak in Cheltenham, the home side seemed far too lackadaisical and confident that their pressure would pay, as Westbury continued to barrage the Cheltenham backline with a series of attacks, despite the best efforts of Glenister and Moore to try and regain some control in the midfield area. Cheltenham did break to win numerous short corners, however the routine was not as slick an operation as it had been in previous weeks, with the sticky surface resulting in only half the corners making it to the top of the circle. Westbury were not as wasteful with their opportunities and following a string of short corners just before half time eventually the weight of pressure told upon the Cheltenham backline, as Westbury scored again. At half time, inspirational team manager Kehoe highlighted the failings of the team and demanded a much higher work rate in the second half. This had almost an immediate effect as Hill harried the opposition right back into conceding possession and managed to win an offence just outside Westbury's circle. The ball was struck with some vigour across the goal to find Whitfield assuming a familiar position at the back post to bring Cheltenham back into the game. Cheltenham continued to dominate the game with Lewis and Woodford exacting masterful control of the Westbury attack, to the point whereby Purnell was little more than a spectator for the rest of the game. Cheltenham were finding it difficult to break down a well organised defence but the trickery of Williams-Ellis and Clayton was frequently proving too much for the Westbury side as they were profusely fouled. Eventually the Westbury players took issue with the umpires and the most vociferous was subsequently suspended. Cheltenham looked to press home their one man advantage and eventually did through Smith who continued his fine form by slotting in a well worked move inside the far post, Westbury protested however this fell on deaf ears and Cheltenham were level. Having just returned to the full compliment and with Cheltenham looking like the only victors in the game, Westbury felt that competing with a complete team was not enough of a challenge, and their captain was sent off for chopping down the increasing prominent Brookes with all the zeal of desperate lumberjack, and despite his hollow protests was duly dispatched for further reflection on the sideline. Cheltenham pushed for the winning goal with Moore managing the game from midfield, however time was not on their side and the final whistle blew with the sides still level. Cheltenham will now look to use the experience of the second half performance to kick start their season and to climb the table.
Goal Scorers: Richard Whitfield, Giles Smith
Men's 2s -vs- Brighton 2s
19 October 2008
2 - 4
Disarray was hardly the order of the day but with members of the team stretched across regency Cheltenham, Plymouth and the surrounding picturesque Forrest villages, combined with the consumption of a few beverages the night before and the insistence of some to complete a trek of Fiennes proportions on foot, a slow trickle of players arrived to Balcarras to take on the annoyingly punctual and sprightly Brighton side. The game started at a fast tempo and the ball was moved around without either side making any telling moves. Duffy having recovered from the "fatigue" that he experienced in the previous round was particularly influential in driving Cheltenham forward however Brighton had their shackles on the forward line. Cheltenham's failure to convert pressure into goals was soon exploited by Brighton as with almost their first shot they scored to take the lead. Cheltenham immediately responded with Cullimore wreaking havoc on the right, cutting in and finding Hill who won a short. Smith stepped up and flashed the ball past a stationary keeper. Cheltenham were certainly in the ascendancy and the midfield trio of Brookes, Moore and Duffy began to dictate the game with Woodford and Lewis looking composed at the back. Some intricate play amongst the defence and the inners resulted in Hill being released wide of the circle, as he cut in and struck a low shot past the Brighton keeper to give Cheltenham the lead. Shortly before half time Brighton managed to draw level but with aquatic engineers and head cheerleaders Alex Hay and Johnny Bryan handing out water like it was going out of fashion, the Cheltenham side were both refreshed and confident of converting their work-rate and pressure into something more tangible in the second half. The game ebbed and flowed in the second half without any real clear-cut chances however the Brighton high press was becoming increasingly difficult to penetrate and the Cheltenham defence frequently found themselves fire fighting at the back. Eventually the pressure told and with Pearce suffering from overloading on powershakes the night before, was caught in possession and Purnell, in all his blue glory, was left stranded as Brighton slapped the ball into the far corner. Cheltenham determined not to let an opportunity slip by began exploiting the width of the pitch and found some success with a couple of opportunities being created; the most memorable was the ball beating a horizontal Whitfield' reach. There was an air of inevitability for Brighton, and as Cheltenham got sucked further into their own half, the gap between the forwards and the midfield became larger and Brighton had Woodford and Lewis under siege. Finally they broke through after a loose pass and struck the ball into the goal. Despite a late rally and a spectacular save from the Brighton keeper from another Smith drag flick, Cheltenham, despite the tireless efforts of the forwards, never really looked like carving out a clear chance and Brighton emerged victorious.
Goal Scorers: Giles Smith, Chris Hill
