The second-half saw the Rovers continue to break quickly from our extremely solid defence with the centre back partnership of Sick Note & Ed Uden holding firm, and Nick Steward & Tony Cooke using their years of experience to unsettle the opposition. Ian Tomlinson hardly had a shot to save. Another flurry of short corners saw Monkey finally hit the back-board and a fine move down the right allowed Duncan Bond to score at the far post after Peter George-Jones had his shot blocked.

This comprehensive 3-0 victory gives the Rovers a most unexpected start to the season with maximum points after 2 games with no goals conceded.

On a cold, wet and very windy Sunday afternoon at Meadowcroft Reading U18s set about

We didn’t have to wait too long for a Reading opener which came from Charlotte Timmins zooming down the wing to push the ball through the advancing goalkeepers legs.

The rest of the first half was a bit hit and miss, with some lovely passages of play from Reading but sadly none of which seemed to bring a goal no matter how hard they tried. The Aylesbury defence stood up well to constant pressure from Reading with most of the first half being played in the Aylesbury half. Unfortunatly Aylesbury lost one of their players just before half time to a very freak accident.

The 2nd half was much brighter for Reading, with everyone starting to get used to playing with each other. Sadly I missed almost all of the goals as I was struggeling to fill in a form with my freezing cold hand whilst it was blowing a gale! But I do know they where probably all wonder goals from Cyd Everyone played really well and I’m really proud of them all

Goal Scorers: Charlotte Timmins x 1, Cyd Hartland x 4

Squad: Katie (GK), Harriet Wilkinson, Jess, Holly, Claire, Emily Talbot, Tally, Emily Kirkham, Charlotte Timmins, Cyd Hartland, Mary, Harriet Gardener.

Thank you very much for all the Mums and Dads that came to support and or give lifts in the freeeeeeeezing cold, much appreciated.

To be completely honest I really don’t remember much of the game, due to a few slightly crazy incidents occurring during and immediately after the game. I am terribly sorry this is a VERY short match report (most will be relieved to know!) but couldn’t let my girls down by writing nothing!

Really proud of them all for getting back to winning ways and clearly playing well, look forward to seeing the whole game and afterwards next week

Goals: Susan Castley x 1, Chloe Newman x 1 & Lucy ‘Moosie” Scott x 2

Squad: Grace Lawes, Harriet Wilkinson, Karen Weekes, Hannah Rigby, Laura Letchford, Tina De Lima, Sarah Rooke, Bev Thompson, Steffi Roth, Lucy ‘Moosie’ Scott, Susan Castley, Claire Cattermole, Chloe Newman, Gemma-Louise ‘Gembolina’ Notman.

Umpire: The very wonderful Ali Pope (I’m such a suck up!)

I would just like to say thank you so very much to everyone who helped me with a few ‘issues’ on Saturday, very much appreciated and I am so sorry to Westie and the 1as for all the pallova. Also very sorry to Blanche and the 3as & Ian and the Rascals for all hassles you suffered too. I don’t need to apologise to the Mens 2s as they actually got a better deal out of it

Also, thank you very much to Mark Simmons for let us ‘borrow’ LP for the 1as game.

Last thanks to my lovely Daddy, thank you for trekking all that way and bullying UJ for no reason in the end!

Love Gembolina xxx

With players operating in unfamiliar positions the 2As started nervously and quickly fell behind when a cross field pass from the left by a Spencer player deflected in to their right channel and they worked the ball across quickly to a player at the back post who flicked in after a good initial save by the Reading keeper Tommy Alexander.

The 2As initially struggled to keep the ball for extended periods and were rushed in to playing long balls behind the Spencer defence, although there were gaps appearing that would later be exploited. We slowly began to get a grip on the game and won a spate of free hits around the Spencer circle, unfortunately without reward. With the first half drawing to a close and Spencer having had a couple of close passages of play threatening to score the 2As broke away and won a penalty corner. Ben Cook stepped up to send a flick to the left of the keeper and in to the net having earlier had another flick well saved by the Spencer keeper.

At half time, with the score at 1-1, we stressed the importance of switching the ball around quicker whilst keeping a rigid formation when we didn’t have the ball. We looked to channel Spencer in to areas where we could take back possession and break quickly. This resulted in two early 2nd half goals from penalty corners, both rebound follow ups from Sam Logan and Chris Lane, giving us a 3-1 lead. As the half progressed Chris Lane and Jamie Bairstow, supported by Blair/Huw Griffiths, were excellent in winning back and retaining possession as we used the speed and movement of Sam Logan and (to a lesser extent) Ben Cook to stretch the Spencer defence.

Spencer, as ever, were not going to give up easily and as the 2As tired only having the one substitute Spencer took the initiative and broke away to score following a slick passing move. The 2As however were not to be undone and following a quick passage of play between centre back Kieran Smith and left back Luke Rogers (who were both excellent throughout) Blair, Sam and Ben worked it round Spencer’s slowing defence with Ben sweeping the ball home. After weathering the final few minutes of anticipated Spencer pressure the final whistle blew leaving a final score of 4-2 to the 2As.

This was an excellent result for us given, as mentioned, many players were playing out of position/missing. There is much the team can improve on (especially composure and patience in the final third) but this result will put us in good stead moving forward. Respect must be given to our opposition who not only played very good hockey but played in typically good spirit and I’m sure they will return to their excellent form from last season. Special mention should go to Jamie Bairstow, Chris Lane, Andy Fraser and Luke Rogers for their performances. Tommy Alexander was also excellent in goal, as usual, making a number of key saves throughout the game.

The man of the match though would have been Kieran Smith for his excellent distribution and faultless display at centre back but because Reza Ansary was playing at right back, his very presence as an outlet no doubt being of massive benefit to young Kieran, I decided that the man of the match should go to Reza. No one would argue with that.

Report written by Captain Reza “Man of the Match” Ansary.

Squad:

Tommy Alexander (GK)

Reza Ansary (C) Man of the Match

Kieran Smith

Andy Fraser

Luke Rogers

Jonny Mumford
Jamie Bairstow

Blair Dicksinon

Chris Lane (1 goal)

Ben Cook (2 goals, should’ve been more)

Huge Griffiths

Sam Logan (1 goal)

The black skies and lashing rain on the M25 weren’t exactly ideal conditions, and Posh was really pleased he’d come to watch when upon arriving at the pitch he opened his car window and then couldn’t shut it again.

With no changing rooms at the venue Pikey over estimated the number of hockey players you can fit in a single cubicle toilet (for future reference it’s not 13), but luckily the rain eased to a drizzle and Reading combined their warm-up and team talk in a master stroke of time management and multi-tasking.

The game got underway and Reading had all the early pressure, leading to a penalty stroke when a Sevenoaks defender took Liana’s stick rather than the ball. Nicky West stepped up to take the flick, and despatched the ball into the goal, low and to the left followed by exclamations of ‘My hand slipped, my hand slipped on my stick!’ No matter, she had done enough to slot the ball home and Reading were 1-0 up.

They made this 2 when Alex Marshall did a balletic pirouette in the D to turn onto a loose ball and send it past the Sevenoaks keeper. As Reading continued to find space in their attacking half Nicky West added her second and Readings 3rd goal.

Reading had a series of short corners, but didn’t get them quite right – however managed to score from one of them, Kelly Taylor demonstrating a nice tip in on the post off of Kirsty Reemans just wide strike.

4-0 at half time and Reading were keen to add the same amount in the second half.

Reading had periods where they let their game drop slightly, but were still able to push forward with half backs Amy Sanders and Katharine Pike finding plenty of room up the touchlines and combining well with the midfield and forward lines. Louisa Gueritz hassled the Sevenoaks players well, stealing the ball from them on several occasions, and Liz Deighton made it a clean sweep of Player of the Match awards for the weekend with her tireless running, covering large areas of the pitch to support her team mates.

Reading were awarded another penalty stroke after more pressure in the D, and Nicky West made her hatrick when she showed that her flicks are even better when she holds her stick a bit tighter, by sending the ball high into the goal.

Reading had a lapse in concentration and got caught with half of the back line all high at the same time, and Sevenoaks found space to get the ball to a free forward who fired the ball in the goal from the top of the D.

Pikey thought we were being a bit greedy with the Penalty Strokes so she gave one to Sevenoaks when she got her stick over to her reverse side for a tackle, but failed to turn it round in time, taking the ball with the back of her stick. With the umpire stating “You knew what you were doing No.7” this was deemed deliberate and a penalty was awarded. The flick was well saved by Alexa Kearns as she stretched over to her right to get her stick to the ball and deflected it around the post.

Reading added one more goal before the end of the match, courtesy of Liana Smith, who was pleased to see the ball cross the line seeing as she had already started celebrating!

The team were pleased with the final 6-1 victory and eagerly await the draw for the next round, to be played on 9th November.

TEAM – Alexa ‘I saved a penalty’ Kearns, Katharine ‘Well I only knew about it after I’d done it’ Pike, Kirsty ‘The lights AREN’T on and somebody IS home’ Reeman, Helen ‘Inside information’ Ritchie, Amy ‘I had a Dream’ Sanders, Louisa ‘Posh will pay my fine’ Gueritz, Liz ‘Sausage in my pocket’ Deighton, Kelly ‘Can I have a go at the flick’ Taylor, Liana ‘How do I get credit’ Smith, Nicky ‘Don’t hit the turf Reading’ West, Hayley ‘I’ve been on holiday’ Munt, Alex ‘I can play in Defence Midfield or Forward’ Marshall.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Liz Deighton

OJ-ISM OF THE WEEK – OJ

Westie – “Can you play on Sunday OJ?”

OJ – “Well my plane lands at Luton at 10.30, of course I can, I’ll be at Sevenoaks before the rest of you”

Note OJ’s omission from the team list – yep, you’ve guessed it, she didn’t make it to Sevenoaks.

NEXT MATCH –

Saturday 11thth October, v Southampton, 12.00pm Away

Reading Hockey Club

Ladies 1a’s Team Match Report

Date - 05/10/08

Opposition - Sevenoaks 2’s - England Hockey 2nd XI Cup match

Venue - Away

Result - Won 6-1

Scorers - Nicky West x 3

Alex Marshall

Kelly Taylor

Liana Smith

* Pre match corner practice at the club being cut short by a message saying the goals at the match venue (South Reading Leisure Centre) have been vandalised and are unplayable
* Despatching Kirsty off to Easthampstead Pak to check out the possibility of using that as an alternative venue
* Arranging a truck to transport spare goals from the club to SRLC
* Moving goals from the cage to the edge of the car park in readiness for arrival of aforementioned truck
* Waiting for Kirsty to do a lap of the A329M and the outskirts of Bracknell before telling her that goals will be moved, no need to check out EP pitch, and to turn around and go to SRLC for the meet. Still, the EP pitch car park made a good turning place to turn around and head back the other way!
* Half the team sitting in traffic on the way from the club to SRLC
* Arriving at SRLC and getting a message from the club that the goals won’t fit on the truck
* Westie doing a reccie of John Madejski Academy and sweet talking the nice man into the loan of 2 goals – which the team will have to carry across the main road and up the slope to the SRLC pitch
* Being told by the umpires that there’s no point moving the goals as the D’s on the pitch can’t be seen so it’s unplayable anyway

With Westies early morning proclamation of “Today is a good day, nothing can go wrong today” proving to be not quite true, this was a quite unique match preparation for the 1a’s! And after all of that it looked like the match wouldn’t go ahead anyway… But luckily Simmo saved the day with some quick thinking and got on the phone to her dad and got us a slot at the Leighton Park Pitch.

So the 1a’s, their opposition Havant, and the 2 umpires all decamped to Leighton Park for a slightly delayed South League Division 1 game.

Once finally there, the 1a’s were up for it – Liz joined the huddle in a state of excitement, Westie said there is some things we can control and some we can’t, and the team was ready to go.

Havant have traditionally been a tough fixture for the team, but Reading were well prepared and the game started fairly evenly matched. Reading created chances but Havant pushed forward and were first to score when they converted a penalty corner, the strike from the top of the D taking an unlucky deflection for Reading, sending the ball high into the roof of the net.

Reading began to pressure Havant more, and Kirsty Reeman levelled the score when her well placed short corner strike squeezed inside the post, out of the reach of the Havant keeper and defender.

Reading were to take the lead shortly after this, with their second goal which was also the result of a short corner. The ball was slipped right to Louisa Gueritz, who in acres of space at the top of the D took a good shot, on target into the far side of the goal.

The first half drew to a close with Reading leading 2-1 and feeling that the game and the 3 points were theirs for their taking.

Reading began the second half brightly, and the press they have been working on was putting Havant under pressure and leaving them less and less outlets. With their defence sending passes either back to Reading players or off the side of the pitch the ball remained in Readings attacking half for large periods of the game. This, combined with the midfield trio of Liana Smith, Kelly Taylor and Player of the Match Liz Deighton working hard to keep the ball high meant that the Reading goal was largely untroubled.

Havant broke through a few times but the Reading back 4 were on them quickly, perhaps a little keenly at times as Kirsty Reeman earnt herself a green card as she stepped forward through a Havant player in an attempt to take the ball.

The Havant forwards were largely supressed by Reading, with less than a handful of shots from open play, however they earnt themselves a few corners but Reading kept the ball out with several players all contributing - a deflection away from the post by Reeman, a save from keeper Sarah Gowers, a clearance from Amy Sanders, and Liz Deighton and Joy How both running out well to get touches on the ball and clear the danger before Havant were able to get a shot.

Reading kept working hard all over the pitch and with full back Kirsty Reeman picking up the ball in her defensive D and running the length of the pitch to the attacking 25 yard area Katharine Pike stepped into the gap in the middle of the pitch that Reeman had vacated and picked up the attempted clearance from Havant. Pike sent a long pass to Kelly Taylor in the D and herself, Gilly Harrison and one or two other Reading forwards all had a go before Cyd Hartland finally got the ball over the line – thought it seemed that Coach Moleys buzz word of the week ‘Precision’ was quite clearly more in her mind than the power of the shot was on this occasion!

Reading were pleased to pick up their first 3 points of the league and will have to rely on their more conventional match preparation next week as they travel away to Southampton hoping to continue winning ways.

The team must extend their thanks to all those who assisted in getting the match played on Saturday – Gem, Popey, Westie, Simmo, Simmos Dad, and everyone else who gave us a hand. Sorry to those I’ve missed off the list but I missed part of the fiasco while I went off to the EP pitch!

TEAM – Sarah Gowers, Alex Marshall, Kirsty Reeman, Joy How, Amy Sanders, Liana Smith, Liz Deighton, Kelly Taylor, Nicky West, Cyd Hartland, Gilly Harrison, Katharine Pike, Louisa Gueritz, Amy Simmons.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Liz Deighton

OJ-ISM OF THE WEEK – Has to be Westie with the “Today is a good day, nothing can go wrong today” comment…

NEXT MATCH –

Saturday 11th October, v Southampton, 12.00pm Away

Reading Hockey Club

Ladies 1a’s Team Match Report

Date - 04/10/08

Opposition - Havant 1’s

Venue - Home, Leighton Park School

Result - Won 3-1

Scorers - Kirsty Reeman

Louisa Gueritz

Cyd Hartland

This was always going to be an interesting match as the Refills ended up in our league this season after having to temporarily disband their team last season so effectively come down a league for them. Last year they would come up against the likes of the Reading 2a’s who are an unknown team but reported to be run by a greasy haired chap who this season is fitter than ever.

Anyhow, I digress. On Saturday the 4th the game time was set for 4:30pm and when we arrived at our pitch, our opposition had already moved into the home team warm up area so we had to start a little on the back foot already!

The game started a little late but still no sign of the promising rain, it was a quiet affair from the off. Reading 3’s had a lot of the play, pushing it around our standard 3 or 4 passes then losing the ball to the opposition. There were some passing manoeuvres around the back which added to the excitement as about 18mins in the oppositions refills came close to opening the score sheet but Lavers and Barry managed to clear up the mess. Jas was clearing the ball out to both wings and a few chance were coming up at our scoring end. A couple went wide but the pressure was definitely visible on the pitch as the oppositions more youthful team came under wave after wave of pressure. They had a one man brick wall in the centre of their defence who proved to use is age and experience over our slightly more youthful and over excitable attack. Tino made some great runs and had a couple of shots, Hamilton had a save or two made by the refills goal keeper but all to no avail. Then a flurry of short corners ensued – the first one was an underwhelming drag scoop by Hamilton that the goalie batted away like it was a small gnat there was a slightly heady Mackie on the follow up but he just couldn’t turn it back goal ward bound. Another short corner came and went and the pressure was being soaked up like an ocean going sponge by the opposition. Cabbage was dominating the centre of the pitch but one of the Refills young scamps jinked towards him which lead him to dive (fall over) tackle the lad – a very successful dive tackle except for the following wrist pain which led to Cabbage sitting off for a bit wondering what he was going to do in the evening now that he had a sore wrist! Obviously, it was his “drinking” wrist. The team changed shape with the addition of Gareth Barker – the dynamic semi-pro footballer. Fortunately he remembered that he was playing hockey and didn’t kick the ball too many time. Andy moved into the centre to cover where the temporarily injured Cabbage was and he and Mike jelled well. There was some pressure on the Reading 3’s defence before the half was out though as neither Jas nor Sam like the rain and it had just started. Also the opposition started to put some passes together which led to them receiving some interesting short corners that we all managed to keep out of the goal. Bazza made some good decisions on logging or standing and managed not to hit any of his own defence players when kicking the ball away (like he normally does). HALF TIME –> 0 – 0

The second half started with some continued dribble from the sky followed shortly by some continual dribbling from Tino up the left wing. He and Mackie were starting to play together and look good for a nice change. Then against the run of play the Refills scored a goal! This is really what the 3rd team needed as it kicked them into action and within a matter of minutes they had restarted, put the usual 3 passes together but then added a second 3 passes together which led to a Short corner. GAME ON -> The ball came pinging out, there was a slip by Hamilton (I think that was due to the rain) then the ball went flying goal ward bound but was saved with an epic piece of goal keeping but with the Refills defence looking on at how happy they were to not have let the goal in and congratulating themselves Kiff was quick to realise that the ball had not yet gone dead! He zoomed into action, collected the ball from stage right and crossed it back towards the goal to be met with a static goal hunting Adam Mackie – please step forward for the current holder of the shortest goal leader in the season competition. Mackie was almost in the goal when he turned it in from a laser calculated 27cm. We were back on level terms. The game was energised, Reading pushed up and despite some defensive short corners and some serious concentration from the back of the pitch, the Refills central pinnacle just couldn’t hold the wave after wave attack from Tino and Hamilton. Then Mackie and Barker added to the strength and then the inevitable. The 3rd team pushed up, Jas out to Lavers, Lavers to Kiff cross pitch ball, Kiff up to Mackie then pinged in and out with Mike and the new and improved Cabbage back on the pitch. Tino picked it up and let one go (smelly) the save came and then that poaching machine Hamilton ponced (not pounced) on the ball and put us into our rightful leading position 2 - 1. We held this position for a bit longer with no further opportunities taken but then it all went wrong with a fast breakaway leaving the defence and goal keeper at a loss and the score line was compromised! 2 -2

That’s the way the game ended, Andy put in some good tackles, Barker had a reverse shot on target and there were a lot of interesting short corners to defend but nothing else really happened.

The final positive to take away from the game though is that both these teams are from Reading and it was a good, clean game that was enjoyable for all (even the 9 spectators!) with only the result clouding the reading 3’s day! There was a good supply of Pizza and chips in the club house where we discussed the importance of TV and socialising. It’s a draw reading 3’s 2 – Reading Refills 2

It was clearly a big day for Sevenoaks and they started fast and spirited. The extra space available from playing a lower league side was evident and Reading created plenty of early opportunities, but we were not clinical enough to silence the local crowd.

The lead eventually came from Wattsy with a tidy foot-side deflection on a short corner. It was quickly followed by a straight flick from Austin on another short corner to give us a 2-0 lead going into the half.

Sevenoaks came out plucky at the start of the second half and after about 10 minutes managed to beat Brovs to the near post with a well struck shot. 2-1 and suddenly they were back in the game.

Reading replied in the best possible way with a quick goal. Another short corner; this time a sweet reverse stick strike from Shil after Moley picked up the initial rebound. 3-1 and again we were in a good position to bury the opposition.

However, our concentration dropped and chances were squandered. Although we were always in control of the game, we are yet to develop the relentless Australian tempo and mindset that puts teams to the sword. I am sure this will come as we progress through the season.

At the death Sevenoaks manufactured a break and from a strike just inside the D, Swaino wrong-footed Brovs with a deflection to give him his first notch of the season…unfortunately in the wrong net.

A good natured game finished 3-2 in the end; roll on the next round.

The last time we played Beeston we gave them a 7-1 hiding, but we knew it would be a completely different prospect this season with their new additions Martin Jones and Ali Wilson amongst others.

The first half was a tight and pacey affair in which Reading had greater possession than Beeston but did not manage to create many clear cut chances. That is until a fluid break down the right a few minutes before the half resulted in a tap in for the skipper Rhys “Wendy” Joyce – his first league notch in a Reading shirt. Needless to say the team celebrations outweighed the calibre of the finish. 1-0 to the good at half time.

The second half started well for us; some tidy interplay between JB and Pinksy in the right hand corner led to a baseline pull back to Wattsy for a well struck finish just above the backboard.

Having created a good platform to go on and bury Beeston, we took our foot of the gas mid-way through the second half and allowed them to get their tails up. With 12 minutes to go Beeston buried a penalty corner with a decent straight flick in the top right hand corner.

The game then became a bit disjointed while the tempo was raised after Beeston got themselves back in the game. A few minutes later some scrappy play in our D meant the ball fell to Martin Jones at top circle who did not need an invitation to hit the backboard.

2-2 and Reading finally played with the necessary tempo that, had it been displayed at 2-0 would have seen Beeston off. A couple of clear cut chances were created but this time, it was not to be a last gasp winner.

A disappointing finish to a game that we controlled for the most part.