Weekend Round Up 09/02/19 & 10/02/19
Saturday
ONES DOMINATE BEN RHYDDING
The first few minutes of the game were dominated by a strong Leicester side who managed to retain possession and work their way up the field. Leicester’s efforts were soon rewarded when Olive Hepi managed a clinical backhand finish in the 11th minute to make it 1-0.
Leicester continued to dominate with some nice build up play through the mid-field leading to another backhand shot from Olive Hepi reaching the back of the net. The goal was quickly disallowed however due to a previous Leicester back-stick in the D.
Leading into half-time Ben Rhydding found their stride coming at Leicester with some dangerous attacking play. They saw two missed short corner routines and a few balls narrowly missing the goal – Leicester’s defence working hard to maintain their lead.
After half time it was a much more level playing field with great attacking prowess coming from both teams. Leicester held onto their victory however with a second and final goal of the match. Katie Long fired the ball across the D to find Olive Hepi who pulled off another great backhand shot right in front of the keeper’s pads.
Leicester will be hoping to retain their strong form into next week’s game against a physical Brooklands side.
Squad: Caitlin Jeffries (GK), Amy Gavin, Carmen Simpson, Chloe Rogers, Emma Yanzi, Flora England, Jodie Connolly, Katie Long, Katie Mason, Laura Khan, Lizzie Honnarmand, Louisa Heathcote, Olive Hepi, Rachel Mack, Steph Hale, Tara Broughton-Lloyd
SECONDS
2-0 loss vs Leamington
THREES WIN AT HOME
Saturday morning, so windy some of the smaller players in the team struggled to stand up and the older players struggled to hear my instructions. At least I think that was it. We started sluggishly, we hadn't expected free flowing hockey from Half Century, we didn't get it either. We did get a lot of hustle and bustle though and for 10 minutes, we were sluggish, didn't offer any quality and gave them every opportunity to disrupt our hockey.
If I am honest, we went in at half time 1-0 up. A fortuitous goal for a number reasons, feet, mishits, looping finish into the bottom corner. One positive Kayleigh had scored, woop. Much of the fault in the first half was mine. The formation didn't quite work, too much football manager.
So half time, a very similar chat to last week. Stop forcing the play, be more positive with space and get some shots off. Oh and sort out the naff formation. Pleasingly, it made a significant difference. Emma started to get more involved, Jodie, Annie and Simran had more time on the ball in the right areas of the pitch. Lauren and Kayleigh made the defenders move and created space for others. We really did look a different attacking unit. The second goal came quickly in the second half, a lovely through ball from Simran, saw Kayleigh sweep into the roof of the net. We then battered against the Half Century defence, missed a few chances but were creating opportunities. Annie fell over half way through the second half and scored, she had no idea what was going on.
The defence and goalie had very little to do. Cas at one point randomly coughing to remind people she was still here. Anna rampaging down the right, grunting gorilla like instructions. Katie; arms, legs doing their own thing with some semblance of organisation had another solid game on the left and is rapidly making that position hers alone. Casey had 70 minutes to commiserate over missing out on a bacon butty before the game and Jess, strolled around as usual making the whole thing seem that little bit simple.
An excellent attacking game with too few goals to show for the intent and opportunities we created.
Squad: Cas Evans (GK), Anna Kendall, Annie Sibson, Casey Humphreys, Elise Atkinson, Emma Sleeman, Jess Duffy, Jodie Massey, Katie Evans-Puttick, Kayleigh Glover, Lauren Clough, Natalie Gear, Simran Sambi
FOURTHS LOSE OUT TO HIGH FLYING LOUGHBOROUGH
An energy sapping effort from the 4’s against Loughborough Uni this weekend.
We looked to compete for every ball and upset the rhythm of the current league leaders and hit on the counter.
A few chances fell our way but were not taken and the pressure and skill level of our opponents eventually told with them running out 7-0 winners.
Special mention to another young keeper making her debut in Poppy who certainly picked a cracking game to make her first start.
Onto next week and with the same effort, energy and clinical finishing the 4’s will have a great chance of victory.
Squad: Poppy Page (GK), Abi Archer, Anna Chapman, Anna Godwin, Caitlin Pittham, Chiara Bensi, Josie Rule, Karen Dixon, Lauren Ellis, Sarah Levy, Sarah Robinson, Sophoe Levy, Tara Bahra
BIG BANG CANT STOP FIFTHS
Despite the parking carnage caused by the very successful Big Bang event at our home ground Leicester 5ths notched a comfortable 5-1 win over Roundhill.
We started 25 minutes late because of the parking difficulties and got off to a good start with Jennifer Pollock drawing a superb save from Roundhill’s keeper. With the game ten minutes old there was nothing she could do to prevent a net buster from Jen which I doubt the keepers in the adjacent first team match would have stopped.
Not to be outdone, youngster Isabella Wilkinson fired in a hard, high shot that carried too much power for their keeper, putting us two up. At the other end, Aleena Moti and her defence was dealing well with Roundhill’s attacks but Aleena was called on to make a couple of good blocks. We managed to go further ahead when good work by Lydia Cross was touched in (or pinched, depending on your perspective) by Eleanor Partridge who grows in confidence with every game.
An upbeat halftime team talk was followed by the inevitable Roundhill goal. We suddenly found ourselves a little stretched and ex-Leicester player Alice Page rolled her defender before a little dink past Aleena. They then had a good spell before order was restored and Joy York added a fourth after excellent buildup play that began with a defensive clearance.
The cherry on the cake was our fifth, put clear Bella kept her cool in a one on one against their keeper, placing the ball into the corner. Jennifer Pollock was chosen by Roundhill as Player of the Match.
Next weekend we face a potential double header at Ashby on Saturday and at Market Harborough on Sunday, oh we do get around a bit.
Squad: Aleena Moti, Alexia Scudamore, Hazel McSweeney, Jane Cottrell, Emma York, Gaynor Nash, Anna Kellie, Alex Peet, Isabella Wilkinson, Jennifer Pollock, Lydia Cross (C), Eleanor Partridge, Joy York.
CITY CONTINUE FINE FORM
On Saturday Leicester travelled North to take on West Bridgford 9s. The side were pleased to welcome back their very own action man Ed, back in the UK for only his second game this season before he goes back to active duty.
A delayed start and trams rattling along the side of the pitch didn't put Leicester off as they opened their scoring account after two minutes. A free hit was won outside the D, taken quickly and passed to Nic who fired the ball into the D for Jamie to deflect into the net. The next goal fell shortly afterwards for Tim who performed some gymnastics before putting the ball in, on his season debut (no childcare commitments this week!).
Jason saw his first action in goal when he was deemed to be pushed by a young forward and the enthusiasm continued when both players hugged it out before the free hit was taken.
Short corner practice before the game paid off as the first opportunity came out to David Hill at the top of the D who delivered the ball to the left post for Jamie to deflect in. Tim fired home another from close range, Jamie jumped onto a high ball deflected off a WB stick in the D another and Karl finished off two good team link ups for the sixth and seventh goals of the game.
Paul thought he was home and dry for a goal tapping it in on the back post but the Umpire unfortunately disallowed the goal advising he heard it go in off a foot not stick, animated discussion ensued and Paul was sent packing back to defence somewhat disgruntled. Shortly afterwards Leicester won a short corner choosing to go short to Paul, Paul connected with his strike beautifully but sent it wide of the right post forcing the Umpire to take evasive action- payback for disallowing the last attempt?
Half time, 7-0 up.
The start of the second half WB fought hard against sustained pressure and managed to keep Leicester at bay for a 10-15 minute passage.
Jamie broke the deadlock, his goal bound slap nearly stopped by defender on the line and nearly stolen by David Magill. Devan followed on picking up a rebound near the P spot and flicking home, 9-0. A marauding run from Tim fed Nic to first touch slap the ball in, another first goal of the season, 10-0. Tim quickly followed this with his own effort, 11-0 and Karl for his third 12-0. Henry showed great composure at left back carrying the ball forward to win a foul and a resulting green card for a WB player not 5 from the incident- the only card of the game. Nic looked set to score a second identical goal on the left was was denied by a determined sliding defender who will have some lovely astro burn to show for it.
It wasn't all one way traffic though in the second half and WB showed how dangerous they are on the counter attack forcing a scramble defence and Jason to deal with the ball on the left post to keep a clean sheet.
Karl scored the final goal dragging the ball wide of the keeper who was unlucky not to make the save getting a stick touch on the ball on the way in.
Leicester dominated the game with some really classy hockey played, unselfish runs were made all over the pitch with defenders Paul, Boycie and Henry all getting a chance to play in the attacking 23 with cover from the midfield. The midfield unit of David H, Nic, Declan, Devan and Ed played some textbook passing hockey to set the standard of the game and keep the ball out of reach for WB. David M was unlucky not to find himself on the score sheet but worked hard up front creating lots of space and options for other players to take the glory!
Squad: Jason Clothier (GK), Daryl Boyce, David Hill, David Magill, Declan Shepherd, Devan Williams, Ed Charlesworth, Henry Young, Jamie Sinclair, Karl Taitt, Nic White, Paul Lineham, Tim Dyke
City have a week off next week and a double header the following week with top of the table Beeston 7s on Saturday and a rearranged fixture vs Burton 4s on Sunday.
Sunday
U8s
On a very wet and cold Sunday our U8s team travelled to Loughborough to take part in a mini-tournament against Ashby and Loughborough. The results for Leicester are as follows:
Leicester 1 - Ashby A 0
Leicester 0 - Loughborough 1
Leicester 4 - Ashby B 0
The training and competitions are paying off. Given that most of the girls only started playing hockey in September, their improvement has been amazing. All the games were well fought and certainly the games against Ashby A and Loughborough could have gone either way. A special mention to our defence of Asmi and Hana, they only conceded 1 goal in 3 games - they both attacked the ball with purpose and really protected the goal. Issy and Charlotte bossed the mid-field with Ramona and Leeyate on the wings providing support, with Emily up front always ready to get in the 'D'. Our goal scorers were Issy (4) and Charlotte (1).
Well done girls - Charlotte, Emily, Issy, Ramona, Hana, Asmi and Leeyate. A special thanks to Gemma our fantastic coach
