Men's, Ladies', Juniors and the Xmas party

20 Nov 2016 by Laura MacLeod

U12’s (read on…)
On a cold morning at the Vagrants we welcomed 2 teams from Deeside for the next instalment of U12 festival hockey. Pleasingly, Vagrants dominated all the games – playing 4, winning 4, scoring 12 and conceding just 3!
The first game was a close encounter going 1-0 behind until Cameron Cooke (playing his first game for the club) drove a hard shot low into the corner to make 1-1. The rest of the game was one-way traffic and the winning goal came courtesy of Chris Carter at the back post poking home a Ben Jarvis cross.
Game two saw Vagrants hit their stride with a dominating display from Freya Diamond pushing through from defence to score 2 goals from 2 powerful strikes. A third goal came from an initial shot from Chris, which was part-saved, for Cameron to nudge the ball over the line. The 4th goal came in the final moments via a goal mouth scramble which was put away by Chris Carter.
Game three was where the Vagrants defence of GK Abbie Brammer-Gilchrist, Isla Egan (also playing in her first Club game) and Efka Merkt were tested, thanks to their hard work, the midfield and the forward line benefitted and played fast counter-attacking hockey. Freya Diamond unselfishly putting Chris through for his third for the day, and Chanelle Broomfield manufactured herself some space in the D to double the lead. With only seconds left, Deeside pulled one back with a breakaway goal. Full time 2-1.
Game 4 was one way traffic. Vagrants spent the majority of the game in the Deeside half, two goals from Chris Carter, one from Efka Merkt and the final goal from Freya Diamond put the game to bed. Final score 4-0.
U13’s (1 win, 1 loss)
Playing an 11 a-side, 3 way tournament against Deeside and Triton, the u13’s played really well despite only having 10 players. The first game against Deeside was very even, and both teams had chances to score. Some great defending by Freya Diamond, Dan Read and Ben Holt, as well as some excellent saves by GK Abbie Brammer-Gilchrist kept Deeside at bay. Eventually some great link up play between Morgan Zwijnen and Will Jackson saw a short corner given, Ben Holt converting. The final score was 1-0.
In the second game against Triton, the lack of a full team and fresh legs took its toll. Some great battling in midfield by Morgan, Chanelle Broomhall and Harry Leonard kept Vagrants in the match. Through an excellent move between Jacob Diamond and Ben Holt, Dominic Church score an outstanding, and obviously deliberate goal. Will Jackson almost doubled the score-line, but Triton scored 2 very good quick goals to go ahead 2-1. Despite some more great saves from Abbie, the final score was 3-1.
Two really even games and an enjoyable experience for all. Massive thanks to Chris Habesch for umpiring for the 2 age groups and all the parents for their support!
Ladies 1st (2-1 win)
If goals scored (11) and goals conceded (12) were anything to go by, the game against Prescot was always going to be a low scoring game. What wasn’t expected, nor desired in all honesty, was the way in which the Ladies 1st team secured 3 points. ‘Could be better’ or ‘the only way is up’ are the only way to describe a rather challenging game. There were moments of magic, 2 penalty corners, 2 goals. Marianne Hunter and Zoe Franklin scoring one each. The game did produce a rather rare moment in a hockey’s player career…playing without a keeper. For 5 whole minutes, Vagrants managed to prevent Prescot from scoring, which included successfully defending a penalty corner. Jenny Zwijnen volunteering as the kicking back swotted an aerial ball over the cross bar! Onwards, and upwards…Wilmslow away next weekend.

Men’s 1st (4-3 loss)
The game started at a fast-pace with both teams creating early chances. As the game settled down, and the Vagrants adapted to the lively pitch, possession was shared between the two sides. Brooklands breaking the deadlock midway through the first half from a breakaway goal. Not to be too down-hearted, Vagrants proved that a team are weakest when they have just scored. Some fantastic play between Ben Read and Phil Robinson created a chance that Pete Cornell couldn’t miss from. A lucky deflection from Brooklands took them into the break 2-1 up. After the restart, Vagrants’ forwards linked together well for Cornell to finish from a resulting penalty corner. Cornell completing a superb hat-trick with a finish from a tight angle, wrong footing a helpless Brooklands keeper. Unfortunately with 15 minutes to go, indecisiveness in defence led to Brooklands levelling. Both teams pressed hard for a winner, Vagrants creating chance after chance. With a minute to go, a game changing decision from the umpires awarded Brooklands a penalty corner, and they finished it with the last touch of the game to secure the victory 4-3. A lot of positives to take from the game, with man of the match Willenbrink being so ‘at home’ on a water based pitch. Oxton 2nd team at home next week.

Ladies 2nd (1-0)
The Ladies 2nd team played really well for their 1-0 win over Knutsford despite a nervy opening 10 minutes. There was a good level of team play which saw the game mostly being played in Knutsford’s half. Lauren Taylor made a brilliant diving save preventing the ball heading into the corner of the goal, the defence then worked hard to keep the Knutsford attackers at bay for the rest of the game. With the midfield of Dionne Johnson and Gabbie Harvey linking up really to move the ball out wide, that allowed the team to drive the ball high into the Knutsford final quarter. The game wasn’t without incident with the game being stopped 3 times to deal with injuries from both teams. Abbie Iddenden and Lisa Holland keeping cools heads to put the Knutsford defence under huge pressure. There were plenty of Vagrants’ penalty corners…Lisa Holland sending a bullet into the bottom corner to score the one and only goal of the game in the first half. A great all-round team performance and the top spot in the League maintained for another week! A home game against Timperley 3rd team next weekend.

Men’s 2nd (5-4 loss)
The game started at a frantic pace with the score being 1-1 within the first 5 minutes. Vagrants’ goal coming from good build up play from Nathan Watson allowing Tim Alexander to tap the ball in at the back post. Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long! The play continued at a frantic pace, but no more goals were scored before half time. A smart finish from Tim Alexander to give him his second goal was again cancelled out quickly as Macclesfield equalised. This didn’t stop Vagrants pushing on and a great ball into the D from Tom Link was expertly deflected in by Shane Warren to lead 3-2. Vagrants tried to hold onto the victory but, unfortunately game management wasn’t good enough and 2 goals were conceded from poor defending and individual errors. At 5-3 it appeared the game was all but over. Vagrants, however continued to push and another good ball from Tom Link was deflected home by Ali Reade which led to an exciting and tense finish to the game. Vagrants couldn’t find the goal they needed to get a point from the game. A disappointing result given the position Vagrants were in, and the little run the 2nd team were on. Next week, the Men’s 2’s make the long trip to Carlisle for a bottom of the table clash which is a ‘must win’, 6 point game.

Ladies 3rd (9-0 win)
Determined to maintain their league position, Vagrants put 9 of the best past 3rd place Golborne yesterday. The goals coming as follows….
Goal no. 1 – Lauren Burgess making the most of a close range opportunity before departing the game (job done, nice one, Lauren!)
Goal no. 2 – Trish Boffey receiving the ball at the top of the D from Mel Brooks
Goal no. 3 – Beth Robaszek creating space for herself to take the ball past the Golborne defence and keeper
Goal no. 4 – Captain, Paula Bourne converting from a penalty corner

Half-time 4-0…

Goal no. 5 – set up by defenders Nova Wallace and Erin Wray to midfielder, Charlotte Oakley who banged the ball down the line for Isabella Escott to push the ball past the flailing Golborne GK
Goal no. 6 – Trish getting her second from being in the right place at the right time!
Goal no. 7 – Hat-trick goal for Trish, Mel again creating the opportunity
Goal no. 8 – Mel Brooks scoring herself! Yay!
Goal no. 9 – Guess who? Trish…neatly slotting the ball between the GK’s legs.
Great commitment from everyone. Nova Wallace being awarded player of the match. Bowdon away next week.

Ladies 4th (1-1 draw)
The Ladies 4th team made the short trip over to play against one place above, Sandbach 2nd team yesterday. Sandbach taking an early lead from a solid goal. Vagrants fought back and after several penalty corners, the equaliser ensued. A fast and accurate injection from Eleanor Saignes, found Emily Ford who perfectly stick-stopped the ball for Katie Gibbs to strike. The initial strike was saved but the rebound found Lucy Morriss in a convenient position to put the ball into the back of the net. All square at half-time. The second half required some sterling defence work to hold onto the draw and secure a vital point. GK Grace Leonard making some awesome saves to keep Vagrants in with a chance. Playing as sweeper, Rachel Fairfield ran and ran and ran (again) and certainly earned her player of the match. This week’s debutant, Kate Humphrey, putting in a solid shift in midfield with some solid and crucial tackles. Macclesfield 4th team visit the Vagrants next weekend.

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