Report: Boys U10's at Pocklington


Published: Sunday, 6 December 2009

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  10:55 [0 comments]


The Team: Emillie Ritchey (GK); Katie Minchella; Harry Buttery; Nick Calderley; Sebastian Lister; Ryan Denton.

Slaz 2 v Airedale B 2
We got off to a shakey start when we conceded 2 goals quickly in the first half despite 2 good chances by Ryan and Nick.  The defence just couldn't make it back and Emillie was left to defend 2 attackers.  However the guys settled into their positions in the second half and seemed to stay more in position and use the space well.  A long corner from Nick in towards the D was collected and converted by Harry with a super slapshot. There were a couple of scarey 16s where the attack managed to intercept and get into our D but Ryan, Nick and Sebastian made some great tackles, Emillie made a some lovely saves and the ball was played back up towards Airedale's D.  The width of the pitch was utilised very well by Katie, Sebastian and Nick and another good pass to Harry on the edge of the D beat Airedale's keeper.

Chapeltown A 0 v Slaz 3
The team kept their form in the second game and again used the space well.  The guys played more self passes in this game as their confidence built up. After a bit of a mess in Chapeltown's D we were awarded our first short.  Pushed in by Harry to Nick the defence were on it and the ball left the area.  However Ryan picked it up in midfield and got it back towards the D to Sebastian.  Some great teamwork between Katie and Seb scored us our first.  Everyone worked really hard in midfield to keep the ball in Chapeltown's half.  The ball was played through on one occasion to an attacker and Emillie made a great one on one save sending the ball back towards midfield.  Sebastian took the ball to the edge of the D and showed great awareness in his pass to Harry who was waiting to slap in another past the keeper.  Harry definately knew where his position was by this time and picked up another lovely pass from Nick to score the third.

Slazenger 2 v York B 3
We knew this game would be tough as York had won their previous games 3-0 and 6-0.  In the first half we seemed to lose the structure a little bit with the defence and midfield chasing the ball again.  York played with at least one attacker up front all of the time and he was free to score 2 past Emillie despite her efforts.  Again great work in midfield passing the ball out wide to Katie and Nick and then in to the D again to Harry who powered in the first. The second half was better and Ryan stuck to that attacker like glue so as not to give him another clear shot at goal.  York had to work hard against us for their 3rd goal and Ryan, Seb, Nick and Emillie all battled hard in our D but eventually York's 3rd crossed the line.  From the restart Nick took the ball towards the D there were some great passes out wide again to Katie and strong tackles by all of the team on the way up and eventually the ball found its way to Harry in the D who took the shot. It was saved by the keeper but he followed up the rebound and beat the keeper.  Great defending by Ryan, Nick and Seb and another great save by Emillie torwards full time kept the score 3-2 to York.

Overall a great day all round.  Can I just say how impressed I was with the team today.  It seems like such a long time ago since we played our first tournament at Halifax in October where we lost every game and only scored one goal.  The kids seem to have improved so much since then and their confidence is coming thick and fast.  Considering they haven't all played together since October they got along really well and played brilliantly together.  Ryan who has only been playing at Slaz for a month or so settled in great, it was like he'd been playing with them for ever.  It was such a joy to be with them and watch them today.

Special thanks to Dean Michella and Mark Calderley today for helping me out.

from Sarah-Jane Ritchey

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


Published: Saturday, 16 October 2004

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 : Boys U10


Published: Sunday, 26 September 2004

Posted by Slazenger Admin  at  20:58 [0 comments]


Competing in the Yorkshire Youth Hockey League; Held at Huntington School, York. Sunday 26th September 2004.

The start of the first of five tournaments planned for the 2004-2005 season was delayed due to the late arrival of the facilities key holder.

Slazenger’s start this season playing in the lower of three leagues, our team of three Boys and two Girls (we are desperate to recruit more Boys to the side) been made up to the necessary six with the help of players gratefully borrowed from Chapeltown or Wakefield. Our opponents on the day were reduced to four teams with the absence of Thirsk.

The first game was against Harrogate who were a strong team that our inexperienced players, suffering from the lack of the strong defensive strength of the absent Ailish Hendry, found it very difficult to defend against. The result being a resounding 5-0 defeat.

In our second game, against Ben Rhydding B, although the team began to come together and find more shape, even putting together a chance or two on goal. Again our competition proved too strong scoring four goals, the first of which came from a shot from outside the D, rebounding off of our post into the path of their attacker (but they all count). Final score 4-0 to Ben Rhydding B.

Slazenger’s started our third game against Chapeltown in a much more positive manner, putting our opponents under pressure from early in the game. This pressure bringing a goal in the first few minutes scored by Daniel Perry after all our attacking players had seen a touch of the ball inside the Chapeltown D. They were quick to come back at us, until an attack on our goal was thwarted by the umpires whistle when Slazenger’s Issac Fisher was struck in the chest by a ball unintentionally flicked up off a Chapletown stick. We were soon back on the attack ourselves though, Daniel again managing to force a goal after another goal mouth scramble. Chapeltown popped in a consolation goal near the end of the eight-minute game with some neat “brake-away” play involving Joshua, a playing we had “borrowed” earlier in the tournament. Final score 2-1 to Slazengers.

In our final game against York B a third girl, Sophie from Chapletown made up the numbers off our team. We began in the same attacking style and again found ourselves one nil up early in the game. With players committing to attack we were vulnerable to any York break, but half way through the game Issac turned one of this breaks into a goal for Slazengers by driving the length of the pitch, a terrific effort from the six year old. After a final successful tackle on the edge of York’s D Daniel was on hand to pick up the loose ball and force through from the right wing, along the goal line and finish the move with a reverse stick push into the net. The final score of 2-0 could have been 3 when Heather Bates was ideally positioned in front of goal at the end of a pass when the full time whistle blow.       
Slazenger’s result of two wins and two defeats will depend on other teams results but will probably see us remain in the third division for the next tournament on the 31st October.

Slazenger Junior Hockey are keen to recruit new members. Training is held on Sunday 10am till 12 noon at Slazenger sports and social club in Horbury (Address on Main Web Page).

Team on photo attached to e-mail; Front row left to right Chloe Bates, Issac Fisher, Heather Bates. Back row left to right Daniel Perry, Jake Barras.

October, we are not charging new prospective members for coaching, and are running our annual “Bring a Buddy Month

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