Westbury & United Banks (Bristol) Hockey Club results page

Westbury & United Banks HC: Results for Saturday 28/2/09
Team	Opponents		League	Scr	Scorers
1^st XI	v Taunton Vale	A	Premier 1	1-3	Thomas J
2^nd XI	v Cardiff UWIC II	H	North Div 1	0-2
3^rd XI	v Bristol Univ III	H	Avon Div	1-3	Griffin A
Wanderers	v Bristol Univ IV	A	Br & NW Som Div1	3-2	Rickard Poulsom Taylor M
Wizards	v S Glos II	A	Br & NW Som Div 2	1-0	Chalk
Warriors	v Westbury Widgets	H	Br & NW Som Div 3	3-0	Webster Thomas P Harris Dom
Widgets	v Westbury Warriors	A	Br & NW Som Div 3	0-3
Match comments
1^st XI: The first team fell to another defeat against a good Taunton side. Joe Thomas scored the goal.
2^nd XI: The seconds gave a good account of themselves against top-of-the-table Cardiff & UWIC, going down 2-0. The second Cardiff goal came late which always gave the seconds the opportunity to get back in the game.
3^rd XI: The thirds took the lead against Bristol University when Andy Griffin thumped the backboards with his shot. The University pulled the goal back and added two more to run out 3-1 winners.
Wanderers: The Wanderers found Bristol University a tough set of opponents and were under pressure throughout most of the first half. The students opened the scoring. Geoff Rickard profited when chasing a through ball that the keeper should have cleared inside the 25. The keeper unaccountable stopped at the edge of the D enabling Geoff to get the ball and slip it through the keeper's pads to equalise. Talking of keepers, Andy Pound was very pleased with his low, diving save to keep out a short corner shot! At the break the University were leading 2-1. They could have made it three, but a University forward scuffed his push at goal and Dave Wornell was there to clear the ball off the line. The Wanderers upped their game and began to make chances. The pressed hard and moved the ball round well. Then came two short corners in 2 minutes. The first one, Tom Taylor stopped for Chris Poulsom to flick at goal, with the help of a slight deflect from a runner's stick it flew into the top corner. The second one was saved by the keeper. The ball came to Matty Taylor, a meter to the left of the penalty spot. Matt, kept his head, and coolly flicked over the prone keeper for the winner. This was an inspired second half performance and three well earned points against a good side. James Holliday reports: It was a great game and a great result. The Uni went 2 nil up and they thought it would be a walk over. What they didn't expect was us not giving up, playing tough and relying on our strengths and their weaknesses. We came back into the game with some great short passes to leave Geoff Rickard with a one on one with the keeper with a lovely jab pass through the keeper and then to slot it home. Chris Poulsomscored from a very well executed short corner with a lovely drag flick. The cruncher was where Matty Taylor flicked it pass the keeper with a very level head (Is that how everyone else saw it on the pitch?) They hit the self distruct button and we got stronger and stronger. Well played all, it was a great team effort!!
Wizards: The Wizards stuttered to a 1-0 win against S Glos at Golden Hill. They had the majority of the play, but were very disjointed in the way they moved the ball. There were glimpses of what could have been, but nobody was able to stamp any quality into the game. Stuart Edworthy was unlucky in netting twice only to find that the advantage hadn't been played because the whistle had gone for a Westbury free hit. That was balanced out when a Wizard's free hit whizzed through a crowd of players, past the goalkeeper and stopped by a foot on the line. There didn't seem to be a Westbury touch, so a goal had not been stopped by the foot. A stroke was awarded, but Mark Crofts saw it saved by the home keeper. As the short corner tally went up, it looked increasingly likely that Westbury wouldn't score, and like the home encounter, S Glos would break away and get a late winner. Another short corner came, this time the ball was slipped back to Mark Crofts who had injected it. His push at goal had beaten the keeper at the near post, but as it was crossing the line, Jack Chalk arrived to tap it in before any defenders could react to stop it. Despite the disappointing performance, the Wizards can be pleased with the three points. Ed Minchin showed he has a lot of potential.
Warriors v Widgets: The return match saw the Widgets open the game strongly, keeping the Warrior hemmed into their own hal. Sam Brewer looked strong on the ball and Jon Jarvis had to be alert to keep out a couple of shots. Jez Longden picked up anything that went loose, and won practically every tackle he put in. The Warriors began to attack themselves, but lost two veteran forwards to pulled muscles in the first half. The opening goal was somewhat against the run of play. Adam Geddes found Pete Thomas down the left, Pete hit his cross perfectly for Tony Webster to stop, turn and unleashed a rising shot. The second goal came a little while later. This time Dom Harris was the architect and Pete Thomas banged home for around the penalty spot. Gaeme Brown created the third goal. His run followed by a squared ball found Dom Harris, who using a football term, toe-poked it between the goalkeeper's legs with the end of his stick. The Widgets dominated the second half, but found Jez, Dave Ratcliffe, Brain Nichols and Ernie Wise a barrier that was difficult to breach. When they did Jon Jarvis pulled off two outstanding saves with his left foot to keep them out. This was JJ's 4th clean sheet in succession. This win puts the Warriors ahead of the Widgets on goal difference. Everyone put their heart and soul into it and the game was played in excellent spirit. The difference was in the finishing, where the Warriors came out on top. The hockey served up by both sides shows how the club is developing the players who can play well.

Westbury & United Banks HC: Results for Saturday 21/2/09
Team	Opponents		League	Scr	Scorers
1^st XI	v Cheltenham	H	Premier 1	1-2	Roper
2^nd XI	v Bridgend	A	North Div 1	2-1	Cureton Moon
3^rd XI	v Chippenham	A	Avon Div	0-6
Wanderers	v Bristol UWE IV	H	Br & NW Som Div1	1-1	Harris Dave
Wizards	v Yate II	H	Br & NW Som Div 2	1-3	Sparks
Warriors	v Bristol & West VIII	A	Br & NW Som Div 3	4-0	Brown Geddes Thomas Webster
Widgets	v S Glos III	H	Br & NW Som Div 3	8-0	Edworthy 3 Banting A 2 Money Ogilvie Sheppard
Match comments
1^st XI: This was a rather cruel result for the first team as their play at home to Cheltenham deserved a point. Cheltenham opened the game by pressing Westbury deep into their own half, they created several good chances, but the Westbury defence held out. Jonny Parish made a superb tackle to rob a visiting forward when he was about to score. After 15 minutes the firsts began to get forward with some good attacking moves and looked much more confident in switching the ball around. Several good chances came and went at both ends. At the break neither side had scored, with both keepers pulling off some good saves. There was more of the same in the second half, but Cheltenham managed to break the deadlock by taking the lead. . Andy Krebs pulled off two fantastic saves from successive shots, but the second save went to a Cheltenham forward who squared the ball for a team mate to prod in at the far post. Westbury's response was first class and it didn't take long for Jonny Parish to drill the ball into the D for Gary Roper to get a clever deflection past the keeper on his return from his broken toe. Andy Krebs pulled off another great save, his left hand deflecting a short corner flick over the bar. Pat Haynes made up for losing the ball in midfield, tracking back, and making a last ditch tackle to deprive a Cheltenham forward of a good scoring opportunity. The game looked as if it might go to a 1-1 draw, then Tim Hancock was penalised for bravely diving to clear the ball on the 25 yard line, only to find a short corner given against him. The defence kept the ball out but somehow Krebsy and a Cheltenham forward got tangled up and a penalty stroke was awarded and converted by Cheltenham. Westbury again raised their game and should have turned the ball into the net from a metre out, but the flick at goal found a Cheltenham foot and it was Westbury penalty stroke. Joe Thomas stepped up to the spot only to see his stroke saved (his first ever miss from the spot). A draw would have been fully deserved, but lady luck was missing and Cheltenham edged a closely fought game.
2^nd XI: The seconds made the journey to Bridgend very worth while. Having lost the home encounter 4-3, they knew they were in for a close game. This time the odd goal was in favour of Westbury. Liam Cureton and Neil Moon were on target. This win helps the seconds look towards mid-table safety, as it is possible with the impending National League relegations of Firebrands, Whitchurch and Cardiff that the bottom three of the top divisions are all liable to be demoted come the end of the season..
3^rd XI: The third team lost to top of the table Chippenham by 6-0.
Wanderers: The Wanderers pulled off a good draw at home to top of the table Bristol UWE. Dave Harris is alledged to have got the final touch in goal mouth scramble. This may be another Wanderers goal that goes to the dubious goals committee.
Wizards: The Wizards worked hard to contain second place Yate. In their away game earlier in the season the Wizards lost 8-3. This time they contained their free scoring opponents to three goal. In the second half the Wizards pulled a goal back when Alan Sparks injected a short corner that came back to him to sweep in at the near post. The Wizards now need to get points in their remaining games so that they don't get sucked into a relegation battle. Chris Cocks has targeted wins against three of the teams below them in the table, but to do that the forwards need to start getting goals.
Warriors: The Warriors had a sparkling first half against Bristol & West, with Dom Harris and Adam Geddes looking in control of the ball every time it reached their sticks. Grame Brown opened the scoring when his cross shot hit a defensive foot at the back post and deflected in. Then came a good chance for Tony Webster, but as he went round the keeper he found himself too far out to the right to score. He pulled the ball back to Adam Geddes who was at the top of the D, and he slapped in a glorious goal to put the side 2-0 up. Next came a superb run by Dom Harris from left midfield. His perfect pass enabled Pete Thomas to guide the ball with one touch past the keeper. The second half was a little scrappy, and Bristol & West had a fair amount of possession and some experienced players. Martin Eland was called into action several times. Adam Geddes created goal number four with his pass to the left for a trade mark Tony Webster belter of a shot to complete the scoring.
Widgets: The Widgets opened up a first half lead with goals from Dave Money and Duncan Ogilvie. The second half was all one way traffic as Adam Banting making his first appearance for some time looked dominant in the middle of the park. Stuart Edworthy, who was making his club debut, banged in a hat-trick. His first came from a great run down the right from Dave Money, who picked out Stuart near the penalty spot to sweep in. His second and third goals came from his surging runs into the D followed by two powerful well placed shots. Austin Sheppard got into the act with a short corner strike, and Adam Banting completed the scoring with a late double, his second being a reverse stick shot after some neat footwork in the D took him round the keeper. This result was the Widgets best ever score in any game and came as a result of the confident play put together by the rapidly improving Widgets.

Westbury & United Banks HC: Results for Saturday 14/1/09
Team	Opponents		League	Scr	Scorers
1^st XI	v Robinsons	A	Premier 1	1-5	Goodman
2^nd XI	v Bristol & West II	H	North Div 1	3-2	Frost J 2 Catchpole
3^rd XI	v O Bristolians II	H	Avon Div	7-3	Walkey 3 Poulsom 2 Millman S
Wanderers	v Somerset Gryphons II	A	Br & NW Som Div1	3-2	Holliday J 2 Andrews
Wizards	v Bristol & West VII	A	Br & NW Som Div 2	1-0	Crofts
Warriors	v Chippenham III	H	Friendly	1-1	Harris Dom
Widgets	v Yate III	A	Br & NW Som Div 3	0-2
Match comments
1^st XI: The firts team let slip an early goal, but then competed as best as they could for the majority of the game. They had a good spell just before half time but the ball didn't find a free forward, either going past the post or past the red and green shirts. Robs added a second goal in the last quarter, to make the game safe. They then picked up three quick goals in the dying minutes before James Goodman got a late consolation.
2^nd XI: Two goals from James Frost and one from Gary Catchpole gave the seconds victory at home to Bristol & West.
3^rd XI: By all accounts the third team only put together seven moves of any quality and each ended in a Westbury goal. The rest of the game was not much to speak about, but at least it was a return to winning ways. Nathan Walkey scored a hat-trick and Chris Poulsom (2) and Steve Millman chipped in as well.
Wanderers: The Wanderers pulled off a very good victory at Somerset Gryphons by three goals to two. James Holliday scored twice and Si Andrews once to earn all three points.
Wizards: The Wizards also won against Bristol & West who were bottom of the table. One goal decided this match and Mark Crofts was the scorer.
Warriors: The Warriors played Chippenham who have won every game played this season in a friendly. One attackiing chance fell to Dom Harris in the first half, it may have been going wide before going in off a defender, but it still gave the Warriors a shock lead. The defence stood up and did a good job to hold out for an improbable win. Ernie Wise was outstanding at sweeper and gave an almost flawless exhibition of defensive hockey. Ed West was also in fine form between the posts! Chippenham snatched a late equaliser after an ill judged defensive free hit went straight to a Chippenham player.
Widgets: A young Yate side showed their quality in ending the Widgets good run of form with a 2-0 win.