Southend Mens 1s 1 - 2 Waltham Forest
Southend Men's 1st team lost their first league match of the season with a disappointing 2 - 1 defeat against a team they did the double over last year. The goal came from Chris Crowhurst following a mazy run from skipper Neil Utton, trying to prove that although he can't score goals at the moment he can at least set them up. Man of the match for the second week running was defensive midfielder John Reynolds.
Scorer - Crowhurst
Team - Christie, Arnold, Harvey, Hayman, Mellish, Styles Snr, Styles Jnr, Crompton, Robeson, Reynolds, Crowhurst, Leggatt, Utton
Southend Mens 2s 4 - 0 Dunmow 2s
Goal scorers: Druce (PF), Etheridge & Fallows 2
Southend eased through to their second successive league win of the season with a comfortable 4-0 away victory. Following a dominant first half display Southend reached the interval with just a solitary goal lead, the result of a generous penalty stroke award, neatly converted by stand in skipper Druce. The second half saw Dunmow up the pressure but experienced defending, from Cheeseman and Watson in particular, comfortably kept them at bay. With Fallows and Walsh at the other end of the pitch running the Dunmow defence ragged it was only a question of time before Southend scored again. Two masterful short corners, in quick succession, converted by Etheridge and then Fallows effectively sealed Dunmow’s fate before Fallows completed his brace with a sublime short corner conversion after the final whistle.
Notes.
Mike’s first goal just hit his stick and went in without him realising whilst the second came from Luke’s shot which slipped under the keeper and Mike slammed it home from 6” thus denying Luke his first goal for the 2nd XI. Inspired decision eh! moving the right back to centre forward. Claudio Ranieri, eat your heart out.
Cheeseman should have gone for continuous abuse of everyone on the pitch, particularly the Dunmow umpire and I should have walked for "easing" the young opponents stick away as he came in from the wrong side (yet again). When will these people learn.
Hat wearer should have gone to Marcus. Forgot the maps, had to go back home and thus arrived half an hour after the arranged meet time and after everyone else had left to find their own way there. However as Barry forgot to bring it with him he can keep it!
Southend Mens 3s 3 - 1 Old Southendians 4s
Southend 3s continued their good start to the season beating local rivals Old Southendian 4th XI 3-1. Well taken first half goals by Daniel Varrow and John Evans were complimented with a cracking short corner strike late in the second half from Des White. Southends better work rate in the first half effectively won the match but the defence had some work to do in the second period as old Boys came back strongly and Southends legs started to tire.
Some really promising hockey from Southend making their best start in several years, however fitness needs to be addressed to really make an impact on this division.
Southend and Benfleet Ladies 1s 4 - 0 Braintree Ladies
The second game of our league fixtures and what a fantastic game it was.
A slow start to begin with, but Southend dominated the game from the off. We were able to hold strong and defend from the half way line pushing our mid-field up to assist in the attack. There were some excellent strikes on goal that were well saved and Southend managed to keep the play in the Braintree half. Some short corners were awarded but again defended well by Braintree until their goalkeeper came out to clear the ball but managed to take Claire Powell out in the process. A penalty flick was awarded.
Claire stepped up to take the flick, whilst the two teams separated. A few words of encouragement were whispered to Claire who stepped forward and lifted the ball pass the keeper into the goal. Excellent result to end the half with five minutes later.
At half time all the Southend players knew that we should be winning by more goals then just one and that we had to up the game. Braintree up to this point had won ground on pitch by simple tackles and simple passing, so Southend had a bit of work to do.
We started the second half a lot more confidently, instantly using the width and passing well throughout the players. Attacking at a quicker pace we were able to put another goal away, scored by Naomi Barker on a reverse stick, received from Claire Powell.
Minutes later the keeper replicated her mistake from the first half and again took a challenge on Claire Powell, who again was awarded a penalty flick and who without fault put another one onto the backboard. Southend leading 3 - 0.
Slowing the pace down a bit Southend now relaxed into a comfortable win, eased a fourth goal in with five minutes to spare. Another super strike from Claire Powell who got her hat trick. Excellent result well played by all and well deserved.
Team: L Ballard, S Revell, R Goddard, S Watkinson, G Swain, K Colman, L Sharples, N Bryant, C Rose, H Middleton, N Barker, C Powell.
Goal Scorers: C Powell, 3 N Barker, 1
Southend and Benfleet Ladies 2s 5 - 0 Havering
Match sat was against Havering away, we had a very slow start and no goals were scored. There must have been something in the oranges at half time because second half saw goals from Ann Johnson, Claire King, Sarah Brooks and two from Emma Philips. Man of match is split this week between Donna Gibbs and Louise Marsak who defended so well that the sweeper touched the ball three times and the goal keeper had no touches at all!! |
