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North Somerset 1st XI 7 – 0 Weston – Super- Mare A
Royal Oak sponsored North Somerset 1st XI continued there fine start to the season with a romping victory over local rivals Weston. With Captain Hooper out, there were changes to the previous week's line up, but this didn't stop North from making a comfortable start through Courntey Sandford who, following slick passing throughout, comfortably slotted past the Weston keeper.
Weston started to enjoy possession in the middle of the park, but lacked the finishing edge at the final phase, due to the strong defensive work of Dave Colling, Graham Feboul, Andy Checkley, Rob Pugsley and part time goalkeeper Dick Gardner. North continued to plug away and were awarded a short corner. This was dully dispatched by stand in captain Lee Chambers.
Leading 2 - 0 at half time, North new that there were more goals to be had, and with strong words from coach Paul Stevens ringing in their ears, North started to play some quick, fast hockey. This pressure led to Weston mistakes, and Stevens was soon summoned to dispatch a penalty flick. This spurred North onto applying more pressure, with the thought of improving there goal difference ratio. Supported strongly by the wide play from Rich Churchill and Louie Francuz a frantic 10 minutes ensued with Chambers adding 2 more to complete a fine hat trick, and man of the match Ben Jones firing home from close range to put the game to bed. To cap a fine performance, Rich Pugsley scored a well earned goal, tying the Weston defence up with quick stick skills, to complete the 7 - 0 wrought. Stand in skipper Chambers said it was a great team effort but them team must not get complacent.
North Somerset 1st XI 3 Old Bristolians 2
The first team ventured away for the first time on Saturday looking to maintain thier 100 percent start to the season at old bristionians. There was a High tempo to the match from the start with north slightly edging the early exchanges, however old b's took the lead mid way through the first half with an uncharacteristic goal keeping error by Gardner. North responded with some fine individual work firstly by hooper whos self pass from the restart kick started north into action, followed by Churchill who forced the keeper into a fine save after a strong run and cut back down the left hand side. North were then rewarded for thier efforts both within this match and time spent at training on penalty corners when hooper unleashed a thunderbolt from the top of the D to send the teams in level at half time.
Old bs started the second half the better and were able.to take the lead for the second time in the match after a deflection from a scramble within the D. The match then became more open with the midfield of Churchill, sanfdord, Jones and debutant neate putting in the hard yards to get north back into the game. A strong run from feboul led to old b's giving away a free hit just outside the 23 from which the ever present Churchill threaded a pinpoint pass into hooper who battled hard to slot the ball home. With no plans on settling for a draw north pressed hard not allowing the ball out out of thier opponants half, this sustained pressure led to north being rewarded a well deserved penalty corner, from which hooper slipped a sweet underarm pass to chambers who kept his cool under pressure to bury his chance and put the away side ahead for the first time. Running on a high north looked to finish this epic match, firstly with the skillful Welsh who's top corner screamer was equally well saved by the home keeper, and chambers who found the back of the net for the second time only to be denied by a dubious umpiring decision.
Old bristonians refused to lie down but were unable to break through the backline of ever improving checkley, seasoned pros colling, hawkins,feboul and keeper, Gardner who rolled back the years and who's diving stop in the last minute secured the points for north.
Captain and man of the match hooper said he was inspired by the teams fighting spirit and never say die attitude.
North Somerset 1st XI 6 Imperial 1
Both teams went into Saturdays match unbeaten after convincing first week wins, North exploded out of the blocks with some early first half pressure with some neat one touch interplay which led to Sandford finding room at the top of the D to rifle home a sweetly struck reverse shot after just 4 minutes.North then took their foot of the gas and with some sloppy play and ill discipline which enabled their opponents back into the match soon after. This was a huge wake up call for the home side which kick started them into some well worked hockey, with midfield duo Stevens and Sandford pulling the strings in North’s build up play leading to a sustained period of pressure resulting in two near misses by Chambers from Penalty Corners and Hooper hitting the Post after some short sharp passing in the D.North finally broke down their opponents defence late in the first half with Hooper smartly finishing the move created by the hard working Jones for his first of the game and season, which enabled North to go into the break 2–1 up.After the break North were able to stamp real authority on the game Leading from the back with strong performances from Drower, Feboul, Turnbull and ‘Man of the Match’ Colling who dug in with a classy performance sweeping up anything that came through the defensive line in front of him. This strong defensive effort enabled North’s attacking players to do what they do best, firstly with Hooper grabbing his second with another strong finish from a square ball from Howard. Chambers' clever run enabled him to latch onto a well timed through ball from Hooper to finish his 1 on 1 with the keeper with ease. Francuz, who had an impressive game from the bench, then contributed to both the final goals with some smart work in the opponents 25 allowing Jones to fire home from close range and for Sandford to finish the rout with a well struck shot from an acute angle. Captain Hooper was pleased with the number of chances his team created and the way they converted so many of them.
North Somerset 1st XI 4 - Somerset Gryphons 0
Royal Oak sponsored North Somerset 1st XI took on newly promoted Somerset Gryphons in their first league game of this season last Saturday. Under the new Captaincy of Mike Hooper, North started slowly, but began to apply pressure to Gryphons and were rewarded for thier hardwork when debutant Ben Jones won a penalty stroke. This was duely dispatched by player/coach Paul Stevens and lead to a period of sustained pressure by North. By pinning Gryphons in their own half, North were able to create a number of chances, but lacked a little finesse in front of goal until Lee Chambers hit a shot from an acute angle which flew past the Gryphons keeper. After the break, North showing signs of fatigue and lost thier formation which allowed Gryphons to come back strongly. Some good work by their forwards began to stretch the North defenceand Gryphons showed some good attacking play. Fortunately, North were still strong on the break, which lead to Louie Francuz deflecting the ball past the keeper after some strong running from Rich Churchill and Courtney Sandford. Gryphons still refused to lie down and continue to push forward looking for a goal. Some solid defending by Dave Colling, Graham Feboul, Andy Checkley and Goalkeeper Matt Pugsley constantly repelied these attacks and tiring legs allowed Colling to find Chambers on the halfway line. Some quick passing and movement found Jones in place to slot home the fourth goal and cap a fine first game. With Devon Welsh working hard for the team, Captain Hooper was pleased with the overall display but still feels the team have much to work on. |
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