Old Silhillians IV 1 Stratford V 1
 
Stratford forced a last minute equaliser to grab a desevred point in Solihull. Stratford dominated procedings from the first minute but were continually thwarted by the excellent keeping of the Old Sils 2nd team goalie who was given special dispensation to play. With Emile Sharp-Ruddock continually breaking up all the Old Sils attacks and the revered leadership of Scott Hazell dictating playfrom the back, with Ash Adams and Mark Newman at fullback through the midfield pair of Andrew Townsin and Ed Hogg. Stratford continually pressed but were undone by a rare short corner, past the debuting Sim "Rock God" Ashley in goal.
Despite the continual pressure and excellent running of John Bayliss and Alex Squance on the wings Stratford could find a way through. One Kilham in his last game before returning to South Africa struck a speculative effort through his own legs to force the save of the game. Jack Dudley belying his tender 13 years of age was a continual thorn in the Old Sils side and it was his play that forced the short cornerfrom which Stratford finally got their reward. Ed Hogg's excellent awareness found John Baylissunmarked at the farpost who flicked it home to a great cheer and a deserved point.

---

Have more than one Hotmail account? Link them together to easily access both.

Hockey Stratford 3rd XI

Stratford 3^rd XI Vs Kings Heath

Score 10-0 to Kings Heath.

 

Stratford suffered a heavy defeat to Kings Heath this Saturday, loosing 10-0. Kings Heath capitalised early on in the match, when Stratford's defence made some basic errors. By half time Kings Heath were 5 goals up, and Stratford struggling to keep possession. The loss can be chalked off to a number of factors going against Stratford in a string of unfortunate events. One Kings Heath player scoring 7 of their 10 goals. The one positive to take away was the Stratford's team spirit, a lesser team would have gone to bits, this didn't happen, Stratford kept trying and kept on playing. Stratford 3^rd XI are at home this Saturday  against Khalsa, for Stratford's last game before the Christmas break.

Stratford IV 1 Worcester V 5
 
Following their 7-0 drubbing Stratford welcomed back Peter Funnell and Nigel Wood to bolster the defence. It was soon "business as usual" as the latter kept the scoreline 0-0 following a trademark goal line clearance from a fierce Worcester short corner. Unfortuneatly Funnell couldn't match that on the other post for Stratford to go 1-0 down. The midfield was industious with Gordon Warmup and Giles Stagg dominating the middle of the park and Phillip Davey and Will Vaudry the wings. A superb run from Will Vaudry cut the Worcester defence to ribbons and Will Noble finished with aplomb. Worcesters set pieces made the difference and 2 further short corners and a penalty stroke saw Stratford go behind 4-1 a scoreline that did not reflect the balance of play. Stratford could not ake their chances and with the tempermental Will Noble yellow carded Stratford conceded a fifth, the only Worcester goal from open play. Stratford can take heart from a good perfomance against league leaders Worcester.

---

View your other email accounts from your Hotmail inbox. Add them now.

Stratford 3rd XI Hockey 21 Nov

Stratford 3

Old Halesonians 2

Stratford continued their mid-table consolidation, following promotion last season, with a 3-2 victory at home. The team were back to their normal line up, but it was Old Hales who went 1-0 up within a few minutes, from a deflected short corner. Stratford fought back well and equalized quickly, albeit through a deflection off an Old Hales player.

Stratford looked the more dominant team and played some periods of excellent passing hockey, despite the torrential rain and attacked well up the right through Dave Coache, but again it was Old Hales who put themselves ahead though another short corner. Stratford equalised themselves through a short corner, put away by Dave Black although Old Hales caught Stratford on the break a few times, Purser in goal made a number of excellent saves. The winner came from one of many Dave Coache's impressive drives down the right, to be self finished with aplomb.

Stratford head into the final two games before Christmas slightly above mid table and with the potential to keep themselves in at least that position.

Stratford IV 1 Olton IV 2
 
A skillful and committed Olton team soon had Stratford under pressure, Stuart Hooker promoted from the 5ths was in fine form as Stratford goalkeeper to keep Olton at bay with a string of fine saves. Totally against the run of play Ian "Sniffer" Bettison maintained is goal scoring record with a well struck shot from about a yard.
The second half resembled "Custer's Last Stand" with wave after wave of attacks and short corner after short corner. Henry Whetstone and Simon Cossey defended stoutly and with 5 minutes to go Nigel Wood made his customary goal line clearance to keep Stratfords lead intact. Olton poured forward and scored with 4 minutes to go. A clumsy challenge from Peter Funnell gave another short corner away and from this Olton engineered a goal which gave them a deserved win. Stuart Hooker was by a distance man of the match.

---

View your other email accounts from your Hotmail inbox. Add them now.

Hockey Stratford 3rd XI 7 November 2009

Result for Stratford 3rd XI vs Warwick 3rd XI on 7 November 2009. Played at Stratford.

 

Stratford 1 – Warwick  4

 

The first local derby of the season saw Warwick get the better of the 3^rd's in a hard fought game, Warwick scored with the first move of the game a long ball from the defence finding the Warwick forward clear of the defence to slip the ball past Purser. Stratford dominated the rest of the first half but couldn't find the final pass in the Warwick D to score during the first half despite having 70% of the possession. Crucially for the game Warwick scored on the half time whistle with a rare attack, finishing neatly from a tight angle deflating the Stratford side somewhat.

The 2^nd half followed the same pattern as the first half and the side missing the influence of vice captain Oli Dix at centre back continued to control the ball without scoring. Warwick scored 2 more break away goals with their own shots on target. Stratford did score with a snap shot from the edge of the D by Noble deflected in by Cawthorne. At the final whistle Stratford were deflated and left to rue a 4-1 loss despite all their hard work.

Stratford IV 3 Kings Heath IV 3
 
Strating with only 10 men Stratford looked if they maybe overrun by a fast running Kings Heath team. Scoring against the run of play a mazy dribble by Ben Woodhams was finished with panache. Stratford were now up to a full compliment but 2 goals were conceded from well worked short corners. There were no further goals before half-time but soon after the restart Kings Heath went 3-1 up and looked if they would win comfortably. The turning point of the game came with yet another goal line clearance by Nigel Wood to cap a mature performance, the same player then set up Jamie Thomas for Stratford's second goal. The team remained under pressure but hard tackling by Henry Whetstone and Simon Cossey kept the goal intact. Ace goal poacher Ben Woodhams then sneaked the equaliser and Stratford survived a controvertial dis-allowed goal for Kings Heath in the last seconds to secure a draw. With five players nursing injuries this was a creditable performance.

---

New Windows 7: Simplify what you do everyday. Find the right PC for you.

FW: Stratford Hockey Club 4th XI Report

Stratford IV 1 Blossomfield VI 1
 
Stratford took to the pitch in a confident mood after three succesive wins. Taking on from where they left off Stratford attacked from the start, Jamie Thomas was soon giving the opposition defence an aerial bombardment, Alex Orchard showed great skill belying his years in midfield and was at the heart of the offense. Stratford took the lead when a fierce cross from Ed Hogg was deftly deflected into the goal by Gordon Wright. The second half followed the same pattern until the last 10 minutes when Blossomfield came back into the game. Only a series of saves by Dave Dunnett and a goal line clearance by Nigel Wood kept them at bay. In the final minute Blossomfield scored the equaliser in a match that Stratford should have made safe much earlier.

---

Chat to your friends for free on selected mobiles. Learn more.

---

New Windows 7: Find the right PC for you. Learn more.

Hockey, Stratford 3rd Xi match report 31 Oct

Stratford upon avon 3rd XI Match report for 31 Oct 2009.

Result: Stratford Lost 3-2 to Telford.

 

 

The 3^rd X1 came away from the long trip to Telford empty handed on Saturday despite a good performance and new formation showing continuing signs that McBride's side are more than comfortable in this league.

Telford took the lead against the run of play with a sweetly struck short corner hitting the backboard with some ferocity. Stratford continued to press forward and play the quicker hockey against Telford and Richard Hyde fresh from a holiday in nearby Wales finished off a sweeping move started by Tequila Coache. Hyde and Coache continued to press Telford back until mid way through the second half where upon a Blackwell short corner was deflected in neatly by Noble.

With the game there for the taking and despite some erratic umpiring from the home side Stratford were caught on the break once too often and overlap allowed Telford to sweep the ball into the net. At 2-2 both sides continued to attack and it was Telford who took their chance best, striking the ball from the right side of the D into the opposite corner to snatch the game 3-2 with just a few minutes to go.

Stratford Ladies 1sts 3 - 3 Birmingham Uni Ladies 4ths on 31/10/09

Stratford Ladies 1s faced last years top of the table this week for an
action packed game. After 2 losses and 1 draw Stratford were keen to put on
their best performance this week and they were not to disappoint. The team
had an air of positiveness and fight about them this week, which had been
lacking in previous weeks. Fast accurate passing from the outset and some
great teamwork got Stratford into their D early in the first half to claim
a short corner. The first strike was saved but a second penalty given gave
Stratford the opportunity to capitalise and it was Rachel Kent with her
first strike under the goalies armpit to get Stratford off to a great
start, however, Birmingham were quick to respond and drew the game back to
a draw quickly after, but Stratford were not to be put off this week and
the game continued at a fast pace with everyone on the pitch giving 100%,
there was equal action in both halves and the game was open to either side
to capitalise. Birmingham got the upper hand first via a penalty flick
which took them ahead before half time. An encouraging half time talk with
some practical advice from the new coach brought the Stratford girls out
fighting again, they drew back a goal quickly from open play where Holly
Outhwaite made a great break took the ball into the D and went one on one
with the goalie, with some beautiful skill she easily achieved the goal.
With 5 subs the Birmingham Uni team kept their quick pace throughout the
match, but Stratford kept up with them, the Uni took the lead with a 3rd
goal putting Stratford under more pressure to draw it back, but after
another short corner Stratford executed a perfect routine with a slip from
Rachel to Rosie Logan on the post to slot it home. The final 10 minutes
were very tense with Stratford defence under bounds of pressure, but with
Karena Quinn (player of the match) in goal having her best game of the
season and a stirling goal line save from Sandra Leary the final whistle
went leaving the score a very respectable 3-3 draw. Stratford are now ready
for their first win and hope to meet this on Saturday.