- 3′s Show Promise With A Goalless Draw
Saturday 24th September -Newmarket ladies 3′s v’s Ely ladies 3′s 0-0 Draw
The first match of the season for Newmarket ladies 3′s was played away at Ely against Ely ladies 3′s. The game was evenly matched reflected by the score of 0-0. With some new players coming up through the ranks from junior teams the team look set for big things this coming season. There were some great passes through the middle a long with some promising runs down the wing and although Ely had more shots on goal, Newmarket dominated possession. With fitness levels on the up, Newmarket hope for a strong game next week end against Wisbech in a cup game at home.
- Premier League Proves Tough For 2′s
Ladies 2′s v’s Ipswich Grasshoppers: 2-0 to Grasshoppers
Newmarket Ladies II’s, who are playing their first season in the Suffolk Premier league after gaining promotion last season, travelled to Grasshoppers in Ipswich on Saturday. Newmarket’s defence was pushed to the limits with a barrage of attacks and only the thing that kept them in the game was Goalkeeper, Sue Bullimore, who pulled off some incredible saves and at the end of the first half, considered themselves to be lucky to be trailing only 2 – 0. The second half though, told a different story with Newmarket playing hockey that was worthy and more befitting to a team in the Premier League, the only thing missing were goals. This certainly was a game of two halves in which all the players contributed to make it an excellent team building exercise to make this season have the potential to be very exciting
MOM Sue Bullimore
- Ladies Battle Hard For Three Points
Newmarket Ladies 1st v’s St Ives 2′s: 1-0 win to Newmarket
Newmarket travelled to St Ives for their third league clash of the season.
St Ives were quick to get into stride putting Newmarket on to the back foot. Jess Boyle stood strong in goal with some early shots creeping through to her.
Newmarket were gaining confidence in new position sand began to distribute more evenly allowing Gail McDonnell and Jazz Wombwell opportunity to push forward. Chances were falling for Town, Hayley Stoneman and Claire McDonnell only being denied goals by the agile keeper.
A switch around in positions seemed to settle Town. Angel Fayers worked well on the left, interlinking with Jenny Richards; both driving forward and putting pressure on the defence. The first half remained goalless. Newmarket opening the second were keen to dominate the play and with a mixture of skill and determination Newmarket kept the ball out of their defending half for a good 10 minutes.
A ball found it’s way through via Isabel Hooley to Stoneman. She released to Di Thomas who passed forward to Becca Swift on the wing. Swift dummied the ball leaving it for Claire McDonnell who drove to the line and crossed sweetly to Lucy Brown who met the ball superbly, deflecting the ball into goal. With renewed passion, Town were playing at their strongest but despite this St Ives did not give up and a goal-line save from Zoe Bailey kept Newmarket in front. The play moved from end to end and fitness began to show with all players wilting. Neither side could hit the target and Newmarket came away with a hard fought 3 points.
- Hat trick hero Holden
Newmarket I 6 – 0 Boston I
Newmarket men’s first team played their first league game of
the 2011-12 against a competitive Boston side. Newmarket started with real
intent moving the ball quickly and at pace. They came against a resilient
defence and an outstanding goal keeper.
Holden opening the scoring after a fine move down the right
hand side involving Dave Worrall, Chris Leggett, Mike Skelton and Matt Holden.
The later driving into the D, beating a man and slotting the ball into the far
corner. Shortly afterwards Newmarket were reduced to 10 men when centre forward
Skelton was adjudged to have stopped a ball above his shoulder and shown a
yellow card, it was a very harsh decision.
Boston put the 10 men under some pressure, winning a couple
of penalty corners and forcing a save from Keeper Chris Routs. Once Newmarket
returned to their full quota they were back on the front foot, dominating
possession and territory. The Boston keeper
pulled off some fantastic saves from Skelton and Mark Pears up front.
Newmarket scored their second goal from a penalty corner,
the keeper saved the original effort, but Will Wilson controlled the rebound,
beat a couple of men and set up Holden with a tap in for his second.
The second half was much the same as the first, Newmarket on
the attack and the Boston goalkeeper stealing the show. Alex Andreou made it 3
with a reverse stick strike into the bottom left corner. Boston were now
finding it hard to get out of the 25, Ollie Wade was fantastic at left half,
blocking the wing up and distributing the ball wisely.
Holden soon scored the fourth goal, Andreou added the fifth
before Boston’s ill-discipline began to spoil the game, eventually they were
penalised and had a man of their own sin-binned. Newmarket thought they had
scored twice during that period, only for both to be disallowed.
Boston still caused some trouble on the counter attack as
they tried to salvage some pride, fortunately Jordan Newnes was in good form at
centreback and Simon Harrington was on hand to clear one off the line. The game
was meandering to a scrappy conclusion until Mark Pears scored the teams sixth goal
just before the final whistle.
Newmarket were very pleased to get off to a winning start,
but they will need to work on their short corners to ensure that they get the
score lines their dominance deserves. Man of the match was Ollie Wade. Next
week’s game is away at Peterborough, 9:30 meet at the leisure centre.
- Beardon launches mutiny for Noah’s Ark
Sudbury IV 2 – 3 Newmarket II
Newmarket’s newly formed second team played their last pre-season friendly away at Sudbury. With a few players unavailable through injury captain Pete Boyle was still able to field a squad of 13 which looks good for the coming season.
Newmarket started off dominating the game, the Midfield of Ben Gottfredsen, Andrew Beardon, Will Balding and Ben Coupe maintaining possession and finding forwards Mark Simpson and Rob Green with ease. Newmarket spent much of the time off the front foot despite some rather robust challenges in the middle of the park.
Rob Green’s movement caused the defence many problems, he got his reward when he controlled a through ball, beat the goal keeper and slotted into an empty net, this seemed to galvanise Sudbury who began to pressure Newmarket’s back four of Pete Boyle, Adrian Atkinson, Daren Jenkins and Chris Evans. Goal Keeper Chris Warren made numerous saves to keep his team in the game.
Sudbury scored a fortunate goal with 5 minutes to go before half time, the ball deflecting of a defenders foot, leaving keeper Warren with no chance. With the score level Newmarket went back on the attack. Will Balding drove the right wing, beat a man and crossed the ball, where youngster Jordan Walker was unlucky to hit the post. Sudbury however went down the other end and scored, making it 2-1 just on the half time whistle.
Newmarket felt very unlucky to be behind, having dominated most of the game. Fortunately they had a match winner in the ranks. The team forced several short corners. From one Andrew Beardon’s shot from the top of the D clattered the backboards low to the keepers left. Soon afterwards he scored a goal of the season contender, rattling the underside of the bar from the top of the D. The midfielder didn’t score last season, but since becoming the father of twins in the summer he has scored two goals in both of the two games he has played this season. Let’s hope the goals keep coming two by two, hurrah!
Pete Boyle was very proud of his team’s performance, but the club would still like additional players, regardless of experience. The club strives to be a friendly welcoming place for everybody. If you are interested please have a look at the website for training times. www.newmarkethockeyclub.com
18 September 2011- Holden scores his first Newmarket goals for almost a decade!
Sudbury II 0 – 8 Newmarket I
Newmarket travelled away to play their last pre season friendly against Sudbury II, a team who will be playing one league higher than Newmarket this season. After demolishing a weakened Thetford 9 – 1 the previous week, the team were hoping for a sterner test, despite the score line, Sudbury provided it.
Newmarket began by retaining possession, moving the ball quickly between the back four of Will Wilson, Simon Harrington, Jordan Newnes and Ben Gottfredsen. The later moving up after a fantastic performance for the second team last week.
The midfield of Matt Holden, Alex Andreou, Chris Leggett and Josh Dawson always made themselves available and the forwards of Mike Skelton and Mark Pears didn’t give the Sudbury defence a moments peace, the only surprise was that it took Newmarket until the eighth minute to get on the score sheet. Andreou finishing off a great move with a thunderous strike into the bottom left corner.
Sudbury were offering some resistance and causing some trouble with their pacy central midfielder, but Newmarket doubled their advantage after Dawson beat his man on the right wing, drove the baseline and set Holden up with a tap in at the far post.
Wilson soon made it three converting a penalty stroke after a Sudbury player stopped a goal bound shot on the line with his foot. Despite Newmarket’s dominance, Sudbury fashioned a couple of good chances, fortunately keeper Chris Routts made a couple of fantastic saves to preserve his clean sheet. Holden added the fourth just before half time after another free flowing team move.
The team came out for the second half keen to re-affirm their superiority and ensure the score line finished an emphatic one. Holden soon scored from a short corner, beating his man and firing in at the near post. Chris Leggett capped a fine performance in central midfield by scoring the sixth, before Holden added a seventh after being set up by Skelton.
It was just left to Josh Dawson to cap a fine display with the goal of the game, the team broke quickly down the left, Holden firing a perfect cross into the D which Dawson deflected first touch into the top right corner, it was a goal worthy of winning any game and capped a fine display from the winger.
Somehow Newmarket managed to score eight goals, without either striker getting on the score sheet, they did link up play brilliantly and provided plenty of opportunities for others. Performances of note were, Josh Dawson on the right, Chris Leggett in the Centre of midfield, Centre back Jordan Newnes and Ben Gottfredsen out of position at right back.
This was a fantastic team result, typified by the teams desire and willingness to move the ball early and at pace, with a couple of extra players back for next week’s game, the captains will have to think long and hard over team selection. Next week’s game, the first league game of the 2011-12 season, is a home game against Boston I. Push back is 15:30 at the Leisure Centre, spectators are always welcome.
3 September 2011- Ladies 1′s Start As They Mean To Go On!
Newmarket Ladies 1′s vs Cambridge South 1′s (League CUP Game) 8-1 win to Newmarket.
Facing local opposition Cambridge South; Newmarket Ladies 1st team notched up a convincing victory for their first contest of the season which happened to be a league cup match.
The new look squad, now coached by Chris Evans, looked sharp and fit as they swarmed their opposition’s defending half throughout the game. It took Newmarket just 5 minutes to capitalise through Vice Captain Claire McDonnell who swept a ball in from a left hand cross. McDonnell went on to get a further 2 to gain a ha-trick in the first half – one from close range and the other from a top of the D, thunderous shot.
On form Hayley Stoneman looked hungry for goals throughout the match and after collecting a quick hit, flicked the ball beyond the keeper’s reach. Her second goal was an artful reverse side shot into the right hand corner and her third ha-trick goal came from a deflection mid D in the second half. Stoneman managed to get a fourth in the final minutes of the game, a solid shot from open play.
Jasmine Wombwell who usually is a defencive player made a timely run into the D to volley home a cross from the right hand side – that goal being her third ever for Newmarket and with it only being the first game of the season suggests there could be many more for her to come.
Cambridge South played on gallantly and managed to slot a ball past unsighted town keeper Jess Boyle in the first half but they could not break the solid back line.
With a full 15 player squad, Newmarket were able to rotate and substitute players which had a positive effect on the side who could have struggled to cope in the heat of the sun.
The finally goal tally was 8-1 to Newmarket and they are aiming to continue in this fashion to assist with their quest to return to the East league next season.
