Report: Mens 1st XI (2) vs. (3) Norton 1st's


Published: Saturday, 30 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:43 [0 comments]


Slazenger were unable to maintain their recent winning form in the North League Division 2 East with this disappointing defeat at Norton.

Uncharacteristically, Slazenger allowed the home side to dominate the pattern of play in the first half as they struggled to get their own passing game going. It was no surprise then when the side from the North East took the lead being quickest to react to a rebound from a penalty corner.

Slazenger briefly rallied and James Swinden finished off a fine individual run with a slow looping shot from the edge of the circle, which somehow managed to bypass the goalkeeper and two defenders. However, this was a brief respite for the Horbury side that soon found themselves behind once again as Norton profited from a scramble in the circle.

Slazenger pushed further forward in the second half but too many individuals failed to produce the high standards they set earlier in the season. Only the experienced Ivan Wood rose about this mediocrity as he made a series of crucial interceptions to keep Norton at bay. However, even he was powerless to prevent Norton from adding a third from a well-worked penalty corner routine. Slazenger showed an increased sense of urgency after this and did hit back when Mike Shaw applied the finish to one of their few decent passing moves. Slazenger piled on the pressure in the last 5 minutes but were unable to find an equaliser.

Despite this loss, Slazenger remain second in the league as their rivals also faltered. They aim to get their season back on track with a home game against Stockton on Saturday. They are also in action in the HA Trophy on Sunday away at LA Metros commencing 2.00pm.

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Report: Mens 3rd XI (7) vs (1) Wakefield 3rd's


Published: Sunday, 24 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:37 [0 comments]


Slazenger’s thirds hosted local rivals Wakefield thirds on Sunday in the third team cup and produced a fantastic performance to run out 7-1 winners.
Both teams were always going to be up for the game but it was Slazenger’s who struck first blood, Johnny Halliday striking a fierce short corner home. The game settled into a physical well-fought game, both teams playing good hockey but once again Slazenger’s were able to strike with Timmy Carr finishing another short corner just before half time.

The second half began as the first had ended, Carr sniffing out another close in finish to give Slazenger’s a three goal cushion, Wakefield pulled one back before Carr completed his hat trick with a great strike, beating three defenders before drilling the ball home.

By this time Slazenger’s were in total control, playing great hockey completely dominating all areas of the pitch, Robin Whawell netting before Rich Hutchins rounded off a great short corner routine with a simple tap in. Marcus Shufflebooty made a great save from a penalty flick and Halliday completed the scoring with another good first time strike, surprising all by managing to stay on his feet long enough to get to the ball. Eddie Taylor used all his weight to boss the defence with James Walker always causing problems for the Wakefield defence. Slazenger’s now look forward to the draw with anticipation.

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Report: Mens 2nd's (1) vs (2) Halifax 2nd's


Published: Saturday, 23 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:31 [0 comments]


Once again, Slazenger’s seconds were left disappointed after a poor performance going down 2-1 away to Halifax seconds. A result that leaves them rooted firmly to the bottom of the table. The story of the season continued with Slazenger’s playing some great hockey but then letting themselves down with individual errors and a lack of ability to dig deep when needed.

The game started with Slazenger’s playing some good hockey but found themselves caught out midway through the first half going a goal down. Then, Slazenger’s began to pick up their play, Ted Richardson equalising with a great reverse stick strike.

The second half was much the same with Slazenger’s playing good stuff only to let themselves down in the final third of the game with Halifax grabbing a late winner from a well worked short corner routine. Slazenger’s will have to dig deep in the coming games to reverse what has been a poor start to the season for them.

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Report: Mens 1st's (6) vs (1) Marton Furness 1st's


Published: 

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:28 [0 comments]


Slazenger moved into second place in North Hockey League Division 2 East after this crushing defeat of lowly Marton Furness. Slazenger’s hero was Mike Thornicroft who grabbed a well-deserved second-half hat-trick.

It would be easy to say this was a game of two halves as the score line was goalless at half-time. However, this does not tell the true story. Slazenger had almost total dominance of possession in the first period but found it difficult to break through some stubborn and aggressive defending. At the other end, Ivan Wood was in supreme form marshalling the home side’s defence with cool authority.

Once Thornicroft grabbed his first at the start of the second half with a well taken flick at a penalty corner. The floodgates then opened. The home side blitzed the Marton defence and scored a further four goals inside 15 minutes with one penalty stroke in reply. Swift attacks followed one another and ended with cool finishes from the ever-willing Chris Hayton and a second for Thornicroft. James Swinden chipped in with a thunderous strike from a penalty corner and Thornicroft completed his hat-trick soon after good work down the right from Paul Wiper.

The side from Middlesbrough grew increasingly desperate and lost all discipline, having two players sin-binned for crude challenges. With Mark Swinden and Johnny White anchoring midfield and Simon Chamberlain raiding down the right, Slazenger grabbed a deserved final goal from Mike Shaw following another good passing movement. The Horbury side were unlucky not be awarded a penalty stroke in the final minutes as Adrian Buckley was up-ended in the circle.

Slazenger look to consolidate their position near the top of the table away at Norton on Saturday at 1.30pm.

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Report: Boys U14's


Published: Sunday, 17 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:06 [0 comments]


This was the U14 first tournament day of the season.

Slazengers set out with three players short but still turned out with the hope of borrowing players. We did manage to borrow players from both Leeds and Doncaster, thanks to all those lads. We also had three new players Aled, Robert and Adam all of whom have only being playing a matter of weeks, but they held their own and played well.

Slazengers pulled well together with lots of positive encouragement from their Captain Jermane Cockerill in midfield. Slazenger’s only goal of the tournament came from a well worked piece of work by Kayleigh Ventom to leave Alex cook to tap the ball home into the net. Tessa Downs had a great game in goals and Philip Midgley over came a nasty knock on the ankle to complete the last game and again worked well.

Slazenger’s final results for the day were that we won one, lost one, and drew one.

Please Note: Junior Hockey coaching sessions, Sunday 10 till 12 contact Steve Wood 01924 279351

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Report: Mens 5th's (4) vs (3) Kingston-Upon Hull 5th's


Published: Saturday, 16 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:27 [0 comments]


Slazengers finished the first half Two One up. With a smashing ball in the back of the net by Ian Gordon, followed shortly by a cracking goal by Andy Auty, which left their Goal keeper stunned.  Slazengers came out a bit too confident in the second half and soon found them selves at two all after Kingston came back with two easy balls tapped into the net.   Slazengers soon bucked their ideas up and were full on and attacking in style and with some great defending by Andy Fisher.

Andy Auty came through to score his second of the match to make the score 3 all.  Jermane Cockerill scored the final and winning goal in the last minutes of the game with a fine cross from right wing.

It was nice to see two teams that were trying to bring young blood into the club game.

Please Note: Junior hockey Training at Slazengers, Sunday 10 till 12 contact S Wood 01924 279351

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Report: Mens 1st's (6) vs York 2nd's (2)


Published: 

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:21 [0 comments]


York 2nds - 2   Slazenger 1st  - 6

Previous encounters between these two teams have always been close, but this time Slazenger ran out easy winners.

It was not clear what was to come later as previously unbeaten York applied early pressure in this North Division 2 East fixture.  However, a combination of tight marking and some excellent saves from James Cowden kept the home side at bay.  There were also early signs that the Horbury side were capable of catching York on the break.  They took the lead from one such attack.  James Swinden sprinted down the right and his pinpoint cross was met by Paul Wiper who expertly finished with a first-time shot.  Slazenger soon doubled their advantage.  This time James Swinden required no assistance as he finished off his own mazy dribble.  Slazenger were now in complete control and it was no surprise that they added a third with a beautifully worked passing movement from back to front resulting in a goal for the impressive Mark Swinden.

There was no complacency from Slazenger at the start of the second half as they added a fourth when a crisp shot from James Swinden beat the hapless York keeper.  However, the home side rallied, taking advantage of poor marking to score two open play goals in quick succession.  There was then a key 10-minute period during which Slazenger defenders Ivan Wood and Will Buckley steadied the ship.  York’s resolve was finally broken as Adrian Buckley cooly applied a finish after a goalmouth scramble.  Finally, Mike Thornicroft got his reward for his hard work up front, converting a penalty stroke after he had been unceremoniously upended in the circle.

Slazenger look to retain their winning momentum in a home fixture against Marten Furness at 1.30 pm on Saturday.

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Report: Mens 2nd's (0) vs Brigg (1)


Published: 

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:18 [0 comments]


The story of Slazenger’s seconds season continued as they once again failed to capitalise on some good hockey to go down one nil at home to Brigg seconds. The game started well for Slazengers creating early chances, which saw them have a goal disallowed, and a fierce strike by Andy Foreman cleared off the line by the Brigg defence. The second half started and as so often has happened this season, Slazengers found themselves conceding an early goal. This meant Slazengers had to chase the game and despite some great penetration round
the back by Ben Garside, the failure to find the final ball was beginning to frustrate the home side. The lack of a natural centre forward told as chances went begging with the home side left ruing what could have been a
comfortable victory. Slazengers find themselves in the relegation zone after only four games and will have to find some form in front of goal if they are to make any sort of impression this term.

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Report: Mens 2nd's (1) vs (3) Ben Rhydding 3rd's


Published: Saturday, 9 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:15 [0 comments]


Slazenger’s seconds poor start to the season continued after they suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat away to Ben Rhydding III in a game that they could have so easily won.

The game started with Slazenger’s playing some great hockey, making it their best half of hockey so far this season, to go in at the break a goal to the good. Dan Cooper latching onto a misdirected Tim Carr strike to give Slazenger’s a well deserved lead. Slazenger’s could have gone into the break two or three goals better off after some fantastic all round team play but some great goal keeping kept them at bay.

The second half was a different story however, with Ben Rhydding attacking in numbers, which saw them pull level and then take the lead midway through the second half. Slazenger’s rallied and began to control the play again but the loss of Ben Garside through his second yellow card in three games really put pay to the fight back, Ben Rhydding using their numerical advantage to kill the game off with a third.

Slazenger’s can take heart from a great first half performance but will have to learn to play for the full 70 minutes if they are to make an impression in what could turn out to be a tough league.

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Report: Mens 2nd XI (2) vs (2) Sheff. Bankers 4th's


Published: Saturday, 2 October 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  21:11 [0 comments]


Slazenger seconds produced a much improved performance to take a point off a strong Bankers side and can consider themselves unlucky not to take all three. The game started with bankers in the supremacy creating a number of chances, with keeper Lee Secker keeping slaz in it.

Slaz soon found their feet though and started to create chances of their own, Andy Foreman going close on a couple of occasions. And it was the slaz pressure that paid off, Rich Hutchins turning in a Ben Garside through ball to go in at the break a goal to the good. Bankers started the second half as they did the first, drawing level and then taking a lead somewhat against the run of play.

Slaz soon began to dominate though, Garside running the midfield and Hutchins dominating throughout the field of play. Slaz created a number of chances, drawing level through a subtle Foreman flick and they were unlucky not to grab all three points. This was a strong performance from Slaz seconds, one which they will look to build on next week.

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