Stevenage Hockey Club

ALL MATCHES TODAY WERE PRE-SEASON FRIENDLIES, THE L1 LEAGUE GAME WAS CANCELLED

Stevenage M1 – 4 (G.Brown (2), Danny Blackburn, Ben Oliver)
Harpenden M2 – 1

Stevenage played their last friendly before the start of the league campaign on Saturday against Harpenden.  In a very competitive encounter both sides started with determination and ferocious attacking moves.  Stevenage had a few early chances with John Mould and Jon Oliver going close.
Tempers flared when Chris Strickland was deliberately kicked to the floor off the ball by a Harpenden forward which both Umpires failed to witness. Harpenden then took the lead after a mix up in the Stevenage defence gifted a Harps forward with a free run on goal from which he slotted calmly past Church in the home goal. The match was heating up and challenges were flying in. Stevenage equalised on half time through Gary Brown from a short corner which flew past the keeper.
In the second half Stevenage started to take control and went 2-1 up when Richard Hamilton crossed for Danny Blackburn to fire home from close range.  It was soon 3-1 when a brilliant run from centre back Tim Wright caused all kind of problems for the Harpenden defence, his eventual pass found Ben Oliver who skilfully chipped over the out coming Harps keeper. The game turned sour again when Blackburn got booked and Graham Swinyard was sin-binned as well as two Harpenden players booked and one sin-binned, again tackles were flying in and the Umpires did very well to control the players tempers.
It was then 4-1 when a good move down the left resulted in Brown getting his second of the day with a classy finish.
A all round decent performance from Mould’s men and a good debut for young Stevie Hamid in the home defence.

Stevenage M2 – 0
Harpenden M3 – 1

Stevenage twos lost 1-0 but will feel aggrieved after wasting several good opportunities in front of goal. Dan Farnham and Ollie Holt had the best chances of the afternoon but credit goes to an impressive Harps keeper.

Stevenage M3 – 4 (Harry Wheeler,Niall Anderson (2),Adam Presland)
Harpenden M4 – 1

Stevenage threes got a good 4-1 win on Saturday with good performances from young Harry Wheeler, Andy Davies and Niall Anderson.  The goals were scored by Harry Wheeler, Adam Presland and two from Niall Anderson. It could have been worse for the visitors if Roger Barlow had converted a penalty corner which was brilliantly stopped by the Harpenden keeper.

Stevenage M4 – 5 (K.Mahmood (2), Ian Brown (2), Scott Davies)
MBDA – 1

Stevenage M5 -0
Hertford M4 – 0

Stevenage M6 – 0
Hertford M5 – 6

Stevenage L2 – 2 (Alfie Gunther, Heather Hemmings)
Harpenden L2 – 0

Stevenage ladies 2nd team ran out 2-0 winners at Harpenden on Saturday.
Alfie Gunther scored the first after great work from Caz Ayles and Jess Day.
The second was scored by Heather Hemmings with a classy finish at the end of a good run.
With several players missing this was a great team performance which will please skipper Jo Thorpe for the coming league campaign.

Stevenage L3 – 2 ( Theresa Luciani (2) )
Harpenden L3 – 1

The ladies threes also produced an impressive victory at the weekend with a 2-1 win at Harpenden
Claudia Strickland had an impressive match with some formidable challenges  as did Houlihan in the middle.  Samantha Allum crossed for Theresa Luciani to fire home Stevenage’s first with a cool finish.
In the second half Theresa Luciani added the winner and her second goal after a great run and cross from Daisy Mould.

Stevenage ladies fours lost 6-2 to a strong Blueharts 3rd XI in their final friendly before the start of their league season next weekend.
 

Stevange M1 – 3  (Brown (2), Mould)
Brentwood M1 – 3

Stevenage kicked off their League campaign on Saturday against title favourites Brentwood in a very feisty encounter. Straight from the start tackles were flying in and green cards being shown for both sides.
The visitors looked a very well balanced side and were going to give Stevenage a hard game and it was probably against the run of play when Stevenage took the lead.  A good build up between Oliver and Mould resulted in Gary Brown firing home with a perfectly placed flick. This seemed to shake up Brentwood who almost went two down when Hamilton broke through their defence and slipped the ball to Blackburn whose effort was well saved.  Ben Oliver was then sin-binned for over debating a decision given against him. Brentwood then piled on the pressure and were unlucky not to equalise with a drive that just flew over the bar.  Stevenage then went two up, another good build up between Hamilton and Graves set Brown (seen celebrating, above) on his way to fire home his second of the game.
The challenges were flying in and the umpires did well to keep the game under control producing two more cautions.  Brentwood then got a goal back after a flowing attack which resulted in a well deflected goal giving Dingley no chance.
Stevenage could have increased their lead on two occasions when Oliver and Scholes both hit the cross bar, however in the last minute of the half Brentwood equalised again with a well worked counter attack.
As the second half began Brentwood had the initiative and it wasn’t long before they took the lead from a penalty corner which again the Stevenage defence and keeper  could do little about. At 3-2 to the visitors Stevenage did their best to try and equalise but the Brentwood keeper was up to the challenge. Then all hell broke loose as Brown was upended in the area, the resulting incident resulting in Brown and the Brentwood sweeper both being sin-binned. The game was being played at a frantic pace with Wright and Graves both making some amazing challenges with the help of Matt Oliver at the back. Worse for Stevenage was when Hamilton was also sin-binned for what was seen as a deliberate trip. With ten minutes remaining Skipper John Mould stepped up to equalise for Stevenage with a well taken strike from a penalty corner. The final whistle went at 3-3 and Stevenage will be very happy with the point.

Southend L1 - 4
Stevenage L1 – 1 (Carly Seaton)

Stevenage Ladies also started their league campaign on Saturday away at Southend.
The visitors were always going to be up against it against a very strong Essex outfit.
League debuts were given out to Jess Day and Jenny Harding who both impressed in difficult circumstances.
Southend  took  lead with a impressive attack down the right and with a stylish finish which gave Pickard no chance in the Stevenage goal.  Ellie Biggs and Carly Seaton worked endlessly in the Stevenage midfield with Harding making some influential runs. Southend ‘s fitness was showing and they added a second goal before the break.
In the second half Church and Caz Ayles had chances to pull a goal back but the home keeper was in fine form. Stevenage’s game vastly improved in the half and they were starting to create some good plays causing Southend some problems.  Southend then hit on the counter and made it 3-0 with a well taken goal again giving Pickard no chance.
Day made some good challenges at the back with Jeffrey’s before Stevenage pulled one back with a stylish lob over the keeper from Carly Seaton after a good ball from Ayles.
Stevenage pushed forward and were always going to be in danger on the break looking for the goals back in to the game. Debs Church had an effort well saved as did Heather Hemmings.
Late on Southend added a fourth which was harsh on a hard working Stevenage side whose Skipper Caz Ayles admitted fitness was a factor this weekend.

Ladies:
2nd XI Lost - Stevenage 3 (Alfie Gunther, Hannah Collard and Bex McGrelis) Luton 4
3rd XI Won –  Stevenage 3 (Daisy Mould (right), Claire Wakefield and Theresa Luciani) Broxbourne 2: the home side battled back from a goal down to take a lead into halftime against a strong visiting side who drew level and looked the likely victors before more hard work and effort lead to a late winner.
4th XI Lost – Luton 7   Stevenage 2 (Gill Hamid and Lizzie Hutchinson)
5th XI Lost – Royston 6   Stevenage 0

Men:

2nd XI Won – Welwyn Garden City 1  Stevenage 4 (Andy Blaxill (2), Bailey Dingley, Dan Farnham)
3rd XI Lost – St Albans 5th XI 4  Stevenage 2 (Nick Crocker and Ian Wilcock)
4th XI Won – Bishop Stortford 5th XI 1  Stevenage 4 (Khalid Mehmood (3) and Josh Poulton)
5th XI Drew – Stevenage 1 (Dave Wells)  Hertford 4XI 1 : promising start to the Season’s league matches for Mens 5s with an exciting 1-1 draw, home goal scored off a short-corner by captain Dave Wells after an end-to-end goalless first half, and several opportunities (most notably Sam Hobbs’ impressive shot off the crossbar) narrowly frustrated by a well-organised Hertford.