Southampton Women's first team started off their league season with a positive performance over newly promoted Guildford. Southampton's experience at the higher level proved conclusive as the created good scoring opportunities following penetrating runs from their three strikers, Naomi Dunn, JO Edmondson and Bex Sharr. However it fell to midfielder, Sue Crowley to take first blood as she drove across the D before hitting her shot home. The second came from a long through ball from sweeper, Fiona Jarman which found Dunn on the halfway line and her run to the D and around the keeper left her with the simplest of finishes. Southampton's third and final goal followed a fine run from Edmondson before releasing the ball to Dunn, whose blocked shot rebounded for Sharr to finish. Despite several more good scoring chances the score remained at 3 - 0.
The seconds, without Karen Jordan and Kay Whittington, went down 0 - 4 to Havant 2s. The first goal coming when the Southampton defence hesitated following an infringement, allowing the Havant forward time to net the ball just before half time. In the second half Havant scored two from short corners and one from open play. Good performances from juniors Kathryn Raw and Sophie Mitchell.
Southampton Thirds started their first season in division one with a match against local opposition,
Trojans seconds. Southampton held the experienced Trojans' side for long periods but eventually gave way
to pressure when a ball was not cleared from in front of Charlotte Page, the Southampton keeper and
a Trojan forced it over the line.
A goal from a short corner and a deflection by Georgie Cornick made for a final score of 0 - 3. Skipper
Jill Stokes happy that her team showed resilience and produced several good scoring chances.
Despite being a player short, the newly promoted Fourths held Ryde first team to a 2 - 0 half time lead but the second half saw Ryde scoring five times before Kirsten Cox found the net from one of several attacks. The match saw the return of Deirdre Lehan Matthews after several months on the sideline with a knee injury.
The Fifths made a great start against Andover seconds by going three up by half time thanks to two from fourteen year old Jilly Hurden, playing her first senior game for the club and one from Mary Aitcken. However a second half surge saw Andover back into the game as they came back to 3 - 3. Further goals from Southampton's Lorraine Lentil and Mary Aitcken saw the home side back in front but a late scare saw Andover back to 5 - 4 at full time.
A disappointing start to the league for the men's first team, losing away to Weymouth 1 - 4. Southampton opened the scoring when Chris Stokes netted following a cross at a short corner from Matt Swzinto. Weymouth replied through two short corners before half time. Southampton pressed forward after the break, chasing the equaliser only to fall foul of two breaks, which gave the home side a comfortable win.
The Seconds appearing in the Hants/Surrey second eleven league for the first time in many seasons met with Oxted, who finished fourth last year. Oxted took a two goal lead before Southampton replied but two penalty strokes gave Oxted the initiative finishing 2 - 4 winners. See the match report here.
The Threes gave a young Trojans side a two goal start before getting into gear drawing back to 2 - 2 by half time. A good second half start saw Southampton ahead for the first time, moving to 4 - 2. One further goal for each side saw a final result of 5 - 3 to Southampton.
See the match report for the 4th XI here.
Southampton 5ths started well and looked the stronger side. Si Brownlie scored the first goal, with Eastleigh equalising straight after. Against the run of play Eastleigh went ahead with a cross into the 'D,' which was deflected off of Mark Cozens foot. Southampton soon equalised with a superb effort from Will Ferguson. Si Brownlie scored his second of the match, putting Southampton into the lead. A questionable decision from the umpire, gained Eastleigh a penalty flick, from which they scored. Eastleigh then scored in the last five minutes to win the game 4 - 3.
Southampton 6XI played their first league game of the season against Southsea 4. Southampton took the lead through Luke Knight who latched on to a pass from Neil Hanley to slot the ball calmly passed the goalkeeper's left hand post. From this point, the game was end to end with some impressive counter attacking by both sides. A mazy run from Neil Hanley saw him end up on the top right hand corner of the D and powered his shot home. After half time Southsea pilled on the pressure and eventually pulled the score line back to 2 -2 but two break away goals from Neil Hanley and a first of the season for Adam Knight ensured a well earned victory. Southampton winning 4 - 3.
The Vets met with Winchester and came home with a comprehensive victory of 6 - 1. Southampton surged to a 5 - 0 half time lead with goals from Jones [2],Terry, Danby and Church. However Winchester's half time talk brought a reversal of form and restricted Southampton scoring to one second half goal from Danby. Winchester replying late in the game.
The Masters also felt generous as they allowed Havant to run the game and take 2 - 0 lead at half time. A half time rest and chat saw a different Southampton side take the field in the second half, coming back to 2 - 2 through Bill Stokes before taking the lead through Paul Meacher. However Havant got it back to 3 -3 before Stokes added his third from short range.
They say that size doesn't matter but in the game between the Otters and Portsmouth and Southsea it did. Southampton youngsters showed lots of skill and effort but Southsea's physical game did not allow them to compete effectively going down 3 - 4. Ollie Knight scoring.
On Sunday the Fifths met with an over strength Poole side in the Hampshire Cup competition.
Poole started well and within a few minutes scored, but with some good play Southampton managed
to claw there way back into the game.
The second half produced some good hockey from both teams, but Poole scored a two further goals,
from short corners to take a 3 - 0 lead.
Southampton again fought back and gained a short corner, which Mark Cozens put away. Pete Cox
then ran from the half way line and produced a superb goal.
But again it wasn't Southampton's day and Poole scored again and won the
match 2-4.
Sunday saw Southampton 6XI in cup action against Haselmere 4s. On a blustery, wet afternoon Southampton took the lead after 25 minutes of the first half through a well worked penalty corner. The ball was left by Steve Quinn for Pete Jones to hit the ball into the "d" for Julian Powis to touch the ball home on the right post. The game looked to be over in the second half when Southampton scored again through Steve Quinn but this spurred Haselmere into playing more as a team and eventually scoring midway through the second half. Haselmere could have been winners if it weren't for the fine efforts by under-18s goal keeper Ryan Edwards who made save after save in the second half; rightly earning him the man of the match award. Victory was confirmed when a Steve Quinn pass released Luke Knight who scored right in the death. Southampton winning 3 - 1.
U14 Girls 1sts - Southampton won 5 - 0, with the girls playing some very good structured hockey throughout the match. After some early attacks from Petersfield, (and a couple of confident stops from keeper, Katherine Woolford), Southampton took charge of the game. Jilly Hurden captained the side with a great deal of maturity. Becky Godfrey, Hannah Jenvey, and Jenny Raw all worth a special mention for playing well throughout the match. The whole team performance showed the potential of this young Southampton side.
U14 Girls 2nds - When the Southampton second team, made up of mostly under 12 girls, took the field against Andover, a mismatch looked on the cards. Andover being bigger and older. Andover went ahead 1 - 0 in the first few minutes of the game, almost before our girls had realised the match had started. Southampton kept the score the same until well into the 2nd half when Andover went ahead again. The third goal was scored right at the end of the match after normal time from a short corner. Southampton never allowed themselves to get overawed by the size of their opposition and will grow from this match from which they gained valuable experience. Final score 3 - 0.
Hampshire under 14s girls started their County championship well with a good 4 - 0 win over Oxfordshire. Sam Stairns, Daniel Romain and Claire Danson scoring. In their second match of the day they held a strong Sussex side to 0 - 0. Coach Steve Dunham and manager Ron Newton were happy with the teams first performance.
The under 12 boys went down to a Bournemouth side bolstered by a strong contingent from Durlston Court School.
On Friday evening Mid Hants continued their dominance of Area hockey with a 3 - 0 win over a well organised North East side and 6 - 0 win over Isle of Wight.
Roger Merry