Colts Update

Staines Cygnets in Middlesex Junior Tournaments

Staines fielded teams in the Middlesex U11 and U13 boys and girls Tournament this weekend. The Girls U13 were the losing finalists to Southgate in a hard fought out match. This is the best result so far for this recently formed section of Staines Hockey Club. Undoubtedly good for the future of the ladies section.
The other junior squads did extremely well, however not getting through to the final stages of their various age groups.

Match Reports For Week 28 Saturday 15th March Season 2002 - 2003

Mens 1st XI

Staines were on goal form from the start of this match when James Chapman scored within the opening minutes. Unfortunately OK's managed to pull one back, but this didn't dampen Staines spirits who went onto score 9 more goals. James Chapman scored 2 more to complete his hattrick, Mashood Hussain 4, and then a goal each from Matt Truman, Adam Hart and Neil Toulson.

On Sunday, Staines played a rescheduled league game against Gore Court. Gore Court fighting to stay in the league were determined to win this match and Staines only managed to score 1 goal from James Chapman, to leave the result 1 - 5 to Gore Court.

Mens 2nd XI

Mens 3rd XI

A lovely sunny early spring day bathed the Stade de Illuminaire in a warm glow. We patiently watched the delightful Ladies 2's complete their match. Alpesh stretched out snoozing in a sunny sheltered spot, awaiting someone to tickle his tummy. Sparrows and Finches flitted from tree to tree twittering excitedly. Rob Godfrey broke wind with a ferocious thunderclap causing two nearby spectators to faint and several small children burst into tears. And the UN are worried about Saddam Hussein having a little bit of mustard gas? They want to check out the Housewives Favourite's trousers. Several players watered the newly melted Portacabin - just to make sure the flames were out. Kitty Hine has been out soliciting again and brought another waif and stray to the club. The new chap is called Oliver and introduced himself as being a defender. "Very good, but you are not a Right Back" said Pace O'Brien. Our Skipper was late due to feeling his age his missus. He arrived just in time to avoid the warm up and then we led him gently over to the pitch and put a stick in his hand, he is getting to be more like Father Jack every week!

Staines supplied both Umpires although Canterbury looked somewhat bemused as Kitty enveloped himself in smog, revving up his V8 Bathchair; and Action Man Reed took his place wearing very dark glasses and lead by a Labrador Dog. For the first 15 minutes the game was quite exciting, lots of end to end action, but from the Blue armies point of view the Canterbury attacks and the ease in which they ran through the midfield was rather disconcerting. However the best form of defence is attack and after a couple of good chances and a worthy short corner we got a deserved breakthrough. Dunners intercepted in our own D and cleared to Porno. Shedding vertebra all over the shop Richard turned his marker and trundled off down the wing. Trampling another Canterbury defender on his travels, Porno struck an inch perfect pass into Mark Landon waiting calmly in the reception zone of Canterbury's D. Mark skilfully cleared his marker and thrashed the ball in spectacular fashion into the roof of the net. That spiced things up but Staines could not seem to exploit the advantage, squandering several easy chances with pathetic miss hits. In the meantime the Blue Bastions were regularly under enormous pressure as Canterbury worked hard to equalise. Even the Notcutts sniper was not up to the mark, Chubby Jezza went down but was only winged. Respite was gained at the half time break, just long enough for Father Ted McDunners to give us a collective Ferguson style 'hair dryer' blasting.

After a severe spanking we started better, going down hill against the sun. McDunners kept up the loud encouragement to drive us on. Still it was nip and tuck, we conceded a few short corners but were good enough to block them. At least Uncle Fester was not available to gift any P-flicks! Still further, Staines could not kill off this game, missing several more sitters. Each of our forwards had a go at demonstrating wafty reverse flaps, complete air shots, slices so wide the corner flag was knocked over, etc. Although our strikers couldn't hit the target, in this half the Notcutts Sniper could. This time Jezza plummeted like a Lemming off a cliff, with just a slight squeak when he hit the deck. We got closest from a couple of well taken short corners but couldn't quite get a final touch to score. If it wasn't for Stevie Wonder and his Labrador we might have had a few more! Pace O'Brien looked to be going for an early bath when Kitty called him over for a second talking to. Fortunately he couldn't find his cards amongst the tangle of catheters, monitor leads and colostomy bags - so Dean stayed on. The game culminated with a short corner given to Canterbury after another spell of concerted attacks. It would be a cruel twist of fate if they equalised now. The Bastions held firm and a 1-0 win was secured.

Hero: Dunners, Scouse, Safety, New Ollie and a collective for the defensive back line all received nominations, but for the wonder goal Mark Landon was duly awarded.

Girls Unmentionables: Anyone who had a shot towards goal, or got shot by the Sniper, got nominated. But a clear winner was Mark Landon - and not just for some dodgy shots. He was reported, and I quote:- acting out a scene from "Little House on the Prairie" kissing his watching wife, being kind to children and playing with his pet dog in a boyish manner.

Mens 4th XI

Mens 5th XI

Sohail made an early attempt at securing the DoD vote this week by getting Keith to print out maps to their club and not to the school where we were playing, but at least he had the presence of mind to make a last minute call to yours truly to get the correct maps printed. After a midweek panic when it looked like we might be a few players short, in the end we had a pretty strong line-up. Just as well because we noted during the warm-up that their team had a few different faces from the 1st game, and didn't look a bad side at all.

The game started in typical 5th XI fashion as we rampaged forward towards the home goal eager to establish an early lead. Several short corners were duly won but they were well organised at the back and had a couple of quick runners from the line, thus preventing Keith from converting. Not as though it was all one-way traffic as the home side did play some neat triangles through the midfield, however it looked only a matter of time before we broke through.

Then Sohail made a clean break, cut to top right of the circle, wound up for a power shot, .... and windmilled it !!!!! A bit later Sohail received a ball on the right wing, laid the ball back to Martin who took it wide before laying it back to Gordon in the inside right channel, a quick turn and power cross to the back post where Neil ghosted in to put us 1-0 up ... a classic 5th XI goal ... come on - make space in that trophy cabinet !!

A few minutes later and Neil ghosted into the circle again, but this time he fluffed the chance. We were playing well and keeping the oppo well inside their own half. Then a hopeful long ball went aimlessly down into our 25. Three Addiscombe players converged on Richard and with only Frank nearby, he took on the challenge and powered the sideline hit straight to their centre forward who took it into the circle and thrashed it past Dave in goal ... 1-1. Put a hold on that order for the trophy cabinet.

The home side now took great heart and went on the attack, and even managed to pressure the unflappable Frank into a Sohail like air shot, but unlike our hapless captain he recovered and cleared the danger. Suddenly our passes weren't quite as crisp or as accurate as they were and with half-time approaching things were looking a bit tricky. The good thing this season though is that we keep trying to pass it about and from one such move we bamboozled their defence ... and all they could do was give away a short. This time Keith delayed, waited for the runners, waited for the keeper to go down, and spooned a flick shot over his prone body and into the net ... 2-1.

Half-time: These guys are no mugs we must keep the movement going and keep the pressure on.

The home side started the second half well and pushed a few players further forward to try and get back into the game. Richard was in perpetual motion trying to make up for his 1st half howler - it was though he had drunk pure adrenalin at half time. As a result every time the oppo tried to break down their left they were intercepted and put back on the defensive. The decisive moment of the game came from another short corner when Keith slipped it back to Gordon who got the faintest of touches to roll it under the keeper for 3-1. This was one lead we didn't want to give up and the collective team spirit was perfectly highlighted when a quick sideline ball was taken on the half-way line. Their striker suckered Frank in and beat him on the outside but was forced wide by Jim covering across the circle, Frank retreated back to the D and by the time their attacker reached our 25 they were surrounded by Richard, Martin, and even Neil who had run all the way from their 25 ... now that's the attitude that wins Championships.

We have seen some spectacular goals this season and with 10 mins remaining the ball was worked forward down the right, pulled back to Gordon at the top of the D, who touched it on to Jim arriving from left back like a whippet to thrash the ball home with a Major reverse-stick piledriver ... there were audible whoops of delight ... not a bad way to score your first of the season.

Still time left for Neil to execute a fantastic turn to leave his marker for dead ... only to be denied by the fast rushing keeper by a few inches. We were now attacking almost constantly but the home side must be given credit for their attitude and the fact that they kept marking tightly within the D. They then executed their best move of the match down the right wing before laying it across to the middle where it looked odds on a goal, but Dave stood tall (if that's possile at his age) and kicked the ball away to safety.

There was still time for Martin to break clear into the D draw the keeper and hearing the salivating Neil on the back post flicked it across the keeper .. only he didn't as somehow the keeper managed to get his stick hand up off the floor and cut out the flick pass. Then near the end another surging run from Gordon saw him eye-to-eye with the keeper, who saved again but watched in dismay as Gordon kept his eye on the rebound and whacked it home for 5-1.

Full time: W 5-1 ( our 11th consecutive league win dating back until 16th November !)

Man of the Match: Major Jim got the nod for a classic reverse stick strike, with honourable mentions for Neil (his best performance to date), Gordon and Simon
Dick of the Day: A close call with Sohail taking an early lead for "no maps", "windmilling" and "dribbling from the strong open-side onto his weaker side", but all was in vain as Richard's assist for their goal won out by a single vote.

Top goalscorers ... league goals in brackets

22 : Gordon Scott (21)
21 : Keith Hine (21)
12 : Martin Jackson (12)
8 : Phil Whittington (8)
8 : Sohail Arshae (6)
7 : Roland Ellis (7)
5 : John Wareham (5)
5 : Neil Weaver (5)
4 : Chris "Diego" Marcus (4)
2 : Sean Wilson (2)
2 : Simon Schutte (1)
1 : Jim Edwards (1)
1 : Jonathan Scott (1)

Total : 98 (94)

Mens Centurions

Ladies 1st XI

Staines travelled to Maida Vale in the knowledge that only a victory and a plethora of goals against mid table H&W would do. Despite a very unpredictable water based pitch, Staines attacked from the start and were delighted with their 9-0 victory. It was a very relaxed team that took to the pitch and this showed in the fluid hockey on display. There was some wonderful build up play down the left and some superb two-touch hockey the length of the pitch which frustrated H&W . Staines were persistent and determined and never allowed the opposition any time on the ball. Anna Trueman opened the scoring in the first few minutes. Lou Delaney scored twice and Chrissie Lind, Jo Ive and Sue O'Connell added to the goal tally to make it 6-0 at half time. Staines did not sit back on their lead and continued to press for more goals. Lou Delaney, Chrissie Lind and Anna Trueman each addded another goal before the final whistle. The pressure is still on Harrow and with two more league games to go before the end of the season, the team will hope to build on this impressive display over the next two weeks.

Ladies 2nd XI

The score might suggest that Staines were playing a lower league side to them, but this wasn't the case, it was more simply that Staines Ladies 2's played one of the best games of the season and showed why they had finished 3rd in their first year in Middlesex Division 1. Staines got off to a great start when Olivia Flint, sweeper turned Right Wing for the match slotted the first goal home. The other goals in the first half quickly followed by Helen White, a short corner shot from Sarah Chandler and one from Juliet Porter. Juliet then went on to score her 2nd after getting on the end of a ball from Olivia Flint. The first half finished 5 - 0, but Staines were hungry for more goals and continued the second half by scoring quickly again when Alison Schomberg flew into the D to push the ball into the goal to make it 6. Staines had the game comfortably in their control, and passed the ball around with ease. Further goals were then scored by Caroline Barnes off a rebounded short corner shot, and then 4 more by Juliet Porter to make her total 6. Although she didn't score, player of the match, captain Helen Fisher was responsible for such great play in Midfield and delievered some great balls for the team to score from. A fantastic team performance all round.

Ladies 3rd XI

Despite Hendon trying to keep us out of the grounds we established the security number and gained access to the grounds. Staines went off to an early 2 nil lead with goals from Kerry and Jeanette. At half time Hendon changed their format of their team and slipped in a goal. Staines fought back and Kerry once again found the goal leaving us with a good final win in the league.

Ladies 4th XI