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THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF CLIFTONVILLE HOCKEY CLUB

RESULTS, SATURDAY 18^th NOVEMBER

 THIS WEEK, SATURDAY 25^th NOVEMBER

 FORTHCOMING MATCHES, SATURDAY 2^nd DECEMBER

CLUB HOUSE DUTY = THE 3^rd XI

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

Match Reports

The past few weeks have seen Ville take on the top two sides and, in their words, give them their toughest games of the season so far, and play one of the bottom sides in the league. All three games ended in defeat. The most important aspect of this game was that we came away with three points. Newhaven doubled their goals for in this game by scoring once and other sides had all picked up points against them. The result then was important and earns us points to keep us away from the wrong end of the table. The performance was less impressive.

Having lost so many games recently Ville were nervous and panicky for the first few minutes. It was during this time that Newhaven applied pressure and scored from a short corner. Although defensively Ville settled after this, when bringing the ball forward there was a sense of desperation about the rest of the first half. We were drawn in to a long ball game as we tried to move forward without Patience and we lacked width as the wide players drifted in field to seek more involvement. Although the ball spent much of the second half in the Newhaven half Ville demonstrated again why close matches have been lost with bad decision making in and around the ‘D’. The Keeper was forced to make some good saves, however many passages of play would have ended with the Keeper having no chance had better decisions been made.

After half time things improved a little. We retained our width, with immediate benefit to the central players, and although the percentage of possession altered little Ville were looking more dangerous more often. It looked inevitable that we would score and for once we did ourselves a favour by getting an early goal Matt Young netting just after half time. As the game progressed it became apparent that Newhaven were struggling to control a much better shaped Ville, and when Don Elmore drifted at full pace to the top of the ‘D’ and scored Ville’s second Newhaven’s reaction indicated they knew they had lost all the points.

Ville desperately tried to lose the advantage with woeful passing in the last 10 minutes and gifted Newhaven more pressure than they had managed to inflict on us in the whole game.

The worrying signs of poor passing and decision making have haunted us all season and show no signs disappearing. From my perspective the most refreshing part of the whole game came with the introduction of Stu Letley who played the game at it’s most simple, winning the ball and distributing. He has not played in over year yet we could all learn a lot from his play.

Our commitment on Saturday’s can never be questioned and Ville, I think, were guilty of trying too hard due to past defeats. With a win under our belt and with one week until the return of the injured skipper a Christmas run of fortune could well be on the cards. As soon as we lose some of the desperation within the ‘D’ goals and confidence will follow, we are so nearly a very good side.

Wesley

3rd XI vs. New Beccehamians, lost 7-6

We traveled to Beckenham for our seventh league game of the season having a 50:50 record before the game. The 9-1 defeat at Canterbury had left our young team lacking confidence and this has been reflected in the two games since.

To be honest this was a bit of a whirlwind of a match and, added to my dizziness I'm not quite sure of the order of the goals… so here is my best attempt at a report! We took the lead after less than a minute through GARY INGOLDSBY and doubled their lead before 5 minutes were on the clock, MARK KEENAGH scoring the first of his eventual hat-trick. (or did Mark score first? Anyway, 2-nil to us… all too easy). Unfortunately, overconfidence and lack of experience allowed New Beccs back into the game and after 20 minutes they took charge with 4 goals scored in 7 minutes, including a dubious penalty stroke. MARK KEENAGH pulled a goal back for Ville but weak defending allowed a 5th goal for the home side on the stroke of half time.

The second half began badly as New Beccs extended their lead, but from then on it was all Ville. DANNY GEORGE pulled one goal back and MARK KEENAGH completed his hat-trick, but the equaliser would not come. With only minutes left, Captain Morgan pushed his defenders forward in all-out attack. The gamble was risky and despite a number of chances, it was New Beccs who were able to break and score their seventh. We continued to push forward and ADAM STRICKETT, moving from right back to centre forward, scored a goal to bring hope. Alas, time had run out and a hugely enjoyable game had slipped from our grasp. Arse.

Many thanks to guest umpire Kriss Tupper. Man of the match… just about everyone at one point or another, but maybe just about PAUL GOATHAM in his first 3rd XI game. Well done also to debutantes STEVE W and ANTHONY S.

Dave Morgan

The Case of the Missing Match Reports
Cliftonville Hockey Club was miffed. It had not gone un-noticed that Mick "Mickey" Gore had not put a single match report detailing league results and goal scorers in all season. Was something afoot with the fast living bed hopping popular yet private, skipper of the fourth eleven? Nobody knew. As far as the rest of the club was concerned, the fours' season was a complete mystery. Little did they know that the fours were having a spectacular start to their season under the watchful eye of their erudite captain. No one was the least bit aware that they had started their campaign against Tonbridge on 7th October and beaten them 2-0, goals coming from JAMES BUGDEN and DANNY GEORGE, a match that was relatively easy, since Tonbridge only had 9 players. The next week was a complete washout due to the rain (strangely enough...) which was a saving grace since it was against Old Bordenians on grass, the replay to take place on astro in December. The fours' second league match was against Holcombe and was, like their first league match, at home; an uncanny coincidence. Stranger still, two goals were again scored, another coincidence, and by JAMES BUGDEN and DANNY GEORGE! The same two players who had scored in the first match! Was it just fate? Or was there a deeper, more sinister reason as to why the previous match had not taken place... we may never know. And to throw us off the scent, Holcombe did score once, the result, 2-1. On the 28th October the fours, unbeknown to anybody except themselves played AWAY at Herne Bay. This was to be a pivotal moment in their short yet successful season. Bad first half, couldn't find the back of the net, save for one sweet moment on the 25 minute mark. Bad form for the fours, Herne Bay hit the back board FOUR times, and once again at the start of the second half, making it 5-1 with 25 to play. Mick was stumped. What the Dickens was he to do? Managed to keep the lads' peckers up with some chipper team talk and witty one-liners. It did the trick. In the next 20 minutes JAMES BUGDEN scored twice, and ROB GARNIER, MARK WILLIAMS and DANNY LEWINGTON all scored once each, to no reply from a dejected and broken Herne Bay. Another 5 minutes and the fours would have won. Result - 5-5. November rolled in and the fours had a comparatively easy game against Bexley-Invicta. Due to events beyond their control, five new players had to make their debuts this week. A stroke of good luck, the twos' match was cancelled, thus freeing up a few extra recruits, raw, but willing in the form of Guy Voisey, Mark Hassler, and a quiet yet well spoken young foreign gentleman answering to the moniker of Max: Great stick work and definitely a winner with the ladies. The other two new names were Paul Goatham (Is it Goat-HAM or GOATH-am? I don't know, and may never do so) and Phil Dammitlostthebitofpaperwithyournameonit, a bit of a mouthful but a useful addition. Mick let John "Bobby Moore" Lowden do all the shouting that week, a result of 5-1 justifying his decision. Goals came from GREG HOWARD, and the Midas Duo, JAMES BUGDEN and THREE SCOOPS DANNY GEORGE. Was it any surprise that they were now top of their league with a game in hand? Not really, Mick had a cunning yet simple plan for the whole season - Score more goals than the opposition EVERY week from now on. Their last competitive liason fell upon the 11th day of the 11th month, strangely, nearly eleven days before this was written. Another coincidence, Mick's team consisted of eleven players, exactly the same number as the number of players that made up the opposition who were Wellcome 11s! Mick had an idea that trouble was not very far away. Everything pointed at disaster. The number 11 was cropping up time and time again. There was no other option. For the eleventh time this season Mick called upon Sergeant Andrew Kingston of The Yard. For the first time this, season Sergeant Andrew Kingston of The Yard was available to play. It did the trick. With able support from everyone else, the day was saved and the fours were victorious for the fourth time this season, but only by a slender 1-0 margin, the goal coming from the irrepressible JAMES BUGDEN although all the hard work was done by Tommo Field.

So there we have it. Played 5, won 4, drawn 1, and lost 0. Goals for 15, Goals against 8. Goal Scorers: JAMES BUGDEN (6) DANNY GEORGE (5) ROB GARNIER (1) MARK WILLIAMS (1) DANNY LEWINGTON (1) GREG HOWARD (1)

Team from: Ed Chater (2 appearances) Gary Tupper (2) Mick Gore (5) Rob Rogers (2) John Lowden (4) Dave Burney (4) Greg Howard (3) Chris Martin Danny George (4) James Bugden (5) Kevin Redman (4) Tom Field (4) Ed Wilshire (3) Rob Garnier (3) Paul Goatham (2) Mark Keenaugh (3) Mark Williams Danny Lewington Mark Hasler Guy Voisey Andy Kingston and Max.

Mickey Spillane

5th XI vs. Old Williamsonians, won 4-0

After a halting start where we wondered what we were doing, we suddenly clicked and played probably our best half of hockey this season. Movement, passing, tackling and good control, Old Willy's, by no means a bad side, were left to wonder. Perhaps we should have been more than two goals up at half time but that's being picky.

The second half was ok but we never quite managed to get the same sparkle, but we always looked the better side and scored a further two goals. So captain was a happy chappy, even Mr. Ash managed a smile, so the Mr. Grumpy award this week goes to Andy (I won't, can't make me) Kingston. Man of the match, well I thought that was the best I have seen David Williamson play so no contest.

The goals, Jason Jackson scored the sort of right winger goal other forwards dread, acute angle between keeper and post into the roof of the net, will they see another cross for the rest of the season from the right? Clive Jones had the simple but always possible to 'cock up' open goal after some fine work between himself, Phil Joy and Rob Kirby. Phil Joy scored a brace the second after some good following up, the first probably our best goal with the ball worked from David Williamson at right back through Daniel Sterling and Rob Kirby.

Team James Handley, Richard Ash, David Williamson, Carl Perez, Daniel Sterling, Andy Kingston, John Carr, Phil Joy, Jason Jackson/James Manning, Rob Kirby, Clive Jones

Thanks to Robin Fleet (cards still in their wrappers) for umpiring.

John Carr

Court and Social

Quote of the week… "There's nothing worse than a sloppy arse"…Dave Morgan.

Out of the Closet… Dave Morgan, who has finally admitted it. Yes, he once did go to a BELINDA CARLISLE concert.

Flexible boy… wanted by Graham Brooks.