Marden Russets Hockey Club
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8th December
Marden Men's 1st XI P - P Burnt Ash
With the 3s game splashing to an early end before them, a discussion between umpires and
teams waiting on the side of the pitch resulted in this game being postponed
Bexley Invicta 2 - 1 Marden 2s
The eagerly awaiting clash of the two unbeaten sides ended in disappointment for Marden
and just to rub salt into their wounds, they slip to 3rd on Goal Difference. However, they can
take pride and encouragement from a great first half of the season and with 4 sides
separated by only three points, they are very much in the hunt for promotion.
Marden 3s 3 - 1 Holcombe
With both sides having great results against top teams last week, this was expected to be a
close game of hockey but Marden turned in perhaps their best performance to take a
deserved victory.
Experimenting with a new formation, Marden dominated possession from the start with
Hancox and Burdge up front firing over a series of testing crosses. Having gone close a few
times, the breakthrough came when Bardsley cooly made room at a short corner and rifled
home. Burdge then saw his reverse stick effort slip wide by inches before another good
save from the visiting GK stopped Hancox scoring from a short. Sadly, on Holcs first
meaningful attack they won a free-hit on the edge of the circle and Santa Kennedy got in
the festive mood by parrying a harmless deflection into the path of the forward who took the
early gift with glee. Russets were briefly on the back foot before re-asserting their tactical
superiority before the break.
The rain steadily got worse during the second half but Marden still had the best of things
with the new midfield of Ridge, Freeborne, Bishop and Crispin asking all the questions.
However Russets couldn't turn the possession into goals thanks to some decent saves and
good defending. Holcs then applied several minutes of extreme pressure, pinning Marden in
their own D and winning a couple of shorts but Trow, Davidson-Houston, Ward and Bardsley
held firm. A quick timecheck with the visiting umpire confirmed that it was still all to play for
with 15 minutes to go and Russets once again took the game to their opponents. Finally a
smart interception by Freeborne set Hancox free and his cross was buried by Bishop.
Further pressure culminated in Burdge crashing home from close range to put Russets 3-1
up. By now the water was starting to lie on the pitch and after a couple more minutes of rain,
both umpires conferred and decided to halt events with less than 10 minutes to go.
Although the result has yet to be ratified by the league, it would be a travesty if this game
had to be replayed.
Footnote: After referring the matter to the Kent League, the game will be replayed on 15th
December!
Marden Vets P - P Canterbury
Gravesend 0 – 5 Marden Ladies 1st XI
Sutton Russets 3 - 0 Burnt Ash
Another fantastic performance this week as the Russets proved that on their day they are a
match for anyone in their division. Hangovers and torrential rain were minor obstacles for
this ever improving team against league leaders Burnt Ash.
Burnt Ash started the stronger but as the game developed the Russets warmed to their task
and became increasingly dominant. Solid passing from midfielders Laura Gregory and Emily
Bush created several chances on goal from the forward line. Although we won some penalty
corners we failed to convert at this point.
Burnt Ash made a number of threatening counter attacks, coming close to scoring several
times. They may well have scored had it not been for either their attackers hitting the ball
wide or for Goalkeeper Chloe Auger’s outstanding performance as our last line of defence.
Player of the match Nicola Andrews was on fire this week in defence not giving up on any
tackle until she had won the ball. As half time approached an opportunity opened up for
Margaret Turner to make a superb run up the left wing, culminating in our first goal.
After half time the Russets spirits were running high and the opposition were clearly
incensed. As the Russets performance continued to improve throughout the game, the
opposite effect could be said for our rivals. Chances game thick and fast for our attackers
as Mel Russell-Vick managed to get a touch on Zoe Wright’s top D strike to make it 2-0. Just
before the final whistle Jane Bishop redirected a Margaret Turner shot into the goal to
complete the scoring.This week was an inspired team performance for which every member
of the squad deserves credit for. Perhaps the team should celebrate on a Friday night more
often.
Marden U14 Girls 0 – 5 Bromley & Beckenham
The U14 Marden girls were brought down to earth with a bump on Sunday, losing to
Brom/Beck at home. The spectators might have been forgiven for thinking that Russets
were the visiting side in the first 20 minutes and had not travelled well. To be fair the dismal
performance was partly because so many players were in very unfamiliar positions but
partly because they were not switched on from the start. Brom/Becks took full advantage of
the complacency and were all over Marden like a rash. They must have wondered how
Russets had made pole position in the league. Kaya Jago had an outstanding game in goal,
denying the visitors from scoring. Then Marden seemed to stir from their slumber and
managed to get into the opposition half in the last 10 minutes of the first half. This, though,
gave Brom/Beck more room when counter attacking and eventually the dam broke before
half time. The second half was still predominately one way traffic for the first 15 minutes as
Marden persisted in giving away possession every time the ball was won. Despite some fine
saves from second half keeper, Charlotte Marsh, more goals came Brom/Becks way. At 4-0
down, though, Marden at last found some of their old form. They started to pass to their own
side, especially on the right with sisters Lucy and Amy Baxter and Alice Walden Smith
combining well to attack the visitors D. The game was now more even but the superior play
of the opposition punished Marden’s weaknesses to give Brom/Beck a deserved 5-0 victory.
Well done though to man of the match Kaya Jago whose goalkeeping frustrated the
opposition for so long and to the team for battling till the final whistle.