Match Reports - Juniors

Team: U10 Mixed
Date: 31/01/2010
Venue: Away
Competition: Wokingham Tournament
Opposition: Maidenhead B Result: 1-0 (W)
Opposition: Henley A Result: 4-0 (W)
Opposition: Wokingham A Result: 0-1 (L)
Opposition: Maidenhead A Result: 3-0 (W)
Opposition: Henley B Result: 1-0 (W)

Team: U14 Girls
Date: 01/02/09
Venue: Home
Competition: League
Opposition: Phoenix Ranelagh
Result: 3-1 (W)

Team: U14 Girls
Date: 05/11/06
Venue: Home
Competition: League
Opposition: Oxford Hawks
Result: 0-4 (L)

From the beginning of the match both teams looked evenly matched with strong play from both sides. Newbury players Shailes, Purvis and Bamford created a strong central line for Newbury, repeatedly breaking through the Oxford midfield and feeding the ball out to the Newbury attackers on both the right and left. The Oxford defence proved to be exceptionally strong and Newbury players Doublard and Knight where unlucky not to score from their many attacking plays along the right wing into the Oxford 'D'. The Newbury forwards repeatedly pressurised the Oxford goalkeeper who denied the team again and again and it was unfortunate that Newbury did not manage to secure a first half goal from one of their attacking short corners. At the other end of the pitch the Newbury goalkeeper, Usherwood, continued to show her metal, controlling the Newbury defence with the aid of defenders Burgess and Atkins, maintaining the score at 0-0 up to half-time.

In the second half Oxford came back on to the pitch with a very aggressive attacking set piece and unfortunately broke the Newbury defence to score within the first minute. Undaunted the Newbury side came back strongly with left wing Beesley continuing to act as a major play maker, forcing the pace of the game with strong breaks and quick responses pulling the Newbury team back into a defensive position as necessary. Defenders Lightowlers and Rudgley continued to dominate the Newbury 'D' and turn Oxfords attacking set pieces into breaks for Newbury with Dobson and Alberts repeatedly charging the Oxford defence.

As the game wore on the Newbury team suffered under the continued pressure from the more experienced Oxford side. Newbury continued to defend well and maintain their strong response to the Oxford set attacking plays. However, after conceding a second goal in the 52nd minute Newbury were unfortunate to then concede a third and fourth goal in quick succession. Newbury continued to battle on to the end of the game though with the final whistle calling a halt to yet another break by Newbury along the right wing. This was an unfortunate loss for the Newbury team but showed the potential that the side has to develop during the remainder of the season.

Players of the match: Charlotte Atkins and Nicole Beesley

Team: Catherine Usherwood, Alice Lightowlers, Charlotte Atkins, Katy Burgess, Hannah Shailes, Amy Dobson, Hannah Bamford (Capt), Abigail Doublard, Nicole Beesley, Naomi Purvis, Toni Knight, Isabelle Rudgley, Alex Alberts.

Team: U14 Girls
Date: 29/01/06
Venue: Home
Competition: League
Opposition: Rover Oxford
Result: 0-4 (L)

Against a very evenly matched team, Newbury showed big promise in the first half with many links and great runs down the wings by the forwards. However, Rover Oxford's defence was too strong ending the first half with no score for either teams. However, Rover Oxford came back stronger in the second half, forming a great counter attack and strike which ended up with a deflection passing into the back of the goal.

Newbury girls kept fighting and had another few good runs broken down before Rover Oxford scored again through a short corner routine. Another forced short corner gave Rover Oxford their third goal. Although now Newbury were down hearted, they fought to the end with a very strong defence, however 10 seconds before the full time whistle went, Rover Oxford scrapped the ball over the line giving them a 4-0 win.

Player of the match: Sammy Steward

Team: Amy Dobson, Becky Lees, Emily Caiger-Smith, Hailey Mews, Katy Burgess, Laura Murray, Lucy Cogdale, Sam May, Sammy Steward, Catherine Usherwood, AJ Eggleton, Ashley Boileou.

Team: U19 Ladies
Date: 15/01/06
Venue: Home
Competition: Berkshire Trophy
Opposition: Tilsley Tigers
Result: 3-0 (W)

On a cold Sunday morning, manager Jamie Bairstow managed to round up 9 tired teenagers in a bid for Newbury to retain their Berkshire trophy for yet another year. Having learnt each others names Newbury took to the pitch to face a few familiar faces in an experienced Bracknell XI. With Newbury adjusting to being two players down and having a goal keeper playing at centre back, it was Bracknell who took the early incentive and headed towards Newbury’s goal. It thus took some great running by captain Hendey and link ups down the right flank by new girl Hattie and forward Vicki Madeley to allow Newbury back into the game. With the defence marking out Bracknell’s forwards Newbury were finally able to take the game to their opponents and a great finish by Kershaw after a rebound off the keeper’s pads saw Newbury take the lead against the run of play. This seemed to hurt the Bracknell team and with the arrival of another Newbury player onto the pitch in the form of Jess Apperley, Newbury were now taking control of the game.

It was therefore unsurprising that Newbury doubled their lead shortly before the interval with a fine shot from forward Vicki Madeley that seemed to settle Newbury down. Newbury thus played the final minutes of the half with much more consistent, strong passing and darting runs that startled the Bracknell team. Half time saw a spirited and confident Newbury team take their seats in goal for a positive team talk from Bairstow and Hall. With the team talk soon over and all the Jelly Babies eaten, a renewed Newbury team took to the pitch for the second half. Newbury started this half in the same fashion that they ended the first and steam rolled down to Bracknell’s ‘d’. Early pressure on their opponent’s goal saw Newbury being awarded with a series of short corners. Unfortunately Newbury couldn’t convert these with Madeley and Hendey both seeing their attempts at goal fly wide and Newbury had to regroup and ring off the resulting hit out.

Bracknell, constantly being reminded of time left to play, began to get into the game and pushed Newbury back to centre of the pitch where a tussle soon began. Newbury had to use their wide outlets of Kate and Becky to relieve pressure on their defence who had to make a series of tackles to keep the Bracknell forwards out of the ‘d’; Hattie and Sophie making the most of these timely tackles before Allen and Apperley could push the ball wide. Bracknell’s forwards though soon pushed into the ‘d’ and was it not for some great saves by keeper Cousins and a clearance by Allen on the p-spot, Bracknell could have halved the deficit. Newbury soon fought back though and with only ten minutes left to play, and having defended a Bracknell short corner they were soon heading down the other end. Some great link up play in midfield by Hendey and Kershaw soon saw Madeley double her tally and slip the ball past the static Bracknell keeper to grab Newbury’s third. And so the score line remained as Newbury played out the remainder of the match with ease to see them take their third successive title and a satisfying win against their old rivals.

Team: Ashleen Cousins, Jess Allen, Jess Apperley, Steph Kershaw, Vicki Madeley, Fran Hendy, Becky Blair, Kate Woodcock, Hattie Pearson, Sophie Duncan

Team: U14 Girls
Date: 04/12/05
Venue: Home
Competition: League
Opposition: Tilsley Tigers
Result: 1-1(D)

Newbury U14 Girls XI had a good game this week against Tilsley Tigers. With only 10 players, Newbury worked hard making some good passes and chasing the ball. They kept the opposition on their toes but Tilsley managed to score late in the first half. After half time, Newbury continued to fight hard for the ball with player of the match Laura Murray breaking through to bring the score to an even 1-1. Working as a team, Newbury made the space and went on to have a couple of unlucky shots at goal. They held it together and ended the game in a fair draw.

Player of the Match: Laura Murray

Team: Hazel Beesley, Katy Burgess, Becky Lees, Alice Lightowlers, Sam May, Amy Dobson, Laura Murray, Nicole Beesley, Hannah Bamford, Emily Caiger Smith

Team: U14 Girls
Date: 27/11/05
Venue: Away
Competition: League
Opposition: Kidlington
Result: 7-0(L)

Newbury were unfortunately forced to turn up short handed to face a strong Kidlington side. With only 9 players Newbury suffered even though they presented a strong defence with several strong breaks up the pitch. Newbury were missing their regular goalkeeper and so joint players of the match Lees and Caiger-Smith spent half the match each in goal showing good spirit and surprising all with some excellent saves.

Newbury showed their skills when play opened up on the pitch with some brilliant passing and use of space, but they suffered at the hands of the stronger Kidlington side who where capable of swamping the defending Newbury half with their players.

Players of the Match: Lees and Caiger-Smith

Team: Becky Lees, Emily Caiger-Smith, Alice Lightowlers, Hannah Bamford, Katy Burgess, Amy Dobson, Laura Murray, Sam May, Sammy Steward.

Team: U16 Girls
Date: 16/10/05
Competition: League
Opposition: Henley U16
Result: 3-0(W)

It was our first match of the season everyone was rearing to go.

We had a strong team out on the pitch so our first goal came quickly. A strong push from Jo Madeley to the left side of the goal was shortly turned into a sweep by Lucy Peacock, to give us the head start we needed.

After that 2 more goals were conceded by Haley Herbert and Maria Goriup.

The second half was tiring work but everybody held together with a final score of 3-0 to Newbury.

Our players of the match were Maria Goriup and Laura Wells who played exceptionally well throughout the whole game

Team: U19s Ladies
Date: 20/03/05
Tournament: Berkshire U19 Ladies Cup

NTHC U19s retain Berkshire Hockey Trophy as team goes from strength to strength

For the second year in succession, Newbury and Thatcham Hockey Club have won the Berkshire U19 Ladies Tournament. This year, it was hosted by the Club at Henwick Worthy playing fields.

Once again, only two other Berkshire clubs, Bracknell and Sonning, were able to raise teams in this age group. In the first game against Bracknell, Newbury never really looked challenged and Vicki Madeley showed her strength by two strong strikes from the edge of the ‘D’ to take the club into an early lead.

The following game against Sonning was tighter, with good work by the midfield and defence to prevent the opposition from scoring. However, a number of great runs by Steph Hollox on the right wing finally resulted in a goal, assisted by Fran Hendy.

Sonning beat Bracknell 1-0 in the final match for second and third place.

Team: Allen, Apperley, Hendy, Hollox, Lightowlers, Madeley, Pitts, Heath, Raine, Sheppard, Merricks, Stride, Cousins