The Ladies first team had no Saturday game but played in a four-team
tournament held at Bournemouth on Sunday.
In their first match with national league side Exmouth they held the game at
0 - 0 until half time. Two quick goals from Exmouth saw the game go in their
favour but Southampton got one back through Bex Sharr who went one to one
with the keeper before slipping the ball home.
In their second game the honours were shared with fellow South league club
West Witney. Jo Edmondson scoring for Southampton. A tense game reminiscent
of the league game earlier this season.
In their final game with hosts, Bournemouth Southampton proved the better
team, winning 3 - 0. Skipper Nicky Page was pleased with the way the ball
was passed around forcing the unbeaten Bournemouth chase the game. Anna
Skelton made the first when her shot was neatly deflected by home by Bex
Sharr. Anna then got herself on the score sheet with a straight strike.
Sharr finished the scoring when she forced the ball passed the England under
21 keeper.
A good team performance coming just before the commencement of the second
half of the league season. Good performances from teenagers, Brenda Kimber
and Anna Skelton.
On Saturday the seconds had the majority of the game against Trojans creating good scoring chances and playing the ball around with confidence. However good keeping from the Trojans keeper kept them in the game and the score down to 0 - 0.
The Thirds were outplayed for the first ten minutes by Winchester first team but worked their way back to match their senior opponents. Luck was not with them as the ball became lost under Lucy Patey's (promoted from the fourths) feet and the Winchester forwards forced the ball home. With chances going begging at both ends Lucy pulled off a great reaction save to keep the score close. Winchester's 14 man squad however proved stronger in the later stages of the game and eventually went 2 - 0 up to win.
The Fours were able to record their second win in a row to help ward off
relegation worries (not yet totally safe). Playing against fellow strugglers
City of Portsmouth they were put under the cosh by a series of short corner
early in the game, but City failed to convert. Southampton broke out of
defence and got the ball to Helen Carter, whose run from the half way line
gave her a shot but this was blocked and Mary-Anne Mulligan pounced to hit
the rebound home.
The game then became tied with both sides working hard to gain advantages
until 12 minutes from time. City junior Helen ? rekindle the game with a
fine individual run, beating several players before slipping the ball home.
Southampton was stunned into action and went searching for the lead. A
Southampton shot was blocked on the line by a foot and Lyn Price converted
the resulting penalty. Annie day then got a touch to a cross and Helen
Carter scored on the whistle for a final score of 4 - 1.
Fives Game postponed.
A Jeckyl and Hyde weekend saw the men's ones lose to lowly Aldershot and
Farnham 2 - 3, playing some of their worst hockey for some weeks. Neil
Hanley picked up the first Southampton goal from a Kelvin Wyatt pass before
Wyatt got himself on the scoresheet from a short corner.
Sunday however saw a different game with Southampton meeting Penzance in the
National Vase competition. In a highly charged game Penzance relied on two
high, fast running strikers to penetrate the Southampton defence. Their
first goal coming from one such break from which a high shot at goal beat
keeper Andy Rowe. Southampton were back in the game when Steve Perkins
netted following some good approach work. Neil Hanley put Southampton ahead
when he pounced onto a rebound from the keeper's pads at a short corner.
Southampton looked firmly in control at this point but another Penzance break
saw keeper Rowe sin binned for five minutes for a foul on the edge of the D.
Striker Chris Stokes temporarily donned some basic kit for the resultant
short corner. A valiant effort at saving the drag flick saw Stokes get his
stick to the ball but could not stop Penzance drawing level. With
Southampton reduced to 10, Penzance applied constant pressure, which
required deputising keeper Paul Howarth to pull of two good saves. Back to
full strength saw Southampton back playing positive, high quality hockey
resulting in four further goals. The first from Kelvin Wyatt from a Pete
Spencer pass out of defence. The second, came when Chris Ellis lifted the
ball over the keeper at a short corner. The third when Wyatt converted a
Stokes' pass and the final one, a Matthew Szwinto penalty stroke on the
stroke of time for a final score of 6 - 2 for a place in the last 16/32 of
the competition. Not good weather but an excellent display of hockey.
The seconds consolidated their position in the Hants/Surrey league with a last minute match-winning goal from Danny Wilks. Having taken the lead through John Freckleton Southampton were pulled back when the ball was deflected passed keeper Paul Howarth by a defender. The situation was righted when Jaz Sohal Singh hit a reverse stick shot low in the corner. With the team pushing forward a Mid Whitgiftian's break saw Southampton again pegged back before Wilks finished the game off. Final score 3 - 2.
The threes had a goal spree sinking Weymouth 8 - 0. Mark Day [3], Steve Quinn [3], James Wise and Peirce Nixon.
The fours met with a University side who are not having the best of season. Why, I know not why after watching the skill and speed of some of their players. Unfortunately the fourths went down 1 - 3. Amit Kenth scoring from a neat Pete Cox pass from the back line.
The Fives' game with Salisbury was abandoned owing to a rain-effected pitch. Southampton started well and moved into a 1- 0 lead through Mike Foulds but bad light caused a delay and whilst waiting for the flood lights to warm the rain got heavier. The game was restarted but abandoned just after half time.
The Sixth eleven had possible promotion match with Fordingbridge and came off second best 2 - 8. Luke Knight scoring early and late in the game.
The Otters went down 2 - 1 Reading Retros. The Otters played some good hockey in the first and last periods of the game but allowed Reading opportunities in the middle.
The Masters kept, normal high scoring East Grinstead down to 3 - 0. The secret of their success EG had nine players.
The Vets took only 18 seconds to score their opener against United Services Portsmouth, Pete Terry doing the damage. Chris Jones made it 2 - 0 and then 3 - 0 with Andy Church weighing in with two later in the game.
On Sunday the under 19 girls second team beat Wimborne Wayfarers 1 - 0 but were awarded a 3 - 0 win after loaning 2 players to Wimborne to keep the sides even.
The Under 12's boys team are very pleased to report they completed the double over Trojans with a deserved 2-1 victory at the Sports Centre .
Southampton went ahead after an initial period of pressure on the Trojans goal by a well taken shot from Alex Richardson and had most of the play thereafter but were unable to convert this to goals. Eventually they scored a second through Oliver Thomson ( 1st goal for the team, JUG of COKE) before Trojans snatched a late consolation.
The team welcomed Charlie Nurse and Richard Oliver who both made impressive debuts for the club and the experienced professionals Alex Richardson and Sam Meacher held the team together with their distribution and tackling.
A good all round performance from an improving team.
Southampton were well represented in the county this weekend with three boys in the under 14 squad (Rob O'Brien, Ollie Knights and James Please) and two in the under 13s (David Stokes and Will Thomson). A good start to their championship campaigns against Middlesex and Kent.
Hampshire under 13's beat Middlesex 3 - 0 (Michael Dela-Merrick [2] and James
Kemp) and drawing with Kent 4 - 4. Kent went 2 - 0 up before David Stokes
got two good goals to bring Hampshire back into the game. Hants then went 3
- 2 up through before Kent got back and went ahead to 4 - 3. A penalty
stroke right on time was put away for Hampshire by Rob Wilson.
The under 14s had an even better day beating Kent 6 - 3 in their opening game
and then disposing of Middlesex 6 - 1.
These results bode well for Hampshire as, in recent seasons, the games go
along way towards deciding the County Championship.
Roger Merry