WH&E L2 5 : 2 West Hampstead L5

In the pissing rain, the Ladies 2s started with 9 and the #legend that is Lorna Robertson stepping up as kicking back. We started off strongly, sticking to the game plan and keeping our composure. The surprise arrival of Sula and Mirei early in the first half overloaded the opposition and secured our dominance. A strong press every time West Hampstead had a free hit meant we rarely let the ball into our own half. Lovely play down the right between, Michelle, Kate, Rebecca and Abbi kept the pressure up.

Goals – Abbi x2, Erin x1 (Although Abbi did try to claim it!), Michelle x1 from a greatest corner strike and Charlotte x1.

Momentary lapses of concentration allowed West Hampstead to break and score twice, incidentally the only 2 times they made it into the D.

Not a single short corner given away and Lorna with so little to do she went and put her coat on for the second half. All in all a pretty stonking game!!

Thanks to Dominic and Old Man Chris for umpiring for us and Chris for supporting on the side line. A special mention to Rebecca who began by saying she could only play the first half and ended up playing all but the last 10 minutes, which made all the difference.

P.S: I took some photos of us all bedraggled but victorious but they are so terrible I can’t bring myself to put them up. Sorry!

 

WH&E M2 5 : 0 Potters Bar M4

The men’s 2s returned to winning ways with a clinical 5-0 win over Potters Bar 4s. On a miserable afternoon, things didn’t look promising when our captain, Leo, hurt his back during the warm up and for a time it looked doubtful he would play at all!

But with the return of Joe Small and Chris Buff, plus first outings of the season for Robert Ulph and Rob Dowling, Winchmore quickly took control of the game and had the better of the early skirmishes. We took the lead after 15 mins when good attacking play from Chris Buff resulted in the ball rolling free in the D and Dominic crashing the ball past an unsighted keeper to open the scoring. Shortly after, a well worked short corner was slipped to Chris Buff who swept the ball home. 2-0 to Winchmore at half time. It could’ve been more, but equally we did well not to concede with the back 3 of Hitesh, Joe Small and Huw Thomas, doing well to nullify the threat of Potters Bar’s speedy attack.

Back out after the break and the second half was all about the captain who having overcome his back spasm, made it 3-0 by finishing off a sweeping move down the right with a neat finish, giving the keeper ‘the eyes’ as he calmly slotted the ball in the corner. As the half progressed, our keeper Nick Smith barely saw the ball, and Rob Dowling continued to provide the creative influence in midfield as we created more and more chances, and won several penalty corners. But it was captain fantastic who showed his killer instinct, scoring again from open play to make it 4-0, before completing his hattrick by finishing off another well worked attack by beating the keeper from a tight angle at the near post. 5 goals scored, none conceded, and a great performance all round!

Many thanks to Lisa Jobson and Chris Moran for umpiring in the rain, when having got soaked in the earlier ladies game would I’m sure rather have been sitting in the clubhouse with a hot cuppa!

MOTM: our hattrick hero and skipper, Leo!

DOTD: Joe Small who received a green card for apparently ripping the shorts off the opposition striker!

 

WH&E L1 1 : 1 Staines L1

The miserable Saturday afternoon weather did not stop the Ladies 1s staying focused (#wordoftheweek) at the weekend!

At the away match against Staines in the pouring rain without our usual goalie, we really pulled together as a team to produce a great performance.

With brave Beth Deane stepping into keeper kit, we had to put up an extra fight to protect her!

The match started… And ended, really strong. We were strong and confident and continued to battle the whole match against this tough team of umpires who like to make things difficult for us. The hard work paid off in the first half when a strong short corner strike from Gemma Gatting was popped in by Captain Bethany McNamara at the corner of the goal. This ended the opposition’s clean sheet, as they’d not yet conceded any goals in this season yet.. Before they met us!

We unfortunately conceded 1 goal in the 2nd half after Staines came back from half time fighting hard, and although we fought a lot we were unable to get another.

Final score 1-1.

Man of the match goes to Talyssa Mensah for stepping up into centre mid and using her strength perfectly even whilst taking a few balls to the legs from the opposition! Special mentions to Karen Goode with a strong performance in her first match back of the season, and Beth for going in goal for us!

Dick of the day goes to Karen Smith for leaving her mark on Staines.

#karensprestainesritual #theytriedtokillT #brilliantbeth #matchreports #hockeyfamily #hockeylife #focus #winchmorehillandenfield

 

WH&E M1 4 : 5 Bishops Stortford M2

Match report coming soon (maybe!)