ISLE OF WIGHT LADIES KNOCK 9 PAST BLANDFORD: ISLAND HOCKEY ROUND UP

The Ladies’ 1XI welcomed Blandford and Sturminster. Blandford looked threatening at times on the break, but once the Island found their rhythm, they created numerous attacks on goal. Cue a short corner awarded 6 minutes in – an injection to the top, a slip left to Saffron Hart, and the sound of the struck backboard marked first blood (1-0).

With plenty of shots, the oppositions’ feet couldn’t get out of the way quick enough, and another short corner was won. Jaimie Payne slipped the ball right to Pip Spibey. She passed left to Saffron Hart, who snuck the ball down to the post, where Georgia Whittle was waiting to slot the ball past the keeper (2-0).

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Blandford hit back with accurate passing play, and the Island’s defence of Claire Caddick, Kirsty Fraser, and Emily Lord was called into action on more than one occasion. A driving run down to the baseline saw the ball fed to Immie Brade and the keeper was beaten (3-0).

Half time: IOW Ladies’ 1XI 3-0 Blandford and Sturminster 1s

It was a riot in the 2nd half and goals galore for the home side. A scrappy bit of attack in the D saw a Blandford foot on the line stopping a scoring chance, and a penalty was awarded. Sarah Shaw slotted the ball bottom left (4-0).

A carbon copy of their first goal, a short corner award and slip left put Hart on the scoresheet with 2 goals to her name (5-0).

The rest of the second half was a flurry of goals in quick succession. Despite desperate attempts from the Blandford defence, the ball found Lola Marfleet, who slipped it past the keeper (6-0).

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Driving attacks from the right saw the ball struck into the D, and a commanding call from Spibey meant she claimed the next goal (7-0).

The constant pressure saw another attack from the right, a long ball from Hart up the line found Payne, who deflected the ball across the D, finding Katy Ednay near the baseline. Her attempt on goal rebounded off the keeper’s pads, which Lord pounced on to slot into goal (8-0).

The press continued, and in the final minutes the island added another goal and name to the scoresheet. Finishing the game in style, Ednay reverse flicked the ball past three defenders on the line (9-0).

Final score: IOW Ladies’ 1XI 9 – Blandford and Sturminster 1s

Trojans 3s 4-5 IOW Men’s 1XI

The Men’s 1XI travelled away, looking to cement their unbeaten campaign.

Both sides wanted success, and this was evident within the first 10 minutes when Tom Turney slotted the 1st of his 3 goals calmly into the net. Adam Payne calmly threaded the ball through several players to give the island a 2-goal cushion. Lewis Heaven-Gandy, Stuart Allen and keeper Tom Speer were incredibly busy as Trojans mounted their response attack. Speer narrowly kept out several one-on-ones. Trojans swept one into the roof of the net to reduce the deficit. Ethan Edmunds-Lamb, Samuel Challis and Henry Edwards linked up beautifully to allow Turney to quickly complete his first half hattrick.

The 2nd half started when a Challis ball over the top found Turney whose shot rebounded off the keeper for Payne to calmly tap in. Will Mew, Tomas Turjanica, and Alex Breach put the pressure on the opposition with numerous darting runs towards goal. Patrick Butt was exceptionally busy on the left, absorbing countless Trojan attacks. Trojans had a purple patch of play, seeing them score 3 quick goals to bring the scores to 4-5. However, this is where the scoreboard stayed, and the island were able to complete their unbeaten league season in the sunshine

IOW Men’s 2XI 6-1 Portsmouth 4s

The Men’s 2XI hosted Portsmouth 4s. The home side started strong, creating lots of chances on goal and in no time at all, won themselves a short corner. Tom Gould controlled the deflected ball and slotted it into the bottom corner.

The attacking play continued, with chances created through a midfield spine of Mike Dodds, Steven Holbrook, and Carl Joyce. Aaron Hoare stepped in for Dodds and within minutes, he split the defence to find Max Sharpe at the far post to slot home for a 2-0 lead.

Portsmouth counterattacked, but the solid defence of Toby Noyes, Reuben Smallwood-Butler and Nik Goode kept their composure to keep a clean sheet. Feeding the ball up the pitch, they allowed Nathan Bruce and Jonny Kirby to create space and opportunities as the game went into half-time.

The 2nd half saw Portsmouth change the pace of the game, winning a rally of short corners, resulting in a shot placed in the bottom corner to make the score 2-1. This spurred the island on, and Finn Woodford found himself involved in goal-mouth scrambles on more than one occasion. The consistent pressure saw Young take a shot from the top of the D, which was deflected in off a defender.

Attacks continued to flow and leading runs from Joyce and Gould tore the opposition defence, leaving Young to run the ball from the halfway line to the top of the D and smash the ball past the keeper.

Despite the Portsmouth keeper refusing to quit and stopping several goal opportunities for the Island, Young managed to find the net once more and secure is hattrick.

The Island continued to push; Gould and Joyce allowed the latter to chip the Portsmouth keeper. John Pearson was ready at the back post to make sure Joyce’s shot was converted, but no need, it was on target and secured the victory for the home team.