Marden Russets Hockey Club
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Marden Russets match reports 9th February 2008
Marden Mens 1sts 3 – 4 Herne Bay
HB ruthlessly converted their chances to take a 4-1 lead before Russets hit back but couldn’
t find the equalizer. S Marks, H Lee & P Creelman were the men on target but this result
sees the two sides swap places at the wrong end of the table.
Marden Ladies 1sts 5 – 0 Herne Bay
Marden started of with having the luxury of twelve players but after five minutes into the
game Lucie Romilly pulled up lame. Marden started well and soon scored with Helen Tipples
flicking the ball up over the goal keeper. Not long after another goal came from Helen
Tipples with a good touch on the left post. The third goal came when Anne Romilly took the
ball down the right wing passing to Lauren Rowsell in the centre who drilled the ball into the
D for Helen Tipples to smash it in to get a hatrick.
Things evened out in the second half with play at both ends. But Herne Bay could not stop
Marden as Charlotte Sharp scored the next goal. With not long left to go Lauren Rowsell
made a good run up the pitch and was in the D about to shoot at goal when she over
stretched and tore a muscle and had to be carried of the pitch, leaving Marden with ten
men. Marden carried on and soon again Helen Tipples popped in her fourth and final goal.
Throughout the game the midfield worked tirelessly with good play from Julia Moen and
Emily Sullivan. An all round good result by Marden.
Bedford 3 – 4 Marden Russets Mixed XI
England Hockey Mixed Trophy
With one of the girls dropping out and another walking wounded, this match appeared a bit
daunting. Bedford Mens 1sts play East Prem A, their women in National North League, so
on paper we were potentially up for a thrashing. However, all the players were there, on
time and sober which was a good start.
From the outset the 10-strong Marden team attacked hard and claimed most of the
possession. Just a few minutes into the game a penalty corner flick from Henry Lee
connected with the defender’s eyebrow, simultaneously earning us a penalty flick and
despatching the defender to hospital to be glued up. Tom Horton converted the flick with
ease.
A break-away from Bedford gained them an equalising goal (excuse the lack of details). Not
long before the break a high tackle from Bedford on Pete Creelman in the circle earned us
another P-flick which Mike Sibley neatly tucked away.
After half-time Bedford drew level again but the depleted Marden team were awarded a third
flick when the highly immobile Charlotte Sharp put the ball on a defender’s foot on the line.
This time it was converted by Henry Lee. Our final goal was a penalty corner, tucked back
off the right post by Anne Romilly for Luke Thain on the p-spot to slot home.
Bedford then attacked hard for a while but couldn’t break through the Marden defence. Just
a couple of minutes before the final whistle they put the ball away, but it wasn’t enough to
close the gap on the Mighty Mixed Russets.
Please excuse the lack of details for this match. Our thanks go to Bob Carmichael for not
only coming up to Bedford with us to umpire, but also for keeping us entertained on
Saturday night.
Cliftonville 5 – 0 Marden 2s
Late withdrawals left Capt no realistic option but to concede this fixture
Marden 3s 1 – 2 Herne Bay
A 6 game unbeaten run had lifted Russets into mid table and this fixture offered them the
chance to test themselves against a side with genuine aspirations of promotion.
It has to be said that everyone raised their game accordingly and turned in one of the best
team performances of the season. HB created a couple of early openings but Marden had
the better of the half and took a deserved lead when Wickham seized on a half chance to
cross for Baxter to slot home from close range.
The second half continued in a similar vein with play switching from one end to the other
before HB got level with a shorty that was drilled into the bottom corner. The younger legs
of HB were kept fresh by regular rolling substitutions and Russets pushed their rather more
experienced limbs to the limit as they continued to match their opponents although Capt
Davidson-Houston pushed it a little too far and twanged a hamstring. Rob Hancox was
denied by the HB keeper who made several good saves before the visitors snatched a late
winner with a quick break and reverse shot.
Extreme disappointment for Marden who didn’t deserve to lose but immense satisfaction that
they are capable of matching the top sides in this Division.
Sevenoaks 2 – 1 Marden Vets
More late withdrawals saw a few unfamiliar faces press ganged into action and thanks to
Sevenoaks who generously rustled up a second umpire at short notice. A pedestrian first
half was notable for a mazy dribble from Studholme who saw his cross deflected on to the
post by a defender before the Sevenoaks midfield were given too much time, allowing them
to select a pass to the far post for a simple tap-in and opening goal. Russets hit back before
the break when Wilday’s short corner came off the GK’s pads and Ludgate was on hand to
poach the equalizer.
The second half was a livelier affair with the ball moving from end to end but Russets were
undone when an Oaks player won possession just inside the Marden half and showed an
alarming turn of speed before delivering another inch-perfect cross for his striking partner.
Chances came and went for both sides but Oaks held on for the win.
Sutton Russets
No game this week
U14 Girls
Tunbridge Wells 3 – 0 Marden Russets
The Russet U14 girls travelled to Tonbridge on Sunday to play T Wells on the water base
pitch. The water canons proofed to be a severe distraction during the pre match team talk
and the visitors almost slept walked through the first half. There was hardly one occasion
when Marden won a fifty fifty ball, even when they started closer to the ball! Wells
capitalized on this indifference and were all over Marden, somehow only managing to score
3 goals. There were rare occasions when the ball managed to reach the forwards but the
player was isolated with no urgency from the rest of the team to support. A stern talk at half
time changed the second half into a well contested game. Marking improved, free hits were
taken quickly and all the players worked for each other. The balance of possession went in
Marden’s favour with the best chances to score, including a well struck short corner from
man of the match, Charlotte Miles, hitting the post. On the right Lucy Baxter and Alice
Walden Smith linked well, on the left Ella Robinson, supported by Lizzie Payne battled hard
to feed a tireless Chloe Freeman. India Harding and Kat Merrifield were now proving an
equal match against the T Wells attack. Final score 3-0.