Another week of hockey and another batch of Match Reports compiled by Sean O’Kelly, written by Ben Leeming, Becky Riley, Chris Hearn, Helen Clarke, Mandy Warrilow and Alex Cooper.

Mens 1st Team

v. Harrogate 1 (away), written by Ben Leeming

Lost 7 – 2 (Goalscorers: Rob Johnstone, Mike White)

Lindum M1s unconvincing away form continues…

The game started well, a very quick short corner was won and the deflection put away by Rob Johnstone. This lead did not last long when the first of several silly turnovers in the Lindum half resulted in Harrogate’s first of the afternoon. This was followed up with two more Harrogate goals, again the result of loose passing or unnecessary risk-taking. Mike White converted a Lindum PC at the half hour mark in what appeared to be a stronger finish for the men in yellow, but a quick break from a Lindum long corner led to a well-taken counterattack goal for the home side. HT – 4-2.

The second half proved no better, Harrogate increased their lead through an unfortunate save / deflection from keeper Ward and a couple of green cards were handed out to Lindum players. There were more chances and half chances for the away side, penalty corners and several scrappy opportunities went by without reward. Harrogate continued to be quick and clinical in exploiting Lindum mistakes and it was 7-2 at the hour mark. The score could have been higher, a goal-line clearance from Leeming and a flick save by Ward kept the score line respectable-ish.

In the last minutes of the game, Harrogate received two yellow cards in quick succession but Lindum could not capitalise. A sequence of unproductive Lindum short corners ended the game. FT – 7-2.

Team: Ward (GK), Leeming, Ingram, Ferraby, T. White, Treadgold, M. White, Bernstein, G. Johnstone, R. Johnstone, Knowles (Capt), Youngman, Swift
Head Coach: Gary Johnson
Team Manager: Sean O’Kelly

Men of the match – George and Ben L – For being diamonds slightly shiny rocks in the rough
Muppet – James “Jimmy” Youngman – Despicable T-shirt

Ladies 1st Team

v. Colchester 1 (home), written by Becky Riley

Lost 5 – 3 (Goalscorers: Becky Riley, Sibyl Gassner, Angie Green)

Lindum ladies 1st XI started strongly with an early goal from Becky Riley to put Lindum 1-0 up, coming from a set play short corner, practised in training. Colchester responded with a swift goal making it 1-1. Both teams fought hard for the next goal. Colchester’s second goal came in quick succession, however Lindum responded immediately with a lovely cross from Vic Fiddies for Sibyl Gassner to deflect in, bringing the score up to 2-2. The play was end to end with Colchester gaining a third goal from a short corner leaving the score 3-2 at half time.

The 2nd half started much like the first, Lindum working together and keeping composure on the ball. An early break from Colchester put Lindum under pressure, however Lindum fought back with another goal; a lovely strike from Angie Green from the top of the D to the bottom left hand corner, taking the keeper by surprise. Colchester fought back but received a green card, leaving Lindum with an opportunity. Unfortunately, fitness played a part and Colchester gained the lead to go 4-3 up. Lindum kept their heads and showed grit and determination, not giving up even when a green card was issued to them with minutes to go. A last minute short corner saw Colchester scrape their 5th goal just before the final whistle making the score and the end of the game 5-3.

MoM was Megan Jones and DoD was Becky Riley.

Thank you to Chris Hearn and Jimmy Hillsmith for umpiring, and to all who supported on the day.

See photos of the match here.

Mens 2nd Team

v. Harrogate 2 (home), written by Chris Hearn

Won 3 – 2 (Goalscorer: James Hillsmith, James Dewhurst, Angus Graham)

Lindum 2s entertained Harrogate 2s in their first Yorkshire Premier home fixture.

Right from the off the home side took control of the game with some good structured play which led to several excellent chances in front of goal, but a mixture of some poor finishing and some superb goalkeeping by the visitor’s keeper kept Lindum at bay. Unfortunately, this was to come back and haunt the home side as it was the visitors who took the lead after a quick break led to the ball hitting a defender’s foot on the line and a penalty stroke was awarded and converted. This spurred Lindum on again and they were soon on level terms when Hillsmith finished a fine move, making the score 1-1 at half time.

The second half started again with Lindum on top, and they got their noses in front when the ball broke to Dewhurst at the top of the circle and he despatched it into the roof of the net (2-1). It was now Harrogate’s turn to put some pressure on the Lindum goal. Had it not been for some great keeping by Rounsley and some robust defending from the back three then things might have been different. Lindum weathered the storm and made it 3-1 with about 10 minutes to go when young debutant Graham neatly deflected a hit into the circle by Watkins into the goal. But Harrogate wouldn’t lie down and they cut the deficit to one goal with only a few minutes. Thankfully, Lindum managed to hold on for a valuable 3 points.

Ladies 2nd Team

v. Halifax 2 (away), written by Helen Clarke

Won 1 – 0 (Goalscorer: Jo Siddons)

This week’s opposition, Halifax, were relegated from the Premier Division last year and with us being new to the 1st Division we were a little apprehensive about this match. Before the game could begin an umpiring issue resulted in us losing one of our defenders to become an umpire and, I am sure, this led to us taking a little while to settle. Mid way through the first half we found our feet and began passing the ball more fluidly. Our defenders worked well as a unit and any breakaway play from Halifax was soon shut down, passing the ball quickly back into our half. Shortly before half-time we were awarded a series of short corners one of which Jo Siddans hit confidently to the back board. The final whistle was blown with the score remaining at 1-0. The team pulled together and worked hard to keep on top of the game.

We awarded two man of the matches this week: Sharon Smith for not only stepping in to umpire but umpiring to a very high standard and Alex Carlin for her untiring work in defence.

Ladies 3rd Team

v. Grasshoppers 1 (home)

Won 7 – 2 (Goalscorers: Linsay Pritchard [2], Abbie Marwood, Evie Wilson [3], Emma Grange)

Ladies 4th Team

v. Goole 1 (away), written by Mandy Warrilow

Lost 3 – 1 (Goalscorer: Cathy Burgess)

Both sides started the match with equal possession, but Goole opened their goal scoring account first when Lindum couldn’t clear a speculative pass into the D. The ball rebounded off a defender’s stick and was poked home. 1-0 to Goole. Encouraged by their goal, Goole applied more pressure and had a number short and long corners awarded. Lindum defended well under pressure and showed off some 3D skills as well! But Goole’s next goal didn’t come from a set piece, but from being in the right place at the right time. Lindum’s keeper saved the initial shot, which went high and landed at chest height onto a Goole player’s stick. She was able just to let it deflect off her stick into the goal, and was surprised as much as us! 2-0 to Goole and half time.

As seems to be the pattern, Lindum started the second half strong, linking some good passes and creating chances that just seem to go wide or were saved. Goole seemed in shock and had to rely heavily on 1 or 2 of their key players to rescue them from the Lindum pressure. Lindum finally found the net with Cathy Burgess opening her account for this season. 2-1. With cheers and encouragement, Lindum continued with the pressure and Laura L found the net but this goal was ruled out. Against the run of play in this half, Goole were awarded a short corner (as a result of the ball hitting a Lindum player’s foot, which was after the ball had come off an attacker’s foot!). Unfortunately for Lindum the umpire did not see the 1st offence and Goole (keeping quiet) successfully netted this to make it 3-1. Not allowing our heads to drop the Ladies continued to apply pressure and to try to capitalise on the good hockey we were playing in the 2nd half but we ran out of time and the final whistle blow and the game ended with a win 3-1 for Goole.

Amber Jenkins was voted player of the match.

Men’s 4th Team

v. Sheffield University Bankers 6 (home), written by Alex “The Slayer” Cooper

Lost 1 – 0 (Goalscorers: nobody, which was the problem)

There’s a saying in the world of Motor Racing that “to finish first, first you must finish”, in reference to drivers trying to make up several places from the start-line and, in doing so, not winning the race because they’ve ended up in the gravel on the outside of turn one. Such was the car-crash of the Mens’ 4th Team on Saturday. The only difference being that to finish first, first you must finish your goalscoring opportunities.

If the FIH, at some point in the future, decide that in order to spice up the game of hockey even further that they start dishing out points for short corners then I’d love to backdate it to Saturday’s fixture and see a 25-odd points difference in Lindum’s favour. Despite dominating the game, despite seeing short corner after short corner after short corner, nobody wearing a yellow / gold SilverFX shirt was either able (or felt the need to) make that final finish on the ball and put it over the line. Only Andy Wright, from one of the countless number of short corners, managed to create any wear n’ tear on the netting in the goal, only to see it disallowed because – after a Bankers player lifted the ball into the top of the goal (see more of that later) – his shot was deemed to be going above the height of the back board at the point of contact with a member of the opposition’s stick. All in all, a game that would be an understatement to label “frustrating”. We had far more competition from Brigg the week before, on a pitch we didn’t know as well as the Lindum Sports Association’s, and beat them 5-2.

To finish first in hockey, first you must score more goals. Or even some goals.

During a game in which Lindum’s defence easily had the measure of the breaks created by Sheffield University Bankers, and I personally had put in a satisfying performance marking their biggest threat out of the game and taking the ball off him at will as he ran towards goal, the circumstances behind Bankers’ goal are … awful! On a defensive short, one of about three or four they were awarded during the entire game, and within the space of three or four seconds I turned the game upside down. I reacted to one of their forwards running into the D, tried to put my stick in the way of a shot and managed “only” to lift the ball into Billy Marwaha’s face. Not only had I taken out the captain and the club’s most highly decorated player, who’s eyebrow required gluing back together, but also saw to it that Bankers were given a penalty flick as Billy’s face was deemed to be a tool in which to prevent a near-certain goal. This was duly converted and if there’s anyone that I didn’t appear interested in speaking to in the bar at the Lindum on Satuday night then you now know why.

Erm, sorry Billy…

Mens 5th Team

v. Kingston-upon-Hull 2 (away)

Lost 5 – 3 (Goalscroers: Tim Sutton, Ryan Vaughan, John)

Mens 6th Team

v. Hull University 3 (away)

Won 1 – 0 (Goalscorer: Ben Nicholson)

Mens 8th (Development) Team

v. Wakefield 8 (away)

Won 3 – 2 (Goalscorers: Taylor Wann, Ruben Sansoa-Twell, Alfie Graves)