Southampton met with a Dulwich side that have been having a good run of success since early December, beating two of the top two sides in the league. Southampton started the game with confidence, having enjoyed a 4 - 0 win at home. They played the ball around opening the Dulwich defence with a certain amount of ease. A short corner created the first opening when Sue Crowley was slipped a pass and her shot hit a defender's foot on the line. Crowley converted the resultant penalty stroke. Southampton could not believe their luck when they lined up for a second short corner and Dulwich left the successful slip open for Crowley to strike and win a second penalty stroke, which she converted. A third short corner and Crowley decided not to bother with the stroke and put the ball home first time. A comfortable 3 - 0 lead at half time ensured that Dulwich would try and force the issue in the second half and so they did. An uncompromising deluge of attacking play forced the Southampton defence to pull out all the stops to keep a clean sheet. Excellent work in defence by Linda Dunham, Emma White, Charlotte Gallagher, Sonia Bannatyne and Nicky Page. Dulwich slowly lost steam and Southampton again took control scoring on the stroke of time with a Julia Fabrizi short corner.
The second could not believe the turn around in an opposition they beat 10 - 0 earlier in the season. Fleet have been rejuvenated and won the game 2 - 1. Anna Skelton scoring and Mags Ingram having a stroke saved on the final whistle.
New Milton took a first half lead of 2 - 0 in this match with the Thirds and looked the stronger side. However the second half saw a different performance from Southampton creating scoring chances, one of which Charlotte Leatham scored. Unfortunately the New Milton defence held and they ran out 2 - 1 winners. A difficult couple of games to come for the Thirds.
In danger of sounding boring it has to be said that Saturday's game against
Hamble OGs was yet again a game of two halves. Next week KJ will be asked to
do the half time talk before the game starts - we may then play as we know we
can right from the off.
It was always going to be tough game not just because HOG are 4th from the
top and we are 4th from the bottom but also because they are well known as a
strongly physical side. This game was no different and despite some good
defending and several goal scoring opportunities from both short corners and
open play Southampton went into half time 2-0 down.
The second half saw a different Southampton side having most of the game and
deserving a draw (even the HOG umpire was heard to say that she expected an
easier second half as she was looking after the HOG defence) but
unfortunately Southampton were unable to capitalise on their advantage and
put the ball in the back of the net more than the opposition did. The final
result was 0-2.
Dee Matthews
The Fifths met with table-topping Havant, who have not lost all season. A resolute performance kept the score at 1 - 3 with Sue Tinson scoring with a penalty.
On paper, an easy game against a side leaking goals and sat at the bottom of the league. And so it started with Southampton racing to a 3 - 0 lead. Neil Hanley pounced on another rebound from the keeper, Chris stokes made it two after playing tennis with the keeper and Kelvin Wyatt received a pass from Chris Ellis to slot home from the top of the D. Portsmouth University then forced a come back to 3 -2 before Wyatt dribbled passed a couple of defenders and placed the ball into the net. A further push from Portsmouth gave them another goal but Southampton held out for a 4 - 3 win.
The seconds are almost safe from relegation in their first season of promotion into the Hants/Surrey league. A Richard Watts double and singles from Matt Southgate and John Freckleton gave them a 4 - 3 victory over Old Mid Whitgiftians.
The Threes put in a strong performance to try and close the goal difference between them and Winchester and keep their promotion hopes alive. A 5 - 0 win over Andover with Stu McGee (2), James Wise, Steve Quinn and DM scoring.
The Fours went down 3 - 1 to Winchester 4s.
Southampton 5th XI: 6 Purbeck 1st XI: 1
As we all knew from the start, this game was going to be a cruncher.
Especially when Purbeck only turned up with 10 men and no umpire!! From
the beginning Purbeck looked strong and for the first 3-4 minutes
Southampton looked like the extra man advantage was required.
Southampton soon settled down and 2 good goals from Will Ferguson followed
by an excellant (9 in 12) penalty stroke save from Colin Munday secured a
2-0 lead at half time.
Will Ferguson followed up to complete his hat trick early in the 2nd half
with a penalty stoke and made it 4 with a short corner effort.
Some very good hockey was seen from both sides during the early stages of
the 2nd half, but due to some scrappy play in the Southampton defence,
sadly a goal was conceded.
Purbecks comeback was short lived as the immediate reply from a wondrous
flick by Matt Gough (5-1) and quality finishing from Chris Dunn (6-1) put
the game well and truly out of Purbecks reach.
The most difficult challenge awaits the 5th's next week where they face the
league leaders Woking at home. Definitely one to watch out for!!!!
The 6XI travelled up to Alton on Saturday to play Basingstoke.
After the last few weeks where the 6XI have been playing some entertaining
hockey the consensus was that we were going to win, and having scored 7 past
them pre-Christmas seamed to make us think that this was going to a push
over.
In fact in the first quarter of the game, Southampton played as they have
done so over the last weeks. Good slick interchanges of passing and good
keeping kept Basingstoke in the game.
Against the run of play, Basingstoke scored and from then on until the last
quarter Southampton looked like a team in disarray with passes shooting off
in every direction apart from a blue stick.
However, in the last 10 minutes of the game Southampton pressurised the
'Stoke goal and were eventually rewarded through Julian Powis.
Final score - 1 -1
The Otters were given a hard time by top of the table New Milton 1s, losing 9 - 2.
The Masters were in control and winning 2 - 1 with 10 minutes to go but a late surge gave ??? a 3 - 2 victory. Mike Barnfield and Paul Eastwood scoring.
The Vets however continued their good run (must be an excellent run by now) with a 4 - 2 victory over Oxford. Bill Stokes enjoying a hat trick and John Spencer getting his fifth of the season.
On Sunday Southampton U13 Girls played in the Hampshire round of the National
U13 Competition. The squad of 10 performed superbly winning all six of their
matches during the course of which they scored 24 goals and conceded 0.
It was a real pleasure to watch them playing hockey with such maturity and
intelligence. These girls combine the best of being highly competitive with
enjoyment of their sport. Very well done to all of them.
POOL results. Ventnor IOW (7-0),Lord Wandsworth (6-0),Alton (3-0), Winchester
(1-0).
Semi Final Gosport 3-0
Final Havant 4-0
In alphabetic order the team was as follows :
Catlyn Adams - played on the left wing and in midfield. She always puts
pressure on the opposition and is a very gifted forward, having a good
combination of speed, strength and skill.
Taffy Bakewell - played in defence and as usual her tackling was rock solid.
The timing of her tackles is such that she is one of few players who can stop
a developing attack dead in its tracks.
Ali Dibben - played in both midfield and defence, worked tirelessly and had a
marvellous all round game. Ali captained the side.
Imogen Eldergill-Storm - played in midfield, and once again showed an
excellent work rate and all round play. In particular her ball distribution
is of the highest quality.
Becky Godfrey - played in defence, always looked well in control, and never
looked like allowing any attackers through. She is another player who has a
good spatial sense, and very good all round skills.
Hanna Jenvey - played on the left wing , and is perhaps the best at moving
into space to receive the ball. She is very fast around the pitch and is a
skilful attacker.
Amy Sheehan - a natural and gifted goal scorer. Our leading scorer on the
day; a tremendous performance, for her teamwork as well as for her goals.
Jo Slade - played at right half and on the right wing. Jo is an adaptable
player who is willing and able to play in any position required. She has very
good stick skills and is a good team player.
Georgie Torlot - played on the right wing and at right half. Georgie is a
natural attacker but is also a very good tackler, and is a player who always
moves to the correct position. She is yet another very good all round player.
Katherine Woolford - Katherine was nothing short of fantastic in goal, and in
the final she made two saves, which quite took the spectators' breath away.
The Under 18 boys had a good start to their cross over match with Havant when Chris stokes put them one up but Havant's greater fire power eventually pulled themselves back into the game. The game was well balanced and with the scoring standing at 4 - 3 in Havant's favour and had lady luck been smiling two shots would have gone inside the post and not outside. Havant continued to pile on the pressure and scored 3 further goals to win 7 - 3. Southampton played well and the final result did not reflect the overall game.
In a friendly match with Winchester the under 12s lost 2 - 1. It was a good competitive match with lots of talent on display.
In an even friendlier match (some say contrived) the under 14s beat Salisbury 6 - 5. David Stokes (5) and Alex Self scoring.
County under 13 results.
Lost 3 - 0 to Bucks and won 3 - 0 with Oxford.
County Under 14 results
Drew 0 - 0 with Oxford and beat Bucks 6 - 0 which keeps them on track for the championship.
Several Southampton boys play for the county squads.
Roger Merry