With five regular first squad members unavailable, Southampton travelled to Tulse Hill with the bare eleven. A miserable journey into London's South meant numerous phone calls between cars to ensure everybody made it in on time. No spare moments for the traditional Big Mac, at our regular roadside haunt. Drafted into the side were Becky Mortimer, Suzanne Quinton and Allie Omell, all three of which played with confidence and spirit. Positional changes pushed normal midfielders, Sue Crowley and Sarah Batchelor, into defence. From the start Southampton were determined to work tirelessly for each other and applied pressure to the TH defence with rapid raids down their flank. Midway through the first half, Jo Knight's penetrating run down the middle opened a pass to Hollie Nutt, whose move into the centre from wing transformed her game. Hollie gratefully received the ball to score. Two minutes into the second half the heavens opened and the umpires called the players from the pitch. Our hearts went into our mouths as we thought they were going to abandoned the game. A two-minute break saw the rain abate and brightness ensue, thankfully. The game was played in an excellent spirit (not normally a feature of matches with TH), which allowed good hockey and saw both defences working hard to 'repel borders'. Keeper, Linda Dunham made one spectacular save high to her right to keep the score at 1- 0. It is gratifying to get, at last, some points for the good performances we have been putting in over the last few games.
With the first team taking players and illness causing late dropouts, it could not have been a worse day for the seconds to meet with top of the table, Havant. Southampton opened the scoring when skipper, Karen Jordan converted a short corner. However Havant took advantage of corners awarded for indiscriminate tackling to show their talent in the dead ball situation to score five. We will try to cover at training soon, not undiscriminating but the proper way of tackling. Final result 1 - 5.
The Thirds had a lack lustre performance against, bottom of the table, Gosport (who fielded only 10 players). Southampton failed to convert any of their scoring chances to draw 0 - 0.
The Fourths continued to head the table as they won 2 - 1 against Basingstoke 3s. They moved comfortable 2 - 0 lead with goals from Anna Skelton and Di Childs before letting in a late consolation goal and then had to thank a fine piece of goal keeping from Lucy Patey to keep the lead at full time.
A weakened Fifths fell behind badly to IBM nomads, losing 1 - 6 with Mary-Anne Mulligan getting Southampton's only effort.
The men's first eleven maintained their chase to the top of the first division with a 7 - 2 demolition of lowly Alton. Southampton took the lead through Rhobet Williams but were pegged back to one each when Alton counter attacked to score. However Southampton's superiority continued to reap dividends as further goals were added by Rhobet Williams (2 to make his hat trick), Chris Ellis (2), Ben Fitch and Peter Spencer. Alton gained a further late goal at 5 - 1.
Alton must be wary of Southampton as their seconds found themselves on the wrong end of a 12 - 0 scoreline as Southampton 2s went goal crazy. Five to Chris Stokes, four from Eric Holt, two for Neil Hutchinson and one from the Echo's own Steve Matthews made it a rueful day for both Alton's sides.
Third Eleven skipper Jon Gane gave this personalised version of his game:-
Despite their lowly position in the league Haslemere started the game with
more purpose than Southampton, enjoying periods of good build up play albeit
rarely threatening Mike Loveless's goal.
A period of good Southampton pressure was rewarded when Matt Southgate
reacted quickest to a shot only half saved by the Haslemere keeper.
Southampton survived late Haslemere pressure to finish 1:0 up at half time.
The lead was quickly increased in the second half by an incisive breakaway
goal starting with Dave Holt in the midfield, slotting the ball forward to
Steve Quinn who drew the goalkeeper and passed left to Luke Knight for a
simple tap in. Haslemere forced a penalty stroke from a breakaway and could
have equalised shortly afterwards. The match was put beyond doubt by Rob
Sparrow who converted a PF with 10 minutes left.
Thanks Jon, any other
captains like to email me some info ? please. We are sorry to hear that Luke
Knight is to give up saturday hockey to WORK. Sorry to hear it has come to
that. Good luck with the job.
The Fourths squeezed home by the odd goal as they met with Havant 5s. Goals coming from Pete Cox, Ed Thorn and Dominic.
East Grinstead brought their normal array of former international to Southampton in this Wessex Masters league and they showed that they had lost little of their skill and mastery of the game. Southampton's Bill Stokes however showed he could score against top opposition when he grabbed Southampton's two in this 2 - 8 defeat. They will win the league again this season, assuming regular availability. We have suggested transfer requests.
The Vets however were inflicting similar damage to Chichester Vets as they won 7 - 0. Goals coming from Martin Wood (2), Pete Terry (2), Andy Church (2) and Ralph Turner.
In a game they dominated, missed opportunities told as the Otters went down by the odd goal to Camberley.
Sixth eleven no report yet.
Two games in a weekend showed the reserve (it used to be Cockburns) of The Vets as they met with Wisbeech from Cambridgeshire in the national over forties cup. Wisbeech took an early lead but this was quickly wiped out when Bill Stokes forced the ball home from close range. Southampton moved into the lead in the second half when Stokes grabbed his second of the match and fourth of the weekend.
The under 14 boys met with an under strength Fareham side and took a 6 - 0 lead. However Fareham kept working at their game and were rewarded with 2 late goals. Scores for Southampton were Alex Tong (2), Matt Swzinto (2), Ollie Knight and Steve Nutt.
The under 14 second team travelled to Andover to win 5 - 0 with David Stokes opening the scoring with a reverse stick sweep, which caught the Andover keeper unprepared. He later added a second to make a Stokes family tally of 11 for the weekend. Josh Lambert, Tom Legge and Alex Goergopoulos scoring the remainder.
The girls under 19 continued their dominance of the Hampshire league with a win over Andover. Alex Williams leading the scoring with 4, with Sarah Batchelor (2), Hollie Nutt (2), Charlotte Page (2), Anna Skelton and Charlotte Gallagher also scoring.
Also on Sunday a demonstration match was held between Leo Sayers All Dayers and a Southampton elite side. LSAD organiser, Second team keeper Paul Howarth, entertained the crowd with some interesting goal keeping as he tried to suck up to first team skipper Ben Fitch, letting him put three past him, whilst I was watching. Final result not known but Paul will be giving some exciting quotes on the club's web site, I am sure.