Men's 1s -vs- Westbury United Banks
8 November 2008
2 - 2
Cheltenham continued their unbeaten start to the season with a draw at home to Westbury. Fixtures between these rivals have been close, hard fought encounters ever since they were promoted into Premier 1 together three seasons ago and this match proved to be no exception.
The opening few minutes saw Westbury on the attack but the Cheltenham defence were equal to their efforts. Most notably Mike Pierce who made two excellent tackles as Westbury searched for an opening down their left. It was not long though before Cheltenham began to take control, often breaking quickly converting defence into attack. Chances began to come but the home side failed to convert. The easiest chance falling to Hay as Duffy drew the keeper and squared for Hay two metres out. With the keeper diving across Hay hesitated and was caught in two minds, failing to score or find the pass back to Duffy.
The half continued with both teams creating chances. Cheltenham had a short corner strike from Hay go agonisingly wide while Westbury tried to find an opening by crashing balls into the Cheltenham D. The defence held strong with Ward and Lewis at the heart.
On the stroke of half time Westbury were awarded a short corner. The resulting shot took a deflection and found it's way past Rooke in the Cheltenham goal. Despite protests from the home team that the first strike appeared to be going too high the goal stood and Westbury went int0 half time a goal to the good.
Cheltenham were clearly frustrated but coach Lee Robson took control and reminded the team that they had played well and created chances. With a few changes including the introduction of Ben Candy at the back the team went into the second half determined to maintain their position at the top of the league. It was not long before Duffy and Hay linked up again as Duffy lifted a pin point pass through a compact Westbury D and Hay made no mistake this time, rushing in to finish from close range.
As the game went on Cheltenham had more and more possession. With Westbury clearing their lines at every opportunity they hoped to catch Cheltenham on the break and that is exactly what they did, winning a short corner. From the corner they slipped the ball left and a low shot found a way through the Cheltenham defence.
Westbury's lead did not last long though as Cheltenham skipper Jonny Bryan kept his composure to flick the ball accurately past the Westbury keeper from close range. From here on in it looked as though Cheltenham would be the only team to win the game and twice they thought they had. Firstly Hay found the net from a short corner. The goal appeared to have been given until the umpire decided he was not sure if the ball had left the D. Still, Cheltenham fought on and from another corner Bryan had a shot well saved by the Westbury keeper. The resulting rebound came up off a Westbury defender and quick to react Bryan buried it. However, it was too late as the whistle had been blown as the rebound hit the Westbury player.
Pressure mounted as Cheltenham continued to push for the winner, more corners came and went but it finished 2-2. Westbury left pleased with their point. As for Cheltenham, it was mixed emotions but the unbeaten start to the season continues and they look forward to hosting Devizes next week.
Goal Scorers: Alex Hay, Jonny Bryan
Player of the Match: Alex Hay
Men's 2s -vs- Lydney
8 November 2008
3 - 3
In a game which could have gone either way Cheltenham will be disappointed not to have claimed victory after defending a two goal lead like the French do France... The morn of the game began so well for some, and not so well for others. Nonetheless, the Cheltenham players all found themselves in different states of preparedness at the industrial Mecca of Lydney in plenty of time. The game began in what can only be described as an unusual fashion with Cheltenham immediately in the ascendancy, the peculiarity of the situation continues as Cheltenham proceeded to press home this advantage with Smith firing just over from a short corner and the putting the Lydney defence in a dishevelled state.
As in previous weeks Cheltenham failed to take advantage of their pressure. I'm lying. In fact Cheltenham took the lead following a quick free hit taken by Moore, Hill cleverly deflected the ball across the face of goal to Whitfield who smartly controlled, as he was about to score his second of the season Troughton arrived on the scene. Troughton screeched up in his Vauxhall Nova stereo blazing and Whitfield soon found himself up on blocks missing his hub caps and Troughton wheel-spinning away celebrating his goal.
Unfortunately this one goal advantage was not to last, it soon became two. With another free hit being won outside the area Moore again found Hill who this time deflected the ball into the back of the net. Cheltenham were really in their Bermuda Triangle of positions as barely 10 minutes in they had a two goal advantage. This two goal advantage soon became three. Again I lie. Smith stepped up and rifled the ball past the keeper, however the defender on the line, deep in thought and musing about the existentialist writings of Plato oblivious to the immediate danger he was in managed to save the ball and deflect it away for a long corner, this came to nothing.
Perhaps it was the unaccustomed early advantage or perhaps it was the gentle call of a male shrew across the pitch, either way Cheltenham seemed to lose concentration and subsequently the initiative. The tireless working of Fynn, Richardson and Brookes help the maintain Cheltenham lead however it didn't remain until the break. Lydney managed to squeeze one of their many short corners in and then just prior to the whistle going equalised. The wind had been taken out of the Cheltenham sails and they lay there limp.
Half time probably saw the most diverse team talk of the year, many nodded like dogs in agreement with the finer technical points dished out by the most controversial man in hockey, John Moore. Our inspirational coach both drew positive and made reference to 19th century impressionist art, and a rejuvenated Cheltenham bundled back out for the second half.
The second half was exactly same as the first except for almost every aspect was different. Cheltenham tightened up the marking at the back and the defensive line gave little time, space or carrots to the opposition. Cheltenham eager, like a beaver to test the ailing Lydney 'keeper broke well in the counter attack Smith squaring the ball to Hill who checked back on a defender and slotted the ball past the keeper. Smith further tested the keeper with a rasping shot which somehow the keeper managed to deflect straight up and onto the roof of the net.
Cheltenham's impatience to accumulate a steady lead eventually cost them as with a hurried break broke down and left the Lydney forward with a simple opportunity to once again level the scores. Cheltenham pushed on to score the winner and were unlucky first with the 'keeper miraculously getting in the way of a Smith drag flick and the second whereby no 'stopper' being on the pitch as Richard Fynn was recovering from his felling by the resident Lyndey woodchip chipper.
The game petered out with little more of note happening and the scores level. Cheltenham will hope to turn these draws into wins in the remaining games of the season.
Goal Scorers:
Player of the Match:
Men's Castlers -vs- Sherborne
8 November 2008
1 - 4
Cheltenham started in positive style creating early chances but Sherborne's two-man advantage soon began to tell. Keeper Matt Dixon was busy and kept the score sheet blank for a long while making some superb saves. Sherborne continued to load Cheltenham's D and the free players established a two-goal lead by half time. Second half Sherborne again scored twice. A late short corner provided Cheltenham with a consolation as a shot from David Elks deflected off a Sherborne stick into the roof of the net. All in all a 4-1 defeat is a good result to be proud of given a two man deficit.
Goal Scorers: David Elks
Player of the Match: Eddie Cheadle
Ladies 1s -vs- Gloucester
8 November 2008
1 - 2
Cheltenham started the match against local rivals Gloucester in good spirit after a good victory last week had put them 2nd in the West Premier League. Despite not really firing on all cylinders, Cheltenham took the lead when top goal scorer Emma Jones popped up on the right post to convert one of Cheltenham's early penalty corners. Gloucester were determined to make it a physical game, with lots of elbows and pushing, but Cheltenham held strong and led at half-time. The second half saw Gloucester's physical play get the better of an increasingly frustrated Cheltenham side, under pressure and losing positivity. After a period of pressure, Gloucester equalised with a scrappy goal. Cheltenham's heads dropped further, and despite the best efforts of the senior players in the team to rally the troops, Gloucester inevitably gained a winner. Cheltenham pushed hard for the last 10 minutes with new-girl Emma Dunn strong in defence and Rachel Chicken making her experience count in centre midfield, keeping control of the ball and passing well to the Cheltenham forwards. Cheltenham were unable to find a way through though and ended with a disappointing result.
Goal Scorers: Emma Jones
Ladies 3s -vs- Lansdown 3rd XI
8 November 2008
3 - 0
This was a match late in the day and players could be forgiven for being tired, but apart from a brief lull just before half time there was no evidence of the Cheltenham side winding down. The performance by the Ladies 3s equalled last week in effort, running and support for each other. Three players scored the goals: Brown from an excellently-shot short corner; Burton who was only denied two goals by the quick whistle of the umpire blowing a short corner; and Taylor finding a space between the keeper's legs. Playing on a water-based pitch, challenged the team with its quick and tricky surface and there were a few balls that the players couldn't quite get on the end of. However, there was plenty of play that the midfield and forward line did pick up, as the defence found the space up the pitch to pass into, with the continuation of J runs and dodges developed at training. Spirit was once again high and team determination evident. Centamore's running, chasing back to winning the ball from the opposition, interception and driving forward with support from Shayle in defence, won her player of the match. The Ladies 3s are a team to be proud of at the moment.
Goal Scorers: Becci Brown, Vanessa Burton, Jo Taylor
Player of the Match: Fran Centamore
Under 18 Girls -vs- Edgebaston
9 November 2008
12 - 0
The Cheltenham Girls U18 team won through convincingly to the third round of the National U18 Girls Cup with a 12-0 victory over Edgebaston. In a rather one-sided encounter, the home team quickly found the back of the clearly inexperienced Edgebaston team net. It was one-way traffic from there. Charlotte Collins kept alert in the Cheltenham goal, despite only touching the ball once! The strong defensive unit of Sophie McCrea, Lucy Howard, Holly Hill, Effie Parnell-Hopkinson and captain Sian Evans looked never looked troubled, and distributed the ball well to the Cheltenham attack. Frankie Mayes was a rock in the centre of midfield, Helen Gregory worked tirelessly up and down the right side of midfield and Emily Sumaria dazzled with slinky stick work to create numerous chances converted by the prolific forward line of Becky Haggie, Jemma Jones, Alex Bogle and Emma Beresford. The injured Maddie Leitch led a vocal cheerleading squad of Cheltenham supporters. It was a great team performance - shown by the 7 different goal scorers!!
Goal Scorers: Sian Evans (3), Jemma Jones (3), Frankie Mayes (2), Becky Haggie (2), Emma Beresford, Helen Gregory and Emily Sumaria (Yes we know that equals 13 - but that's what the girls said they had scored!!!
Player of the Match: Sian Evans
