Match reports and news – weekend 8th/9th December 2018.
Girls Under-16s beat Haslemere 6-0!
The girls under-16s travelled to Haslemere on Sunday. The team arrived in good time, which meant plenty of time for warm up and preparation. The game started in bright (blinding) sunshine and was fast and furious from the start. It was pleasing to see AFHC come out so positively and to look like they really wanted to win the match. Within the first 5 minutes they had created goal scoring opportunities and put pressure on their defence, which appeared to surprise Haslemere. The pressure of breaking through from midfield into the D resulted in the first 2 goals which both came from Caitlin. The next goal was an own goal but was awarded to Ella as she had been the final AFHC player to touch the ball. AFHC’s substitutions worked well and gave players a chance to rest for a few minutes, as it was tiring match. The Haslemere goalkeeper was forced to make some great saves and this kept the score down to 3-0 at half time. A constructive half-time team talk set out some objectives for the second half, and it was pleasing to see these put into action. In particular “hunting in pairs” and supporting one another in open play. The second half was a strong team performance with goals coming from Penny (one of her short corner strikes!), Chloe and Sophie. The defence remained composed and distributed the ball well and midfielders continued to run, run and run!! MOM was awarded to Ella and was well deserved for her supportive play, continuous running, tracking back and well-timed tackles! So the final score was a satisfying 6 -0 to AFHC. It was a great game to watch, with the attitude of the girls being positive throughout. They have definitely grown in confidence as a team and currently are undefeated this season …… and remain top of the league table. Thank you to Dan for managing the team today and passing on his words of wisdom and to Catherine for assisting him with substitutions etc.
Under-12 boys beat Basingstoke 4-2
Great play by the U-12 boys who beat Basingstoke 4-2 at Heath End this morning. The first third was equal on both sides and it was Basingstoke that went 1-0 up before a slick corner routine was finished by Jerome Sturridge to bring it level. In the second third the boys tightened up the marking at the back and in midfield. The pressure told on Basingstoke who were finding it increasingly difficult to clear their lines. With the speed and quality of Noah Hewett and Ben Turrell up front that was only going to hurt Basingstoke eventually and so it proved, 3 goals in quick succession, 2 for Ben and 1 for William Stephens, taking the shots into the final third 4-1 up. They took the foot off the gas toward the end and Basingstoke pulled one back late on but all in all, this was a solid and accomplished performance.
Mens 1s beat EUHC London Gamblers 3-1
The Men's 1s recorded a much needed win against bottom side EUHC London Gamblers in their final game before the winter break.
AFHC had the game in control, but when Gamblers did pull it back to 2-1 midway through the second half, there was a sense the game could go either way, however Scott Perry in the final game of his five week cameo for the club slotted home to seal the points.
AFHC had a 1-0 lead at half time thanks to a precision drag flick from Perry just inside the right upright. AFHC will feel that they should have had a more substantial lead though, as after weathering a good start by Gamblers, they took control and enjoyed a great amount of possession. Too often though the midfield tried to force the ball through central areas and with the forwards also not offering enough depth inside the circle it was too easy for the Gamblers defenders to manage. On the occasions they did get the ball wide and in behind the Gamblers back line, they opened up chances and for a better final ball would have surely scored one or two more. One point when the final ball from such a scenario was on the money Aaron Buchanan missed an empty goal. The message was clear that this should be the method of attack in the second half, especially through Jonny Groves or Rob Jervis on the right. The teenage partnership of Joe Whelan and Jamie Weston in the A&F central defence looked assured throughout, with Whelan making a couple of very smart tackles. Weston scored a drag-flick via a deflection off a trailing stick of a running defender to make it 2-0, before Gamblers broke for their goal which came from a ball from the left that Ed Rushmere ended up putting in his own goal in a desperate attempt to intercept the pass. Ian Metcalfe could have made it 4-1 shortly after Perry had scored the third. Despite close attention from two Gamblers defenders he managed to squeeze through a gap to fashion the chance but a poor effort was put straight at the ‘keeper. Still, good to finally have a win after a run of defeats.
Mens 2s beat Fareham 5s 2-1
The Men's 2s faced off against rock bottom Fareham 5s - the second of two Fareham teams in their league. AFHC may have taken the game a little for grated especially given the fact we scored within a minute of push back! A scrappy first half ended with the score 2-1 to us goals for Sam and Oli! Not a great second half from all but we held on for 3 more points in a goalless second half! Mom went to Neil Metcalfe.
Mens 3s extend their winning streak beating Southampton 3s 5-3
Goals from Rob Corbin, Tom Haworth-Edwards, Will Hewett and 2 from myself. This was a tough game played under appalling conditions, but the lads did not buckle and there were some standout performances. MOM shared this week between their dynamic fullbacks Rory Whelan and Charlie Aylott. Thanks to Oli Holder for umpiring a difficult game.
Ladies 1s lost 1-0 to Teddington
Ladies 1’s last match of the season before the Christmas break saw them away to Teddington. With only 12 players this week they knew they were going to have to step up and work for one another. The game started well with some lovely play from both teams, with a very back-and-forth first half, Teddington managed to get a short corner from which they capitalised with a well worked and practised routine. Leaving the score 1-0 at half time. Going into the second half it was very apparent that Teddington had many more legs left than AFHC, with their 16 player squad. Even though the score remained 1-0 to Teddington, it was a great performance from the whole team, bring on the second half of the season! MoM - This week goes to Kate Cooper for some exceptional superhuman saves.
Ladies 3s beat Fareham 2-0
Ladies 3s go into the Christmas break on the back of a win against Fareham and having moved up a place in the table. What a brilliant game to finish this half of the season. A great team effort with lots more talking / shouting at the back, tight marking for most of the match and great passing. It didn't all go AFHC’s way and there was plenty of defending to be done, including some fantastic saves from Debbie Ridger in goal, earning her MotM. Our first goal came from Ellie, taking a strike as soon as she entered the D. AFHC went into half time just one goal up, but with a positive team talk from Graham, we knew we could hold on. When the goalie mistook Kate for the ball and wiped her out, Joelle stepped up and put the P-flick in the back of the net to put us 2 up. Fareham weren't going to give up and fought hard to get one back, but despite quite a number of short corners in their favour, the defence held strong and Fareham had to accept defeat.
Ladies 2s lost 1-0 to Fareham in a tightly contested match
Ladies 2s had another early start down in Fareham. They started off strongly and held up a lot of Fareham’s play. The team’s main focus for the first half was to not concede a goal in the first 5 minutes like previous games and they smashed it by not conceding any goals in the first half! The second half saw some great passing from AFHC, lovely linking play in the middle from Katherine and Ella and a few breaks up front resulting in Libby very nearly scoring! Unfortunately, AFHC just couldn’t get the ball in the goal, and Fareham managed to score a very messy goal that only just went over the line with Hannah very nearly getting her stick to it! MOM went to Penny for some great pivot play at the back and defensive work.
Fantastic home festival for the U8s & U10s Minis
Fantastic fun at our U8s &U10s festival on Sunday at the Army Astros. Thank you so much to everyone who helped out with umpiring, team managing, BBQ, teas and coffees. The AFHC teams did really well overall, especially given almost the whole squad was in action including a number of new players and 6-year-olds. What a fab bunch of kids. In Fiona’s team there was some lovely defensive play and passing from Clara, Minnie and Savi. Tenacious tackling from Naomi. Cillian was our top goal scorer. Innes, Forbes and Alex were all great at getting stuck in and made some lovely deft passes. Big praise to Sam for his relentless and impressive marking, and great play in general. All in all, great hockey!
The U-10s showed great attitude, smiles and determination. Archie Gritton took a stick to the head, Sapphy a stick to the knee - but they both went off and came back on smiling. Kaitlin was legendary in defence, Jack and Robert played their socks off in every game and Isobel and Alexia gave it everything .... just a brilliant polite determined helpful little squad.
Please click below for the December edition of the Aldershot & Farnham Hockey Club newsletter
| afhc_newsletter_issue_1_december_2018_club_edition.pdf |
Match reports weekend of 1st and 2nd December
U18 girls beat Romsey 3-0
The under 18 girls faced Romsey today at home and after a solid warm up and team talk from Catherine Powell and Ellie Tarsey they got off to a strong start. Multiple short corners led to a great goal from Sammy Powell and after some strong play the score remained 1-0 at half time. AFHC began the second half with the same energy and high intensity, leading to another short corner and a goal for Sammy. Just minutes later AFHC won another short corner and a great strike from Emma Porter gave them another goal. Great play from everyone meant that the final score was 3-0.
U18 boys draw 1-1 with Trojans before beating Winchester 2-1
The U18 boys faced Winchester and Trojans in their second match day of the year. First up was Trojans, who began strongly pressuring the AFHC defence. Despite conceding multiple penalty corners, the boys kept it at 0-0. AFHC then made It 1-0 with a drag from JT and it stayed that way until with a minute left they aerialed it into a crowded D and got an equaliser, final score 1-1.
AFHC then went straight into their second game vs Wincheste. They started well going 2-0 up with a goal from Joe Whelan and an own goal by Winchester. They stayed strong for the rest of the game until Winchester scored from a short corner in the final seconds of the game, Final score 2-1. Mom was Bobby Wollen.
Mens 1s lose 1-0 to Wanderers 2’s
Aldershot & Farnham fell to a third successive defeat as a nicely taken reverse stick goal by Wanderers midway through the second half decided a rather dull game in Kennington Park. With their final game against bottom side EUHC Gamblers London this weekend, AFHC will have some work to do. They now sit 10th in the table, but every game they play seems to be tight. Five of their six defeats have been by the solitary goal, so it’s the fine margins that are costing them but they must quickly find a way to be more creative and eradicate some sloppy errors. As ever, AFHC were disciplined, difficult to beat and break down and an aggressive press gave them an early foothold in the game. They showed signs of threatening early on with Rob Jervis causing problems on the right.
Second placed Wanderers 2’s soon worked them out though and AFHC didn’t offer too many alternative options. Too often they tried to attack in central areas when they would have been better served trying to get in behind the Wanderers attack from wider areas. In the end AFHC failed to have a shot at goal in the whole game. Wanderers had a handful of short corners and a couple of other attempts saved by Andrew Wilkie and on the whole were deserving of their win without being overly impressive. A&F’s chances of getting an equalizer were dealt a blow when with ten minutes left Dean Harrison made an over-the-top challenge to get a five minute yellow card, which was then upgraded for the rest of the game following dissent.
Mens 3s win 4-1 against Fareham
Men’s 3s had a good game away at Fareham. Following a slow start AFHC conceded an early goal to make it 1-0 Fareham. However, they fought back to go 1-1 and then after another goal went into half time 2-1 up. In the second half Fareham started to put the pressure on, but the defence held firm to stop them pulling level. AFHC then pushed forward and went 3-1 ahead with a great goal from Adam. AFHC then scored almost straight after to make the final result 4-1. Overall great performances from all, particularly Matt and Rob. A great result keeping us at the top of the table.
Men’s 2s lose 2-0 to US Portsmouth
Men's 2 faced off against US Portsmouth. In a highly anticipated game for their coach who seemed to know more of the opposition's names as his own team! This inside knowledge of the opposition didn't help at all as we fell to our second defeat of a very mid table season so far! First half was pretty even, with chances few and far between, second half AFHC was a bit slow out the blocks and conceded very quickly! The team had a lot of possession without creating many clear cut chances, a second scrappy goal for Portsmouth followed making it very hard for AFHC to get back into the game! They were given the perfect opportunity to do that with a penalty flick which captain Alan Coote decide to put straight at the keeper! Game over 2-0 Not a happy coach! Mom was Samuel Fuentes.
Ladies 3s lose 6-0 to Havant
Ladies 3s had yet another early start to travel down to Havant. AFHC didn't start off well, conceding 2 goals within the first 5 minutes and a further 2 during the first half. The second half was a lower tally (2 more) but as the game went on they improved and we also got into our stride more. It was a tough game, which we were expecting, but played in good spirit and we never gave up trying. There were a number of nominations for MotM, including Ellie M (constant high work rate, good passing and general all round play), Charlotte (for marking their star player out of the game in the second half), Charlie (for lots of great saves, despite the final scoreline), but it ended up being shared between Danni (for excellent goal line clearances!) and Lily (for awesome all round play).
Men’s 5s beat Men’s 6s 5-1
M5s v M6s derby day. All the talk beforehand of a mix n’ match to keep things even disappeared following the 6s gaining their third attacking short in the first five minutes. For the next 50 minutes there was only one side looking like they either wanted to win or had the ability to do so. Which again, wasn’t the 5s. Great game from a very youthful 6s, very ably and well marshalled by Drew, Ben, James and Max, Ed doing all he needed to do when required. Final score, however, ended up an extremely flattering 5-1 to men’s 5s (Ian 3, Martin 2 for 5s versus a well worked goal from the 6s). Was 1-1 for most of the game, the balance of play and goals only shifting in the final 10 minutes. All said though, a very good well fought out, entertaining game.
Ladies 1s lose 4-0 to Haslemere
It was game of two halves. It was a grotty Saturday afternoon. AFHC arrived at Haslemere and had a decent warm up, but their start was delayed by five minutes. Fairly quickly, Haslemere gained a short corner and managed to slot a drag flick to the left of the keeper beating the post player. A short time later, another short corner was saved, only for Kate to back heel the ball into the back of the goal. Things were not going AFHC’S way, Haslemere made it 3-0. AFHC were galvanized to change the tide of play and some attacking runs gained them a couple of corners. The well worked routines didn't pay off this time, however, and soon Haslemere were back down AFHC’s end making it 4-0 at half time. After Aaron's constructive half-time feedback, AFHC started the second half with more intensity and started to work better as a team, holding their structure and marking more closely. The play went from end to end resulting in hard running from the midfield and the forwards. The only short corner in the second half ended with an injury for the opposition defender coming from their overexcited goalie hitting her in the head. The final score was 4-0 to Haslemere. Man of the match went to Loz for all round awesome play.
Ladies 2s lose 4-2 against Havant 2s
A bit of a wet day for the game against Havant and the start time was slightly delayed, but AFHC was ready for action!! The team quickly settled into a smooth pattern of play and we looked settled in defense. A switch of position between Amanda and Katherine was the right decision and enabled the play to build up well. Havant had a good mix of experienced and younger players. They took their chances well and were 3-0 up at half time. However, it was pleasing to see that AFHC remained positive and throughout the second half they played some great hockey. They were playing well “as a team”, passing and linking up with each other. They created more chances and were even awarded short corners in the second half……and eventually…..the momentum that they had created resulted in two fantastic goals. One goal from a short corner which was struck by Penny and deflected in by Libby. The other goal was scored by Caitlin Mason who took her opportunity well. The final score was a 4-2 to Havant, but such an enjoyable game to play in and the team spirit was great this week. Hopefully we can take this style of play and positive attitude into our next match. MOM was awarded to Katherine for some strong and intelligent play in midfield.
Ladies 4s lost 3-2
Well let’s just take today as a valuable lesson in how not to start a match! The opposition should have started badly given they had a tyre blow-out on the way to the game but oh no - they only had 8/9 players and dominated the first half getting 3 past AFHC! So that’s that - AFHC forgot the first half and came out fighting for an awesome second half - 2 goals from Katja Jackson and they were close to getting a point but not meant to be. MOM the awesome Sarah Sitwell.
24th & 25th November - match reports
Mixed Cup Team beat Guildford 3-1 on penalty flicks. Through to the next round!
The Mixed Cup team started their England National Cup competition today at Heath End against a Guildford side. A youthful looking side for AFHC, sprinkled with a handful of senior players to keep them on the straight and narrow, kept Guildford at bay until 5 minutes after half time when they scored. This spurred AFHC to respond within almost 50 seconds when Max Long threw himself at the far post to deflect a Robert Jervis cross. AFHC then took the lead when Max again slotted a goal past their keeper. Guildford rallied and equalised with 5 minutes to go, meaning that penalty strokes were needed to settle the cup tie. Just like last year’s first round cup experience, Kate Cooper again stepped up to save three of Guildford’s shots and AFHC won 3-1 on flicks. The next round awaits.
Under 16 girls beat Basingstoke 7:1
U16s girls had great win against Basingstoke on Sunday winning 7:1. Some excellent individual skills and brilliant team play including some awesome one twos in front of goal.
Boys Under 12 beat Winchester 6-1
An early start for the u12 boys against Winchester B this morning. Despite only having 10 men they managed to dominate the game and came out comfortable 6-1 winners. The scoreline is testament to the great team play that the boys have developed in recent games, underlined by the tenacity and thoughtful distribution of Jerome Sturridge and Oli Street in midfield to feed the pace of Ben Turrell, Jack Stevens and Noah Hewett in a skilled attack. When called upon the defensive line of Felix Taylor, William Stephens, Joe Telford and Freddie Pocock dealt with Winchester attacks with confidence backed up by James Badger in goal. Well played boys.
Boys Under-16 beat Alton 1-0
Boys u16 ground out a 1-0 win against Alton today. The hockey in the first half mirrored the weather and the shots looked subdued, not quite getting the finish they needed whilst allowing Alton several chances at the other end. The second half was more like the impressive hockey the boys have played in previous fixtures and Alton found it harder and harder to match the tempo and slick passing game. Despite the shots dominance in possession, Alton were proving hard to break down whilst their goalkeeper was putting in a strong case for man of the match. A sublime forward ball from Bobby Woolen to Rob Corbin eventually split the Alton defence, Rob keeping a cool head to give Spike Stevens a tap in. Many thanks to Geoff Smith for managing and Malcolm for umpiring.
Mens 1s lost 3-2 to Camberley & Farnborough
Aldershot & Farnham slipped to another narrow defeat at home to Camberley & Farnborough and for the second week running they came away from a game in which they dominated play without any points. Camberley just had the three chances in the game and scored them all and from AFHCs point of view the goals they conceded were all rather soft. The first goal Camberley scored to put themselves 1-0 up left AFHC rather aggrieved. A ball was hit towards the circle but straight towards the midriff of Ed Rushmere. The umpire didn’t deem it to be dangerous so allowed play to go on, this caught the home side by surprise and allowed the Camberley forward to strike into the goal from the top of the circle. AFHC restored parity with a Scott Perry drag flick, before Camberley restored their one goal lead going into half time. AFHC were too slow to pick up their men after coughing up the ball and the visitors were able to make three passes inside the circle before slotting home. An aggressive press by AFHC became more effective in the second half and saw them win the ball back regularly. They kept believing in their process and dominated possession, with Johnny Thompson having an effective game in the central midfield, but despite this AFHC were unable to make best use of a man advantage as Camberley saw a midfielder sin binned for a deliberate back stick. But a lack of cutting edge and calm finishing ultimately cost AFHC. Despite their dominance in the play they were unable to open up the Camberley defence enough. Perry did have a clear chance from the top of the ‘D’ but failed to make a good enough connection. Jonny Groves found the equalizer with a firmly hit short corner strike which was reward for an effervescent performance by the experienced forward. AFHC were then reduced to ten men following an elbow and dissent from Perry and were made to pay for this as well as their lack of creativeness in attack as Camberley broke to get the winner with five minutes left.
Mens 3s win 8-1 against Portsmouth & Southsea
Aldershot Mens 3’s played bottom of the League Portsmouth and Southsea today. We got off to a quick start, breaking down the slowest back four in the League. Rob C got the first goal from a short corner, and with other goals in the first half including a wonder strike from Ollie. Andy also got a goal in the first half, making it a half time score of 4-1. In the second half we continued to play with a high intensity and Will, Lemmy and Tom added to the score giving us a final score 8-1. A good save from Matt at the end to stop them scoring. 6 games undefeated and 5 wins on the bounce. Up to 4th in the League table and just 3 points off 3rd.
Ladies 5s beat Fleet & Ewshot 3 4-1
Today was another smasher for the Ladies 5's at home v Fleet & Ewshot, although it started with a very nervy and scrappy first half, we were still 2-0 up at the break. Di's half time chat must have done the world of good as we came back calm and strong and did the best passing we've done all season, much like a well-oiled (and trained) team :So we ended up with an impressive 4-1 win, goals from Suzanne Reng, Caitlin Taylor, Izzy Elliot and Gerri Besgrove. Man of the Match went to Jane Orchard for the most running a person could possibly do in a hockey match. Well done all, it’s an honour to be part of this team, both on and off the pitch. Onwards and upwards ladies
Ladies 3s drew 1-1 with Andover 2s
Ladies 3s were the last of the ladies sides to play today and with plenty of players unavailable both higher and lower, half the team were on their second game of the day. Added to that the lateness of most arrivals, I nearly had a heart attack - only 6 players at the pitch with 15 minutes to pushback
We went 1-0 down quite early on, from not quite being awake/switched on. But this woke us up.
For the rest of the game we fought hard. Graham mixed things up at half time, ensuring that their star player was marked out of the game. Andover had a couple of shorts but otherwise didn't look too dangerous. We had plenty of shots just going wide and then Lily managed to slot one home, with a bit of help from a defender, who Kate pressured into the error very nicely. Lily was Man of the Match – well done!
Ladies 1s drew 0-0 with Horsham
Like every other home match this season, the ladies 1’s arrived at the club house for another inspirational talk from Aaron in the damp and dreary. The match started well with some great running and passing. We soon realised this was a very strong Horsham team, meaning we knew we had to stay strong and work together as a team. With a few cards for them and a fair share of short corners for either team the score remained 0-0. Unlike the score line says, it was great team performance!
Man of the Match went to Ellie for some good tackling, mainly for getting hit in the chest and not complaining for once! Special mention to Rosie for her non stop running all match!!
Ladies 4s lost 4-2 to Fleet & Ewshot.
Well that was an exciting game ... where’s the jumpshot you cry? Alas missing this week but an awesome game of hockey was played ... we knew F&E would be tough - a team of fast youngsters and skilful players kept the game end to end from the first whistle ... Jenny Bailey took us into the lead within 57seconds! And then we battled and battled - they scored an equaliser - game on! Then I (hands up) got caught out when giving advice and their unmarked player pounced and scored! A quick third followed and yikes! Then a brilliant one two work with Cas Bush and Caitlin Taylor (working tirelessly) saw us pull one back 3-2 ... god we then battled but it wasn’t meant to be - and F&E slipped a 4th home! Man of the Match went to Charlotte Watson for tireless work but the whole team battled - it was a great game just a shame no jumpshot to reflect our efforts!
Ladies 2s lost 5-0 to Andover
After an early start the Ladies 2s travelled to Andover today. With some additional recruits we set off in a positive mood. We started off slowly and conceded an early goal, but gradually we settled down and started to play some better hockey. Andover were strong in defence and prevented us breaking through. It was great to see Kate and Caitlin forcing the ball forwards and creating some attacking moves. In centre midfield, Chanel supported them well and linked effectively with Jodie (even though she was not allowed to wear her hat!!!). Ella played confidently and was always available as a connection between defence and attack – as well as chasing after endless balls. In the first half we seemed to put ourselves under pressure and they attacked continually down their left side of the pitch. Hannah remained composed (we won’t mention her Green Card) and then sustained a ball to the face in the second half, which must have hurt. Andover’s goals seemed to come from short corners, although not all from straight strikes. Penny, Lucy and Amy were well organised and distributed the ball well from defence. It was just a case of trying to break through their ring of midfielders. The final 5-0 score line did not reflect the game and there were positives to be taken from the match. It was good to see the team trying out things that we had practiced in training.
U18 girls beat Romsey 3-0
The under 18 girls faced Romsey today at home and after a solid warm up and team talk from Catherine Powell and Ellie Tarsey they got off to a strong start. Multiple short corners led to a great goal from Sammy Powell and after some strong play the score remained 1-0 at half time. AFHC began the second half with the same energy and high intensity, leading to another short corner and a goal for Sammy. Just minutes later AFHC won another short corner and a great strike from Emma Porter gave them another goal. Great play from everyone meant that the final score was 3-0.
U18 boys draw 1-1 with Trojans before beating Winchester 2-1
The U18 boys faced Winchester and Trojans in their second match day of the year. First up was Trojans, who began strongly pressuring the AFHC defence. Despite conceding multiple penalty corners, the boys kept it at 0-0. AFHC then made It 1-0 with a drag from JT and it stayed that way until with a minute left they aerialed it into a crowded D and got an equaliser, final score 1-1.
AFHC then went straight into their second game vs Wincheste. They started well going 2-0 up with a goal from Joe Whelan and an own goal by Winchester. They stayed strong for the rest of the game until Winchester scored from a short corner in the final seconds of the game, Final score 2-1. Mom was Bobby Wollen.
Mens 1s lose 1-0 to Wanderers 2’s
Aldershot & Farnham fell to a third successive defeat as a nicely taken reverse stick goal by Wanderers midway through the second half decided a rather dull game in Kennington Park. With their final game against bottom side EUHC Gamblers London this weekend, AFHC will have some work to do. They now sit 10th in the table, but every game they play seems to be tight. Five of their six defeats have been by the solitary goal, so it’s the fine margins that are costing them but they must quickly find a way to be more creative and eradicate some sloppy errors. As ever, AFHC were disciplined, difficult to beat and break down and an aggressive press gave them an early foothold in the game. They showed signs of threatening early on with Rob Jervis causing problems on the right.
Second placed Wanderers 2’s soon worked them out though and AFHC didn’t offer too many alternative options. Too often they tried to attack in central areas when they would have been better served trying to get in behind the Wanderers attack from wider areas. In the end AFHC failed to have a shot at goal in the whole game. Wanderers had a handful of short corners and a couple of other attempts saved by Andrew Wilkie and on the whole were deserving of their win without being overly impressive. A&F’s chances of getting an equalizer were dealt a blow when with ten minutes left Dean Harrison made an over-the-top challenge to get a five minute yellow card, which was then upgraded for the rest of the game following dissent.
Mens 3s win 4-1 against Fareham
Men’s 3s had a good game away at Fareham. Following a slow start AFHC conceded an early goal to make it 1-0 Fareham. However, they fought back to go 1-1 and then after another goal went into half time 2-1 up. In the second half Fareham started to put the pressure on, but the defence held firm to stop them pulling level. AFHC then pushed forward and went 3-1 ahead with a great goal from Adam. AFHC then scored almost straight after to make the final result 4-1. Overall great performances from all, particularly Matt and Rob. A great result keeping us at the top of the table.
Men’s 2s lose 2-0 to US Portsmouth
Men's 2 faced off against US Portsmouth. In a highly anticipated game for their coach who seemed to know more of the opposition's names as his own team! This inside knowledge of the opposition didn't help at all as we fell to our second defeat of a very mid table season so far! First half was pretty even, with chances few and far between, second half AFHC was a bit slow out the blocks and conceded very quickly! The team had a lot of possession without creating many clear cut chances, a second scrappy goal for Portsmouth followed making it very hard for AFHC to get back into the game! They were given the perfect opportunity to do that with a penalty flick which captain Alan Coote decide to put straight at the keeper! Game over 2-0 Not a happy coach! Mom was Samuel Fuentes.
Ladies 3s lose 6-0 to Havant
Ladies 3s had yet another early start to travel down to Havant. AFHC didn't start off well, conceding 2 goals within the first 5 minutes and a further 2 during the first half. The second half was a lower tally (2 more) but as the game went on they improved and we also got into our stride more. It was a tough game, which we were expecting, but played in good spirit and we never gave up trying. There were a number of nominations for MotM, including Ellie M (constant high work rate, good passing and general all round play), Charlotte (for marking their star player out of the game in the second half), Charlie (for lots of great saves, despite the final scoreline), but it ended up being shared between Danni (for excellent goal line clearances!) and Lily (for awesome all round play).
Men’s 5s beat Men’s 6s 5-1
M5s v M6s derby day. All the talk beforehand of a mix n’ match to keep things even disappeared following the 6s gaining their third attacking short in the first five minutes. For the next 50 minutes there was only one side looking like they either wanted to win or had the ability to do so. Which again, wasn’t the 5s. Great game from a very youthful 6s, very ably and well marshalled by Drew, Ben, James and Max, Ed doing all he needed to do when required. Final score, however, ended up an extremely flattering 5-1 to men’s 5s (Ian 3, Martin 2 for 5s versus a well worked goal from the 6s). Was 1-1 for most of the game, the balance of play and goals only shifting in the final 10 minutes. All said though, a very good well fought out, entertaining game.
Ladies 1s lose 4-0 to Haslemere
It was game of two halves. It was a grotty Saturday afternoon. AFHC arrived at Haslemere and had a decent warm up, but their start was delayed by five minutes. Fairly quickly, Haslemere gained a short corner and managed to slot a drag flick to the left of the keeper beating the post player. A short time later, another short corner was saved, only for Kate to back heel the ball into the back of the goal. Things were not going AFHC’S way, Haslemere made it 3-0. AFHC were galvanized to change the tide of play and some attacking runs gained them a couple of corners. The well worked routines didn't pay off this time, however, and soon Haslemere were back down AFHC’s end making it 4-0 at half time. After Aaron's constructive half-time feedback, AFHC started the second half with more intensity and started to work better as a team, holding their structure and marking more closely. The play went from end to end resulting in hard running from the midfield and the forwards. The only short corner in the second half ended with an injury for the opposition defender coming from their overexcited goalie hitting her in the head. The final score was 4-0 to Haslemere. Man of the match went to Loz for all round awesome play.
Ladies 2s lose 4-2 against Havant 2s
A bit of a wet day for the game against Havant and the start time was slightly delayed, but AFHC was ready for action!! The team quickly settled into a smooth pattern of play and we looked settled in defense. A switch of position between Amanda and Katherine was the right decision and enabled the play to build up well. Havant had a good mix of experienced and younger players. They took their chances well and were 3-0 up at half time. However, it was pleasing to see that AFHC remained positive and throughout the second half they played some great hockey. They were playing well “as a team”, passing and linking up with each other. They created more chances and were even awarded short corners in the second half……and eventually…..the momentum that they had created resulted in two fantastic goals. One goal from a short corner which was struck by Penny and deflected in by Libby. The other goal was scored by Caitlin Mason who took her opportunity well. The final score was a 4-2 to Havant, but such an enjoyable game to play in and the team spirit was great this week. Hopefully we can take this style of play and positive attitude into our next match. MOM was awarded to Katherine for some strong and intelligent play in midfield.
Ladies 4s lost 3-2
Well let’s just take today as a valuable lesson in how not to start a match! The opposition should have started badly given they had a tyre blow-out on the way to the game but oh no - they only had 8/9 players and dominated the first half getting 3 past AFHC! So that’s that - AFHC forgot the first half and came out fighting for an awesome second half - 2 goals from Katja Jackson and they were close to getting a point but not meant to be. MOM the awesome Sarah Sitwell.
24th & 25th November - match reports
Mixed Cup Team beat Guildford 3-1 on penalty flicks. Through to the next round!
The Mixed Cup team started their England National Cup competition today at Heath End against a Guildford side. A youthful looking side for AFHC, sprinkled with a handful of senior players to keep them on the straight and narrow, kept Guildford at bay until 5 minutes after half time when they scored. This spurred AFHC to respond within almost 50 seconds when Max Long threw himself at the far post to deflect a Robert Jervis cross. AFHC then took the lead when Max again slotted a goal past their keeper. Guildford rallied and equalised with 5 minutes to go, meaning that penalty strokes were needed to settle the cup tie. Just like last year’s first round cup experience, Kate Cooper again stepped up to save three of Guildford’s shots and AFHC won 3-1 on flicks. The next round awaits.
Under 16 girls beat Basingstoke 7:1
U16s girls had great win against Basingstoke on Sunday winning 7:1. Some excellent individual skills and brilliant team play including some awesome one twos in front of goal.
Boys Under 12 beat Winchester 6-1
An early start for the u12 boys against Winchester B this morning. Despite only having 10 men they managed to dominate the game and came out comfortable 6-1 winners. The scoreline is testament to the great team play that the boys have developed in recent games, underlined by the tenacity and thoughtful distribution of Jerome Sturridge and Oli Street in midfield to feed the pace of Ben Turrell, Jack Stevens and Noah Hewett in a skilled attack. When called upon the defensive line of Felix Taylor, William Stephens, Joe Telford and Freddie Pocock dealt with Winchester attacks with confidence backed up by James Badger in goal. Well played boys.
Boys Under-16 beat Alton 1-0
Boys u16 ground out a 1-0 win against Alton today. The hockey in the first half mirrored the weather and the shots looked subdued, not quite getting the finish they needed whilst allowing Alton several chances at the other end. The second half was more like the impressive hockey the boys have played in previous fixtures and Alton found it harder and harder to match the tempo and slick passing game. Despite the shots dominance in possession, Alton were proving hard to break down whilst their goalkeeper was putting in a strong case for man of the match. A sublime forward ball from Bobby Woolen to Rob Corbin eventually split the Alton defence, Rob keeping a cool head to give Spike Stevens a tap in. Many thanks to Geoff Smith for managing and Malcolm for umpiring.
Mens 1s lost 3-2 to Camberley & Farnborough
Aldershot & Farnham slipped to another narrow defeat at home to Camberley & Farnborough and for the second week running they came away from a game in which they dominated play without any points. Camberley just had the three chances in the game and scored them all and from AFHCs point of view the goals they conceded were all rather soft. The first goal Camberley scored to put themselves 1-0 up left AFHC rather aggrieved. A ball was hit towards the circle but straight towards the midriff of Ed Rushmere. The umpire didn’t deem it to be dangerous so allowed play to go on, this caught the home side by surprise and allowed the Camberley forward to strike into the goal from the top of the circle. AFHC restored parity with a Scott Perry drag flick, before Camberley restored their one goal lead going into half time. AFHC were too slow to pick up their men after coughing up the ball and the visitors were able to make three passes inside the circle before slotting home. An aggressive press by AFHC became more effective in the second half and saw them win the ball back regularly. They kept believing in their process and dominated possession, with Johnny Thompson having an effective game in the central midfield, but despite this AFHC were unable to make best use of a man advantage as Camberley saw a midfielder sin binned for a deliberate back stick. But a lack of cutting edge and calm finishing ultimately cost AFHC. Despite their dominance in the play they were unable to open up the Camberley defence enough. Perry did have a clear chance from the top of the ‘D’ but failed to make a good enough connection. Jonny Groves found the equalizer with a firmly hit short corner strike which was reward for an effervescent performance by the experienced forward. AFHC were then reduced to ten men following an elbow and dissent from Perry and were made to pay for this as well as their lack of creativeness in attack as Camberley broke to get the winner with five minutes left.
Mens 3s win 8-1 against Portsmouth & Southsea
Aldershot Mens 3’s played bottom of the League Portsmouth and Southsea today. We got off to a quick start, breaking down the slowest back four in the League. Rob C got the first goal from a short corner, and with other goals in the first half including a wonder strike from Ollie. Andy also got a goal in the first half, making it a half time score of 4-1. In the second half we continued to play with a high intensity and Will, Lemmy and Tom added to the score giving us a final score 8-1. A good save from Matt at the end to stop them scoring. 6 games undefeated and 5 wins on the bounce. Up to 4th in the League table and just 3 points off 3rd.
Ladies 5s beat Fleet & Ewshot 3 4-1
Today was another smasher for the Ladies 5's at home v Fleet & Ewshot, although it started with a very nervy and scrappy first half, we were still 2-0 up at the break. Di's half time chat must have done the world of good as we came back calm and strong and did the best passing we've done all season, much like a well-oiled (and trained) team :So we ended up with an impressive 4-1 win, goals from Suzanne Reng, Caitlin Taylor, Izzy Elliot and Gerri Besgrove. Man of the Match went to Jane Orchard for the most running a person could possibly do in a hockey match. Well done all, it’s an honour to be part of this team, both on and off the pitch. Onwards and upwards ladies
Ladies 3s drew 1-1 with Andover 2s
Ladies 3s were the last of the ladies sides to play today and with plenty of players unavailable both higher and lower, half the team were on their second game of the day. Added to that the lateness of most arrivals, I nearly had a heart attack - only 6 players at the pitch with 15 minutes to pushback
We went 1-0 down quite early on, from not quite being awake/switched on. But this woke us up.
For the rest of the game we fought hard. Graham mixed things up at half time, ensuring that their star player was marked out of the game. Andover had a couple of shorts but otherwise didn't look too dangerous. We had plenty of shots just going wide and then Lily managed to slot one home, with a bit of help from a defender, who Kate pressured into the error very nicely. Lily was Man of the Match – well done!
Ladies 1s drew 0-0 with Horsham
Like every other home match this season, the ladies 1’s arrived at the club house for another inspirational talk from Aaron in the damp and dreary. The match started well with some great running and passing. We soon realised this was a very strong Horsham team, meaning we knew we had to stay strong and work together as a team. With a few cards for them and a fair share of short corners for either team the score remained 0-0. Unlike the score line says, it was great team performance!
Man of the Match went to Ellie for some good tackling, mainly for getting hit in the chest and not complaining for once! Special mention to Rosie for her non stop running all match!!
Ladies 4s lost 4-2 to Fleet & Ewshot.
Well that was an exciting game ... where’s the jumpshot you cry? Alas missing this week but an awesome game of hockey was played ... we knew F&E would be tough - a team of fast youngsters and skilful players kept the game end to end from the first whistle ... Jenny Bailey took us into the lead within 57seconds! And then we battled and battled - they scored an equaliser - game on! Then I (hands up) got caught out when giving advice and their unmarked player pounced and scored! A quick third followed and yikes! Then a brilliant one two work with Cas Bush and Caitlin Taylor (working tirelessly) saw us pull one back 3-2 ... god we then battled but it wasn’t meant to be - and F&E slipped a 4th home! Man of the Match went to Charlotte Watson for tireless work but the whole team battled - it was a great game just a shame no jumpshot to reflect our efforts!
Ladies 2s lost 5-0 to Andover
After an early start the Ladies 2s travelled to Andover today. With some additional recruits we set off in a positive mood. We started off slowly and conceded an early goal, but gradually we settled down and started to play some better hockey. Andover were strong in defence and prevented us breaking through. It was great to see Kate and Caitlin forcing the ball forwards and creating some attacking moves. In centre midfield, Chanel supported them well and linked effectively with Jodie (even though she was not allowed to wear her hat!!!). Ella played confidently and was always available as a connection between defence and attack – as well as chasing after endless balls. In the first half we seemed to put ourselves under pressure and they attacked continually down their left side of the pitch. Hannah remained composed (we won’t mention her Green Card) and then sustained a ball to the face in the second half, which must have hurt. Andover’s goals seemed to come from short corners, although not all from straight strikes. Penny, Lucy and Amy were well organised and distributed the ball well from defence. It was just a case of trying to break through their ring of midfielders. The final 5-0 score line did not reflect the game and there were positives to be taken from the match. It was good to see the team trying out things that we had practiced in training.
18th November - Under 8s festival at Alton - fantastic performance!
The U8s played at Alton's festival this morning and put on a tremendous performance! Head coach Fiona is so proud of every one of them. Team A won every match and didn't concede a single goal. Team B also played fantastically and the only match they lost was the one against Team A! The Farnham Herald was also impressed, describing the intra-club match as the best game he'd seen that morning, with both teams spacing out and passing beautifully. How awesome! Well done all. Keep up the great work!
The U8s played at Alton's festival this morning and put on a tremendous performance! Head coach Fiona is so proud of every one of them. Team A won every match and didn't concede a single goal. Team B also played fantastically and the only match they lost was the one against Team A! The Farnham Herald was also impressed, describing the intra-club match as the best game he'd seen that morning, with both teams spacing out and passing beautifully. How awesome! Well done all. Keep up the great work!
17th November: A mixed weekend of results for the club, with some great wins and some tough losses.
Ladies 4s beat West Meon 2-0
Ladies 4s took on West Meon and after a quick never seen before kit change for the oppo - basically turning their shirts inside out - off we went. It was a quick game from the start...half time the score was 0-0 with neither side being able to take the lead - West Meon were brilliant in using quick movements and catching us out every now and again but Catherine Powell dealt calmly with everything sent her way - a break allowing Fenella Holmes to score took us 1-0 up and then some lovely play instigated by Sophie D through Saskia and Charlotte Clive led to Emily M striking a deciding goal home - brilliant game!
Mens 5s beat Basingstoke 5-2
The Mens 5s met Basingstoke away and began well with Jimmy settling early nerves with a reverse from the edge. We let in a pretty cheap one shortly after and it looked like a long slog ahead. They were playing with two skillful youngsters upfront and everyone else playing in their own half...tricky and testing for Nige, Drew and Will at our back, but they handled it admirably with a bit to spare...and a solid wall to overcome if we were going to break them down. As it was we produced our slickest passage of play over a ten-minute spell leading up to half time...further goals from Ian and Daz 2 giving us a solid 4-1 turn at the break. Second half wasn’t spectacular, but Mike kept them stretched at the back, George marauded from sweeper and Doug and Daniel kept them gainfully employed out wide. Martin nailed down bottom diamond on a guest appearance there and Rupert looked like he’d never been away in goal. Final score 5-2, Daz completing his hat-trick. Great hard-working team game again, everyone playing for each other...so no MOM. Very hard to find anyone for the lesser medal either.
Mens 3s beat Salisbury 3-0
A great performance from the men’s 3’s today against Salisbury, coming away with a 5-0 win. After a rocky 10 minutes the team pulled together with early goals from Tom and Adam which helped the team settle in. A late goal in the first half from Andy increased the pressure on the opposition. Throughout the 2nd half the pressure was sustained with excellent play from the defence: Charlie, Sam and Rory. Another 2 goals from Andy and Adam sealed the match. Great play from all, bringing our winning streak up to 4 matches.
Mens 2s beat Winchester 8-1
Men’s 2s played the second of two Winchester teams in our league. With most of the team only arriving with about 5 mins until push back, our warm up left a lot to be desired! However this did not seem to affect our performance and we quickly took a 4-0 lead with 2 goals from Jackson Brown and 1 each for Chris Edwards and Isaac! A good first half with a lot of space for our forwards! A slow start to the second half let the opposition score a goal against the run of play! However, another 4 goals followed for AFHC with another 2 for Chris Edwards and 1 each for Alan Coote and Samuel Fuentes. That made Chris’s first hat trick of the season - no prizes for guessing MOM, his second week in a row.
Ladies 5s lost 4-0 against Basingstoke 7s
Less good news for the Ladies 5s who had the early shift today with a 9am push back at Yateley v Basingstoke 7s. Unfortunately, they lost 4:0 but this is no way near to reflecting the quality of the play. With pretty evenly matched sides the tussle was in the middle of the pitch, sadly we lost an early goal to wicked deflection high over all of our heads, and despite crafting wonderful breaks on numerous occasions, thanks to the speed and agility of MOM Megan Holmes, we were unable to get the goal back before they scored again quickly on the return from half time. A tough match but one we can learn a lot from we will regroup and come back stronger next week and when we meet then again we will show them how we can really play.
Ladies 1s lost 3-2 against Southampton
Ladies 1s played a tight match against Southampton. It was very close throughout, but Southampton snatched the 3-2 win with a last minute short corner.
Ladies 3s lost 3-2 to Trojans
Another early start for the 3's away at Trojans. Putting into practice out our training and with a good starting lineup we had a strong start. The first half ended 0-0 with us having had a couple of unlucky strikes on goal and a strong defence. After halftime trojans flew off the block after having good instructions from their coach, scoring 2 goals in 10 minutes. However our determination resulted in us scoring with a strong attack by Jo finished off by Caroline, which left it 2-1. Trojans scored again which we were soon responded to with an attack on goal where Caroline's flick over the goalie was unfortunately picked up by a defender. Caroline continued fighting and scored again. The final score was 3-2 to Trojans. A well fought match by all and a good team effort. Elicia Seebold received MoM for strong defending and picking up of the ball.
August 2018: Membership registration open for new season
August 2018: Coaching appointments for 2018 - 2019
Ian Jennings continues as Men's 1s coach following the teams back to back promotions!
Aaron Straker appointed new Ladies 1s Coach
Kirsty Rostron appointed new Ladies 2s Coach
Ian Murphy appointed new Men's 2s / 3s Coach and GK Coach
Dan Grinstead appointed as new Junior coach
Ian Jennings continues as Men's 1s coach following the teams back to back promotions!
Aaron Straker appointed new Ladies 1s Coach
Kirsty Rostron appointed new Ladies 2s Coach
Ian Murphy appointed new Men's 2s / 3s Coach and GK Coach
Dan Grinstead appointed as new Junior coach
May 2018: Ladies 2s and U16 Girls worked hard in the heat on in their respective Hampshire Cup Finals!
Not victors this year but they gave it their all
Not victors this year but they gave it their all
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April 2018: Ladies 3s secure promotion from Hants Div 4 to Hants Div 3
What a season! Four Adult teams have secured promotion, matching last years record!
What a season! Four Adult teams have secured promotion, matching last years record!
March 2018: Ladies 2s secure back to back promotion from Hants Div 2 to Hants Div 1
Amazing!
Amazing!
March 2018: Ladies 4s secure back to back promotion from Hants Div 5 to Hants Div 4
Jump shots are a tradition!
Jump shots are a tradition!
March 2018: Men's 1s secure back to back promotion from Hants Div 1 to Hampshire/Surrey - Regional 2 for the first time in the clubs history
Celebrating with a well deserved cornish pasties
Celebrating with a well deserved cornish pasties
April 2017: Ladies 1s win title decider and are promoted to South Divisional hockey
April 2017: Mens 1 promoted to Hants Div 1 and also make Hampshire Cup Final Day
March 2017: Ladies 2s & 4 are League Winners and promoted
Sept 2016: Ian Jennings MBE appointed as Men's first team coach
Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club (AFHC) have appointed Ian Jennings MBE (Jenno) as Men’s first team coach for the 2016/17 season.
Jenno, who has lived locally for over 35 years, gained 38 caps for England during his international career and has also coached England Women’s Teams and England U21 and U18 Men.
His main focus will be elite development of the Men’s section to enable AFHC to push for promotions and help players achieve their full potential. He will fit in this new position around his current duties for Indian Gymkhana.
Jenno said “Aldershot and Farnham are a growing grassroots club with exciting goals. But they don’t just have a great vision; they have a willingness and capacity to achieve. My role will be to guide them in the strategies and skills necessary for them to reach and exceed these goals.” He added “They are also my local club and I often run across the guys in town. I’d like to think I’m putting something back in to the community. It will also be nice to only have to travel three minutes to home games!”
Aldershot and Farnham are a thriving club now putting out 30 teams and hosting almost 350 juniors at their weekly Sunday Hockey Academy. They are England Hockey ClubsFirst accredited and are based both at Heath End School, Farnham and the Army Hockey Centre, Aldershot.
AFHC Chairman, Nigel Oates commented “Hockey is an amazingly inclusive sport. We put out junior girls and boys sides from almost 60 local schools and colleges, senior men’s and ladies, mixed sides and vets. Our members range from 6 years old to 60. We aspire, but we have always been a grounded club. We support everyone in growing steadily to the best of their ability as far as we are able. We now feel we are ready and in a position to raise the bar even further and Jenno, as a local hero, has the skills, knowledge, experience and respect to help us do it. He also happened to score 276 National League goals, so we are especially looking forward to him putting that level of performance back into action, but this time in an Aldershot & Farnham shirt!”
Jenno, who has lived locally for over 35 years, gained 38 caps for England during his international career and has also coached England Women’s Teams and England U21 and U18 Men.
His main focus will be elite development of the Men’s section to enable AFHC to push for promotions and help players achieve their full potential. He will fit in this new position around his current duties for Indian Gymkhana.
Jenno said “Aldershot and Farnham are a growing grassroots club with exciting goals. But they don’t just have a great vision; they have a willingness and capacity to achieve. My role will be to guide them in the strategies and skills necessary for them to reach and exceed these goals.” He added “They are also my local club and I often run across the guys in town. I’d like to think I’m putting something back in to the community. It will also be nice to only have to travel three minutes to home games!”
Aldershot and Farnham are a thriving club now putting out 30 teams and hosting almost 350 juniors at their weekly Sunday Hockey Academy. They are England Hockey ClubsFirst accredited and are based both at Heath End School, Farnham and the Army Hockey Centre, Aldershot.
AFHC Chairman, Nigel Oates commented “Hockey is an amazingly inclusive sport. We put out junior girls and boys sides from almost 60 local schools and colleges, senior men’s and ladies, mixed sides and vets. Our members range from 6 years old to 60. We aspire, but we have always been a grounded club. We support everyone in growing steadily to the best of their ability as far as we are able. We now feel we are ready and in a position to raise the bar even further and Jenno, as a local hero, has the skills, knowledge, experience and respect to help us do it. He also happened to score 276 National League goals, so we are especially looking forward to him putting that level of performance back into action, but this time in an Aldershot & Farnham shirt!”
2016 Winners of the Hampshire Men's Open League Trophy
2016 Winners of the Hampshire Club Under-14's Ladies Cup
Recent activity: Goal-keeper coaching from Ally Black
The kids show-off their new kit generously donated by Mathew of R&G herbs
