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THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF CLIFTONVILLE HOCKEY CLUB

RESULTS, SATURDAY 11^th NOVEMBER

 THIS WEEK, SATURDAY 18^th NOVEMBER

 FORTHCOMING MATCHES, SATURDAY 25^th NOVEMBER

CLUB HOUSE DUTY = THE 2^nd XI

DATES FOR THE DIARY
Club Dinner Dance – 31^st March 2001

Match Reports

Ladies vs. nobody

Fortunately we only had a friendly against Crakenford which was cancelled due to the weather, shame!

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Don for a very good well organized evening on the 11th and a big thank you to any one else who helped the evening run smoothly i.e. the waiter service. Well done Guys.

However I demand a recount and if we still don't win I will be speaking to my solicitor, who was on our Team and was about as much help as a Chocolate Fireguard.

Heather " Barking" Lewis

1st XI vs. Old Bordenians, lost 4-1

I think that the less said about this game the better. To say we were awful would be flattery. We got exactly what we deserved from this game, nothing.

An early goal from Floppy should have been the foundation for an easy win. Unfortunately this is exactly what EVERY member of the team thought and promptly fell asleep until the last fifteen minutes. Old Bordenians hadn't read this particular script; they didn't lay down and die, and played the better hockey until the last quarter. By this stage the game was beyond Ville, being 3-1 down already, and had the final indignity of conceding a fourth on a breakaway near the end.

Excuses can be made about the umpiring, about the run of the green, and about the crude oil price for all I care. The simple truth is that as a team we were dreadful and deserved to lose. We WILL turn it around though.

Floppy

2nd XI vs. University of Kent, won 3-2

On a wet blustery day we went to play at the university. The students were they usual helpful self and put out their first team so we needed to work very hard. In true second team style we dominated the opening quarter and then let a soft goal in. We managed to get back into the game through a superb solo effort from Tim who lobbed the keeper whilst running in at pace. Nice one Tim.

They scored again, so did we. (Tim again but Max may claim it as he poached on the line)

Tim then scored again; we are unclear if it came off his knee or foot but frankly who cares.

The weather worsened and I was put in mind of the famous Neasdon hurricane of 1923 where 25 penguins were sucked up into the stratosphere.

Thanks to the supporters club of Mrs. Pat and Mrs. T who demonstrated that women will do anything for their loved ones, ask Graham for more details.

On a final note Guy has graduated from Lumberjack shirts to blue pants, and Jules Robinson needs some new shorts. These facts are not unlinked.

Sea Cucumber

3rd XI vs. Old Wills, lost 4-2

Yet again we have allowed a heavy defeat by Canterbury to get to us. For the past 3 seasons we have lost each game after the Canterbury match despite being the better team for long periods. This match was no exception.

With no goalkeeper, MARK KEENAGH our usual centre forward deputized but didn't enjoy himself (Thanks anyway!). We looked comfortable during the first half but defensively we almost handed our opposition the lead and more than one occasion. However, our defenders continued to push forward far too far whilst lacking the pace to recover. And so it was that Old Wills took the lead (against the general run of play) at the stroke of half time.

We rearranged ourselves for the second half with TIM ELMORE and PORNO our centre-halves and DANNY LEWIE dropping back to left half. We pushed forward looking for the equalizer but allowed our opponents a carbon copy of the first goal. In fact, when it was scored we only had one defender in our half! Poor.

Now we were really playing catch up. Although we were intermittently playing some good hockey, this was not where we should have found ourselves... Mistakes started to become more frequent. Soon it was 3-0. However, with just over 15 minutes left a TIM ELMORE shot fell to PORNO who got us back into the game: 3-1.

Unfortunately, this left some of our younger members desperate to grab another and Old Wills scored their fourth breakaway goal of a disappointing match. There was still time for DANNY LEWINGTON to follow up a TIM ELMORE shot from a short corner and we were unfortunate not to grab a third. But it was really all too late.

There will be changes to the team - a few players have lost their confidence a little and we need allow other players the chance to prove themselves. We are 7th in the league with a game in hand which could return us to fourth. However, we need to get ourselves back into winning ways.

Spanky

5th XI vs. Old Gravesendians, lost 0-5

Oops lost two players Friday and one Saturday, found the Bat & Ball but lost the dream surface of the old county cricket ground and found a ploughed field, found Robin Fleet but lost the game. They gave a bottle of port and a good tea so we returned to Thanet if not elated at least not downcast.

With nine brave souls we gave it a go, but were always under pressure on a surface, which suited their physical approach. We had our moments Robin Fleet, Rob Kirby and Daniel Sterling all going close. The opposition thought they'd done well, I would hope against nine we would get into double figures; it was to our credit they did not.

Award for misery of the day goes to Richard Ash, smile of the day David Lawrie when he was told there was a cooked tea, yuck of the day watching James Handley consuming said tea. Disappointment of the day Robin Fleet, he arrived to umpire clutching three new and gleaming cards ready to flourish them at every opportunity, then he had to play. Never mind there is always next week.

Team - James Handley, Richard Ash, Daniel Sterling, Jimmy Robinson, Phil Joy, John Carr, David Lawrie, Rob Kirby, Robin Fleet

John Carr

Senators vs. Tunbridge Wells, lost 8-0

The Senators left a dryish Thanet to journey across a wet and soggy Kent hinterland and as the rain started to lash down on the cars, it was clear that even though we would be playing on astro turf, the conditions were going to be most unpleasant. A roll call was taken which numbered 10, which meant that everybody was complete and correct. An excellent piece of seizing the initiative was undertaken by A Manager James who cleaver intimated to Tunbridge Wells that their twelfth man had offered to umpire which would at least meant that we were only one man short rather than 2.

The umpires called the teams out of the little wooden shelters that at least offered some protection from the elements and for the first 5 to 10 minutes, Cliftonville held their own but playing against a better side, against the slope, against the elements, were always going to struggle as the game went on. Chris Burton in goal excelled himself and made many numerous saves but it was not long before the team were 2-0 down. A Manager then forgot where he was for a moment and thought he was cutting the Christmas tree down at home and conceded a penalty flick, which was converted. Just before half time Ville had their best spell of the half and a shot by Jez was partly saved by the keeper and was trickling towards the goal line but was saved by a Tunbridge Wells stick just before crossing the line. With seconds going to half time, Ville conceded a fourth goal.

Cliftonville continued to give their best and there can be no arguing about the spirit and dedication of the team but despite all their best endeavours, Tunbridge Wells were far too strong and ended up winning 8-0. The tremendous 10 were: -

Chris Burton, Trevor Devon, Nick Leach-Bing, James Goatcher, Terry Westby, Jez Parkin, Allan Cox, Mick Tyler, Nick Alder, Paul Bailey

The Senators have been struggling on occasions this year to get a full team out. It is something that needs to be considered by the whole of the club, as whereas other teams can play any person within the club, the Senators in their league games are only able to (with the possible exception of a goalkeeper) to play people over 40.

Nick Alder

Court and Social

The Web Site...Is now fully updated on a weekly basis, and includes the newsletter, club goalscorers and a picture gallery. If ANYONE has photos or anything else to add to our website, then please let me know. A big thank you to NEIL "MAGIC" JORDAN for all the hard work he has put into this site, and to JULIE COLES, who designed and constructed the original site.

Injured AGAIN...Yours truly with ANOTHER head wound. Perhaps someone is trying to tell me something...

Get well soon... to DAVE MORGAN, ROB PAINE and to DAVID HOOPER.

In case... you have forgotten what DAVE MORGAN looks like, log onto www.cliftonville-hockey.co.uk for a reminder!

Another big thank you...To Don and Theresa Elmore and all their helpers for last Saturday's quiz night.

Still to come...Jules "Huggy Bear" Robinson's 70's retro disco! Date to be announced soon.

Goodbye...To Scott Roberts, who is sadly departing these shores to take up his new profession of Ghostbusting.