Fareham and Exeter University players and officials line up for a minute’s silence in memory of past Fareham hockey player and cricketer Alan Salmons, who died in the days leading up to the match after a short illness.
Aged 83 years, Mr Salmons had been a stalwart member of both Fareham clubs for over 60 years, playing right-back in the club’s days on the grass surfaces at Bath Lane in the winters months and as a batsman for the town’s cricket club in the summer. Alan also played hockey for Hampshire Veterans. In an emotional and moving address, Alan’s son-in-law David Faulkner, pictured centre, paid tribute to Mr Salmons’ contribution to Fareham cricket and hockey and to the individual help he had afforded him in his preparation for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, when as a member of the Great Britain squad he returned home with a Gold Medal. Alan’s funeral will take place at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday 8 March at Portchester Crematorium, Upper Cornaway Lane, Portchester, PO16 8NE.
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2/28/2018 0 Comments FAREHAM INDISCIPLINE IS EXE-FACTOR![]() Fareham twice led Western Conference pacesetters Exeter University before the Devon students took control in the second half to run out 4-2 winners. Ahead inside the opening 90 seconds and 2-1 up seven minutes before the break, Fareham were forced to play a chunk of the game with only ten men as Chris Davey, who scored the second goal, was twice yellow carded. “The cards were crucial as we had to try and contain a very strong team,” reflected Fareham head coach Ben Barnes. Despite being weakened by the absence of the influential Niall Stott and two of the Rawlings brothers, Fareham got off to a dream start with Martin Gough (left above)finishing off a move instigated from the back by Australian Dave Andersson. They looked dangerous on the break, but allowed that early initiative to slip when Davey picked up his first yellow card and Sam Hooper equalised from a 14th minute penalty stroke. Fareham continued to look sharp and edge the game and deservedly restored their advantage when Davey, out of the sin bin moments earlier, buried a penalty corner to make it 2-1. But a minute before half-time Exeter, benefitting from time and space in the D, were back level through James Thomas. When Davey collected a second yellow card – it could easily have been a red - soon after half-time, Fareham really were up against it. “We did not have as much control and playing a man down was hard work,” Barnes conceded. Exeter pressed, forced penalty corners and with 12 minutes remaining took the lead for the first time through Jack Middleton. “Their third goal was a real shame. What looked like a clear foul on George Davey was not given and Exeter scored within 10 seconds. It gifted them a goal which was hard to swallow,” Barnes added. Fareham almost levelled when teenage debutant Fergus Jackson and James Seager set up a move which ended with Chris Davey just off target. As Fareham pushed for the equaliser, Exeter grabbed a rather flattering fourth goal from Conor Caplan in a final play penalty corner. Tom Seebold, pictured above, gave Fareham seconds a two-goal penalty corner start, but Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 visitors Epsom scored three times after the break to run out 4-3 winners.
Seebold, a pop idol on the local club scene, struck the right cord with two short corner conversions, but Fareham were halted in their tracks just before half-time when Epsom got a goal back, their hosts believing there was an infringement. Epson pressed hard at the start of the second period and, having equalised, scored twice more to advance 4-2 ahead. Fareham regrouped, clawed one back through Paul Metcalf but were unable to grab a fourth equalising goal. Havant appeared comfortable winners when, though Zach Chinn and Colin Simmonds, they led relegation threatened Wimborne Wayfarers 2-0, but the Dorset strugglers got one back through Sam White and then equalised with a Todd Clark drag flick with the last play of the match. Stuart Swift hit a second consecutive Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 hat-trick as a bare-11 Winchester team, ravaged by poor availability, injury and illness nearly pulled off an unlikely result at Surbiton, who's 1st XI currently top the English National Premier League. They lost 5-4.
Surbition completely dominated possession and were rewarded with an opening goal in the first three minutes. Chances fell to Winchester exclusively on the counter attack and they found their equaliser on the quarter hour as Kings’ school debutant James Baxter did some neat work on the left and passed across to Nick Behar to divert home. Surbiton re-took the lead ten minutes later from a short corner whilst Rob Craddock was being attended-to for a head wound contracted after a heavy fall. A third goal from the Surrey team followed soon after when they broke from an abortive Winchester penalty corner and overwhelmed the remaining defenders. Surbiton looked to be pulling away, and rightly so given their dominance, but fortune favoured Winchester just before the break when Swift's pass across goal was diverted-in by a defender to make it 3-2. The fall experienced by the now-patched-up Craddock had a sting in the tail as he pulled up early in the second half as a rib fracture revealed itself. Playing on with ten men, Winchester feared the worst as Surbiton scored twice in quick succession from an unstoppable, roofed shot and then a lightning quick drag flick to take it to 5-2. Hopes were raised again as Baxter won a penalty stroke, converted by Swift, and then, in the dying moments, Andy Winnett weaved his way along the line and found Swift who shoved the ball under the keeper’s arm. GallantWinchester had just about enough time to level matters, but Surbition kept the ball safely at the Winchester end. Havant tuned up for this weekend’s Western Conference double header against Isca (Saturday) and Cardiff Met (Sunday) with a 3-1 win against Clifton Robinsons, the bottom side, at Bristol University’s Coombe Dingle complex.
Havant got their noses in front a minute before half-time with Mike Deller-Merricks finishing off a neat interchange between Maciej Janiszewski and Duncan Marsh. Four minutes after the break Jamie Mortimore equalised for Clifton but, having taken control of the midfield, Havant went on to win the game. Matt Cox restored Havant’s 59th minute lead from a penalty cormer rebound and then linked well with Michal Dawid, who wrapped up the points with his maiden goal, again from a short corner. Southampton threw themselves a lifeline in the Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 2 relegation scrap with a 6-2 win over Addiscombe – but it needed four goals in the closing ten minutes to clinch the victory.
The result lifted Southampton above fellow strugglers Romsey, whose 4-1 defeat at London Edwardians II was their sixth in a row. Coach Jon Price was far from impressed with Southampton’s performance. “For periods, we looked like a team that had never met before. We were lucky to be playing the bottom of the league side,” he said. Ironically, Southampton started well with good ball retention, only to be caught on the break and fall behind. “Our response was fantastic and a minute later we were level from a Sam McKenzie penalty corner,” Price said. “After that, the issues started. We started rushing and forcing ball, which led to us giving the ball away needlessly, all compounded by poor first touches, and badly executed passing where we looked like a team that had never met before. "This led to a second goal for Addiscombe, taking advantage of our poor structure in defence, allowing them to pass around us like we were statues. “This low quality of play continued through till half time, where I gave the guys the serious talking to, with the hope they would be able to reset and come out playing our style of hockey in the second half. “Although things got better, we still tried our hardest to give the ball back to the opposition with poor passing and receiving standards.” When Lukas Drumm thudded a penalty stroke against the upright, Southampton feared the worst. But with Addiscombe visibly tiring, Southampton eventually cashed in with Joe Barber equalising before four unanswered goals flashed into the visitors’ net in ten minutes. There were two open play goals from Lukas Drumm, one short corner rebound by Phil Maunder and a further open play goal from Si Watson. “It was the result we needed, and realistically did deserve, even if we forgot how to play for 50 minutes of the game,” said a reflective Price. Winchester are sliding dangerously into South Premier Division relegation waters after a run of eight matches without a win, the last three of which they have lost.
Now third from bottom of the log, they are now only four points ahead of Henley, who have closed the gap by winning two of their last three games. Horsham lie bottom of the table and are expected to finish last. Winchester have four games left, with the visit to Henley on Saturday week likely to be critical towards their immediate future. Although actual relegation places are largely dependent on demotions from the National League feeder Conferences, Winchester will want to avoid finishing in second from bottom spot. They failed to take advantage of a fast start against Spencer, who scored three times in a blistering ten minute second half spell to run out eventual 4-3 winners at Kings’. Despite taking an early lead through Jack Culmer and dominating the first period with plenty of possession Winchester were unable to carve out many clear cut chances. Gradually Spencer picked up the tempo and equalised through Gus Kennedy just before the break. Both sides probed for opportunities which were far and few between before the game burst into life in the last 15 minutes. A Winchester penalty corner was blocked by a defender’s foot and Ben Hibberd converted the resulting stroke to give his side a 2-1 lead. Spencer responded promptly with three goals in 10 minutes through Stewart Laing, Ashley Smith, Tom Whiteley to forge 4-2 ahead. Winchester noticeably flagged, but indiscipline by Spencer led to the visitors being reduced to nine men and Craig Jeffrey clawing back a third goal for Winchester, which proved too late to change the outcome. * Trojans went down 3-2 at Guildford, where Richard Aves and Colin French were on target. Lauren Carter celebrated her engagement with a second half goal for Southampton Ladies – but it only proved a consolation as visiting Teddington seconds snatched the South Women’s League Division 3B points with a 2-1 win.
Despite a positive start, Southampton found themselves chasing the game as, against the general run of play, Teddington broke with Laura Marks securing a 1-0 half-time lead. Once ahead, the visitors applied pressure with an overload of players in key areas, but Southampton created opportunities of their own, but were unable to level the scores before the break. Southampton were back in the game once Lauren Carter equalised from a short corner. But Teddington, chasing a third win in four recent matches, maintained the pressure with Lucy Elvidge scoring their second and winning goal. Southampton forced a last gasp penalty corner, but Teddington cleared the danger to secure fourth place in the table. Fareham remain level alongside Southampton on the 27-point mark after a 4-1 home defeat by Guildford, who are joint top alongside Wanderers. The margin of victory flattered Guildford, who scored twice in the closing minutes after Fareham had pushed strongly for an equaliser. Guildford doubled their early lead from a disputed penalty stroke, but were pinned back by a Vicky Field goal which climaxed a fine Fareham comeback. Fareham pushed hard for an equaliser, but were caught on the break twice late on. Coach Steve Lemon reflected: “I was pleased with our performance. The two late goals rather flattered Guildford, but we made them work very hard for their win points.” Table topping Trojans were undone by two penalty corner conversions as Swansea City won 2-0 to trim the Stoneham girls’ lead at the top of the Investec Women’s Western Conference.
Katrin Budd tucked away a short corner in each half as Swansea celebrated a fourth straight win and narrowed Trojans’ lead at the top to two points. Nearest rivals Reading and Stourport drew 1-1 at Sonning Lane. It‘s now essential Trojans bounce back with a win against Isca at Stoneham Lane on Saturday (noon) in readiness for a potential title decider against Stourport on March 10. Chichester’s fears of being sucked into the end-of-season Premier Division relegation play-offs deepened with a shock 2-1 defeat by West Herts, who celebrated their first Eastern Conference win of the campaign.
The result leaves Chichester in second from bottom position, one points adrift of Old Loughtonians and Old Georgians, whose visit to the College on Saturday promises to be a season defining math for both clubs. Quite simply it’s a match have to win as their three remaining matches after that – against Teddington, Oxted and Brighton & Hove – are all against sides in the top four places. Chichester were mugged by a West Herts penalty corner winner two minutes from time at Watford – Will Alderton scoring to give the Hertfordshire side their first win in 14 outings, 12 of which they have lost. Earlier, Luke Emmett’s 58th minute short corner conversion wiped out a strike by Callum Till, who fired West Herts in front three minutes before half-time. Fareham twice led Western Conference leaders Exeter University in the first half before bowing to a 4-2 defeat.
A first minute opener by Martin Gough gave Fareham the perfect start, which Chris Davey enhanced after Exeter had equalised from a penalty stroke. Exeter levelled against before half time and scored twice in the second period, their fourth goal coming in the final play. Fareham played 20 minutes of the match with ten men after Chris Davey had twice been yellow carded. Havant won 3-1 at basement club Clifton Robinsons, with Mike Deller-Merricks, Matt Cox and Michal David on target. Trojans ladies lost 2-0 at Swansea City, but still enjoy a two-point lead at the top of the Investec Women’s Western Conference after play-off rivals Reading and Stourport drew 1-1. Men England Hockey Western Conference Clifton Robinsons 1 Havant 3, Fareham 2 Exeter University 4. South League Premier 1 Winchester 3 (Culmer, Hibberd, Jeffrey) Spencer 4. Premier 2 Guildford 3 Trojans 2 (Aves, French) Hampshire/Surrey Regional 1 Fareham II 3 (Seebold 2, Metcalf) Epsom 4, Wimborne Wayfarers 2 (Clark, White) Havant II 2 (Chinn, Simmons) Division 2 London Edwardians II 4 Romsey 1, Southampton 6 Addiscombe 1, Women Investec Western Conference Reading 1 Stourport 1, Swansea 2 Trojans 0. ![]() Chichester scored four times in the closing nine minutes to rescue a miraculous point from their visit to England Hockey Eastern Conference high fliers Southgate. The match ended 4-4 after second-in-the-table Southgate had led 4-0 five minutes into the second period. Luke Emmett’s 61st minute penalty corner conversion launched a stunning comeback by Chichester, who then scored twice in quick succession through Alex Baxter and Alex Pendle to cut Southgate’s lead to 4-3. Pendle [left] converted a short corner with the very last play of the match to level the scores and complete an incredible comeback. The draw should give Chichester a timely lift going into what amounts to a season defining next two matches. They travel to Watford to play basement boys West Herts and then on March 3 host fellow strugglers Old Georgians at Chichester College. With West Herts almost certain to be relegated, Chichester must avoid finishing second from bottom to steer clear of the relegation play-offs. Three goals in the opening 16 minutes set Fareham up for a 4-1 win at Cheltenham – a real confidence booster ahead of Sunday’s clash with England Hockey Western Conference leaders Exeter University at Henry Cort, 1.30pm.
Chris Davey, Jamie Rawlings and Niall Stott all scored in that key opening period, while several other chances went begging as Fareham threatened to bury their Gloucestershire hosts. Luke Cornish added a fourth in the second half before Cheltenham grabbed a late consolation goal. “The performance was really pleasing,” reflected Fareham head coach Ben Barnes. “To start well was so important and we did the right things well to give ourselves a grip on the game at half time. “Getting outcomes in the final third has been an area we have working hard on and to see the chances converted was great to see.” Fareham were ahead through Chris Davey inside five minutes at Cheltenham College and then scored twice in quick succession ten minutes later to take a firm grip. A long aerial pass from the back by Jamie Rawlings which picked out teenager George Davey created the second goal. The Fareham youngster, fresh from a second team hat-trick against Chichester the previous day, was taken out by the Cheltenham goalkeeper and Rawlings made it 2-0 from the resulting stroke. A minute later Niall Stott drilled a drag flick penalty corner through the goalkeeper’s legs for Fareham’s third. “Our circle entry upgrades were very good and we looked like getting corners or shots away every time we entered the 23,” enthused Barnes. Cheltenham scrambled away two other penalty corners off the line, while Martin Gough saw a goal-bound reverse stick shot beaten away as Fareham laid siege. “It was not without us having to defend,” conceded Barnes. “Cheltenham were dangerous on counter attack and won a number of corners before half time which George Harris was a match for. “He pulled of two really top saves to keep our three-goal advantage.” Cheltenham pressed higher after the break in a vain attempt to get back in the game, but it was only a matter of time before Fareham added a fourth goal from Cornish 13 minutes from the end after good work from Gough and Scott Rawlings in the circle. Will Jones, George Davey and Scott Rawlings all came close for Fareham before Mohamed Samak got a consolation goal for the hosts six minutes from time. Now all Fareham emphasis will be on Sunday’s showdown with Exeter University, the side whom Barnes rates as the best his side they have played this season – the west country students snatching a late goal to beat Fareham 5-4 in late October. “The pressure is all on them. It’s so close at the top and with Birmingham and Cardiff Met breathing down their necks, Exeter can’t afford to slip,” Barnes said. “From our own perspective, we’re now in touching distance of the three teams immediately above us and we really want to push on.” * Fareham seconds thrashed Chichester II 8-0 in Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1, with George Davey’s hat-trick taking his season’s tally to 18 goals. Oli Bradbury, Luke Gould, Christian McKenna, Kieran Paige, and Scott Rawlings were also on target as fourth placed Fareham ran amok against the league’s bottom side. Stuart Swift was Winchester’s four-goal hero as second placed Hampshire/Surrey Division 2 side Oxted III were thrashed 7-0 at Kings’.
Any anxiety that Winchester may have had at playing a clearly under-strength Oxted was quickly dispelled in a flowing, assertive performance against their clearly under-strength opposition. Swift opening the scoring on eight minutes after Rob Duffy had surged down the left channel and delivered a great cross under the keeper's nose which Swift deflected-in. No more than a minute later, Greg Cox laid a gentle ball into Swift's path – the balding striker blasting the ball through the Oxted keeper. Winchester were 3-0 up in 15 minutes with Nick Behar scooping home after Adam Minor had burst through the Oxted midfield. Winchester had a great deal more first half opportunities, but had to wait until injury time to effectively kill the game off with another Minor win in midfield and an unselfish pass to Channel Islander Matt Stokes to fire into the corner. Keeper Callum Johnstone was called on to make one sharp save to his right, but this was to be his only touch of the game. Oxted's best spell came at the start of the second half but could not find a way past the reliable Harry Trussler and his fellow defenders. Winchester finally recovered control of the game with Swift's hat-trick goal, similar to the first after a Duffy drive down the left channel and a pin-point cross onto the top scorer's stick. Greg Cox added a sixth with ten minutes remaining while the seventh and final goal came in the dying minutes when Swift smashed the ball at waist height past the keeper after a Cox drive into the D. The 7-0 win lifted Winchester to fifth place in the table, while Southampton moved a point closer to fellow strugglers Romsey at the bottom courtesy of a 3-3 draw at Surbiton. Romsey lost 3-0 to high riding Wanderers and will look forward to the March 17 showdown with Southampton at Hampshire Collegiate as a potential relegation decider. ![]() Lizzie Gittens marked her Stoneham return with a late winner as table topping Trojans maintained their Investec Women’s Western Conference title push with a 1-0 victory over Gloucester City. Trojans, who enjoy a three-point lead over Stourport at the top of the log, were made to work hard for their victory – Gittens converting a penalty corner four minutes from time. It was her first home game since rejoining Trojans from Premier Division championship chasing Surbiton, where she had not enjoyed as much pitch time as she might have hoped. The Gloucester match was a tightly contested affair, with the visitors putting Trojans’ defence under pressure with their strong breaks. There was no shortage of turnovers but Trojans did show glimpses of neat passing links. It was a tense affair right until the final whistle with Gloucester forcing the pace after Gittens’ winner, but finding themselves rebuffed by a resilient home defence. A tenth win in 13 outings has put Trojans in pole position ahead of what could be a season defining trip to South Wales on Saturday lunchtime. Trojans’ girls face a formidable task against an in-form Swansea City, who have won their last three games and completed a notable double over Stourport with a recent 1-0 victory. Fareham scored three times in the opening 16 minutes of their England Hockey Western Conference match at Chelenham before cruising to a 4-1 win over their Gloucestershire hosts.
Chris Davey, Jamie Rawlings, with a penalty stroke, and Nial Stott put Fareham firmly in the driving seat before Luke Cornish added a fourth in the second half. Chichester, in contrast, pulled off a remarkable comeback to draw 4-4 at Eastern Conference rivals Southgate, where they were 4-0 down going into the last ten minutes. But the Sussex side hit back with goals by Luke Emmett and Alex Baxter before teenager Alex Pendle scored twice in the last five minutes to earn his side a point. A late goal by Lizzie Gittens gave Western Women’s Conference leaders Trojans a 1-0 win over Gloucester City at Stoneham Lane. Results - Men Eastern Conference Southgate 4 Chichester 4 (Luke Emmett, Alex Baxter, Alex Pendle (2). Western Conference Cheltenham 1 Fareham 4 (Davey, J Rawlings, Stott, Cornish) South Premier Division 1 London Edwardians 3 Winchester 2 (Hibberd 2) Division 2 Trojans 2 Bournemouth 3 (Butterfield 2, Hattemore) Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 Chichester II 0 Fareham II 8 (G Davey 3, O Bradbury, Gould, McKenna, Paige, Rawlings), Havant II 4 (Duffy, Lane, Pickett, Taplin) Haslemere 4. Division 2 Romsey 0 Wanderers 3, Surbiton III 3 Southampton 3, Winchester II 7 (Swift 4) Oxted III 0. Women Investec Western Conference Trojans 1 (L Gittens) Gloucester City 0 He’s well-known as one of Chichester’s longest-serving sporting all-rounders.
And Andy Barnes’ next mission will see him head off in searching of cricketing success down under. As vice-captain of the England over-70s cricket team, Barnes is off to Australia at the start of next week. The squad will be on tour for four weeks, playing five one-day internationals and four other state games, touring both east and west coasts of Australia. Barnes, a right-hand batsman and off-spin bowler, played club cricket for Chichester and Middleton in the Sussex League for 25 years. He captained Sussex’s over-50 and over-60 cricket sides over a 15-year period and has also skippered an England cricket over-60s team to victory over Wales. But it’s not only on the cricket field that Barnes has had a long and glittering career – he is a very good hockey player too. He played 194 times for Sussex’s hockey team – a county record – and coached England Hockey’s over-60s and 65s to gold medals in Hong Kong and Cape Town, beating Australia in both finals. He has had coaching and playing duties with the England over-70s hockey team since 2015. They gained silver medals when beaten on penalties by hosts Australia in the 2015 World Cup. Barnes, well-known locally as part of the family who run Game, Set and Match sport retailers in Quarry Lane, Chichester. He coached East Grinstead from 1992 to 1997 and Reading 1998 to 1999, with an England Hockey Cup victory and National Premier League experience all on his CV. Steve Bone, Sports Editor, Chichester Observer. Niall Stott celebrates after his maiden Fareham goal rescued a deserved point in the 1-1 draw with Western Conference title chasers Birmingham University at Henry Cort.
The Scotsman scored three minutes from the end after Fareham had played catch-up, trying to cancel out the 40th minute strike by BU’s Cuthbert Shepherd. The game ebbed and flowed as both sides had good spells. Birmingham arguably had more possession, but Fareham had the clearer chances to break the deadlock. “We kept our heads well after going behind. At 1-0 down you are always in it and Niall’s goal was nothing more than we deserved,” praised Fareham boss Ben Barnes. Havant found themselves three down in 18 minutes and were eventually beaten 4-2 by Olton & West Warwick in the Midlands. Harry Sherlock (4), Martin Ebbage (13), and Tom Mallett (18) left Havant with the proverbial mountain to climb, but the visitors hit back through Maciej Janiszewski (32) and Matthew Cox, with a penalty corner conversion seven minutes after the break. But Steven Batten came back to haunt old club with a points-clinching fourth goal for Olton. ![]() Boxxfresh, the Titchfield-based health food store, present a box of home grown vegetables to the man of the match in every home match Fareham’s teams play. Scott Rawlings (right) collects the award from skipper Nick Knight after his penalty corner strike late clinched a creditable 4-2 win for Fareham seconds over Havant at Henry Cort. Fareham took an early 2-0 lead through teenager Fergus Jackson and Chris Boyland before Connor Taylor-Bargent got one back from a Havant short corner. Fareham restored their two-goal advantage just before the break with a deflection from Luke Gould following great build up play from Tom Seebold, but a penalty stroke by Davis Taylor-Bargent put Havant firmly back in the game. Rawlings scored Fareham’s key penalty corner ten minutes from time to walk off with the goodies. 2/13/2018 0 Comments KING EDWARDS' ARE COUNTY KINGSKing Edward VI students really are the Kings of Hampshire schools hockey this term, with their first team (pictured) through to the last 16 of the national cup and the Under-13 and 14 sides being crowned county champions.
KES ran up 16 goals in crushing Wellington 9-0 and Reigate Grammar 7-2 before an impressive 3-1 win over Kingston put them through to the round of 16 in the English Boys’ Under-18 Cup. They could play arch rivals Portsmouth Grammar – if PGS beat Guildford Royal Grammar on February 28. They have so far beaten Eastbourne 1-0 and Seaford 3-1. KES Under-16s were Hampshire Schools’ runners-up and are through to the regional heats, while the school’s Under-13 and Under-14 teams have triumphed at county level. The Under-13s lifted the Hampshire Cup, with five wins and two draws in the round-robin competition, conceding only one goal in the process. Any tinge of disappointment Trojans ladies felt at only being able to play out a goal-less draw at Investec Western Women’s Conference rivals Oxford Hawks was cushioned by news of Stourport’s home defeat by Swansea.
The West Midlands side lost 1-0 to Swansea and now trail Trojans by three points with an inferior goal difference. Trojans probably weren’t at their best in the city of spires but they made it difficult for their opponents to maintain any momentum. Trojans, who host Gloucester City at Stoneham Lane on Saturday (noon), mounted waves of attacks, only to see moves break down in the final third. Hawks created short corners of their own, but Trojans held tight for another handy point towards their promotion play-off push. Trojans seconds beat Woking in South Women’s League Division 2 with Sally Gibson on target. 2/12/2018 0 Comments Lt Cdr John Gawley MBEHockey will be saying a sad farewell to Lt Commander John Gawley MBE at The Oaks Havant Crematorium, Barton Road, Havant, PO9 5NA on Monday February 19 at 12.15pm.
John, who lived in Havant, served the sport with dedication and enthusiasm for over 60 years, spending thousands upon thousands of hours volunteering, and was recognized for his efforts by being awarded the England Hockey Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. One year later he was given further recognition by being awarded an MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours list for Services to Hockey. He was a frequent visitor to Fareham and Havant national league matches, often as the match official. ![]() Winchester seconds produced a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down to beat Hampshire/Surrey Regional League Division 2 strugglers Southampton 5-3 at the Sports Centre. Southampton looked to have had the game in the bag at half time after Jack Holloway had finished off a flowing move after 10 minutes and was soon joined in double celebration by Lukas Drumm, who scored after a goalmouth melee and then with a stunning, roofed penalty corner. Winchester had just about stayed in touch from an Andy Winnett breakaway goal, fed by Matt Stokes to keep the score at 3-1. After a gritty half time talk for the Winchester players, the visitors looked a different team after the break regularly causing the Southampton defence problems. Ten minutes in and Winchester were awarded a penalty stroke with which Greg Cox made no mistake. Southampton were still dangerous and Ally Birch made an important sliding save at 3-2 to maintain Winchester's momentum. However, they had to wait until the hour mark before they were back on level terms, Andy Winnett powering home from an Ed Player slip at a penalty corner. With 67 minutes on the stopwatch, Stuart Swift came back on after a brief bench-respite and within ten seconds had pounced on Ed Player's drilled cross to deflect home. Winchester's defence remained resolute with teenager Harry Trussler commanding at centre back in Richard Jones's absence. Any threat of a Southampton revival was take away with an injury time penalty corner goal for Matt Stokes, pictured above. Southampton remain second from bottom, three points above Romsey, who took a 9-1 pasting from Oxted III. Fareham ladies clawed back two late goals to peg Horsham to 3-3 – only to suffer last minute heartbreak when the Sussex side grabbed a dramatic 4-3 victory.
It brought an end to Fareham’s seven match unbeaten South Women’s League Division 3B run either side of the winter break and left coach Steve Lemon gutted. “With those late goals pulling us back from 3-1 down, I honestly thought we’d done enough to earn a point, but it wasn’t to be,” he reflected. “We didn’t kick on from a really good start and if we’d converted one of those early chances, I think you would have seen a different outcome.” Fareham began well at Christ Hospital, but failure to convert early dominance into goals cost them as an improving Horsham took the lead on the hour mark. Laura Ryan equalised soon after the restart after an effort from Jo Faulkner was well saved, but despite some superb goalkeeping by Jilly Toovey Horsham forged 3-1 ahead. With five minutes left, Kate White made it 3-2 after a fine move involving Vicky Field and Laura Ryan, and when Ryan bagged her second of the match and Fareham’s equaliser, it looked as though it would end all-square. But in the very last play, Toovey made another great save, pushing the ball on to the post, only for a Horsham player to follow up and score the winner. Fareham’s first loss since late November enabled Southampton, 1-0 winners over Eastbourne at the Saffrons, to leap above their local rivals into fourth spot, albeit on goal difference. Southampton’s winner came in the seventh minute – a sharp break by Lou Hopkins culminating in a neat pass to Sue Merry, whose fifth league goal of the campaign proved decisive. The respective teams exchanged attacks, with Southampton goalkeeper Joe Topping making one stunning head-high save. Southampton held tight, bossing the final quarter without adding to theat early goal that sent them home Merry. Three goals down inside the opening 25 minutes, Fareham rallied to pull off a stunning penalty shoot-out victory over Chichester – the reward for which is a juicy trip to Reading in England Hockey’s Tier 1 Championship quarter-finals on March 18.
They were all at sea after a hat-trick by England Under-16 prospect Alex Pendle left them trailing 3-0. James Seager launched an Fareham fight-back which saw Chichester’s lead trimmed by half-time and completely wiped out in a second half when the visitors scored twice more and ought to have gone on to win the match. But from 3-3 at the end of normal time, Fareham went on to win the resulting penalty shoot-out 4-2, with second team novice goalkeeper Rory Kemp twice diving to his right to make fine saves. Pendle certainly penalised Fareham’s sluggish start, opening Chichester’s account inside the opening five minutes and then twice converting penalty corners. But despite Fareham’s initial poor showing head coach Ben Barnes remained optimistic. “Even at 3-0 I always felt if we got a goal before half time then we had a chance as there was plenty of time left in the game,” he said. “There were clearly things that needed to be addressed at half time, the sluggish start did not help us and we shuffled a few players around to give the team a better balance and shape was simple things we needed. “The players then responded to a couple of ideas and played really well second half. We used the ball better and our press shape was much tighter so we were able to limit Chichester to very few opportunities second half.” Seager sparked the Fareham comeback after a short corner, while the visitors really took control when Jamie Rawlings made it 3-2 from another set-piece and then converted a penalty stroke. “Once we were back to 3-3 only ten minutes in to the second half we really should have gone on to win it in normal time, but Macjec Pacanowski was very good in the Chi goal. “Scott Rawlings and Luke Cornish tested him three times each and Martin Gough also went close but saw his sharp chance agonisingly go across the face of goal and past the left post from a tight angle.” Fareham were full of confidence going into the shoot-out, with Jamie Rawlings and Luke Cornish converting their strokes, before goalkeeper Rory Kemp twice out-witted Chichester with fine saves to give his side the edge. Conversions by Scott Rawlings and Chichester old boy Martin Gough wrapped up Fareham’s 4-2 win. “The confidence of the second half performance probably helped going in to the penalties as four out of five were well taken and Rory stepped up to be the hero saving two from Chichester,” Barnes reflected. Fareham are using the new Tier 1 championships to blood their young talent and Barnes can’t wait to take his charges to Sonning on March 18 – a Reading ground on which he enjoyed success as a player. “It’s a cracking draw against a Reading side once again in the thick of the Premier Division mix and a trip our lads can only learn from,” he smiled. The draw for the quarter-finals on March 18 is: Beston v Birmingham University, Bowdon v Sheffield Hallam, Old Loughtonians v Oxted, Reading v Fareham. |
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