The ladies first team pushed Maidenhead towards the relegation zone with a 2 - 1 win. Southampton were without key defenders Nicky Page (injured) and Fiona Jarman (not available) and introduced Brenda Kimber into the defensive line up. Initially Southampton created several good attacks and were awarded short corners but the maidenhead defence held well. Maidenhead's tactic of two high strikers and a four-man midfield caused marking difficulties and gave Southampton several awkward moments after Southampton good start. Maidenhead opened the scoring after an attack down the left and a shot from 8 yards squeezed by keeper Linda Dunham. Southampton continued to work hard through their midfield and defence, working the ball upto the forwards. The equalising goal eventually came when the ball was switched across field to Brenda Kimber and her line pass found Julia Fabrizi who crossed the ball to the far post where Bex Sharr swept the ball goal wards b! ut the a diving save required Sharr to regain possession and flick the ball over the keeper. With their backs to the wind in the second half Southampton pushed the game forward and took the second goal when Sue Crowley robbed the Maidenhead defence on the twenty five before running into the D and turning on a lucky penny (found during warm up) and hit her shot home. Southampton's defence held strong despite Maidenhead's urgency to score.
The seconds have now found their feet after a shaky start to the season and took Farnborough to task with a 9 - 1 win. Anna Skelton being on song with five, Hollie Nutt chipping in with three and Nikki Le Bas.
The Thirds were anxious for three points against Fleet, who sit below them in the league but lost 1 - 2, the winner coming from a hotly disputed short corner. Fleet had scored first but Sue Quinton had equalised and had then looked to go ahead but a short corner was awarded as the ball was pushed into the goal. Fleet scored the winner late in the game.
We all know that hockey is a game of two halves - this was never truer than Saturday's 4thXl fixture against Aldershot & Farnham - only just above Southampton in Div 3. Having found the pitch right in the middle of the military base at Aldershot (although the umpire (me) had to be guided in using the highly sophisticated technology of local knowledge and mobile phone) Southampton started strongly but could not sustain this and A&F gained control going into half time 2 -0 up and looking set for a few more goals. . BUT - the second half saw a completely different Southampton team - whatever KJ put into the half time talk should be bottled and used by all hockey teams everywhere. Southampton came out fighting (figuratively speaking!) and deserved at least a draw out of their determined and gutsy performance. Well done to special guests Mary Aicken, Dee Pillman and Laura Please who acquitted themselves well in what was for Dee and Laura their first taste of div 3 hockey.! I think they even went so far as to enjoy themselves. Another good all round team performance but unfortunately the final result stayed at 2-0 to A&F.
No match on Saturday but 23 Feb sees the return match against Hamble OG let's hope the result is not so controversial this time out.
Dee Matthews
The Fifths matched and bettered the seconds result with a 9 - 0 win over Haslemere. Skipper Sandy Lewis, making a return to the pitch with 4 goals, was helped by Amy Sheehan [3], Karina Christiansen and Emma Cook. With Gosport dropping points promotion is now a possibility and in the team's own hands.
Valentine's day came early for several players in this match between Southampton and Fleet. Five yellow cards being issued throughout the game. However it was a typical tough mid league spoilt by some silly actions. Southampton first goal came from Gary Watts, collecting his fourth in four games. A Rohan Ayes Pass found Watts inside the D and Gary made the most of his chance. The second came from Neil Hanley who collected the ball on the left from a free pass before running the back line. Hanley's body action teased the Fleet keeper off his post and Hanley slipped the ball home through the narrowest of angles. Final score 2 - 1.
The Seconds were unhappy with this 1 - 0 defeat by Old Mid whitgiftians having played enough good hockey to share if not take the points.
See here for the 3rd XI match report.
With no game last week the fourths were keen to get back on the pitch and show their skills. A 4 - 1 win over Andover resulted. Goals coming from Colin Langridge, Sam Gibbs, Ed Thorn and ????
The Fifths score one of the best team goals I have seen this season when breaking from defence a three pass move found the ball going to Simon Brownlie at the far post to sweep the ball home. Other scorers Will Ferguson, Andy {Stumpy} and Brownlie getting his second.
Southampton 6XI played arch rivals Trojans on Saturday... In a game hampered by poor pitch conditions the 6s played some free flowing attacking hockey.
Shortly before half time saw a break away Trojan's attack which saw them score after an unfortunate decision wasn't given in favour of the Southampton back line.. After half time Southampton came out on the attack with 80% of the possession and were unluckily not to equalise an then go ahead through efforts from Mark Cozens, Luke Knight and Julian Powis.. The Trojan's keeper at one point making a double save....
Of course, Southampton looked venerable to the breakaway attack and were thwarted by a fine stick save by Paul Newman diving to his right.
Next week sees the 6s against top of the table US Pompey at 3.00 in Southampton... If you are around and would like to come and support.. Then do so.... This game is a must win to enable us to go gain promotion...
The Masters rescued their first point for some weeks with a 1 - 1 draw with Barnes. Mike Barnfield making the most of a penalty opportunity.
The Vets must be full of free radicals at the moment with a string of results that has seen their goal tally swell. This week a 7 - 2 win over Newbury came despite not firing on all cylinders. Pete Terry getting five supported by Ralph Turner and Bill Stokes.
The Otters were ahead four times ahead in their match with Isle of Wight but saw themselves pegged back for a final score of 4 - 4. Rob O'Brien getting two, James Fewtrell lobbing the keeper and Danny Morgan wadding in with the fourth.
The Under 19 Girls retained the Hampshire under 19 trophy with six wins out of six at the Sports Centre. Playing some excellent hockey they score goals with out conceding one. They now go on to represent Hampshire in the South tournament in March.
Southampton U14 Girls 5 Wimborne U14 Girls 0. Southampton had exceptional performances from Imogen Eldergill-Storm and Georgie Torlot, and strong performances from Jo Slade and Jenny Bennet-Britton. The girls are now playing attractive and skilful hockey using the whole width of the pitch. Their ball distribution and use of space has improved greatly since the start of the season, and it is very encouraging to see a group of young players working so well together.With one exception all our team were U13, and four still qualify for U12. Given the girls were playing an U14 side to whom we had lent our own U14 [and county] goalkeeper, this was an excellent performance.All five goals were the product of excellent teamplay, for which all the girls must be given credit. Scorers were Georgie Torlot 2, Amy Sheehan 2 and Jo Slade 1.
The Men's run in the National Vase came to an end when they lost 1 - 0 to Torbay. They played some good team hockey and controlled long periods of the game. Torbay's winning goal coming at a short corner 10 minutes from time.
Roger Merry