A Newmarket first team much depleted by absences travelled to
Lowestoft on Saturday with second team players making up the
numbers. By the end of the game some of them had established
themselves as real first team material.
Newmarket goal-ace Mike Bennett set himself the
"goal" of scoring in the first 30 seconds and following an excellent
move from the pushback he broke into the Waveney D and shot inches
wide, 20 seconds from the start. Unfortunately for him at least,
this became a taste of things to come.
A further couple of chances went begging before
Adrian Gurnell was pulled down and a penalty flick awarded. Bennett
stepped up and sent a rocket of a shot against the post and away to
safety for Waveney. Newmarket could well have been two or three
goals up at half-time but started the second half all square.
In the second half they again went on the
offensive and after good work on both wings, with Simon Gibson on
the left excelling in his first game for the first team since
October 1993 and "Mal" and Gurnell doing the same on the right, Bob
Townson, the ever-reliable captain, slipped the ball beneath the
'keeper and into the Waveney net.
Towards the end Waveney fought back and might
have even won but for the superb work of William Wilson, a certainty
for regular first team action in the future, and the 'keeper Jon
Hall.
Great Dunmow 2 - 3
Newmarket II
Newmarket 2nd XI stretched their unbeaten run to
12 games despite the absence of six regulars.
Playing with only 10 men, Newmarket worked hard
to win this friendly. Andy Carter scored the opening goal within a
minute and soon it was 2-0 when Harrington converted a penalty flick
after Carter's brilliant run was halted by the Dunmow 'keeper.
Newmarket then went off the boil, conceding two
goals late in the half but Carter restored their lead, ending a fine
run with a reverse stick shot from the top of the D. It was his 11th
goal of the season. Morris and Butler kept Dunmow's forwards at bay
to secure the win.
In a tournament on Sunday Newmarket, again a
player short, topped their qualifying league. Goals from Taylor and
Morris gave them wins.
Will Butler followed up a good debut for the 1st
XI the previous day with another solid performance and Patrick
Cavaliere had a good tournament after a year's absence as did Dave
Lewis following a lengthy lay-off.
Club to get help it needs
The short and medium term future of Newmarket
Hockey Club seems secure. This was the outcome of Monday's
extraordinary meeting called by the committee in light of a shortage
of off-the-field help.
More than 40 people attended the meeting in the
sports centre after which club chairman Di Hernaman said it went
very well. People had come forward to say they were willing to take
on administrative roles which was the whole purpose of the meeting.
As a result of the positive response the club
will again be entering two men's teams in the Norwich Union East
League next season. It will continue to press for an artificial
pitch in Newmarket similar to the one they use at Ely but fears of
player defections to, or a possible merger with their neighbours,
proved groundless.
The chairman said a statement would be issued but
the aims and objectives of Monday's meeting were achieved.
