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Match Reports Men's 1st Team 2009–10 28/11/2009 Harlow bounced back after last weeks defeat with a convincing home victory against Chelmsford. The Harlow side had two changes to it Smith and Kirk came back into the starting line up. Harlow started the match perfectly and were ahead within 5 minutes Rob Chandler pounced on a loose ball in the Chelmsford D to slot into the bottom corner. Chelmsford tried to retaliate but the Harlow Defensive unit marshalled by Luke Krozska kept any chances to a minimum. Harlow used the Chelmsford pressure to their advantage as they broke down an attack and set Chris Shearman Slack on his way to run half the length of the pitch he hit the ball across the goalkeeper low into the far corner to double Harlow’s lead before half time. The second half began at a higher pace then the first and both teams looked more evenly matched. Chelmsford couldn’t keep the pace for the entire half and Harlow slowly wore them down. Harlow’s third goal came from a short corner the ball was slipped to Adam Ottley who deflected the ball back out to Kyle Plumridge to powerfully sweep the ball into the goal. The fourth was almost identical to the previous goal the ball was once again slipped to Adam Ottley from a short corner who swept the ball into the far corner. The Harlow scoring was completed when the returning duo of Smith and Kirk combined. Smith shot across the goal and Stuart Kirk made an intelligent run to the back post to make sure it found the net from close range. Harlow take on Romford on Saturday who sit second in the table a victory could put Harlow within striking distance of a promotion place at the half way point of the season. Johnson, Castle, Plumbridge, Symonds(c), Jones, Krozska, Smith, Shearman Slack, Ottley, Kirk, Chandler
14/11/2009 Harlow suffered there second defeat of the season on Saturday at home to Colchester in a hard fought tightly contested match. From the start of the match both teams looked evenly matched and neither team managed to control the game. Despite this Harlow looked the more dangerous team and managed to create more chances without managing to convert. The defensive unit of Castle, Plumridge, Jones and Symonds managed any Colchester attacks well and the half ended 0-0. The second half was more open and both teams created chances to score but still couldn’t find the net until late in the half. With 10 minutes remaining Colchester managed to split the Harlow defence and a pass somehow found its way to the far post for an advancing player to sweep in from close range leaving Adam Johnson no chance. After falling behind Harlow pressed forward in search of an equaliser but Colchester put 10 men behind the ball and managed to run down the clock to leave Harlow disappointed. Harlow will be looking to bounce back when they travel away to play Old Southendians. Johnson, Castle, Plumridge, Jones, Symonds(c), Kroszka, Smith, Shearman Slack, Ottley, Kirk, Chandler 07/11/2009 Harlow responded in the best possible way after last weeks defeat by comfortably beating Witham on Saturday. Joe Symonds made 2 changes to his side that lost against Clacton the week before bringing in keeper Adam Johnson and Stuart Kirk at right wing. Right from the start of the game Harlow looked dangerous and were able to pick holes in the home sides defence to create shooting chances and win short corners. The deadlock was broken midway through the half from the penalty spot. Smiths shot was stopped on the goal line by a defenders foot. Adam Ottley then coolly slotted the ball beyond the goalkeeper. The lead was doubled 5 minutes before half time when Smith took advantage of the new rule this season which allows a player to take a free hit to himself this caught the Witham defence off guard and after taking the ball round 4 defenders and creating space to despatch the ball into the far corner. The second half was much more competitive with Witham creating their own chances. Their best came from a short corner but keeper Adam Johnson pulled off a wonderful save diving to his right and saving with his outstretched stick to push the ball around the post. It was directly after this chance that Harlow made the game safe and added their third. Rob Chandler’s shot from just inside the D took a wicked deflection from a defenders foot taking the ball past the goalkeeper. This goal made the home sides head drop and lead to them making unforced errors which led to Harlow’s fourth. Stuart Kirk chased a back pass to the Witham sweeper before tackling him right on the edge of the area taking the ball around the goalkeeper and taping in from close range. The Harlow scoring was complete when Chris Shearman Slack ran from the halfway line leaving defender after defender in his wake before hitting the post man of the match Kirk followed up to once again have a simple finish. Witham did score a consolation goal late on as they pushed players forward with nothing to lose but the 3 points were never in doubt. Harlow are at home next week to Colchester. Johnson, Castle, Plumridge, Symonds(c), Jones, Krzoska, Smith, Shearman Slack, Ottley, Kirk, Chandler 31/10/2009 Harlow returned to action on Saturday and suffered their first defeat of the season to league leaders Clacton. Before the match there were emotional scenes as both sides took part in a minute’s applause for ladies goalkeeper and friend of so many at Harlow hockey club Nicky Newland. Harlow knew that this was going to be a tough test as Clacton had won every match this season and a slow start from Harlow proved to be their downfall. Within 10 minutes the visitors took the lead after a Clacton forward left the Harlow defence in his wake before hitting the post leaving his team mate to tap in from 2 yards. The lead was doubled minutes later from a short corner. Smith ran to close down the shot but the ball took a deflection off his foot and wrong footed goalkeeper Richard Norris. This was all the more frustrating as the initial shot looked to be going well wide. Finding themselves behind for only the second time this season Harlow then got into their stride. Man of the match Ali Castle man marked the Clacton playmaker who had been causing all sorts of trouble for the Harlow defence keeping him relatively quiet and when Harlow managed to keep possession they looked threatening in attack with Rob Chandler and James Smith both working the Clacton goalkeeper before half time. As the second half started it was Harlow who controlled the pace of the match and began to push forward looking to get back into the game. Chris Shearman Slack was influential as ever causing the visitors problems. It was from a trademark run that he saw a perfectly timed run from left winger Adam Ottley who managed to get in front of his man Shearman Slack then fired the ball into Ottleys path who deflected the ball into the far corner using the pace from the pass. At 2-1 it was game on and Harlow began to believe that they could rescue something from this game. As the clock ran down Harlow’s attacks became more and more desperate as Clacton crowded their D and looked to hit on the counter attack. Ultimately it was one of these counter attacks that finished the game for Harlow as a Clacton forward found the net late on. There was just time for Clacton to rub salt into the wounds of the tired Harlow team when they added a fourth with minutes remaining. Harlow travel to Witham on Saturday and will be keen to return to winning ways to keep the pressure on Romford who are second in the table. Norris, Castle, Plumridge, Jones, Symonds (c), Krzoska, Smith, Shearman Slack, Ottley, Gorringe, Chandler 17/10/2009 Harlow continued their impressive start to the season with another solid defensive performance meaning they kept a second clean sheet in as many games moving them into second place in the table after 4 games. Harlow started strongly and dominated in midfield once again moving the ball and creating openings at regular intervals. The deadlock was broken midway through the first half when Kyle Plumridge drag flicked the ball down the middle of the goal that had enough power to find its way past the Upminster goalkeepers left leg. Harlow continued to press forward and rarely looked troubled in defence to lead into the half time break. The second half was as if it was a totally different game to the first. The match turned into a scrappy affair with plenty of passion being shown by both teams. This meant that Harlow struggled to get their flowing game together. Upminster did get the ball into the Harlow goal but it was disallowed due to an infringement in the build up from a short corner routine. Chris Shearman Slack almost made the points safe with 5 minutes remaining after a quick counter attack but his shot was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper with the ball looking destined to find the top corner. The drama was not over as there was still time for captain Joe Symonds to make a goal line clearance after plucking the ball from midair before it crossed the line before a short corner was awarded with seconds remaining. Harlow once again held firm and scrambled the ball away to take all 3 points. All from Harlow Hockey club would like to give their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of ladies goalkeeper Nicky Newland. Johnson, Castle, Plumridge, Jones, Symonds(c), Krzoska, Smith, Shearman Slack, Hastler, Ottley, Chandler 10/10/2009 Harlow maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable away victory against Havering. Harlow controlled the match in midfield where they were able to keep possession and create regular chances. Equally as impressive was the defensive unit who seem to have gelled into the new formation implemented this year by captain Joe Symonds. Despite controlling the match early on it looked as though it could be a frustrating day for Harlow as Havering kept large numbers of men behind the ball and looked to counter attack. The deadlock was finally broken by Chris Shearman Slack who after being picked out by Smith rounded the keeper and tucked the ball into the far corner with a delicate reverse stick strike. Harlow continued to press forward and increased their lead after James Smith followed up a shot and fired home from the tightest of angles. With a 2 goal lead Havering’s morale visibly dropped and more gaps were opening up for the Harlow attack. The scoring for the first half was complete late on when Stuart Kirk swept the ball from the top of the D with fine precision into the far corner. With a 3-0 lead at half time Harlow looked to close the game out, keep possession and record their first clean sheet for over a year! Harlow stuck to their half time plan and despite Shearman Slack being sin binned for a clumsy challenge on the home side’s captain extended their lead. Lee Gorringe sealed the match when he scored his first competitive goal for Harlow’s first team after a hardworking display on the right wing. Harlow entertain Upminster this Saturday as the look to build on this solid start to the season with another strong performance. Tovell, Castle, Plumridge, Jones, Symonds, Krzoska, Smith, Shearman Slack, Gorringe, Kirk, Chandler
03/10/2009 After an impressive victory last week Harlow travelled away for the first time this season to face an experienced Maldon and Little Badow side. There were two changes to the side that beat Wapping and that was Stuart Kirk who replaced the absent Steve Jones in defence and Jordan Tovell who replaced Adam Johnson in goal after he aggravated an ankle injury. In difficult windy conditions Maldon started the stronger of the teams and controlled a lot of possession but the defensive duo of Kyle Plumridge and Ali Castle looked the most impressive of the Harlow players keeping any chances to a minimum. As the half went on Harlow kept making unforced errors and eventually conceded a goal from a short corner. The first half ended 1-0 to the hosts. At half time the message to the Harlow players was to keep there shape, stop rushing when in possession and pass the ball like they had the week before. The game turned into a slightly scrappy affair in the second period with both teams struggling to create any clear chances. Harlow however did equalise midway through the half when Kyle Plumridge expertly converted a short corner by drag flicking straight down the middle of the goal and into the roof of the net before the goalkeeper could adjust to get a glove to it. After drawing level Harlow looked to grow in confidence and started to push on to perhaps steal a victory but despite Chris Shearman Slack creating a good chance late on for Rob Chandler the scores remained level at the whistle. Harlow travel away again next week when they visit Havering. Tovell, Castle, Plumridge, Kirk, Symonds(c) Krzoska, Shearman Slack, Smith, Ottley, Gorringe, Chandler
26/09/2009 Harlow hockey club started their league campaign at home to Wapping 4’s on Saturday at Passmores School in fine style picking up 3 points with an impressive hard working display on a very warm day. Pre season has been a struggle for Harlow after losing half a teams worth of young talent who have gone to their respective universities, Captain Joe Symonds injuring his ankle in a charity football match and a new formation to get to grips with. Harlow Started the game impressively letting the ball do the work on a very sunny afternoon with some flowing attacking moves as well as some good possession hockey. Despite Harlow making such a dominating start the opening goal ironically came from a counter attack. Wapping finally threatened the Harlow goal but the danger was snuffed out and Steve Jones sent Chris Shearman Slack on his way for a trademark run dribbling round no less than 5 players before coolly slotting the ball into to bottom corner. This goal settled the Harlow players who carried on flowing forward Rob Chandlers movement and Adam Ottleys intelligent positioning meant that the midfield trio of Shearman Slack, Smith and Krzoska could pull the strings and create further chances. Smith followed his first goal up by securing Harlow’s third just minutes later. Ottley made a nuisance of himself in the Wapping D and Smith managed to tackle a defender 10 yards out before again firing a shot low into the corner. Harlow then eased off a little probably due to the heat and the work rate and tried to keep the ball in their own half. This proved costly as after a couple of small mistakes from the Harlow defence just before half time allowed a Wapping attacker to scramble in from close range leaving Adam Johnson in goal no chance. The second half started with both teams tiring and scrapping in midfield. Harlow then had their lead reduced to just 1 goal after a well worked move split the Harlow defence and the attacker finished well. The shock of having a 3 goal lead slipping away seemed to gave Harlow the urgency to once again control the match and push forward looking to regain a more comfortable score line. Robert Chandler made all 3 points safe with 10 minutes to go when he instinctively followed up a shot that the Wapping keeper had saved to tap through his legs and bundle in from close range. The match ended 4-2 to Harlow, with the whole team playing well this performance will hopefully lead to a successful season. Johnson, Castle, Plumridge, Jones, Gorringe, Krzoska, Smith, Shearman-Slack, Symonds (c), Ottley, Chandler
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