Marden Russets Hockey Club
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03/11/07
Marden Russets 2-1 Horsham
After two successive league defeats, Russets earned three precious points with a resolute
home victory against Horsham. With a weakened squad, Russets’ defensive frailties had
been cruelly exposed by a strong Herne Bay side, and to a lesser extent by The Queen’s
Head, but the remedial work undertaken by coach Clive Felton paid dividends.
Demonstrating uncharacteristic discipline, the Russets defence of Steve Marks, Alisdair
MacDonald and Matt Lucas, marshalled by the veteran Felton, were organised and
steadfast, and provided the perfect platform to launch a series of counter-attacks. The
Horsham defence were stretched by the pace and skill of Will Page and Henry Lee,
although as in recent weeks, the Cow’s Arse – Banjo hypothesis was severely tested.
Russets took the lead through a miss-hit from Lee, only for Horsham to equalise through a
well-executed short-corner. Russets dominance was further reinforced in the second half,
as the visitors found it difficult to break out of their own half, such was the effectiveness of
Marden’s press. Unfortunately, the supremacy failed to translate into goals through a
combination of wayward finishing and good goalkeeping. With time ebbing away, and the
spoils about to be shared, a last minute short-corner was finally slapped home by captain
Sam Traill to give Russets a deserved three points.
As Bjorge Lillelien may have said, despite the 2-1 scoreline, Catherine Howard, Harry
Enfield, Percy Bysshe Shelley; your boys took one hell of a beating.
Holcombe 1 – 2 Marden 2nd XI
As is the norm this season Marden arrived with a much changed team, only the back five
remaining unchanged. The after match talk last week was of moving the ball quicker and
shorter. This happened from the start, as did running of the ball, which gave the man in
possession 2 or 3 options. Marden produced their best hockey of the season and possibly
last season as well. They dominated the first 25 minutes without scoring, the ball evading
sticks in the D and several short corners going close. Their slick passing and movement
opening up the home defence on several occasions. Then with 5 minutes remaining holcs
won a short and from their first shot of the game, rifled the ball into the bottom corner. 1-0
at the break.
The second half followed the same pattern, Marden making the running and forcing the
issue. More chances came and went after more good interplay. They got their reward
when a well worked move down the right resulted in the ball being swept home by an
onrushing forward. Marden got their winner with 15 remaining when another incisive move
left them 2 on 1 and despite a weak shot the ball trickled into the goal. Holcombe had
more possession in the second half, but, their pretty interplay broke down at the 25 when
they ran out of ideas. Indeed a short corner was only their second shot of the game. They
lost their tempers and had 2 players yellow carded, allowing Marden to hold on for a much
deserved victory, that could have been by a greater margin.
Marden 3rd XI 0 – 3 Burnt Ash
Once again Russets came up against a well organised side who have clearly played
together before and who could move the ball around with speed and precision. That said,
there was only one goal in the first half, a close range finish from a good cross so it was all
to play for after the break. Sadly, when the ball clearly struck a Marden foot in the D, the
entire defence stopped for the inevitable short-corner which allowed the striker to use the
advantage to the full by picking his spot for 2-0. Always play to the whistle! A late short
corner made it three but Russets can again take heart from some excellent performances,
with Rob Hancox catching the eye in midfield, strongly supported by the other young
players Wickham, Lawton and Steel. The final and decisive ball in the final third of the pitch
just wouldn’t run for Marden on this occasion but time will surely tell. Thanks to Lawrence
Freeborn for umpiring.
Marden Vets 3 – 3 Maidstone
This was an exciting derby game, although Maidstone will feel happier with the result. With
Hillier outstanding in midfield, Marden had the best of the first half and two Sunnucks short
corner strikes gave them a deserved half time lead. In the second period however the
visitors pushed forward relentlessly but Kennedy held firm between the sticks and when
Sunnucks struck again to round off his hat-trick, it seemed the game was over. Maidstone
finally pulled one back with a close range deflection and minutes later a repeat effort really
brought the game back to life. Young Jamie Crispin forced the visiting keeper into an
excellent double save before yet another close range finish brought the scores level.
Thanks to Rob Wickham for umpiring.
Marden Ladies 1st XI 10 - 3 Maidstone 3rds
With Maidstone ladies 3rds being in a couple of leagues below Marden and not being able
to field a goalie the game started rather one sided with Marden dominating the game.
Goals came at regular intervals scored by Anne Romilly, Charlotte Sharp, Helen Tipples,
Lauren Rowsell and Zoe Sage. Marden really needed a sterner test with several important
league games coming up.
Sevenoaks 5 – 2 Sutton Russets
The Russets faced an extremely tough game this week against a young, fit and skilful
Sevenoaks side whom we have not come up against before. Although S’Oaks had the
main possession throughout the game, the Russets battled hard and were determined not
to make it an easy ride for the home team. After a few lucky breaks and several penalty
corners in our favour, a Sophie Simmonds short corner strike was partially cleared to the
top of the D only for Emily Sullivan to return it into the roof of the net in spectacular style.
The lead was short lived as S’Oaks rapidly equalised. On the stoke of half time, Russets
regained the lead with a fine counterattacking move, culminating in Liz Talbot setting up
Jane Bishop on the far post. 2-1.
The Russets actually stepped up their game in the second half and every member of the
team gave their all. Passing and tackling improved; but we were no match for the more
agile S’Oaks youngsters who were particularly dynamic down their right hand side of the
pitch. In a manic 10 minute period S’Oaks scored 4 times. Despite the defeat the side can
take credit from their performance with particular praise for the man of the match, the
energetic Naomi Martin in midfield and stand-in keeper Carol Turner who made several fine
saves.
Marden U16 Boys report
Burnt Ash 0, Marden Russets 12
This was an early chance for revenge for three boys who’d played in the 3rd XI’s 3-0 defeat
to Burnt Ash the previous day, as well as an opportunity for the whole squad to build on a
promising performance against Old Bordenians earlier in the season, and an emphatic
victory was duly won.
Will Henderson put Russets ahead with a close range effort after 46 seconds, as Russets
completely overpowered the opposition. Richard Lawton opened his account 5 minutes
later, deflecting Ali Welchman’s driven cross into the top corner, then poached two more in
quick succession off the ‘keeper’s pads. Ali Welchman drag flicked a shortie into the
bottom corner to make it five, before Richard completed a second hat-trick of tap-ins to
make the score 8-0 at half-time. The hockey was of a very high standard, with everyone
playing their part – good defensive work, including some assured saves by Matt Thomas in
goal, denied Burnt Ash any chink of light, and the whole team contributed to some
intelligent passing hockey when going forward.
The half-time talk centred on NOT getting complacent and NOT losing our playing pattern
to over-exuberance, but inevitably the focus was lost for 20 minutes in the second half. In
the last quarter-hour, however, the playing pattern was restored and four further goals
were scored - two more for Richard Lawton (for a personal tally of eight – he was
substituted for the last 10 minutes to ensure that his dad only has to buy two jugs of beer
next time we see him at the club!), a second for Will Henderson and one for an overjoyed
(or was it just relieved?) Tom Blaksley.
It would be churlish to criticise the team for missing the opportunity to maximise their score,
but we do need to improve in the next match against Canterbury, who enjoyed a similar
score-line against this opposition recently. Considering we were short of a handful of
players that would consider themselves ‘first choice’, we now a squad capable of competing
with anyone in Kent at this age group, but we need to build on our team work, so that we
can prevail in tighter matches than this one. Well done everybody!