http://www.ne14hockey.com/ All Field Hockey news, all the time! en Thu, 6 Nov 2008 06:27:59 -0000 http://www.ne14hockey.com/ http://www.ne14hockey.com/index.php?page=3&article=167&title=Gloucester+City+Club+of+Week http://www.ne14hockey.com/topic.php?topic=167 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 02:33:16 -0000 ne14hockey Field Hockey News Field Hockey News ne14hockey 2007-10-23T02:33:16-00:00

Gloucester City 9 Bristol University 0


Gloucester City put the disappointment of last week's draw at Plymouth behind them on Saturday with a resounding 9-0 victory over Bristol University.


Following a couple of lacklustre performances in recent weeks, the focus in training was on passing the ball around rather than trying to be too direct. From the outset it was clear that the team had taken this message from coach Stewart Speake on board.


City piled on the pressure in the opening stages, and after a couple of clear cut chances, the scoring was opened by Matthew Fairburn following a good save from the university 'keeper on a City penalty corner routine. Kris Green then doubled the home side's advantage with his first of the season - a neat deflection from a Tom Ward cross – before Ian Pritchard bagged another two goals, making the score 4-0 at half-time.


Coach Speake used the halftime interval to shuffle his pack, resting skipper Trevor Done and bringing Ward in to sweeper. Kris Green dropped into the back four, with Craig Ellis being introduced to add further flair to the midfield. It took some time to adjust to these changes, and only one more goal came in the opening 25 minutes of the second half.


With ten minutes to go Simon Watts was introduced into the fray and he scored with his first touch. This shattered the students' resistance, and Gloucester ran in a further 3 goals before the final whistle.

Elsewhere in the division, local rivals Cheltenham did City a massive favour by ending the 100% record of Cardiff & UWIC with a narrow 1-0 victory. The combination of results means that City regain the top spot that they let slip last week, and also gives the added cushion of a better goal difference by 5 goals.


Gloucester City 3 Guildford 2 (EH Cup Round 3)


Gloucester City caused the upset of the round by defeating Slazenger EHL One side and twice winners Guildford, in the last thirty-two of the England Hockey Cup competition.

Simon Watts' decisive goal on the 54 minute mark proved enough for a well organised and spirited City side. They now look forward to pitting their wits against national top flight outfit Bowdon in the last sixteen.


The home side started vibrantly and deservedly took the lead on five minutes via Wesley Jackson. The ever-impressive Chris Harrington on the left flank ceased the ball on the Guildford 25 before threading a through ball to Matt Fairburn, who in turn flashed the ball across the face of the Guildford by-line. Jackson swivelled and twirled before bundling the ball over the line to the delight of the watching City faithful.

City maintained their calm and continued to press for the illusive second goal. The back four of James Burrows, Tom Ward, Richard Watts and skipper Trevor Done remained composed and patient whilst Fairburn and Andy Beer pestered and picked holes in the Guildford midfield. With City spraying the ball wide at every conceivable opportunity, wide men Harrington and the efficient Kris Green were harassing the Guildford full backs throughout.

On 19 minutes and after a series of penalty corners, Gloucester then doubled their advantage. From the top of the circle Andy Beer flashed a rasping shot through the onrushing goalkeepers' legs for his first goal for the club. City at this point were two goals to the good and inconceivably controlling the game in all areas of the park

Guildford then harassed and harried the home side and with it came their opening score of the day. From a loose ball at the top of the City circle, Tom Griffin expertly directed the ball home reverse stick via the underside on the cross bar past the bewildered Morley Benson in the Gloucester goal.

The second half continue in much the same vein with City controlling possession in the midfield and Guildford looking take advantage of the home side on the counter attack. After numerous goal scoring opportunities from both sides, the illustrious visitors drew the scores level on 53 minutes via Dave Usher's dexterous deflected finish.

Almost direct from the City restart, Trevor Done found space through the middle of the Guildford midfield before sending Craig Ellis through on goal with just the goalkeeper to beat. Ellis jinked and swerved before transferring the ball to the unmarked Simon Watts on the back post to score with his first touch of the game.



West Wilts 4 Gloucester City A 3


Gloucester City 2nd XI's impressive start of the season to date was dealt a temporary blow on Saturday following a 4-3 defeat against West Wilts.


Gloucester started... disappointingly. Lacking was the spring-in-the-step and urgency City had began the season with. Instead the Gloucester side showed moments of hesitancy, lapses of concentration and unforced errors which cost City a share of the points.


After several surges down the right flank through Ed Tredgett and Ketan Patel, City looked the more positive side and took an early lead through midfielder Peter Tyrrell opening his account for the club. Derek Pittaway had surged forward finding Patel out wide who in turn won a hit bobbling off a West Wilts' foot. Quick thinking from youngster Tredgett found Tyrrell who beat his defender and dispatched past the Wilts 'keeper to the delight of the high-flying Danny Hammond.


City then looked to improve on their positive start. Unfortunately Hammond proved to be the only outlet as Wilts surged on the City defence and equalised only moments later. Gloucester then took the lead when Hammond scored another of his trademark solo efforts. Pittaway had picked from deep and found Hammond who beat his marker and the hapless 'keeper from the edge of the circle.


Wilts then equalised going into the half time break after poor defensive work from the City backline. 'Keeper James Richards was left with no chance. Wilts took the game to City and were soon ahead after another poor defensive lapse in the City ranks.


Even a string of Gloucester penalty corners could not force an instant equaliser as Pittaway drove agonisingly wide and Hammond forced a succession of saves from the diligent home 'keeper. Fine work from Tyrrell and Hammond then forced City a penalty-corner which finally brought the equaliser; delightfully dispatched by the ever-impressive Hammond.

Wilts then took the spoil of the points when they scored the winner ten minutes from time after another defensive lapse in the Gloucester ranks. A succession of fine saves from Richards kept City in the hunt for a point as Hammond was unlucky not to score in the dying moments.


Wotton-under-edge A 0 Gloucester City C 3


The game got off to a good start with visitors Gloucester absorbing early pressure with a well organised defence and from then on started to dictate the game. A disallowed high shot from Tim Barsellotti was soon followed by the opener from the same player.


As half time approached, an accurate through pass from Steve Pratt found Richard Mobberley unmarked near the circle who deftly worked into the circle and flicked past the hapless 'keeper. In the second period the home side made repeated efforts to get back into the game resulting in two short corners, both of which were well defended by the visitors.


Good breaks by Gloucester resulted in their only short corner, ably converted through a well placed low shot by Steve Pratt.


Gloucester City Ladies' 9 Salisbury Ladies' 0


Gloucester City Ladies' secured their second league win of the season at home to Salisbury.

The home side were soon on the score sheet with Suzy Green scoring from a short corner. The first twenty minutes were an even affair with Salisbury having their fair share of possession. Gloucester increased their lead midway through the first half with a well worked goal from Emma Done. Charlotte Lawley scored the third just before half-time with a goal from a short corner routine.


The game was put out of Salisbury's reach at the start of the second half when Sam Broadhurst robbed two defenders to score from close range. Broadhurst scored her second soon after with a powerful shot from the edge of the circle. Gemma Baber scored the sixth with a direct run and shot and the seventh came from Anna Brogden. Emma Done converted a penalty stroke to make the score 8-0.

Sam Broadhurst completed the scoring and her hat-trick just before the final whistle from a short corner. Next week Gloucester City entertain Isca at home.]]>