The first team met with an Epsom team struggling for points in the South
league. Southampton forced the pace early in the game but despite creating
early opportunities, could not score. Epsom were determined to fight a rear
guard action and worked tirelessly to deny Southampton time on the ball.
Twenty minutes into the first half Epsom were awarded a penalty stroke when a
short corner deflection hit Maggs Ingram in the face as she defended the goal
line. Keeper Linda Dunham read the stroke well to save diving to her right.
Minutes later it was Southampton's turn at stroke taking but Fiona Jarman's
low effort went just wide of the post. Epsom went one ahead from a short
corner. The second half was one way traffic as Southampton chased the
equaliser but the Epsom keeper was on top form until a Sue Crowley strike
beat her. Southampton continued to chase the win but were always denied by
the in form keeper. Jenny Edwards sends her regards to all her old friend in
Southampton.
Final result 1 - 1
The second team took an early lead over Petersfield through Liz Walker but Petersfield took advantage of Southampton's pushing forward to break and score four goals. Southampton grabbed one back through Jenny Kimber but it was too late to effect the result. Final result 2 - 4
It was a top of the table clash between Southampton Thirds and Eastleigh firsts, which lived up to its expectations. Played at a quick pace Southampton took an early lead through Suzanne Quinton forcing the ball home in front of goal. Southampton should have gone two up but a Becky Thornton shot went narrowly wide. However in the second half Eastleigh started to come back into the game and eventually equalised and then went ahead late in the game to take the points.
Fourth team snowed off.
The Fifth team were thankful to new recruit fifteen year old Beth Davis in their match with Romsey thirds. Beth scored her first senior goal on her debut to open the scoring but then had her penalty stroke saved. Mary Aitken scored Southampton's second for a 2 - 0 win.
Despite the absence of five first team regulars Southampton looked set to
gain an early season defeat by Petersfield as they moved into an early 2 - 0
lead. Gary Watts opened the scoring with a great shot before Kelvin Wyatt
neatly deflected a cross into the net. Petersfield grabbed one back from a
short corner and then lack of focus from the Southampton defence allowed
Petersfield to score three open play goals. Southampton worked themselves
back into the game but Richard Watts' (twin of Gary) goal, scored one minute
from time, was to late to effect the result.
Final score 3 - 4.
The seconds continued their dominance on the Hampshire Second Eleven League with a 12 - 2 thrashing of Old Edwardians. It was one way traffic for most of the game as the goals regularly went in. A Hat trick from Pete Graham, his first in ten years of hockey supported by two from Chris Stokes, John Freckleton and Neil Hutchinson and one a piece from Eric Holt and Rob Sparrow made eleven. The twelfth will continue to be contested in the bar as John Freckleton's fierce shot was goal bound when Chris Stokes touched the ball as it was 'before the line', on the line' or over the line. However general consensus was that it does not matter whom scores only that the team does.
Southampton 3rd Team 4 : 1 Southampton University 3rd
Scorers: Quinn 2 Wise Holt
Uni's lowly status in the league belies their potential as they recently beat
Fareham 5:0.
Nevertheless a changed Soton side scored within 30 seconds of the start when
Ed Matthews broke down the right and fired in a cross brilliantly deflected
high into the Uni goal by Steve Quinn.
Seemingly undaunted Uni went on the attack immediately forcing a series of
short corners and in truth dominating much of the first half.
Soton struggled to find the right defensive structure playing without a
sweeper due to two late drop outs.
Soton went in two goals up with a goal by BJ which was made simple by Steve
Matthews outpacing Uni defenders to attain the bi-line position and pull the
ball back into the path of the advancing BJ. The half time scoreline was a
little flattering as Uni did not allow Soton the space to which we had become
accustomed over the last few weeks.
The second half was more satisfactory with a goal from Dave Holt and the fourth goal, Steve Quinn's second, who did a fine impersonation of Luke Knight lingering on the far post to slot in a right wing cross.
In between the final two goals Soton were caught on the break by Soton and survived well further short corners.
A decent result against a side that were fit and physical but lacked Soton composure and maturity (Miles that includes you!).
We remain 3rd in the league with 26 points.
The Fourths returned to their winning ways as they overcame Reading 2 - 0. Goals coming from Colin Langridge and Mike Gillingham.
The fifths were woken up by a 20 second goal from the opposition and quickly bounced back with amazing skill and hockey to level the score at 1-1. Sadly this would be the only goal they would salvage from the game. The ex-Welsh international and his friends running rings round a beleagured team that were exhausted and frustrated that they hadn't gained more from the game. Simply out classed and out numbered due to their dedication and performance, but on the positive side managed to limit the damage to only 6 (thanks to some good defending and goal keeping). Hopefully the Blandford fixture next week might yield our first victory!!!!!
The Sixths scrapped home by a solitary Mike Cotton goal in their match with Eastleigh Mohawks.
The Otters saw a comfortable 2 - 0 lead suddenly vanish as Lavant's Martin Carter forced them back into the game with two solo efforts. However the otters set about reinstating their lead and two-second half goals sealed the game. Southampton scorers were James Moody, Robin Martin and Henry Swzinto [2].
Both the Vets and the Masters went down to United Services Portsmouth sides. The senior Vets had their opposition to thank for their goal in their 1 - 2 defeat. Having shot at goal a USP defender carried the ball along his own goal line only to push it against the keeper's foot and see it rebound into the net.
The Masters took a 1 - 0 lead through Martin Roche (his first since returning from retirement) but went 1 -2 by half time and then 1 - 3 down before Chris Crane gave Southampton some hope of a point.
The Ladies' first team met with Basingstoke in the Hampshire cup. It was an opportunity to gain revenge over the side who beat them on penalty strokes last season. After fifteen minutes of even play Southampton took the lead when Hollie Nutt screamed in a short corner shot. However this was equalised before half time when Basingstoke's Sarah Mainprise also scored from a short corner. Southampton agin took the lead when Sue Crowley scored from the penalty spot after her rasping shot had been stopped on the line by a defender's foot. Southampton third came whilst Basingstoke were disputing a free hit. Skipper Nicky Tarry threaded a neat pas between defenders to Hollie Nutt, whose quick turn and long hit to striker Bex Sharr was neatly deflected passed the oncoming keeper. Hollie Nutt then added to her tally again with a strong strike at a short corner.
The Vets, playing their second match in two days ( good job they are not professional footballers) met with a strong Worcester side in the National Vets Cup. Former England player Wilkinson orchestrated Southampton's down fall with four of his team's eight goals. Final score 0 - 8.
The under 19 girls second team were disappointed to see their first goal (from Jess Goddard) disallowed as the found a Romsey side, strengthened with agreement, by under 15 county player Sam Bonham. Sam, to his credit, consolidated the defence, which made scoring even harder. Erica Jenner opened the scoring for Romsey but late addition Jilly Hurden (under fourteen) scored the equaliser at the far post. Southampton's midfield of Kerry Brown, Amanda Royle and Laura Please worked hard to create a second opportunity, which eventually fell to Amanda to score a Royle winner.
The under 12 girls met with New Milton under 14s and went down by 0 - 5 to their older opposition. Coach, Andrew Storm however was pleased with his girls performance in this their first full match. He felt, when matched against players of their own size, they will come good.
The under 18 boys were forced to introduce under 16 keeper Ryan Edwards into their top of the table clash with Winchester. Ryan took a few minutes to adjust himself to the faster pace of the game but soon settled down to make several match winning saves. Goals from Chris Stokes, Rhobet Williams and Robin Martin saw Southampton move to the top of the league.
The under 12 boys went one down to Trojans but then took control of the game with goals coming from Andrew Clover and David Stokes.