WORKSOP HOCKEY CLUB

Match Reports

November 29th'08 - 2nd XI 6-1 Wellingborough

Worksop 2nd XI earned their fourth victory of the season in the freezing fog at Retford with an emphatic victory over Wellingborough. Worksop made a high tempo start to the game as they looked to pressurise the visitors and after a couple of half chances they soon took the lead as Hibbard found Gorman in the D and he made space for himself before firing past the keeper with a low drive. The second goal came soon after and in similar style as Cardwell won the ball in midfield before feeding Gorman and his drilled drive towards goal was deftly touched beyond the goalkeeper by winger Glasby. Moments later the lead was doubled as Harrison finished off a flowing move, lifting the ball over the stranded keeper and then Glasby got his second, tooking the ball away after it rebounded off the post. The visitors pulled a goal back just on the stroke of half time which was fair reward for a succession of short corners they had won.

Worksop made hard work of it in the second half but goal number five was worth the wait as Gorman picked the ball up on half way and set off on one of his trademark mazy dribbles straight through the entire Wellingborough rearguard before eventually slotting past the onrushing keeper. The final goal saw Mackenzie Glasby claim his hat trick as he was again on hand to put the finishing touches to another attacking move.

This was a game that could easily have seen Worksop rack up double figures but some poor organisation and lazy play, particularly from the forwards, meant they had to settle for just the six goals.

Man of the match: Dan Wilcock

November 22nd'08 - 1st XI 0-1 Wellingborough

Worksop were most unfortunate to come out on the losing side after a very keenly contested game against Wellingborough.

The game was a high tempo affair from start to finish as both teams enjoyed some good attacking play but both defences were on top, with Walker and James Keeton particularly standing out, and as a result not much got through to trouble either keeper.

A period of sustained Wellingborough pressure though, just before the break, saw the visitors eventually sweep home after a game of pinball in the D and the ball was forced into the net for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Worksop rallied well in the second half and Purnello, supported well by a strong midfield of Gawthorpe, Cardwell, Gorman and Renshaw, was causing havoc in the Wellingborough rearguard but without creating too many clear cut openings.

The best chance came as Gawthorpe crashed in a goalbound shot from a well worked short corner but the unsuspecting Keeton managed to divert the ball wide for what would have been a certain equaliser.

By far and away the best performance of the season so far from Worksop, with bags of commitment and effort combined with organisation and more thoughtful play, in a game where a draw would have been the fair result. Certainly when you consider the standard of the opposition this was definitely a moral victory and should give the team more confidence going into the next game.

Man of the match: James Keeton

November 1st '08 - Buxton 2-1 1st XI

Worksop travelled to Buxton with a strong line up including a first call up of the season for Chris Keeton. They started brightly, containing Buxton in their own half, but with few real chances presenting themselves to either team. Twenty minutes in Buxton broke down the right, wrong footing the Worksop defence and an unstoppable reverse stick strike put them ahead against the run of play.

This was quickly answered by Worksop with Gorman gaining possession and breaking from inside his own half. A deft touch to the fresh legged C. Keeton who took the ball at pace to the byline, splitting the Buxton defence, before he precisely cut the ball back to Renshaw and he calmly swept into the back of the net to level before half time.

The second half continued equally close but Worksop lost shape with substitutions allowing Buxton to press forward and get a short corner. A valiant dive from Hibbard between the sticks cleared the lines but only as far as an onrushing attacker who undercut the ball into the back of the net. The score stayed 2:1 until the final whistle, with Worksop unlucky not to take any points home with them.

Man of the match: James Keeton

November 1st '08 - 2nd XI 3-1 Buxton

A lively start for a Worksop side with a younger make up, looking for their first points of the season, saw Buxton take the lead against the run of play with a short corner.

However, as the home side continued with good possession and running displays equalised fairly soon through Artur Nash and Mackenzie Glasby linking up to give veteran defender Simon Challender his first goal for many seasons.

Worksop maintained the pressure and soon took the lead through Sam Walter, but, with Buxton dangerous on the break, could have equalised on half-time after failing to convert after a twice taken short corner.

The second half became a little tense as Sam Walter turned

into the villain of the peace to get a yellow card for verbal comments and was 'sin-binned' for ten minutes.

Worksop's young forward Artur Nash took the pressure off with a great finish to hold off a defender and slip the ball under the keeper for his fourth goal of the season. With Walter back on and teaming up with Nash there should have been more goals between them but a good team effort gained the 2nd XI their first win with Tim Williams, amongst others, contributing well.

October 25th '08 - 1st XI 2-6 Ashby

A changed line up saw Cardwell revert to defensive duties and a welcome return to the club from Sam Gawthorpe in midfield. A keenly contested opening period saw chances for both sides but Ashbys short corner count told in the end as they took a 2 goal advantage into the break. The second period saw a much improved display from the home side where they fought back with a well taken goal from Anthony Gorman as he flicked a Gawthorpe drive over the keeper. As they pushed further up the pitch to try and get back into the match Ashby made their numerical advantage count as they swiftly counter attacked to score rapid goals and harshly extend their lead. Worksop kept going to the end though and Gawthorpe finally got his reward for a man of the match performance as he lashed a fierce drive over the keeper with the last hit of the game. Despite the scoreline, this was Worksop's best performance yet and they actually competed against superior opponents for large periods of the game. It must be remembered at the end of the day that is still a team of 2nd XI players trying to compete in a 1st XI league and so the improvement week on week has been notable. The biggest lesson is that at this standard mistakes usually result in goals so the individual errors need to be cut out if Worksop wish to progress.

Man of the match: Sam Gawthorpe

October 18th '08 - Grantham 1-3 1st XI

The 1st XI got off the mark at the 3rd attempt with a hard fought victory down at Grantham. Worksop started the game without a recognised goalkeeper and so the team were indebted to Matt Monroe who bravely volunteered to make his goalkeeping debut between the sticks. Worksop started the game much the brighter team and were creating numerous openings, in particular a cracking drive from Pete Renshaw which the keeper did fantastically well to repell. The breakthrough finally came as James Walker beat his man and lashed the ball hard and low into the corner for the teams 1st goal of the season. The relief from finally scoring was obvious and Worksop started to play with a new found confidence which soon resulted in a second goal as Gorman expertly dribbled round the back of the Grantham defence and squared the ball for the onrushing Renshaw who exquisitly lofted the ball high over the keeper into the top corner. The second half saw Worksop guilty of trying to overplay and not releasing the ball and it came as no surprise when Grantham pulled a goal back to set up a nervous period to the game until captain Simon Cardwell secured the points as he slotted home after more great wing play from man of the match Anthony Gorman.

Man of the match: Anthony Gorman

October 4th '08 - 3rd XI 3-0 Sikh Union

The campaign opener saw several new faces line up for Worksop with debuts handed to Declan Fuller, James Challender, Marshall Glasby and Josh Burns to add to the regulars.

Last season's fixture at Retford saw Worksop score seven without reply, but, this was to be different as twenty-five minutes went by without score as the game remained even with possession and penetration being equal.

It took Mackenzie Galsby to eventually get into the 'D' and finish off some good ball-carrying work for Worksop's first goal.

The dust had only just settled when a Worksop free hit on the edge of the 'D' won by Artur Nash's efforts, was worked between himself and Declan Fuller to fall to Mark Gordon just inside the 'D' who elevated a sweep shot to go over the Coventry keeper and dip under the bar and into the net for a fairly spectacular Worksop Second.

Into the second half the opposition came out with more purpose and were using their individual stick skills to gain free hits and short corners, but lacked the finishing touches and final release of the ball.

It was left to Notts County U16 Squad Player, Artur Nash, to finish off a nine pass move with Marshall Glasby heavily involved pulling the opposition defence away and leaving the keeper stranded for a Worksop third goal.

September 13th '08 - Rotherham 3-2 1st XI

Another encouraging display from Worksop saw them unfortunate to lose a close game against local Yorkshire League neighbours Rotherham. Worksop took the lead early on after Jamie Harrison skillfully reversed the ball over the stranded keeper and they continued to create numerous chances. Rotherham pulled level though against the run of play and then proceeded to extend their lead after the break. Worksop weathered the storm though and finished the game strongly with Sam Walter finally getting his deserved goal with the last touch of the game. Worksop could arguably, on another day, have won the game with comfort if it wasn't for the inspired Rotherham goalkeeper who must have saved at least 4 or 5 goalbound efforts from Walter. On the ball they played some lovely hockey but lessons will have been learnt about marking and positioning at the back.

Man of the match: Jamie Harrison (scored one and made one)

September 6th '08 - Normanby 0-3 1st XI

Worksop carried on the great start to pre season with a sparkling 3-0 victory away to Yorkshire League side Normanby Park in Scunthorpe. A flying start saw Worksop take the lead after Geoff Walker poached home a rebound from a well worked short corner. More good play followed with centre forward Sam Walter bagging a brace, the first rifling home from another exemplory short corner and the second showing good strength and persistance to hold off the defender and force the ball home. Worksop tired towards the end of the game but the defence held firm and dealt with Normanby's attacks with organised teamplay and rode the game out to keep a well deserved clean sheet. It was pleasing to see the hard work that had been done in training on positioning and setting up pay off.

Man of the match: Peter Renshaw