The Isle of Wight Men’s 1st and 2nd hockey teams were both victorious, but the Ladies’ only managed a draw and a loss on Saturday (5th November).
The Ladies’ 1XI against Andover was going to be interesting.
Supported by Saffron Hart and Georgia Whittle, Sarah Shaw was a menace in the middle. However, Andover were the 1st to score. Claire Caddick, Cry O’Connell, Kirsty Fraser and Emily Lord allowed the Island to attack and win a short corner, which Hart fired into the goal – 1-1 at halftime.
Like the 1st half, Andover were on the front foot and a goal ahead, adding more as they attacked. Their short corners were scuppered each time, often by Tia Shutler. The island bit back and Carolyn McClellan, Jaimie Payne and Dani Devenish supported Kayleigh Pullen, Lola Marfleet and Katy Ednay in Andover’s half. The island won 2 more short corners, Hart, earning herself a hat trick and putting the island a goal behind.
Final score: Isle of Wight 1XI 3-4 Andover
Goals from: Saffron Hart (3)
Joint Wightlink players of the match: Saffron Hart and Sarah Shaw
️The men’s 1XI faced Bournemouth.
Adam Payne’s run into the D saw him get a shot off, which went wide. Bournemouth’s efforts led to a short corner which was deflected into goal – they were 1 up.
Ethan Edmunds-Lamb, Lewis Heaven-Gandy and Patrick Butt kept further attacks at bay, whilst Elliot Cole distributed the ball forward. Payne’s pass found Tom Gould in the D, whose reverse stick saw the ball go off the backline. Midfielders Stephen Woodford, Joe Arnold and Samuel Challis fed the ball back to Gould, who won the island’s first short corner. Bournemouth’s keeper kept out Aaron O’Hanlon-Hoare’s drag-flick. Piling the pressure, Bournemouth won a short corner which put them 0-2 up.
Hitting back, an aerial from O’Hanlon-Hoare found Payne in the D. A tackle from the keeper threw him outside on the D and a penalty flick was awarded and a yellow card given to the keeper. Flick neatly executed, the island was on the scoresheet. They added to their tally, it was 2-2 at halftime.
O’Hanlon-Hoare found Arnold who put the island in the lead. The opposition won more short corners, but their attempts were kept out by Steph Boyd. Arnold attacked and tactically put a ball on an opponent’s foot. O’Hanlon-Hoare’s drag-flick rocketed into goal. Payne won another short and the island added another to their tally.
Final score: Isle of Wight men’s 1XI 6 – Bournemouth 2
Goals from: Adam Payne (3), Aaron O’Hanlon-Hoare (3) and Joe Arnold (1)
Wightlink player of the match: Steph Boyd
️The Ladies’ 2XI travelled to face Havant’s 5XI.
The Island was awarded a short corner in the opening minutes, but Aly Townend’s strike was disallowed as a lifted ball. The island was soon awarded another short – Townend’s strike was bravely worn by a defender’s thigh. The Island battled, and linking opened Havant’s defence time after time. Sophie Parkhouse’s excellent solo effort saw her score as well, but unfortunately, this attempt was also disallowed. The island hit back and earnt another short corner late into the half, and Townend made sure he found the goal after beating a defender. 1-1 at half-time.
Havant upped the pressure in the 2nd half and despite some sterling work from the Island’s defence, they got their 2nd from a short corner strike. In end-to-end play, after a scramble in front of Havant’s keeper, Dee Sanchez-Brown slotted the ball home and the island equalised. In the final minutes, Havant won a short corner, but the island kept their attack at bay.
Final score: Havant 2-2 Isle of Wight ladies 2XI
Goals from: Aly Townend (1) and Dee Sanchez-Brown (1)
Wightlink player of the match: Evie Longson
️The men’s 2XI travelled to play Alton.
Quick passing from midfielders Steven Holbrook, Finn and Bailey Woodford, Mike Dodds and debutant Jack Curtis, created lots of early chances. The backline of Reuben Smallwood-Butler, Ash Metcalfe, Nik Goode and Toby Moyes soaked up all the pressure from Alton’s attacks, supported by keeper Nick Pratt making excellent saves.
The island opened when Finn Woodford received a ball from Holbrook, which he deflected past the keeper. Curtis, Nathan Bruce and Thomas Young earned goals, ending the first half 4-1 in the island’s favour. The island pushed on to increase their lead: Finn Woodford and Nathan Bruce both scored to confirm the island’s victory.
Final score: Alton 2 – Isle of Wight men’s 2XI 6
Goals from: Nathan Bruce (2), Finn Woodford (2), Thomas Young (1) and Jack Curtis (1)
Wightlink player of the match: Nathan Bruce.️
