Both of Holcombe’s senior sides ended their league campaigns with draws at the weekend.
25/03/17 2pm
England Hockey Women’s National Premier League
Holcombe HC 1-1 Leicester HC
Scorers: Holcombe HC: Emily Maguire
Leicester HC: Katie Long
Holcombe Park, Rochester
Having secured their Playoff position ahead of their final game of the regular season, Holcombe welcomed a Leicester side desperate to earn an invitation to the very same season finale at the end of April.
In order to book their place at Lee Valley, the visitors knew that a point could potentially be enough if a number of other results went their way but a victory was the ultimate objective.
In the early passages of play however, it was clear that they would be forced to work hard for the opportunity as Holcombe dominated proceedings; dictating the tempo well and asserting themselves high up the field in outlet. Opportunities duly followed and three penalty corners throughout the opening period went begging.
It was however their continued threats from set plays that would break the deadlock however as after the initial move broke down at the top of the Leicester circle, Emily Maguire was able to turn the ball goal-ward to convert the early pressure into a first half lead for the Kent side.
Further chances went begging as the half wore on, most notably a flowing move down the right-hand side that saw Elli Watton’s diving effort just miss out on the final connection required to double the hosts’ advantage.
With Aurora Mears remaining untroubled in the Holcombe goal, it was ultimately the home side’s own-doing that allowed the Midlands side a foot-hold in the contest. A cheap turn over deep in their own half as the team was setting up to outlet allowed Leicester to drive at the heart of the Holcombe defence. A well-timed ball across to Katie Long alone in the circle resulted in the striker making no mistake with a first-time slap to beat Mears and restore parity against the run of play.
A rejuvenated Leicester began to move the ball with greater purpose but failed to create any meaningful goal-bound efforts for the remainder of the period.
Having began the contest so comfortably, Holcombe invited greater pressure as the second half wore on and with chances coming at a premium, began to sit deeper and deeper as the visitors’ desperation showed. Three corners of their own went begging as Leicester searched in vain for a goal that would give them an outside chance of reaching the playoffs but were kept largely at arms’ length by a resolute Holcombe defensive unit.
Without being too expansive in offence, Holcombe saw out a second half that lacked action at either end in a professional performance that largely negated the threats that had seen their counterparts push their playoff hopes to the final game of the season.
Captain Steph Elliott was realistic about her sides’ performance but optimistic about the coming month; “Our basics weren’t good enough and we invited pressure onto ourselves and although we improved, the last 10 minutes were hectic with multiple turnovers from both sides. We had a lot of chances and some amazing opportunities to score. It was ultimately quite an annoying result but we’re still happy as the preparation now starts for the play offs!”
With the post-season now to look forward to and an unbeaten second half of the season on which to build, Holcombe face three weeks of hard work as they prepare for England Hockey’s showpiece domestic event at the end of April.
26/03/17 2pm
England Hockey Men’s National Premier League
Hampstead and Westminster HC 3-3 Holcombe HC
Scorers: Hampstead and Westminster HC: Jonny Codling, Sam French, Peter Makin
Holcombe HC: Ian Harvey, Gareth Andrew, Sam Ward
Paddington Recreational Ground, Westminster
With both sides being assured of their final playoff position before the start of play on Sunday, there was an air of freedom around Paddington Rec as a large crowd saw two of the country’s top 4 sides battle out for form ahead of next month’s Playoff Finals at Lee Valley.
Holcombe went into the contest without Barry Middleton, James Steadman and Captain Richard Lane whereas the hosts were without Irish International Chris Cargo and Player/Coach Kwan Browne.
Despite the notable absentees, both sides began the contest at a frenetic pace, with expansive and open end-to-end hockey clearly in store for the excitable London crowd.
With space in the midfield for both sides, it was the Kent side that struck first. A powerful long ball through from Dan Fox was fortuitously deflected home by Ian Harvey.
Just six minutes later and the visitors had doubled their advantage through the same provider. Vice-Captain Dan Fox carried aggressively forward through the midfield before firing a defence-splitting pass to find Gareth Andrew all alone in the Hampstead circle. A calm and collected finish saw him delicately loft the ball over the advancing goalkeeper for his ninth goal of the regular season.
The game continued to be an open affair as neither team seemed content to sit on their laurels ahead of the intensive off-season that awaited. George Pinner in the Holcombe goal became increasingly involved in proceedings and it took until the half-hour mark for him to finally be beaten.
A controversial decision in the middle of the field allowed the home side to break at pace down the right flank. A well timed cross saw Jonny Codling to get across in front of his man and deflect home to reduce the arrears.
Just five minutes later and the momentum had swung completely with the home side restoring parity. An overtime penalty corner at the end of the first period saw Sam French flick high to Pinner’s right.
Having utilised the half-time break to compose themselves, Holcombe came out the strongest of the two sides and were rewarded inside three minutes. Dan Fox completed his hat-trick of assists with a penetrating run along the Londoners’ baseline before pulling the ball back to allow the talismanic Sam Ward to score from close range.
As the half wore on, chances came and went for both sides. A string of double saves from Pinner in the Holcombe goal were punctuated by the Hampstead post being rattled by Nick Bandurak’s backhand as well as consecutive penalty corners from Sam Ward being negated by the home side’s defensive unit.
With time diminishing, Hampstead forced a sustained period of pressure on the Holcombe goal and with just 6 minutes remaining found the goal they had been craving. A direct ball from Matt Guise-Brown was deflected home by Peter Makin at the back post to restore parity once more.
Speaking after the game, Holcombe’s Tom O’Keeffe said; “It was a tight game; well fought between two good teams. We were quite low on numbers but we played well through midfield and could have won the game had we taken more of our chances. Nonetheless it was a pleasing effort under the circumstances and a good stepping stone on our journey to the playoffs next month.”
Both Holcombe sides are in action on Saturday 22nd April at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. The Men take on Surbiton at 1.15pm while the Women take on East Grinstead at 5.45pm before Sunday’s respective Finals. With places in Europe and the English Championship up for grabs, it promises to be an exciting finale to the English domestic season.
Tickets are available through the England Hockey Website; www.englandhockey.co.uk
Pictures supplied by www.groutphotography.co.uk