Men's 1s -vs- Bristol University
25 October 2008
2 - 1
Cheltenham returned home to Balcarras looking to keep up their winning start; welcoming a Bristol Uni side who had so far enjoyed a mixed bag of results. A notable absence for Cheltenham was coach Lee Robson who had been orchestrating from the sideline at every previous game this season.
Cheltenham, who were starting without injured captain Jonny Bryan, came out the blocks quickly, pinning Bristol back into their own half, the rain-wet pitch allowing Cheltenham to play the swift, attacking hockey that characterises their game. Short corners and opportunities followed, but chances were not converted, the Bristol keeper equal to them. The away team started to get into the game looking to get themselves on the score sheet. It was from this that Cheltenham capitalised on 20 minutes. Tom Cole won possession on the home 25 yard line, and threw the ball over the midfield. Pete Duffy collected the ball, skipped past one defender, into the D and around the keeper to coolly finish. Bristol came back looking to get level pegging by half-time and started to win short corners and press higher up the pitch. They were helped when Cheltenham's Alex Hay was shown a yellow card for a stick tackle, Neil Stewart injuring his knee, and James Foster being forced off due to illness. Despite all this, Cheltenham rarely looked troubled and Bristol created few chances, and as the teams went in at half time, the home side were confident of stretching their lead in the next period.
However after the break, Cheltenham were not the same side. Passes were misplaced, mistakes were frequent and possession could not be retained. It was from this that Bristol equalised, as their forward broke through the middle of the park and slid the ball past the out coming Giles Rooke. Things got worse for Cheltenham when James Foster was shown a yellow card after he slipped into an opposition player, and Simon Padley pulled up with a hamstring injury. Although having the extra man, Bristol again failed to put it to good use and when Cheltenham were back up to full strength, they pushed forward looking for a winner. Alex Hay went close when he went one-on-one with the keeper, only to see the ball rebound off the post. Several short corners saw the Bristol keeper called into action again, but with 5 minutes remaining he was beaten once more, when a short corner routine saw Pete Duffy nip in to deflect through his legs. The remaining minutes saw Cheltenham have several opportunities to score more, as Bristol stretched out looking to equalise, but neither side could find the net again, leaving it at 2-1.
With that Cheltenham completed their fifth victory in 5 games and keeps them on top of the league, and confident in the knowledge that their best hockey is still to come.
Goal Scorers: Pete Duffy (2)
Player of the Match: Pete Duffy
Men's 2s -vs- Leominster
25 October 2008
3 - 3
The team of urban dwelling city types traveled to the agricultural Mecca that is Leominster. The journey was full of surprises; Michael Palin and Ewan McGregor are competing, has as it happens, to the rights to this most epic of journeys. The day involved seventeen tractors, a flock of sheep and a Cadburys lorry.
The fellowship arrived at the definitively non-Teflon coated pitch in style thanks to an assorted set of Teutonic vehicles and an accompaniment of Neil Diamond. With minutes to spare a sporadic warm-up ensued with plenty of short passing and elegant shooting, the oppositions shooting was of Partridges obviously. The October sun was beating down on this most Herefordshire of gardens as the 2nd XI took to the recently ploughed pitch.
The tone of the game was set early with Cheltenham, after some incisive play, winning a couple of short corners, unfortunately the usually reliable Smith' radar was more Cipriani than Takema, although Leominster were left rustling for the face protection, no tally was added to the Cheltenham score. This was soon punished as against the run of play Leominster snaffled a goal at the back post.
Cheltenham buoyed by their recovery last week battled back into the game with Woodford; in particular, repelling all that came before him. Aligned with this the leveling, by Purnell, of the bandana wearing Garth upfront. It wasn't long before the quality of Cheltenham' midfield and the tricky of Williams-Ellis won Cheltenham a short corner. With Smith off the pitch Hill was elected to strike at the goal, after the initial shot rebounded to the top of the D, Hill rounded the onrushing defender and under pressure put the ball into the net on the reverse to square the game.
As the Cheltenham press began to take hold Leominster tried to escape through the underused squarial. Assuming a normal compass, defender (McEnroe style hair) is stood facing due north he squares up intending to throw an aerial North sadly the ball travels East causing a 270 degree level of confusion, and those in the car park ducking for cover.
Half time, with the scores level, ensured there was much rallying, some said of Agincourt proportions. However with the second period barely begun, Cheltenham lost the impressive Woodford after his penchant for the low tackle meant that he was caught in the head, and after, understandably, choosing not to sport the Butcher look was relegated to spectator for the rest of the game. Shortly after this Leominster managed to break through the Cheltenham backline and take the lead again.
As is becoming a second team specialty, Cheltenham leveled after winning a short corner the ball was sent across the goal and met by the outstretched Hill to place the ball through the keepers legs for his and Cheltenham' second.
If recovery was the main, injustice was to play an all too large part in the dessert. Edwards was punished for a minor indiscretion within the 25, Lewis asking for clarity was informed any foot, foul or breeze within the 25 was to be a short corner, and was left begging the question "What is the D for?" when Hill asked if this was the same at both ends, Cullimore sent him to the nettle infested blackberry grove in the corner for 10 minutes for his insolence. Cheltenham however, responded with the winning of a short corner and Smith recovered from his earlier bout of the yips and to fire spectacularly past the Leominster keeper. Cheltenham battled on and despite the award of further short corner they closed out Leominster' power play in the lead.
Further indiscretion within the 25 led to more short corners interspersed with both a two on one, which the attackers after rounding Purnell couldn't beat the flailing efforts of Whitfield and the award of a penalty stoke after Lewis had saved on the line from a high shot, this was subsequently rescinded. With the final minutes approaching Cheltenham were under further siege of short corners and had it seemed very little chance of escaping the inevitable fate despite some heroics of Purnell, that eventually from a unlucky deflection off Evans the ball despite going well wide of the right post flew into the opposite top corner to level the game.
Cheltenham had chances to win the game, but for the ball just out of reach of Lewis at the top of the D, perhaps luck was not with Cheltenham and the draw was confirmed with the tooting of the final whistle.
Moving on to the final point for discussion; Jonathon Moore. The petulant teenager inside seemed to be back in force post-match after an ambitious attempt to escape during, with general cursing the order of the day. Jonathon Moore, however, is like a domesticated cat, strokable, friendly and inclined to lick you with a rough tongue. But as we all know when you blow in a cats face they see red. Moore took umbrage a polite request from the supporters and demonstrated an intricate vocabulary, at the very least though; he did offer to explain further next Tuesday. Can we have another batch of Ritolene please?
Goal Scorers: Chris Hill (2), Giles Smith
Men's Castlers -vs- Stroud
25 October 2008
1 - 2
Despie dominating the match, Castler's paid the price for not putting their chances away.
The match got off to the perfect start when after a bright opening, Pete Ledger deflected a cross shot over the line to give the Castler's an early lead. Stroud were under heavy pressure for the remainder of the first half, as the Castler's camped inside their half of the pitch. Despite this, chance after chance went begging and the lead was not extended.
In the end this proved to be costly. A rare breakaway mid-way through the second half by Stroud, resulted in them snatching a some what underserved equiliser. The Castler's were clearly rattled by this and with 3 minutes to go were caught again on the counter attack, enabling Stroud to steal all 3 points.
Goal Scorers: Pete Ledger
Player of the Match: Eddie
Ladies 1s -vs- Redland
25 October 2008
4 - 2
Cheltenham ended up with a comfortable 4-2 win against bottom-of-the-table side Redland, although it was not all plain sailing. After a strong warm-up, Cheltenham were straight on the attack forcing numerous saves from the Redland keeper. Against the run of play, Redland opened the scoring with their first penalty corner. This made Cheltenham more determined and a strong period of pressure ended with a deserved goal from Girlie of the Game Emma Jones. A controversially disallowed Cheltenham goal meant the game was still in the balance at 1-1 at half-time. Cheltenham took the lead within a minute of the re-start with a solo run and strike from Laura Jacques. Despite strong attempts from the Cheltenham forwards, Redland equalised to make it 2-2 with a rare attack. It was from here that Cheltenham really got it together. Emma Jones took her 2nd goal of the game after tenacious work in the Redland circle, then Nat Lewis finished off a flowing attack down the right. This leaves Cheltenham 5th in the West Premier League.
Goal Scorers: Emma Jones (2), Laura Jacques, Nat Lewis
Player of the Match: Emma Jones
Ladies 2s -vs- BAC
25 October 2008
2 - 0
A great performance from the whistle for Cheltenham, with the home side dominating play. Harvey, a strong presence in the net, led a well organised defence of Pearce, Williams, Lewis and Dale. The first half, and Cheltenham took plenty of opportunities to break into the D, with some good passing hockey and incisive ball distribution from Keating, Jowett and Chicken in the midfield. The even score line was broken midway through the first half with a break away opportunity, in which defence linked up with Keating in the midfield, to distribute the ball to Jones, who, on her debut, slipped the ball cleanly into the back of the net. The second half saw much of the same, with the visitors struggling to make their mark on the game. The home side continued to press forward and the confident play from forwards Dunn, Sumaria, Anderson, Lord and Burton led to a number of well-deserved short corners. A penalty was awarded to Cheltenham midway through the second half, following a bungled defence from BAC, which Chicken confidently converted. Final score: 2-0 to Cheltenham. A satisfying win for the ladies 2s, who, despite only being promoted into the division this season, proved that they are keen contenders for the title.
Goal Scorers: Jemma Jones, Rachel Chicken
Player of the Match: Jemma Jones
Ladies 3s -vs- Dursley
25 October 2008
1 - 3
This was a challenging game in terms of having a mix of 2's and 3's players that were not used to playing together. It took the team a little while to get into the game and gel, and despite the ladies playing some good hockey, unfortunately conceded two goals before half time. However after a team talk with constructive feedback and discussion, in the second half the ladies 3s communicated better and stepped up their game. They worked hard despite some very vocal players on the Dursley side, and stayed focussed; managing to get back a goal from a well worked short corner, scored by the injector. Cheltenham were unlucky not to score more and the final result did not reflect Cheltenham possession and time in the oppositions half, which was probably 60-70%. Lucy Howe won man of the match for some excellent defending and communication, but Izzy and Jo Taylor also got nominations for their excellent skills and team play.
Goal Scorers: Bev Stevens
Player of the Match: Lucy Howe
