Romsey Hockey Club

Archive for the ‘Boys U14 Match Reports’ Category

Romsey saved one of their best performances for the last league game of the season.

Romsey fielded one U12 and one U10 in their line up and all 12 players did themselves proud.

Romsey pushed off and retained possession for the first few minutes, a super passing move involving debutant Josh Harwood, Sam Bishop, and Chris Harwood moved the ball swiftly in to the Fareham final third of the pitch.

Romsey created a number of chances Toby Hill went close and James Manning commanding in centre of the pitch set up Oliver Bryant who was crowded out.

As the half went on Romsey tired, but the defence of Ian Wilson, Hugh Davidson and Matt Lockhart held strong, Callum Darch was called upon to make two fine saves but he was well equipped to keep a clean sheet by half time.

Romsey started the second half as they started the first and created three penalty corner chances in short succession following superb determination from Romseys Nick Buck who was awesome in front of the defence. The Fareham team were on the rack and Romsey were desperately unlucky when Chris Harwood’s first time shot was saved by the keeper and then David Forgan was unable to capitalise and Fareham cleared.

Fareham then had a breakaway and got clear of the Romsey defence to go one up, and two minutes later doubled their lead.

Romsey were very unfortunate to be two goals behind, even though Fareham were pushing for top spot in the league and pressed again.

Toby Hill crashed in a cross which flew off a Fareham stick and in to the net, Toby was outside the D and so only a corner was the reward, moments later Hugh Davidson who had pushed up from the back got clear and his shot hit the heel of the goalkeeper to be deflected wide.

Romsey pressed for their goal but were denied again by the keeper to go down 2 0 in a fantastic last match of the season.

Romsey U14 took on table topping Salisbury away in glorious Spring sunshine.

Romsey demonstrated just how much they have developed over the season by matching Salisbury with end to end moves in the opening exchanges.

Tom Loescher and Chris Harwood combined well up front and created a chance, Nick Buck was solid in the centre of the pitch supported by David Forgan and the impressive Sam Bishop who seemed to be in defence, midfield and attack throughout the match.

Salisbury scored midway through the first period, Callum Darch having no chance with the shot.

Romsey needed to hold out for the break and unfortunately were undone again 30 seconds before the whistle with Salisburys best goal of the game.

Ian Wilson and Hugh Davidson were strong in the centre and Sean Rademaker making moves up the right, and Matt Lockhart at left back, but Romsey were undone with some poor passing and Salisbury scored three quick goals to lead 5-0.

Romsey then pushed for a goal themselves, creating penalty corner chances, with Toby Hill and James Manning combining, but it wasn’t to be and with seven minutes remaining Salisbury scored a sixth.

Romsey U14 Boys secured their first point of the season, with their best performance and with the support of some up and coming U12 players.

The game started brightly for Romsey with some excellent passing hockey and strong stick work building on training routines.

Nick Buck dominated the centre of midfield lifting some through passes for the forwards.

It took Romsey just three minutes to open the scoring, U12 Ben Manning shooting strongly past the keeper after a move involving Toby Hill and David Forgan had set him up.

This stirred Winchester in to action and Alex Buck made several fine saves, with Hugh Davidson, Chris Harwood and the impressive Sean Rademaker strong in defence. They kept their sticks strong as Winchester forced the ball in to the D.

After 9 minutes Winchester equalised, but immediately afterwards Romsey played the ball to Sam Bishop and across the midfield to Nick Buck and Ben Davidson, for Ben Manning to rifle a cross in to the D and Tim Loescher rocketed the ball in for 2 – 1 after just 11 minutes of play.

Winchester equalised for a second time when they forced a penalty corner and after several attempts the ball was with a Winchester forward who hooked the ball in from a tight angle over goalkeeper and Romsey defenders.

Winchester were stronger in the middle third of the game and went 3 – 2 up with a long clearance to their forwards who muscled in to the D to score.

In the final 20 minutes Romsey were on top, Zak Cooper and Tom Flood creating a number of chances but the ball flashed wide.

A chance of an equaliser seemed to pass when first the Winchester goalkeeper and then a defender cleared off the line, but with a minute remaining Sam Bishop hit a sideline ball across field to Hugh Davidson who had pushed up from the back and he powerfully shot from the top of the D to make the final score 3 – 3.

Romsey shared a five goal thriller with New Milton at a bitterly cold Lymington venue.

Both teams opened brightly with some sharp passing, and Romsey then soaked up pressure as New Milton pressed.

After an interception a quick pass from David Forgan released Tim Loescher to run one on one with the Goal keeper and put Romsey one up in the tenth minute.

The lead lasted just four minutes when New Milton equalised from a penalty corner, but two minutes later Romsey pushed again and this time Nick Buck launched Tim Loescher who ran half the length of the pitch to put Romsey 2 – 1 up.

Romsey had to soak up pressure, Callum Darch making some fine saves, until four minutes before half time New Milton overloaded their attack and pushed the ball eventually in to the empty net.

The second half was evenly balanced, until after 9 minutes of the second half New Milton scored again after a penalty corner and then pressure in the D.

Romsey countered and should have equalised from their own penalty corner routine, Chris Harwood, Alex Buck, and James Manning all going close.

Callum Darch then made some outstanding saves to justify his Hampshire selection along with Sam Bishop, Matt Lockhart in defence to keep the final score 3 – 2.

Romsey unlucky in great sporting contest

Romsey U14 agreed to play Gosport in the spirit of the game. Gosport fielding an U16 keeper and a number of girls in their team.

The evenly matched game was not mathced with the scoreline as Gosport had the rub of the green and converted their chances.

Romsey started very strongly, an eventful first minute saw David Forgan take a painful high ball, and as he recovered Romsey took the free hit and played in Tim Loescher and Toby Hill, the Gosport keeper saved, but Sam Bishop was on hand to rifle in a shot just inside the post to put Romsey ahead with less than 60 seconds gone.

Romsey pushed forward but Gosport had strength at centre back and centre midfield. After 12 minutes Gosport made a good passing move down their left, Matt Lockhart and Ian Wilson covered back but and as the ball came to the circle they played it square rather than forward and the impressive Gosport Centre Half reverse stick shot for the equaliser.

Three minutes later Gosport were 2 1 ahead, this time pushing in a rebound after a great save by Alex Buck in the Romsey goal after strong forward play, with Chris Harwood unable to clear.

In the second period of three twenty minutes Tim Loescher was put through three times, once by James Manning and again by Nick Buck, but he wasn’t able to convert to make it 2 2 which is more than Romsey deserved. As the whistle went for time, Gosport had a penalty corner and with time finished Gosport conjured a great routine to beat Alex Buck and go 3 1 up.

In the final period Romsey were again the stronger, Loescher and Hill both having good chances set up by Hugh Davidson, and Sean Rademaker making in roads down the right. With the games stretched Gosport got a fourth with 10 minutes to go on the break away.

The game was a great confidence builder and next up in Southampton on 4th December.

Romsey improved as the match went on in this their first U14 match of the season against a strong and organised Trojans side.
Ian Wilson was commanding at centre back and Nick Buck was strong in support but they could not stop two Trojans forwards
getting behind them mid way through the first period, and as Chris Harwood blocked off the passing option the Trojan forward rocketed
an unstoppable shot past Callum Darch from near the penalty spot.
Trojans doubled their lead with a second near the end of the first period, when stout defending couldn’t keep out the Trojan pressure as
they scored from close range.
The second period started brightly and James Manning and Sam Bishop combined well to set up Tim Loescher but his approach was
blocked by strong defence.
Toby Hill combined with Sean Rademaker to sustain some Romsey attacking but a goal would not come and Trojans countered, and
after a string of penalty corners scored a third.
Some positional changes for the final period worked really well with Romsey now the better side, Nick Buck and David Forgan were now
playing in central midfield roles and with Matt Lockhart at rightback in a Romsey back three, Romsey pushed Sean Rademaker to
right wing with Toby Hill on the left and the front three combined to set up Tim Loescher only for the Trojans keeper to save, Tim then
made a run from the half way line with the ball only to be foiled again. Man of the Match Nick Buck was solid in the centre of the pitch
and was well supported by his team mates. Unfortunately, the risk of pushing forward eventually lead to a Trojans four against three and
they forced a lucky fourth goal against the run of play after a swipe by the Trojans forward initially missing the ball was forced in on the second
attempt.
The Romsey team came off very upbeat after the final period, where they could see the benefits of their changed formation, and also
how hard they would have to work to support the back three when they play it.

Final score – Romsey 0 – Trojans 2 4

Next Up in the league are Gosport on 20th November.

Last Sunday the U 14 boys team took on Gosport and came away with 1-1 draw.The hosts scored within minutes of the start from a well worked short corner.Displaying some of their best passing this season Romsey responded  well and dominated the remainder of the first third.Sam Barcia’s deft and skilful play from midfield fully deserved a goal but it was an own goal that eventually saw the scores levelled in the second third. Despite one of Gosport’s more talented players being ’sin-binned’ for ten minutes Romsey were unable to capitalisehduring a much more even final third. Toby Hill on the left wing and Alex Buck in goal had excellent games  but the whole team should take satisfaction from easily their best performance this season.