Men's 1st XI Reports

Men's 1st XI Match Reports

Last Updated on 01/05/08

By Bryan Mallow (1st Team Manager) & Adam Innocent (1st XI Captain 2007/2008)

Men's 1st XI 2007/2008 season match reports - Bodykraft East Midlands Div 1

HA Vase Final – Saturday 3^rd,May 2008 AT 5p.m.

South Nottingham Hockey Club v. University College London (UCL)

Venue: Old Loughtonians Hockey Club, Chigwell, Essex

A message from Bryan Mallows, South Nottingham 1^st team manager

What a fantastic opportunity to win a national competition in the club’s centenary year! Having travelled the length and breadth of the country in previous rounds, the team is just 70 minutes away from something never previously achieved in the club’s history.

The team has gone from strength to strength this season, comfortably winning the league by ten points, scoring over 100 goals in the process. There have been outstanding contributions from the entire squad under the captaincy of Adam Innocent who, let’s not forget, has missed half the season with a broken leg! Out of the four top goalscorers in our division, we have three of them – Saleem Khalid, Paul Innocent and Martin Ebbage. A mean and determined defence with Pete Hextall ever present in goal, conceded only 33 goals in 20 matches. We are now winning matches in style, as witnessed by the 200+ crowd in the demolition of Ashbourne in the Vase semi-final. No one will forget the epic victory at Hamble (Southampton) against a very good team.

Warm-up preparations since the semi-final included a match against Rotherham who are appearing in the final of the competition above ours – the Trophy. A very competitive match but a great morale-booster for South, coming out 4-1 winners. The potential of this team is immense if they all stay together and new recruits join for next season as seems highly likely.

We are delighted that so many of our supporters will be travelling down the A1 on Saturday in two coaches and cars to cheer us on at this historic occasion. The players appreciate all the support and encouragement from their partners, friends, fellow players and the ‘backroom’ staff (particularly Lynne Morgan).

Come on boys! Turn on the style and bring the Vase back to Nottingham! You deserve it!

Men's 1st XI v Berkswell & Balsall Common HC, 17^th November 2007 (Away)

Adam Innocent writes:-

Saturday 24^th November - South Nottm made the trip to Coventry to play BBCHC after an excellent run of results in both league and cup which has seen them unbeaten in 10 games. BBCHC had a good home record being beaten by only Loughborough Sharks on home turf this season.

James Bateman retained his place in the team after impressing during the EH Vase game last Sunday and a long list of unavailability and injury which ruled out seven 1^st team regulars meant that Tom Curtis was given his 1^st team debut in defence.

BBCHC had an early surprise up there sleeves when on arrival SNHC found a newly laid very slow, very sandy pitch which resembled a beach, the word from the BBCHC camp was “we knew that you are a fast team so choosing to play on this pitch will be a leveller!” How wrong they were! It took only 11 minutes for South to open the scoring when Saleem Khalid slipped a short corner back to stand-in captain Martin Ebbage who swept the ball into the back of the net at the second time of asking.

Then came an explosive 5 minutes from Saleem Khalid which saw Saleem latch on to two of Martin Ebbage's long aerial balls and round the BBCHC goalkeeper twice to put South Nottm 3-0 up.

South Nottingham looked to be going in at half time 4-0 up when they were awarded a penalty flick and Martin Ebbage took on the responsibility of taking it. As Martin took his stride to flick the ball he lost his footing and rolled the ball into the goalkeepers pads, very unfortunate indeed and South Nottm settled for a three goal advantage at the interval.

Having a comfortable lead at half time South Nottingham brought on Adam Innocent at half time for the first time since breaking his leg on September 17^th 2007 and amazingly it took only 2 minutes and three touches for Adam Innocent to find the back of the net and put South 4-0 up.

Adam Innocent came close to doubling his tally with a reverse stick strike that just went wide of the post seconds later, then came the 5^th when Joe Aston was on hand to pounce on a loose ball in the ‘D’ and score his first goal of the season and make the points safe for South Nottm.

Eventual man of the match Peter Hextall had a solid game and his reflexes were tested when BBCHC were awarded a penalty flick after a goal mouth scramble. Peter Hextall managed to clip a powerful flick onto the bar and maintain his clean sheet.

South Nottingham were driven forward by the travelling support that had made the long journey and braved the cold to support the team. SNHC won another penalty flick and Paul Innocent stepped up and coolly lifted the ball into the top left corner leaving the BBCHC goalkeeper with no chance and giving South Nottingham a 6-0 lead.

The defence of Tom Curtis, Tom Straw and Matt Robinson stood firm as Berkswell and Balsall tried to press for a consolation but there was just no way through the solid South Nottm back line.

Saleem Khalid completed his hat-trick and the demolition when he added the seventh close to the end with a firm drive into the bottom corner in a crowded ‘D’.

Thanks to all that came to watch the game the support is a big factor in the success of the team so far this season. Bryan Mallows now has a selection head-ache with returning players and great performances by the younger players who have made the step up. This was a great team performance in difficult circumstances and well done to Mark Benton and James Bateman and Tom Curtis who all had solid games and will be in the frame for selection for the last home game before Christmas next Saturday at 1.30pm vs Loughborough Town

Final Score: Berkswell and Balsall Common 0 South Nottingham 7 (Seven)

Men's 1st XI v Loughborough Sharks, 17^th November 2007 (Home)

Adam Innocent writes:-

Saturday 17^th November saw the eagerly awaited top of the table clash in the Bodykraft East Midlands Division 1 between South Nottingham and Loughborough Sharks at Bingham Leisure Centre. Loughborough Sharks came to Bingham unbeaten in 7 games, winning all 7 of their league fixtures this season and scoring a massive 34 goals. South Nottingham knew that it would take a great effort to defeat them.

South Nottm were able to field their strongest side of the campaign so far missing only captain Adam Innocent through injury and vice-captain Will Brydon.

Both sides started very well, it was South Nottm who created chances but failed to convert five penalty corners in the first 20 minutes. South Nottm were made to pay for missed chances when Sharks were awarded a penalty corner on 25 minutes which was slipped left and coolly placed past Peter Hextall in the South Nottm goal. Having enjoyed the best of the play and creating more chances South felt disappointed to go in at half time 1-0 down.

The start of the second half saw South Nottm carry on where they left off and in no mood to keep squandering chances. Five minutes into the second half Saleem Khalid waltzed through the Sharks defence and fired an inch perfect drive onto the stick of Paul Innocent who deflected neatly past the Sharks Goalkeeper, 1-1.

The Sharks fought back and soon found themselves 2-1 up after a mix up in the South Nottm ‘D’ left a Sharks forward with a simple finish.

South Nottm showed spirit to come back from behind and level at 2-2 with eventual man of the match Paul Innocent striking a thunderous drive off the backboard. Loughborough weren’t about to lie down and die as they again took the lead after more confusion in the south Nottingham ‘D’ left a Sharks forward with another simple tap-in, 3-2.

The South Nottingham players realised that any aspirations they had of winning this league would be hugely affected by the next 15 minutes of hockey and somehow found another gear and again came back from behind to level at 3-3 when Stand -in captain Martin Ebbage struck a sweet shot from the top of the ‘D’ which deflected into the Sharks net.

Then came the excitement, with a little over 10 minutes left on the clock a youthful Sharks side threatened, only to be thwarted by a combination of Peter Hextall, Tom Straw and Matt Robinson with crucial saves, goal line clearances and tackles. This inspired the South Nottm forwards and having won a penalty corner the ball was then slipped back to Martin Ebbage who gracefully ‘flicked’ the ball past the despairing Sharks goalkeeper, 4-3 and South had the lead for the first time in the game.

It was a tense last few minutes but the South Nottingham defence stood firm and David Ebbage sealed the points with just two minutes remaining, a brave finish stealing the ball off the goalkeeper’s pads and slotting the ball past him.

Full-time score = South Nottm 5 - 3 Loughborough Sharks.

Huddersfield HC v Men's 1st XI, Sunday 18^th November 2007 (Away) - EH Vase Round 3

Adam Innocent writes:-

Sunday 18^th November saw South Nottingham with a journey ‘up-north’ to take on Yorkshire premier division side Huddersfield. South Nottingham did their homework before this game and were prepared for a tough game with the knowledge that Huddersfield were sitting 2^nd in their league and enjoying a good run of form beating Norton 8-1 in the previous round of this competition.

South Nottingham were able to recall Neil Batty to the side and call up James Bateman for his first team debut due to injuries meaning that South Nottingham were missing five first team regulars.

South Nottingham started this game very strong and looked sharp and prepared from the whistle. Any cobwebs from the journey were soon swept away as South Nottingham found themselves 3-0 up after just 17 minutes, Gareth Bland and Saleem Khalid with a brace making light work of the Huddersfield defence. Martin Ebbage and the goal of the game from David Ebbage as he latched onto a 35 yard aerial from Martin Ebbage to bring the ball down and calmly roll it under the advancing Huddersfield goalkeeper made it 5-0 at half-time.

It was difficult for South Nottingham in the second half. Dealing with the driving rain was only half the problem as high and dangerous Huddersfield tackles rained in as well. But South Nottingham stuck to the task with two more goals from Saleem Khalid to give him a total of 4 for the game. One cute lob from Paul Innocent rounded off the scoring with South Nottingham finishing the game 8-2 winners

South Nottingham now travel to Aldershot and Farnham on Sunday 10^th February 2008 in search of a quarter final place!

Men's 1st XI v Derwent, 27^th October 2007 (Away) - Bodykraft East Midlands Div 1

Bryan Mallows writes:-

South Nottingham Hockey Club Men’s 1^st team is riding high in East Midlands Div. 1.

Having played four matches so far this season, the team remains undefeated with three wins and one draw, lying in second place behind Loughborough Sharks who have a 100% record.

The team’s latest escapade took them to Coventry to play Sikh Union on Saturday 27^th,October. Before attempting to describe the match, some background details. South lost the services of their new inspirational captain, Adam Innocent, at the start of the league campaign when he tragically broke his leg playing football. He is not expected to return as a player until after Christmas, but he is committed to attend training and matches, keeping a watchful eye over developments. The most exciting news is the acquisition of a new player, Khalid Saleem, a full Pakistani international who has committed himself to the club for the next two seasons. His impact on the field has been immense already and his presence at training will inspire other players to raise their game and acquire new skills.

The half-term holiday and injuries to key players resulted in a depleted team of only ten players travelling to Coventry. The match proved to be trial of patience, guts, determination and a slice of luck. Within two minutes of the start South found themselves a goal down. But two goals within a minute midway through the first half seemed to have turned the tide. However, before the half-time whistle, defensive lapses allowed Sikh Union to regain the lead with two quick goals.

The second half was to be a trial for the umpires as the opposition totally lost their discipline, at one point having only eight players on the pitch. South equalised through Rob Jenkins and looked to be securing at least a point until, with only ten minutes to go, fell behind amidst further defensive mayhem. Game over? Not likely. With only five minutes to go, South were rightly awarded a penalty stroke, smartly converted by Saleem. With only two minutes left on the clock, South grabbed the winner, again through Saleem to record an unlikely victory, taking into account the availability problems and the defensive frailties.

However, you have to ride your luck on occasions, and the return to full fitness of key players and better availability should keep South in the promotion picture as they head towards their showdown with Loughborough Sharks on Saturday 17^th,November. This will be a momentous weekend as the team travels to play Huddersfield the following day in the last 32 of the HA Vase Competition.

Young players coming through the ranks such as Matt Robinson, Joe Ashton and Mark Benton are learning fast alongside more experienced players. Will Brydon, no stranger to captaincy, is captain on the field in Adam Innocent’s absence, but with players around him like Paul Innocent, Martin Ebbage, Tom Straw, David Ebbage, Stuart Croston, Rob Jenkins, Jon Lane, Brian Blackmore, Andy Jenkins and Gareth Bland, the team has strength in depth. Add Saleem to the equation and the return of Adam Innocent after Christmas and the future is bright. Watch this space!