Match Report

Match Report - 14 Nov 2009, Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club Mens 3 beat Yateley 3

AF3 wondered what may happen in this fixture as Yateley had contacted to ask if the game time could be changed. Well it is a long way to travel from Yateley isnt it. So Yateley turn up with 14, as we expected, and the olde rivalry was recommenced. The opening 10 mins were honours even but AF started to play the quick passing hockey that they are coached, not getting caught in possession and moving the ball quickly away from the point of contact before Yateley could close the player down. Lemmy and Angry ran them ragged at the back and Lem stepped off after 12 mins to allow Tubs to enter the fray. 5 mins later and good possessional hockey had AF camped in the Yateley 23m and eventually Fraser hasd the space to drive at the top of the cirle but he slipped a reverse ball to Tubs. His first touch got him past the "close" attention of the defender but his 2nd touch did allow the Yateley keeper to kick the ball. However, it was to kick it back to the centre spot as Tubs 2nd touch had been to dispatch the ball at great velocity over the keepers head from 8m out and into the roof of the net. 1 - 0 to AF3 and we started to turn the screw. Angry got the 2nd to end a sweeping move that went across the pitch twice and then back into the circle for the striker to round the defender and finish low to the keepers left. But this wasnt the end, as right on the whistle to end the first half, AF3 had a pencrnr. The call from the side was for permission for a fly past and Jesus saw his opportunity for his much vaunted (by himself that is) drag flick. Which, surprise surprise, didnt happen. But Lemmy did get the ball back after the mix up at the top of the circle and he finished calmly, as we all knew he would, at the near post.

So, 2nd half starts with the home side 3 nil up but knowing that Yateley would never just give up and were bound to come back at us. All we had to do was keep the ball and weather whatever storm they threw at us. And...... panic. AF3 new right back Tom received a ball from the temporary stand in sweeper and AF capt Budd. Insead of sticking to plan and shelling it up the line, he ... calmly passed it at 3mph back across the top of the AF circle to the Yateley forward. He skipped the last ditch attempted tackle and struck the old Barnes Wallace bouncing bomb of a mis-hit shot past the despairing dive of Circus in the Af goal. 3-1 and you could see the jitters in the Af defence and it wasnt long before a renewed Yateley scored a 2nd to bring them right back into it. Again, AF were caught in possession at the back and were made to pay, givng away a pencrnr that led to a messy, but nonetheless effective finish from the right side of the AF goal. 3-2 and a tense period of play ensued and it became obvious that with 12 mins or so left the next goal would be crucial. And it was AF3 who scored it. Finally getting hold of the ball and making Yateley chase, the AF midfield got the ball to Lemmy, who burst through the Yateley defence on their 23m line. He passes to Tubs at the top of the circle, who wall-passed the ball back to him. Round the defender he goes and passes back to Tubs. He turns but unleashes a shot early and catches the keeper off guard. His futile dive was too late as the ball had already crossed the line and hit the sideboard to increase AF3 lead to 2 goals. This goal thankfully settled the AF nerves and we could have gone perhaps one or two more up, but the chances were half chances and the keeper did well. But the last goal was the decider and AF3 saw the game out 4-2 for a much deserved 3 points.

Looking back a this one and the fault is obvious. We should have kept a clean sheet but fair play to Yateley for trying to come back from 3 goals down. However, the goals against AF3 were conceded not by good play by the opposition but because of indivdual errors of epic proportions and we have to stamp these out if we are to seriously contend in this league. This is not meant to be a go at anyone in particular as hockey is absolutely a team sport and we have a good mixture of young and old in this side at the moment, but the newer members and the youngsters in the side just need to learn from the mistakes and be better prepared next time. Reference the older members making mistakes, well, that doesnt happen does it ... but if it did ... well, they are just too old to change now !!!

Thanks to Dave James for umpiring. I've also been asked to add this quick note. Some of the Yateley side used to play for AF many years ago and in the AF clubhouse afterwards one of them mentioned that he is being posted to fields abroad so we would just like to say good luck to Steve.

Next weeks game is anotherf local derby and is away to Fleet. At Aldershot !!

Aldershot and Farnham Hockey Club Mens 3 4 - 2 Yateley 3

 NameGoalsDetails
1Mike Budd   Capt - Still playing in the unaccustomed left back slot but doing it well !! Pushed his side when he had to. Perhaps carrying an injury as well.
2Paul Hales   1 Good link up with midfield and always a danger. Got his goal when a scrambled penalty corner came his way and he finished with the normal applomb. Helped out with Tubs 2nd goal as he ( and Tubs ) rolled back the years and the waistlines and reformed the old Hants 1st Div partnership of the late 1790's.
3Fraser Watson   1 Assist - Fubar was back - Good distribution and forging a good understanding with Tubs from midfield.
4Chris Milsted   Some say the assassination of Jesus last week was a little harsh. No it wasnt. This week he wasnt so hungover and was able to pass. A bit. Notable moment was the hashed drag flick. When will he shut up about it !!!
5Chris Granshaw   1 Moved upfront with Lemmy and Tubs and the combined age of this trio is .... 120 !!! Nice goal and didnt get sent off this time. Which was good.A bit close sometimes, but still a good thing
6Rob Mullard   Cant fault his work rate. Could go higher in the club but to do so needs to work on decision making. Still very good for the 3;s though !
7Scott Butler   Ahhh. Humpty rentered the fray. Still his bulldozing old self although there is more of him than there used to be. Great game at sweeper although the red face and the wheezing respiratory were unsettling when he had run more than 4.2 m
8Ben White   Bendy played back diamond in the midfield, rather than his more accustomed sweeper role to accomodate Scotty. Perhaps guilty of sitting too deep occasionally but he did provide impetus when in possession. Good game.
9Kriss Tupper   GK Getting bored of saying this but the Circus had another good game, doing what he had to do when he had to do it. Left embarassingly exposed from 2 AF errors for the goals but other than that is a real livewire between the sticks.
10Tom Dawes   BANANA - For the pass to the Yateley centre forward. Toms defensive capabilities have really come on and his work rate is unquestionable but he does let himself down occasionally with his passing. Probably needs a confidence boost and may well relish, as Juniah did last year, an opportunity to improve his range of passing by playing in a different position. Needs to keep the effort up as he will progress.
11Ben Whewell   The Silent Assassin. Quietly stalks the pitch taking out the oppo. Quality.
12Richard Hall   Shows sparks of brilliance and then seems to forget what hes doing. Undoubted promise and potential but needs to start showing it on a more regular basis as should really be pushing for a place in the higher teams
13Toby Mason   2 SUPERMAN. Got there late, started on the bench. Got on after 10 and had an effect when Fubar played him in, quick turn and an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net. Got his second midway thru the 2nd half when Lemmy ( YES< LEMMY ) played him in. Quick interchange of 4 passes between them and an early strike from the right of the circle into the left sideboard that beat the diving keeper. Did little else other than shout alot at the AF defence.
14Toby Mason  
15  
16  
Berkeley Sports - 01252 728083