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Match Reports Men's 1st Team 2008–09 11/10/2008 Harlow scored their first point of the new season at home against another newly promoted team Saffron Walden. In a game that had it all Harlow started poorly and struggled to keep possession in the final third of the pitch. Saffron Walden went ahead when a short corner was converted after numerous attempts. Despite playing better then in previous weeks Harlow found themselves trailing 3-0 at half time. Captain Joe Symonds could not hide his disappointment and made his feelings crystal clear. The half time team talk certainly worked; when the match restarted it was as if it was a whole different team. Smith and Krzoska recaptured some of last seasons form and started to dominate the middle of the pitch assisted by the hard working Cholerton. As every successful pass was completed the confidence in the Harlow side visibly grew. After a prolonged period of pressure Harlow managed to score thanks to Rob Chandler who managed to scramble the ball across the line. Harlow could sense the Saffron Walden team becoming nervous and continued to keep up the pressure. They were rewarded with an opportunity to pull another goal back when after a pinpoint pass from Chris Shearman-Slack Chandler managed to get the wrong side of the last defender but was bundled over resulting in a penalty. Captain Joe Symonds coolly converted the penalty to reduce the deficit to a single goal. James Smith completed the comeback from a short corner with his mis-hit shot somehow finding its way through the keeper's legs. With the score now level Harlow looked to push fro the win but Saffron Walden retaliated and the game developed into a real end to end affair with both teams having a chance to snatch all 3 points. With only minutes remaining there was still time for more drama. Saffron Walden were awarded a dubious penalty when a defender was judged to have deliberately kicked the ball in the D. Even the opposition players looked shocked but Goalkeeper Richard Norris saved a point with an excellent pressure save. The match ended 3-3 and after a brilliant second half display Harlow travel to Brentwood next week where they will be hoping to get their season off and running with a win. Norris, Tovell, Symonds (c), Gorringe, Kirk, Krzoska, Smith, Light, Cholerton, Shearman-Slack, Chandler 04/10/2008 Harlow Hockey Clubs recent run of poor results continued on Saturday when they were beaten on their first away day by a well-organised and patient Wapping side. Despite not having as much possession as their opponents Harlow started the match brightly and managed to keep Wapping pinned in their own half. Returning goalkeeper Richard Norris accompanied by veteran sweeper Steve Jones organised the defence well and restricted Wapping to only a couple of chances that were dealt with brilliantly by Norris when called upon. As the first half was drawing to a close Wapping made their superior possession count and made the breakthrough to go into the half time break one goal to the good. At half time Harlow knew that despite defending well they needed to produce some attacks of their own as the Harlow strike force of Shearman Slack and Smith had only scraps to work with thus far. With Harlow looking to push on Wapping sensibly started to play keep ball and frustrated the Harlow midfield. After chasing possession for a long period of time both desperation and tiredness started to creep in and Harlow's hopes of their first league points were dashed when they conceded a further 3 late goals. Despite another loss Harlow's young side with an average age of just 20 can be proud of their first half defensive display and will be looking to score their first points of the season when they face fellow division 3 new boys Saffron Walden next week. Norris, Jones, Tovell, Kirk, Gorringe, Symonds (c), Krzoska, Light, Cholerton, Shearman-Slack, Smith 27/08/2008 Harlow Hockey Club started their new league campaign Saturday against a well organised and experienced Waltham Forest. After winning promotion the previous season into Division 3 South East. Pre season has been difficult for the Harlow squad losing 5 players during the summer including captain of the last 2 years and top goal scorer Steve White. In Whites absence Joe Symonds has taken charge and will lead the side in the highest division the club has reached in over 10 years. As anticipated the opponents were to be a tough test for the inexperienced Harlow side with 4 players making their 1st team league debuts. The match started at a frantic pace with Harlow's attack and Midfield keen to exert pressure when not in possession. Just as the game settled down sloppy defending allowed a Waltham Forest winger to get round the defence and deliver a pass to the far post for an easy tap in leaving the keeper rooted. Despite going behind Harlow shared possession but lacked a final ball to threaten the opposition goal. This was to prove the difference between the two sides and Waltham Forest doubled their lead shortly before half time. After the break Harlow were once again under pressure. With the visitors confidence growing they managed to score a further 3 more goals to make it 5-0. With just pride to play for Harlow managed to pull together and played well for the last 20 minutes of the match and started to move the ball around quickly managing to score 2 goals of their own Cholerton with the first and Shearman Slack with a spectacular strike that nestled into the top corner of the net. Unfortunately it was all too little too late but the Harlow players will be keen to learn from this game and bounce back next week when they travel to face Wapping. Armsworth, Jones, Tovell, Gorringe, Adams, Symonds (c), Krzoska, Light, Cholerton, Shearman-Slack, Smith 20/09/2008 For Harlow's final pre season game the team was once again changed from the week before. Captain Joe Symonds started the game in his familiar position of centre midfield alongside Luke Krzoska meaning that Jordan Tovell could once again move back into his centre defensive position. For the 3rd game in a row a different goalkeeper was used this time veteran Michael Armsworth who unbelievably is THREE TIMES! The age of the majority of the team took guard in goal and performed admirably. The match started slowly and both teams shared possession. The Harlow team looked a lot stronger then the previous week with the core of the team now playing in their preferred roles. Cambridge Nomads proved to be a tough test and began to push Harlow back. The pressure finally turned into a goal after a cross was excellently deflected into the far post by an opposition forward. Harlow refused to sit back and pulled level when Chris Shearman Slack was played in by Craig Cholerton and after beating a defender smashed the ball into the keepers near post for his first of the season. Harlow pressed on and could have gone in front when Smith hit a 30-metre pass straight to Shearman Slack but unfortunately a “pre season first touch” meant that there was no threat to the Cambridge goal. Harlow were then put under some real pressure by the visitors with a string of Short corners but the defence held firm with some great intervention from Steve Jones and Jordan Tovell. Just before half time Harlow were caught on the counter attack and conceded a soft goal to go into the interval trailing 2-1. After the most competitive first half performance of the season so far the team was full of confidence despite falling behind late on. This confidence showed in the second half. The Harlow defence and midfield upset the Cambridge rhythm with some strong challenges and left the duo of Ben Light and Craig Cholerton to link up with Shearman Slack and Smith to create some half chances. Harlow continued to dominate possession but were once again caught on the counter attack and went 3-1 behind against the run of play. Cambridge then started to attack again and Mike Armsworth Pulled off a fantastic reflex stick save to keep Harlow in with a chance. Harlow once again Pushed forward and reduced the deficit when Smith Picked up a pass From Cholerton on the edge of the D and Managed to shrug off a defender before firing the ball low into the corner setting up a gung ho final 10 minutes where Harlow continued to push men forward and were almost rewarded with an equaliser but Cholerton's effort was brilliantly kept out by the Cambridge keeper. 3-2 it ended but it was by far the strongest performance so far against a very good Cambridge side. The team looks to be settling down and new member Lee Gorringe has continued to impress and improve in every game. The Season starts next week with a home game against Waltham Forest at 1PM with Harlow looking to build upon this good performance and turn it into a positive result. Armsworth, Jones, Tovell, Cox, Gorringe, Krzoska, Symonds (c), Light, Cholerton, Shearman Slack, Smith, Hagger 13/09/2008 Harlow lined up for their second pre season game with a reshuffled team from the previous week Captain Joe Symonds was unavailable and replaced by youngster Michael Adams with Kim Harvey replacing Martin Cox at left back and Adam Ottley made his first appearance in goal after recovering from a back injury. Knowing very little about the Letchworth side Harlow started cautiously but were soon surprised and outplayed by the visitors and found themselves trailing after only a few minutes. Harlow looked out of sorts and were facing a real thrashing but the inexperienced team pulled together. Good approach work by Luke Kroszka and Jordan Tovell in the centre of midfield gained a foothold in the match and Harlow began to put the Letchworth defence under some pressure. This pressure then turned into a goal with Tovell picking up a loose ball at the top of the D and struck a lovely reverse stick shot into the bottom corner. At half time the result was almost a formality but Harlow continued to improve and managed to score 2 more goals through stand in captain James Smith. The first coming from a free hit that was struck towards goal, Smith managed to get in front of the defender and with the deftest of touches and a deflection took the ball past the keeper and into the net. The second was largely thanks to quick thinking from experienced forward Chris Shearman Slack who took a quick short corner catching the defence cold leaving Smith with the time to pick his spot and fire home. The game ended in a 6 – 3 defeat but a lot was learnt from the match. Luke Kroszka was voted man of the match after a strong determined performance and the young defensive pairing of Harvey and Adams can hold their heads high after a tough debut. Harlow Host another unknown team Cambridge Nomads in their final pre season match next week. Ottley, Jones, Adams, Harvey, Gorringe, Kroszka, Tovell, Light, Chandler, Cholerton, Shearman Slack, Smith (c) 06/09/2008 Harlow kicked off the 08-09 season in familiar style away in a friendly to Cambridge south. Although the opponents were recognisable the Harlow team was not. Harlow say goodbye to 3 regular 1st team players for the new season, influential captain and top goal scorer of the last 2 years Steve White who has now moved due to work commitments, Richard Norris (goalkeeper) and Kyle Plumbridge (defender) who have both moved to rivals Chelmsford. Harlow Hockey Club would like to thank all the before mentioned players for all their efforts over the past few seasons. On the bright side as the saying goes “out with the old and in with the new”. Joe Symonds has stepped up to take charge and is the new 1st team captain. The club also has two new faces Lee Gorringe and Ollie who hopefully will be able to break into the 1st team in the near future. Adam Ottley has bravely elected to follow in Richard Norris' pads between the posts and there are high hopes for Ben Light in midfield who has performed excellently during the summer. The starting line up for the first friendly of the season wasn't exactly to plan for the new captain with new Goalkeeper Adam Ottley ruled out with a back injury meaning that Jordan Tovell had to move from his normal centre defensive position to go in goal. Joe Symonds moved into defence and debutant Ben Light started his first 1st team match in centre midfield. James Smith moved up front trying to fill the boots of Steve White equipped with replica hair style! The match started well for Harlow with some neat passing and some very fast counter-attacking hockey. Tovell Impressed in goal making some impressive saves especially when he has not had any goalkeeping coaching to speak of. Roughly 10 minutes in Ben Light and Chris Shearman Slack Combined well down the right hand side Shearman Slack delivering a powerful cross that deflected off Rob Chandler and was eventually put into the Cambridge goal by a luckless defender. With confidence growing Harlow pressed on and went 2 up after Smith won a penalty corner which he then converted with a fierce shot centimetres inside the keepers right post. The Harlow Scoring was complete when Craig Cholerton played a sublime one two with Smith before slotting the ball calmly into the keepers near post. There was still time for Harlow to win a Penalty that Smith stepped forward to take only to have his effort clatter into the crossbar. 3-0 at half time and smiles all around for the new look Harlow side. For the beginning of the second half a few experimental changes were made and Cambridge took advantage throwing men forward and Harlow's lack of experience and ability to play possession hockey really let them down. Cambridge took advantage and after scoring one soon dominated proceedings and after a quick fire brace of goals were level. Harlow could hardly believe what was happening and before there was time to regroup went behind for the first time in the match with only minutes to retaliate. The match ended in disappointment but there were many positives to take out of the game and also lessons that can be learnt for the forthcoming season. Tovell, Jones, Symonds (c), Cox, Gorringe, Krzoska, Light, Chandler, Cholerton, Shearman Slack, Smith |