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| Hockey 1st XI Team 'Blog' |
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Match 3 Versus The Dragon Won 1- 0 Team:Harry Gaff; Adam Dewes; Sean Neat; Tom Johnson; Saxon Coop; Conor Dickinson; Michael Wright; Theo Singh; Justin Parvess; Jamie O'Kelly; William Kirk; Oliver Cook After the team's much improved performance on Wednesday they were faced with the long journey to Oxford and another very difficult fixture. Historically matches between us and the Dragon have always been hard fought and entertaining fixtures with the outcome often only decided by a single goal. This match was no different, although we did have the better of the chances in the first half. On one such occasion Justin contrived to take the more difficult option of missing an open goal when only a metre out! Once again, as in the first match of the season, he chose to try and put the ball into an empty net with a reverse stick drag instead of getting his feet round the ball and pushing it into the empty net with his open stick. In addition to this the side managed to miss a number of short corners and also a penalty flick! For much of the half we had controlled the game due to some excellent defensive work, and with Saxon, Conor and Jamie driving through the gaps in mid-field we were a constant threat to the opposition defence. The second half took on a similar pattern, but we were indebted to Adam for making a fantastic clearance as the ball seemed destined for the back of our net. The team continued to press and controlled much of the game, but the Dragon always looked a threat when they had the ball. With less than five minutes to go the ball was fired in from the right towards the goal and Theo scored whilst down on his knees. The whole teams deserves much credit for their performance and in the last two matches they have begun to show what a capable side they could be.
Match 2 Versus Parkside Lost 1- 3 Team:Harry Gaff; Adam Dewes; Sean Neat; Tom Johnson; Saxon Coop; Conor Dickinson; Michael Wright; Theo Singh; Justin Parvess; Jamie O'Kelly; William Kirk; Oliver Cook Our second match of the season was always going to prove very difficult, especially against such strong opposition. There was a change in formation for this game, with Saxon moving into the back line and this certainly gave the team much more balance and great sense of solidarity at the back. Things did not get off to a good start and we were quickly one nil down inside the first few minutes. however, the team rallied and produced some excellent hockey, creating several good chances during the half. We turned round at half-time still only losing by the one goal and in with a real chance of getting a result from the game. Once again we got off to a very sluggish start to the second half and conceded a goal from a short corner inside a minute of the restart. The boys did not give in, but instead rolled up their sleeves and continued to play some excellent attacking hockey which resulted in Justin scoring a well deserved goal for the side after some excellent attacking play. The side continued to press for an equalizer, but from a breakaway Parkside scored their third. The side can take much credit for this much improved performance and there were some excellent performances from Harry gaff in goal, the back line of Sean Neat, Saxon Coop, Adam Dewes and William Kirk also all produced good performances.
Match 1 Versus Caldicott Lost 0-2 Team:Harry Gaff; Adam Dewes; Sean Neat; Tom Johnson; Saxon Coop; Conor Dickinson; Michael Wright; Theo Singh; Justin Parvess; Jamie O'Kelly; William Kirk; Joshua Blosse
This was not only the first match of the season, but the first time that the side had played together as a unit and it showed! There was a lack of team work and both the goals scored against us were down to poor marking in defence. Their goal in the first half was a good example when we failed to stop a long ball up the middle to one of their forwards who had been left unmarked in the circle. Harry Gaff made a fantastic double save, but rather than one of the defensive players getting back to clear the ball off his pads they all stood around and watched as Harry showed off his skill. The second goal was even more disappointing because we had not learned from our mistake in the first half. Once again there was a long ball up the middle of the pitch which, was again not stopped and reached one of their forwards who was standing two metres from the goal whilst our defence sat on the top of the 'D' completely ignoring his presence. In between the two goals we did have our chances, particularly in the second half when we had several penalty corners, but we failed to put one shot on target. In addition to these chances we were unlucky when a rasping shot hit the cross bar and Justin did all the hard work in collecting a pass and rounding the keeper, but instead of putting the ball onto his open stick he tried to score with his reverse and put the ball wide with an open goal in front of him. There were some good performances, notably from Saxon Coop in central mid-field, Jamie O' Kelly on the wing, Adam Dewes who played well in both the positions he was asked to play, William Kirk who looked very solid at the back and Harry Gaff who was outstanding in goal. |
