posted 4 Dec 2011 11:36 by OW Hockey Club
This was one of the most entertaining games of the season so far for OWs OWs got into their stride quickly and within a minute of the start they swept up field for Adam Baldwin to fire home . OWs were not to know this was the only time they were to lead in the game although there was certainly no let-up by either side as they strove to gain the upper hand. The Burnt Ash boys showed their experience in raising their game, Jake Whiting in the OWs goal pulled off some remarkable saves but in the end Burnt Ash were not to be denied and despite sterling work at the back by Tom Judge James Nolan Harris Owen Adam Mohammed and Sam Unthank they scored 3 well taken goals before half time. With encouraging words from Coach Charlie Smith ringing in their ears OWs began the second half brightly and scored there second goal with probably one of the best moves of the match when a well-directed relieving clearance by Tom Judge found Liam Mattingly on the left wing. Liam's first time pass found Max Day on the edge of the circle and he rifled the ball home. This spurred Burnt Ash into greater action and they took their tally to 6 with some excellent goals.. OWs then added a third with the outstanding skills of Max Day proving too good for the Burnt Ash defence. With a squad of 14 OWs rang the changes. The elder Owen brother (by 5 minutes) Isaac, gave a good account of himself on debut with some thoughtful passes from midfield. Jordan Bryant linked well in midfield and Sam Unthank covered vast areas of the pitch.However some tiredness showing in OWs play enabled Burnt Ash to notch their seventh and eighth goals. But OWs continued to play good Hockey and Stewart Anderson's persistence paid off with a well taken goal. Finally Max Day showed his high class with a solo run finished off his hat-trick with a cracking shot. A game greatly enjoyed by spectators and players alike. |
posted 24 Oct 2011 12:25 by OW Hockey Club
OWs began brightly against their local rivals with Max Day Sam Unthank Ben Swindell and James Nolan dominating midfield. After several abortive attacks Max Day combined well with Stewart Anderson on the right for Day to slot the ball home from a narrow angle. From a pool of fourteen players OWs were able to keep their players fresher and it was not long before OWs doubled their lead with Max Day showing superior stick work to get himself into position to hammer the ball home with an unstoppable shot. Holcombeians fought back gamely but with the experienced Tom Judge, the dependable Rhys Thomas and the skillful Harris Owen they were unable to put the OW goal under any real threat. OWs turned round three goals in the lead through a skilful drag flick by Adam Baldwin although it might have been more but for the athleticism of the Holcombeians keeper. In the second half Holcombe came more into the game but with Adam Mohammed, Ellen Piercy and Ailida Burgess giving a good account of themselves on debut the OW defence held firm . With OWs not using the full width of the pitch many attacks broke down in the middle until Cameron Houghton showed the way with an excellent run and cut in from the wing to set up Stewart Anderson with a well-weighted pass which might have led to the fourth goal. With coach Charlie Smith making numerous astute substitutions and positional changes OWs dominated again and it was Stewart Anderson who slotted home with a deft shot to make the score 4-0. Adam Baldwin scored the fifth with yet another well-placed flick from a short corner. Finally Max Day completed his hat- trick with well taken shot from the edge of the circle. An encouraging performance by the young OWs. |
posted 28 Sep 2011 11:28 by OW Hockey Club
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updated 28 Sep 2011 11:30
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For the first game of the season, featuring many players who had not played at this level before, OWs found themselves outplayed for much of the first half.
The busiest player was probably Jake Whiting in goal who made several excellent saves and kept the score down to reasonable proportions. Young Harris Owen showed promise with some well timed tackles and thoughtful distribution but too often OWs were guilty of poor defending and misdirected passes.
OWs found it difficult to make much headway in midfield and by half time Folkestone had taken a 5-0 lead with some well taken goals.
Coaches Paul Judge and Charlie Smith tried hard at half time to put right some of the errors that had occurred . This seemed to have some effect and although Folkestone took their sixth goal just after half time the OW youngsters showed good spirit in forcing their opponents back into their circle for long periods.
Sam Unthank, Max Day and Stewart Anderson combined well to put Folkestone under pressure and brought wingers Liam Mattingley and Cameron Houghton into play. Jordan Bryant also played his part in an improved performance.
Eventually after several near misses OWs got their consolation goal when Max Day broke into the circle and fired home from close range. OWs obviously have much to learn but the improved second half display gave encouragement for the future. |
posted 30 Mar 2011 13:20 by OW Hockey Club
OWs began this game at a fast pace and put the Sevenoaks boys under extreme pressure with Toby Murray in particular showing great energy. It was therefore a shock to them when a series of missed tackles and some bad marking let Sevenoaks in to score from their first meaningful attack. This seemed to wake up the OWs and they continued to put the home defence under pressure and but for some fine goalkeeping they would have wiped out the Sevenoaks goal earlier. A fine move involving captain Nick Gaul, Max Day, Toby Murray and finally Adam Baldwin who had a simple job to tap the bal in from close range, put OWs back on level terms. From then on OWs dominated the first half with Tom Judge, Kirsty Sullivan, Ben Swindell and Sam Unthank breaking up any home threats and setting up their eager forwards.Nick Gaul mad some imperious runs and scored the second goal himself following a good passing movement. Murray then scored an excellent goal receiving the ball on the edge of the circle and guiding it in to the corner of the goal with the home keeper helpless. Adam Baldwin scored a fourth just before half time and OWs seemed to be coasting to victory particularly when they scored a fifth through Nick Gaul catching the home side napping within a minute of the restart. However Sevenoaks refused to lie down and came back strongly at OWs who, with some suffering from a late Saturday night, for some reason stopped passing the ball accurately. Although OWs always seemed in control Sevenoaks reduced their lead with two well taken goals and Jake Baldwin in goal was called into action on more than one occasion. However OWs held out from conceding any further goals . Particular mention must be made of Mark Butler as the smallest player on the pitch giving a courageous performance against probably Sevenoaks biggest player.
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posted 7 Mar 2011 10:45 by OW Hockey Club
This was a game that had the supporters on the edge of their seats for the whole 70 minutes. Tulse Hill opened strongly and put the OWs defence under considerable pressure from the start. For once OWs defence looked likely to concede and although Jake Whiting was alert in goal OWs permitted TH to get into a shooting position which allowed them to take an early lead. This seemed to wake up OWs with Kirsty Sullivan, Ben Swindell ,Rhys Thomas, Tom Judge and Sam Unthank putting in some strong tackles and getting the ball to playmakers Max Day Nick Gaul and Stewart Anderson, From one of these moves Toby Murray put the home defence under pressure and fed the ball to Adam Baldwin who made no mistake from close range. There was then a long period of end to end hockey with both sides having chances to take the lead but it was Tulse Hill who took advantage of several missed tackles to take a 2-1 lead. However OWs soon drew level with Toby Murray taking on the TH defence and scoring with a fierce shot that gave the home keeper no chance. In the second half there was more end to end play and although TH put the OWs defence under pressure Jake Whiting was called on to make some sharp saves before TH took the lead once again . OWs battled back again and Captain Nick Gaul showed his class with a mazy run covering half the field and beating the TH defence with a well placed shot. TH once again took the lead at 4-3 but this signaled a period of sustained pressure by OWs in the opposition half and they eventually leveled the scores once again with Adam Baldwin forcing the ball home. OWs felt that with a little more composure in front of goal they could have sealed a victory; but a draw was probably a fair result of an exciting match that kept the travelling spectators warm on a cold morning in South London.
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posted 7 Mar 2011 10:44 by OW Hockey Club
After last weeks resounding victory OWs were hopeful of repeating their feat against the same club. However it soon became clear that this opposition were of a higher standard. The opening exchanges were fairly even with both sides probing there opposite numbers . OWs seemed to be able to make chances for themselves but it was Tunbridge Wells who took the lead from a defensive mistake and then doubled their advantage. However OWs seemed to have more possession but could not convert this into goals. Tom Judge gave another solid performance in defence setting up attacking opportunities for Darwin Hamilton- Radford and the irrepressible Toby Murray. However Tunbridge Wells marked key players tightly and forced OWs in to rushing the chances that OWs did create. However OWs got themselves back into contention just before half-time when Darwin forced home a chance from close range. So they were particularly disappointed to concede a further goal just after half time. OWs continued to dominate possession with Nick Gaul giving a dominating performance in midfield. With Max Day sustaining a hand injury OWs were forced to ring the changes with young Mark Butler continuing to show promise. At the back Kirsty Sullivan gave a faultless display and Sam Unthank, Rhys Thomas and Ben Swindell all had good games. However Tunbridge Wells went further ahead with the best goal of the game demonstrating the value of accurate first time passing to split open a defence. However to their credit OWs continued to go forward and it was Nick Gaul who single handedly took on the Tunbridge Wells defence through the middle to fire home an unstoppable shot at speed. OWs felt they now had a chance but despite several good efforts involving Adam Baldwin Toby and Darwin they could not narrow T Wells' lead . A most enjoyable game played in a good but competitive spirit. |
posted 7 Feb 2011 13:36 by OW Hockey Club
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With 3 late drop-outs from the selected 14 players OWs left for the journey to Tunbridge Wells with some trepidation to play a side to whom they had lost 3-1 in Rochester early in the season. Indeed the game began as an even contest and although OWs took the lead early on when Adam Baldwin converted a short corner with a well placed shot, T Wells came back strongly and equalised after the ball was given away in front of goal. After some good end to end play OWs took the lead again when Toby Murray beat off several T Wells defenders to put in an unstoppable shot. Just before half time Darwin Hamilton-Radford, combining well with Max Day and Murray took the OW tally to 3 with a good shot inside the far post.
At half-time coach Harper advised OWs against complacency against a side that seemed to have the ability to add to their score. However after some positional changes OWs domination increased. Day and Skipper Nick Gaul combined well in midfield and the unobtrusive Rhys Thomas seemed to win every tackle made and put in many thoughtful passes. At the back Kirsty Sullivan as usual cleared her lines whenever danger threatened and goalie Jake Whiting,making his debut for the U16s, did all that was asked of him with assurance. From this solid base OWs dominated with further goals from Darwin (2) Baldwin and first time scorers Sam Unthank and Day. This gave OWs an unassailable lead. Finally human dynamo Toby Murray gave the away supporters ( some watching their first match) one final goal to cheer with probably the hardest shot of the afternoon. |
posted 26 Nov 2010 05:02 by OW Hockey Club
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Although OWs were without leading goal scorer Toby Murray and iconic Captain Nick Gaul,OWs were hopeful of achieving a favorable result.
However this was not to be and despite starting brightly with Darwin Hamilton-Radford and Stewart Anderson making several promising attacks they were unable to test the away keeper.In midfield Max Day and Jack Harper dominated but in the end it was Tunbridge Wells who took the lead with two well-taken goals before half-time. As usual Kirsty Sullivan and Tom Judge were towers of strength in defence and debutants Aidan Gausby and Liam Mattingley gave a good account of themselves . Aidan's speed troubled the Visitors defence and after a good move involving all three strikers it was Max Day who forced the ball home. However OWs could not capitalise on this revival and it was Tunbridge Wells who closed out the scoring to secure the 3-1 win. |
posted 16 Nov 2010 11:03 by OW Hockey Club
Once again the young OWs found themselves up against a more experienced and skilful opposition.
Although OWs, with Toby Murray recovered to play his first game of the season, played some attractive hockey they were often overpowered by their stronger opponents. Sam Unthank Ben Swindell and Jack Harper showed their skill in braking up many Gore Court moves but in the end the home side went into a two goal lead with two well drilled short corner routines. Pressure was maintained and by half time the home side were in an unassailable 6-0 lead.
The second half began much the same but with skipper Nick Gaul and young Mark Butler showing boundless energy OWs came more into the game.
With Stewart Anderson, Adam Baldwin and newcomer Steven Rowland up front OWs had several attacks on the Gore Court goal but it was the classy Toby Murray who turned the trick and got OWs on the score sheet. Although the result was never in doubt this encouraged OWs
to go forward more and this resulted in Toby Murray completing his hat trick, a remarkable achievement for someone playing his first game since last March.
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posted 19 Oct 2010 11:27 by OW Hockey Club
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In what they knew would be a difficult fixture OWs began the brighter of the two teams with Darwin Hamilton -Radford outstanding in taking on the opposition with skill and determination. Their confidence was further boosted when Jack Harper beat his opponent from right midfield to put in a sublime centre that Stewart Anderson touched home at the post.
All over the pitch OWs played with confidence with Nick Gaul breaking up many attacks and setting up his own forwards. Kirsty Sullivan at the back was her usual reliable self and with Sophie Cherry in goal pulling off several stunning saves OWs held there skillful opposition at bay until just before the end of the first half when their pressure and superior combination told and OWs turned round trailing by two goals to one.
In the second half OWs held out for long periods with Sam Unthank and Ben Swindell putting in some well timed tackles to frustrate their opponents. Rhys Thomas Adam Baldwin and Max Day did their best to break down their solid opponents and in the end some tiredness began to show allowing Canterbury to run in 5 further goals without reply.
OWs young team continue to learn and look forward to the rest of their season. |
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