Ladies
East Hockey League Div 1 South
Bishops Stortford 0 Upminster 1
After last week’s result Stortford wanted to get back on track. After the long break at Christmas we have been struggling to get back into our game. Due to injuries for the second week running some people were playing out of position. We tried not to let this deter us and some good passing in the first 10 minutes gave us some good footings for the match. Upminster were a strong side and put us under pressure early, making us pass the ball around quickly. Bull and Smith held firm in the middle and with good support from Rayner and Rhodes we managed to move the ball around easily. Some long balls up the wing were quickly intercepted and Upminster were quick on the break again. Our ever solid defence were on form and kept Upminster from scoring. The first half was very even with both teams having equal possession and chances. After half time we knew we could win this game and stepped up a gear. Using the short, sharp passes we always talk about to move up the pitch as a team. A great ball through from Smith to Powell gave us a much needed break. Powell used her skill and crossed the ball into Wacey who was waiting on the spot, but Upminster managed to meet at the same time and deflect it clear. Man of the match Guthrie played out of her socks and beat Upminster to the ball to put us on the attack again. The second half was much the same as the first and a 0-0 draw would have been perfect. Unfortunately a deflected ball from a hit out found Upminster in the D and a fluke touch found the back of the net. Still not over Stortford pushed on hard again but just didn’t get the decisions/result they deserved.
Team: Alison Clifton, Lexie Guthrie, Laura Tyler, Sharon Rayner, Louisa Rhodes, Jemma Smith, Sally Powell, Charlotte Teall, Elizabeth Reay, Pippa Bull,Tiffany Rowlands, Anna Wacey.
5 Counties Division Premier League
Bishops Stortford 2XI 1 Tring 1XI 2
Karen Jones x1
5 Counties Division 1
Stevenage 2XI 0 Bishops Stortford 3XI 1
Stortford started well and some good break up play by Lauren Smith and pacy runs from Ashleigh Booth created early worries for Stevenage. Stevenage as before had their strength through speedy midfield players but in the early stages anything that developed was broken up by Viv Ronco, Lauren Smith or Sandra Turner. A change to the back line enabled Lauren Smith to push up and good support from Lisa Suckling, Shannon Trimble and Phil Hammond continued to challenge Stevenage. There were few short corners conceded but Stevenage had a chance in the last minute of the first half. The ball ended up in the goal but via a Stevenage foot so, 0-0 at half time.
Small tactical shifts at half time were soon disrupted as Viv Ronco was unfortunately injured and had to make a trip to A & E – Get Well Soon!
With resulting changes to midfield, Stortford managed to keep pressing and were rewarded with a short corner. Phil Hammond’s injection to Nicki Loughran resulted in a great strike – 1-0.
With a goal advantage, Stortford went to 4 across the midfield leaving Shannon Trimble and Nicki Loughran up top to keep Stevenage busy. There was increased pressure on the Stortford goal but some stout defending from the likes of Teresa Stickland and Frankie Hawkes saw Stortford take full points for a well deserved win.
Man of the Match: Lauren Smith
Men
East Men’s League – Premier A
Bishops Stortford vs. West Herts
POSTPONED
East Men’s League – Division 2 South
West Herts 2XI 6 Bishops Stortford 2XI 2
Bishop's Stortford 2s visited West Herts on Saturday for the first playable fixture of the second half of the league season. Stortford started sluggishly with the journey in heavy legs. Soon a well taken short corner had Stortford chasing the game and as they pushed they were being hit with counter attacks and being outnumbered in mid field. West Herts again scored a well worked move down the right. Bishop's rallied with a counter just before the half from Brown who was starting to cause problems for the Herts defence. Half time came with an injury to Bashford who bravely took one for the team at personal cost.
After the break, injuries to Leonard and then Brown meant that Stortford were under the cosh as structure was lost, but even with a consolation goal for Mike Taylor, Stortford lost 6-2.
East Men’s League – Division 4 South West
Royston 2XI 1 Bishops Stortford 3XI 2
Bishops Stortford 3's picked up an important win away at Royston on Saturday to keep their hopes of promotion alive, whilst helping out their colleagues in the 4's by defeating their relegation rivals.
The 3's started sluggishly nearly gifting Royston a goal in the very first minute and were thankful for a good save from Stott to keep the scores level. As Stortford finally grew into the game, Royston did make the breakthrough, again latching onto some sloppy Stortford possession and firing past Stott with 20 minutes gone. Stortford then proceeded to take greater control of the game, but found themselves frustrated which resulted in Thompson receiving a yellow card for dissent. Despite this Stortford continued to press and forced a number of short corners but were unable to create much in terms of open play chances and the half ended 1-0.
After some frank words at half time, Stortford again started the second half gifting the ball to the Royston centre forward who was unable to convert the chance. Eventually Stortford woke from their slumber and started to put together some good passages of play, but were unable to breakdown the Royston defence who were defending the D in ever increasing numbers. Finally though the pressure told on 60 minutes when Stortford bundled home following a short corner. Pettit beat the 1st runner and slipped the ball to Thompson, whose flicked shot was saved, but rebounded to Frenzel, who forced the ball over the keeper allowing Smith to poke home from a yard. The relief was obvious and Stortford set about going onto win the game. As they pressed forward again, Barber found Thompson with a fine pass into the D and he turned quickly to beat his man before firing through the keeper and make the score 2-1. Royston tried to come back, but had nothing left to offer and the game finished 2-1.
Bishops Stortford 4XI 7 vs. St Albans Exiles 0
Russell Adlam x2; Dan Chapman x1; Simon Murphy x1; Martin Gay x1;
Rob Bennett x1; Elliot Harris x1
East Men’s League – Division 6 South West
Bishops Stortford 5XI 2 vs. Potters Bar 2XI 6
East Men’s League – Division 7 South West
St Albans Citizens 9 Bishops Stortford 6XI 0