Women’s
1’s v St Alban’s 2’s
1-0
Bishop Stortford Ladies 1s travelled across to St Albans in ‘proper hockey weather’. After a great warm up, Stortford started the first half dominant. Some brilliant attacking play led to early opportunities and short corners, but unfortunately were unable to get the ball in the back of the net. St Albans came back with a counter attack but this was nothing to worry about for Ibby, as her awesome keeping just left St Albans frustrated. After Stortford won 3 or 4 more short corners that weren’t able to be converted, it was becoming clear that the St Albans goal keeper was their most influential player. The half time whistle blew for 0-0. Bishops Stortford started the second half determined to be as relentless as the wind and the rain. A transfer around the back and a ball up the line from Molly led to a fabulous open play goal from Katie, putting Stortford in the lead. A frustrated St Albans side became physical, and while they had a few more entries into their attacking 25 than the first half, it wasn’t enough to do damage. Stortford stayed on top until the final whistle, walking away with yet another 3 points.
2’s v Letchworth 1’s
0-2
A very windy and rainy start for the ladies 2s against letchworth at home today. Letchworth started strong, sneaking in a goal in the first few minutes while Stortford were warming to the game. After this, Stortford switched on and dominated the rest of the first half, with many short corners and excellent defence of any counter attacks. Unfortunately however none of this good play could be converted.
Second half started with a Stortford ball where they continued to be in control of the game with an outstanding defence of counter attacks yet again. Unfortunately however, Letchworth got the ball into the net after winning a short corner. After this Rafae took an whopper of a shot from an acute angle which hit the inside post, rebounding out and narrowly missing the goal. From a terrific game with some amazing dribbles and superb interceptions, Rafae also won player of the match! This was an incredibly unfortunate loss for the Ladies 2s and the scoreline did not reflect some of the quality of play put forward by our excellent team in our last match of the year.
4’s v Stevenage 3’s
2-0
It was a particularly wet and windy Saturday, courtesy of Storm Darragh for the Ladies’ 4s, who were away at Stevenage. Stortford started strong, dominating the first 15 minutes and maintaining possession in Stevenages half. This pressure was compounded when, at the 12-minute mark, Lois scored our first goal of the match, beautifully assisted by Jo N. With 5 minutes remaining in the first half, Katy. who had dominated the centre of midfield, was lost to injury.
The girls started the second half brightly with a strong attack and a new formation. Unfortunately a rare error let Stevenage break and Freya was forced to make a couple of excellent saves. On the counter Izzy transferred the ball wide to Catherine who slapped it up the sideline meeting the midfield who carried it to the baseline. A powerful hit from met Lois on the P spot beating the Stevenage defence for the second and final goal of the match earned at the 40 minute mark. The battle continued with the defence holding Stevenage to a few counters which were quickly shut down. Stortford remained the dominant side with the midfield ready for player of the match Milly to distribute from the centre out wide. Despite huge amounts of pressure Stevenage managed to keep the visitors to just a 2-0 victory (both scored by Lois). A well earned win for the 4s. Honourable mentions to Lois & Yolande.
Men’s
2’s v Broxbourne 2’s
2-2
Div 2SW
2-2 Draw
Scorers: Ossie Bannister, Dave Roberts
The mens 2s defied the storms to earn a point away at Broxbourne. Despite an early push-back and a bare 11, the visitors battled heroically to keep within touching distance of Broxbourne in the league table. Broxbourne scored first, but Ossie Bannister levelled before half time. The routine was repeated in the second half as the home side again took the lead, but a dramatic last minute finish from Dave Roberts gave cause for celebration. The Mens 2s go into the christmas break in 5th place.
6’s v Shefford & Sandy 4’s
1-1
Stortford took the field in the high winds and driving rain against a strong Shefford team seeking a win to close out the first half of the season heading into the Christmas break, but we’re only able to come away with a hard fought draw.
Dominating the early exchanges, with 11 outfield player in the absence of a goalkeeper, Stortford came close to breaking the deadlock on a number of occasions.
Tireless running and link up play from the midfield quartet of Jenkins, Smith, Basra and Turner fed the hungry forward line of Taylor (F), Clune, Tatchell and White who though unable to break the deadlock from open play won a number of Penalty Corners for the home side.
Stortford came close on each of the well rehearsed set plays from said corners only to be denied by an inspired Shefford goalkeeper.
With half time looming and the arrival of the home goalkeeper, Shefford were awarded a penalty corner upon their first foray into the Stortford D. A clean strike cruelly deflected, looping over the heads of defenders and keeper, creeping in below the cross bar. 1-0 Shefford.
The defensive line of Bourke, Howarth, Wardrop and Taylor (M) locked out Shefford for the remainder of the game but with Stortford struggling to find the rhythm of their first half and create chances until another penalty corner on 60 minutes. Route one was the call, up-stepping Taylor (M) to finally break the stubborn defenses of the Shefford back line – “top bins” was the call with the ball firing into the top corner.
Stortford once again found their rhythm for the final 10 minutes, despite dominating possession were unlucky not to be able to create any clear cut chances for the win.
POTM nominations were shared across the Stortford defensive line, but Neil Bourke taking home the plaudits with a superb all round performance.
It’s 6s all round heading into the winter break with the 6th XI sitting 6th in East Men’s Division 6SW.
7’s v Hertford 6’s
3-2
Twas the match before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring while Storm Darragh prepared to douse.
In Hertford the Men’s Development Team were huddled with care. In the hopes that a hockey match soon would be there.
But while the brave players may have rather been all snug in their beds… would this be the storybook ending they may have wished for instead?
Despite the seasonal inclemency, and with no particular metre, the match itself started brightly with no quarter being given by either side. However, despite occasion flurries and several short corners for both teams, Stortford both successfully kept up their defensive umbrella, whilst also being unable to uproot Hertford’s backboard.
The winds changed 29 minutes in, with a deft flick from Mark Vasey into the D clinically volleyed in by Tim Gillott to put the visitors ahead. However, this lead proved to be short-lived, when an unlucky slip in front of goal by Super Sub Dan Lowe gifted Hertford a Penalty Flick to leave things even as the game hit half time.
With half time tactics discussed, the onslaught continued both in the skies and on the pitch, until the stalemate was eventually broken after 59 mins when Ben Jones, like John McClain in the Nakatomi Plaza, stealthily crept past Hertford’s defensive line to fire a shot into goal, taking Stortford back into the lead.
However, much like ITV’s Xmas Day Schedule, or a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past, it was sadly repeat viewing for the 7’s, with some fearless keeping from Geoff Wheeldon unfortunately awarding the Home Side another Penalty Flick to draw the game level for a second time, and Hertford looking to potentially be the Grinches who’d stolen Stortford’s Christmas.
But, with the barometer shifting again moments later, and back with a vengeance, Ben Jones soon found himself again as the man in the right place at the right time, successfully delivering a second goal past Hertford, to hopefully put the gift wrapping on an Xmas victory for the 7’s.
With a frustrated Hertford unable to do much in the dying minutes, it indeed proved to be a Christmas Bonus for the 7th Team, taking the win as they head into the Xmas Break, and not having to return home alone.
In terms of star turns this week, the cat-like reflexes of keeper Geoff Wheeldon, nimble footwork of Kenny McLeish & Haitel Patel, midfield general’ing of Duncan Laws, and defensive manoeuvres (and “stylish” pink hat) of Chris Wood all drew plaudits for their performances across a rather damp stage.
However, this week’s Star on the Christmas Tree and Player of the Match was Ben Jones, for on seventh day of December gifting us not seven swans a swimming (although possibly apt given the weather), but two goals in the bag and three points on the table for the Men’s 7th XI.
So, all in all, a good day in bad weather for the 7’s, who will be hoping that St Nicolas brings them more wins in the New Year as well.
