This game between Southampton and Havant was full of good healthy competition, with every
ball being fiercely contested. It was Southampton that opened the scoring when Julia Fabrizi
struck her short corner low into the Havant net. Southampton continued to look in control and
had good shots from Sharr, Nutt and Edmondson saved by the agile Havant keeper. Good defence
work by sweeper Sonia Bannatyne and one great overhead save from keeper Linda Dunham kept
Southampton ahead at half time. Havant came more into the game during the second half and
eventually equalised through a short corner and went on to take a 2 - 1 and then a 3 - 1
lead from open play goals.
Southampton pressurised and grabbed one back when Omell slipped a short corner pass to Fabrizi
to make a final score of 2 - 3.
With the Southampton Thirds promoted into Hampshire division one this season the match between them and the Second team was always going to be interesting. The seconds started nervously, with every thing to lose, whilst the Thirds had everything to gain. The Thirds opened the scoring when Becky Thornton shot from close range. The seconds pressed forward looking for an equaliser until just before half time when Beth Davies broke to score for the Thirds. The second half looked to belong to the seconds and Kathryn Raw showed her pace down the wing and scored to make a final score of 1 - 2 in favour of the Thirds. A good performance by debutante keeper Lauren Curry kept the Thirds ahead in the game. The game showed the depth of talent available to Southampton at the Hampshire division one level and that selection will give the selectors lots of options.
The Fourths, were due to play Southampton University with a makeshift team but ended up playing Havant Veterans (known as The Haymakers) in a friendly as the University have yet to return. The team blended well to provide a 6 - 2 score in Southampton's favour. Goals coming from Veterans Annie Day [2], Nicky Le Bas [2], Charlotte Leatham and Lyn Price.
The Fifths continued their winning start to the league with a 6 - 0 win over a Fareham seconds, weakened by unavailability. Goals coming from Mary Aicken [2], Hannah Pearce (debut), Jilly Hurden, Maria Blake and Laura Please.
The first started their match with Yateley well, moving the ball around and maintaining possession but a moments lapse in defence allowed a long ball to find the Yateley centre forward, who slipped keeper Andy Rowe before putting the ball into an empty net. Southampton were back on even terms when Chris Stokes pounced on a lose ball at a short corner and reverse sticked the ball over the lying keeper. The game looked to belong to Southampton after Kelvin Wyatt moved Southampton to 2 - 1 and Stokes' deflection of a Wyatt cross. Yateley would not lie down and reduced he deficit to one and then grabbed an equaliser in the last minute from a short corner.
The seconds, travelling to the capital for matches this season, met with a Wanderers team
up for the game. They came at Southampton for most of the first half but Southampton defence
was equally resilient. Southampton looked to have gone ahead only to have their goal, from a
Pete Graham strike, disallowed.
However early in the second half a combined effort from Chris Ellis, Danny Wilks & Neil
Hanley on the goal line, was richly rewarded when the ball crossed the line. Wanderers picked
up their game and equalised from a rebound at a short corner. Pete Graham was denied by
the umpire for a second time by the umpire when he netted at a short corner, late in the game
Final score 1-1 with Southampton having a serious chance for a good win.
Thirds no game.
Fourths to follow (hopefully).
Southampton 5th's played Salisbury at home, and the visitors fought hard and dominated the
first half scoring 2 short corners and a poorly defended pitch goal.
A change in formation and a Will Ferguson Penalty flick brought Southampton back into the game
just before the end of the first half. In the second half Southampton fought hard and were
rewarded by a goal from Si Brownlie, another from Will
Ferguson, and a great short corner strike from Mike Foulds ensured a well deserved come
back, with a final victory score of 4-3.
The highlight of the game was keeper Colin Munday pulling off a stunning
save from a penalty flick in the last few minutes to give the 5ths their first league
win.
The Sixths opened their league season with a 4 - 2 win over Hamble 3s. New boy Paul Smith making his mark with a short corner goal before Luke Knight number 2 and 4, Hamble scoring at 3 - 0 but could not get back into the game. Final score 4 - 1 to Southampton.
The Otters were disappointed to lose this game with Reading Retros by the odd goal having been in control for most of the game. The youngsters had the legs and skill on the Retros but could not find the final touch whereas Reading scored from one of three good scoring chances. Southampton gave first games to Matthew Quinn and Rory MaCleod.
The Masters went down 2-1 to a Reading team that finished 2nd in the league last
year. It was a battling performance built more on frustrating the opposition than
fluent play, but sometimes that's what you need. At times Southampton gave them too
much respect, but as the game progressed they came more into it.
At half time we trailed to a very smartly taken goal from the top of the D, and they need to
be good to beat keeper Dadda from that range. Southampton had a penalty corner disallowed
despite Bill Stokes remonstrations about it being deflected upwards. Dave German and I
didn't see it and we could not have been closer!
In the second half the game was more even and Southampton started to create a few chances,
but as the game opened up it was reading who worked an extra player in our D and went 2-0 up.
With 5 minutes to go we were having our best spell of the game and German passed a sharp ball
in from just inside the 25 to find Paul Meacher, 6 yards out to turn and flick across the
keeper into the far corner.
It set up a lively last few minutes but Reading generally had things under control.
This weeks entry to Billy's injury corner, Mike Barnfield, put his back out "washing up". What
does he think he's doing?
The Vets met with United Services Portsmouth hoping to repeat their victory in a friendly earlier in the season. The navy side however had beefed up their side and had the home advantage of playing on a fast waterbased surface. It was 1 - 1 at half time with Ralph Turner scoring for Southampton. The second half belonged to US scoring four goals to Southampton two (Pete Terry from penalty strokes). Final score 5 - 3 to USP.
On Sunday Hampshire under 18s met with Kent and won a nine goal thriller with Hollie Nutt, returning from injury, getting a hat trick.
Southampton and Winchester are both fielding two under 14 teams this season, which is good for local hockey. On Sunday the first encounter saw Southampton winning by 7 - 0. On target for Southampton were Will Forster [2], Alex Richardson [2], Will Legge [2] and Gareth Price. Winchester keeper having a fine game.