Double Figures for Badgers

Gloucester Badgers 1 – Lydney Badgers 10
Saturday 21st January 2012

This was the badgers’ second win of the year. An emphatic display, although they were slow to start, allowing Gloucester to take the lead in the first five minutes. This did not last long as Dominic Musgrove was on hand to turn in a cross from the right to level the scores. Within minutes he was on hand to repeat the strike to give Lydney the lead. Joe Fuller added the third with a shot hitting the back of the net giving the keeper no chance. Musgrove then completed his hat trick, before adding another to increase his tally to four. Just before half time Danny Hume had his customary strike from the edge of the D to give Lydney a 6-1 halftime lead. The second half continued with Lydney pressure which saw James Saunders add two further goals. A Henry Kirk strike followed before Saunders unselfishly set up Lee Morgan for his first goal for Lydney and their final goal of the game. The central defender Jack Turley marshalled the Lydney defence superbly and the once he was beaten David Reid pulled off an amazing save to deny the Gloucester attack. Marcus Hutchinson and Sam Horton linked well on the right  as did Kirk and Hume on the left providing plenty of crosses for the forwards to work off. The midfield was controlled by Alex Hetenyi and Reuben Elliot assisted by Mitch Brett in his debut game for the badgers. Credit to Gloucester who kept trying despite conceding goals. Alex Hetenyi was voted man of the match. The badgers captain Chris Rothery- Jones was unable to play having damaged his thumb the previous week provided support from the sidelines. Next Saturday the badgers entertain Wotton under Edge looking to avenge their early season defeat.

Oh, oh, sometimes, I get a good feeling …

Lydney III 2 – Cheltenham Civil Service 1
Saturday 21st January

It turns out that the radio was playing a good omen on the way to the game for the Ladies 3s on Saturday. The 3s started the first game of the new year upbeat, looking for their first win of the season. With nothing to lose, they pressed early and put some nice moves together with Sophie Watkins and Di Wunda-Webb linking up beautifully to put Lydney into the lead. Service were quick off the mark to return and were able to equalise before half time.
 
During the second half Lydney tightened up their marking and were untroubled defensively for the most part and able to push on for a winner. Eventually, Captain Bev Halford put her team in front from a sweetly struck free hit at the top of the D. Di Wunda-Webb and K Macaskill shared Man of the Match honours this week.

Lydney : A Durham, B Worth, K Haile, C Hutchinson, C Hudsonmason, D Wunda-Webb, Br Halford, S Watkins, Be Halford ( Capt ) A Kyte-Vaughn, E Richards, K Macaskill.

Gracious in defeat, the Civil Service Ladies were keen to let us know that the teas provided by the Cross this week were the best they had ever had. The vegetarian cottage pie was the stuff of legend.

This week I am offering a selection of chocolate to the first person who sings the first line to the tune of this blog post to me between now and Saturday. It can be in person or on the phone, I just want to know if anyone reads this nonsense.

And while I’m on the subject, would you PLEASE start commenting or rating or ANYTHING … please…. ( first rating also gets chocolate )

Ladies 1s – Top of the Year, Top of the Table

Lydney 5 – Falmouth 2
Saturday 14th January 2012

The first match after the Christmas break was always going to be tough. Even more so when it is against a Falmouth team who have proven to be tricky over the past few years.

Lydney’s Captain, Emma Biddle, was hoping to quash this once and for all. She demanded a fast, efficient and professional performance from her team feeding off the recent excellent run of results in the league, leaving Lydney 2^nd

The team did not disappoint in the opening 5 minutes looking to settle into the game quickly. There were some end-to-end attacks as both teams looked to make use of space in the midfield areas.

It was some aggressive play from young forwards Lauren Thompson and Chloe James, which put Lydney in front. Thompson put a ball through to James, penetrating the Falmouth defence. James nudged the ball past the only remaining defender and then coolly pushed the ball past the keeper to put Lydney on the front foot.  Lydney’s next goal came when Amy Biddle cut in from the flank and found herself quickly at the top of the Falmouth circle. She deftly turned an oncoming defender before hitting the ball hard and low to Lauren Thompson giving her plenty of time to reverse stick strike the ball into the goal.

Lydney’s players held much more possession now before the half time whistle and there was just chance for another goal from Chloe James taking the score to 3 – 0 at half time. Lydney seemed to have taken a strangle hold of the game.

Lydney seemed to lose concentration going into the second half and Falmouth were only too happy to take advantage of this putting two goals past the Lydney defence in quick succession.  Although the momentum had definitely swung in Falmouth’s  favour the Lydney defence was resolute clearing a Falmouth attack and turning it into a Lydney goal.

Jane Box cleared the ball, it was collected by a Lydney players racing back from the half way line and played swiftly out to Emma Biddle on the right hand side, she in turn played a quick long ball down the line to Lauren Thompson. In a classic training ground move James was a move ahead and having led to the baseline played a deft one two with Emma Biddle before Thompson played a quick shot at the Falmouth goal. Although the initial shot was well saved, the Falmouth defence had been stretched by the pace of the move and the rebound was dispatched by a well-placed Amy Biddle.

Minutes later the Lydney team got the match clinching fifth goal. Now playing with much better shape and structure, Lydney were able to move the ball around the pitch in what is fast becoming their signature style. It was some great combination and inter-passing that found Amy Biddle in space on the attacking right hand baseline. With calm and composure she picked out Lauren Thompson who tapped in the eventual winner.

All in all a job well done and three more valuable points on the board. With other games postponed due to the frosts, Lydney moved to the top of the South West Premier 2 division;

Player of the match for Lydney – Chloe James

Mens 1s fly off the Blocks

Lydney 9 Devizes 1
Saturday 14th January 2012

Lydney entertained Devizes at Whitecross Leisure Centre on Saturday.

Lydney raced into an early lead with one of the quickest goals seen at Whitecross School, Kevin Broadhurst winning the ball at the top of the circle drawing the goalkeeper and slipping the ball to Tom Fuller to score into an empty net.

A similar thing happened two minutes later, this time Andy Horne supplying the finishing touch.

This was soon increased to 3-0 with Kevin Broadhurst and Tom Cotterell combining down the left to supply Tom Fuller with his second goal.

After 15 minutes it was 4-0 with Gary James scoring from a short corner with a well struck shot.

Devizes came more into the game as the half progressed but it was the home side who increased their lead just before half time with a goal from Captain Gavin Moore.

Lydney continued their pressure in the second half and further goals followed from Chris Aldridge, Will Aldridge (2) and Tom Cotterell.

Devizes scored a consolation goal late in the game.

Will Aldridge was this week’s man of the match.

Next week Lydney entertain Lansdown at Whitecross Leisure Centre 1.30 start.

New Year, New opponents for Badgers

Lydney Badgers 6  – Worcester Badgers  0
January 7th 2012

In this the first ever fixture between these hockey clubs at any level, saw the badgers start the first game of 2012 with a home win.

The home side started well giving the Worcester defence plenty to think about with their skilful passing.  It took the home side twenty minutes before they were able to find the net when Danny Hume was able to flick the ball past the Worcester keeper. This was followed by three quick goals from Dominic Musgrove, James Saunders and Henry Kirk to give the home side a four goal lead at half time. The second half continued with the same enthusiasm as the first half but Lydney were only able to add a further two goals one from Oliver Rothery-Jones (voted man of the match) and a second for Dominic Musgrove.

Olympic Tickets – register your interest by January 23rd

The club has some tickets for Olympic Hockey. If anyone is interested in purchasing any, please register your interest with your Captain ( in writing, just to be on the safe side )

The deadline for registering is 23rd January after which time a draw will be held if over subscribed.

Half way through the League Season

Premier Division 2

Second from the top with only one point in it. Unbeaten with 27 points.

Ladies 1s flying High

Ladies 1s rich vein of form continues

 

Ladies 2s fall short versus Cheltenham 3s

Cheltenham Ladies IIIs 2 – Lydney Ladies IIs 1
Saturday 3rd December
 
The Ladies 2s run of poor form continued on Saturday losing away to Cheltenham Ladies. At first, Lydney’s backs didn’t have a great deal to do, with the majority of Cheltenham’s attacks breaking down before showing any signs of danger, but the visitors conceded a composed goal from Cheltenham to put them in front first. Young Charlotte Purvis brought the scores level before half time to keep Lydney in it, but it was Cheltenham who came out on top with a second half winner.
 
Lydney had the chance to make this game theirs with numerous short corners in both halves, but were unable to find the back of the net, leaving them in a precarious position near the bottom of Severn Division 1 at the end of the season’s first half.

Some solace was found with the post match teas and jacket potatoes in Cheltenham’s lovely clubhouse, as well as the 1sts victory in the subsequent game.
 
Lydney : J Harding, B Worth, D Legge, S Mitchell, M Chidley, J Lack, A Bannister, A Kirk, M Royle ( Man of the Match ), Au Durham, R Lugg, C Purvis

Men’s Firsts in 6 goal Uni thriller

Bristol UWE 4  Lydney 2
Saturday 3rd December

Lydney travelled to Bristol on Saturday to take on the University of the West of England on their water based Astroturf pitch.

The visitors were soon into their stride with Captain Gavin Moore finishing off a well worked move with the opening goal.

Further positive interplay created a couple more chances but the second goal proved elusive.

The home side came back strongly before the break with an equaliser and then took the lead on the stroke of half time. 

Lydney were forced into a reshuffle when Adam Farag came off injured at half time, a big blow for the visitors.

Bristol UWE went further ahead with two well worked goals early in the second half and at this stage it was one way traffic.

Lydney came back strongly in the final quarter with Andy Horne, Kevin Broadhurst and Jason Rose combining well down the right flank.

It was from one of these exchanges that a short corner was awarded which was well finished off by Gary James.

Will Hunt was unlucky in the final minutes when a shot went narrowly wide. 

Will Aldridge was this week’s man of the match.

Next week Lydney entertain Cardiff University at Whitecross Leisure Centre 1.30pm start.