Sponsored by
Chichester battle back to deny Banbury
Chichester had to settle for a draw against Banbury, while this week's hockey round-up also features defeats for the Chipmunks and Middleton & Bognor Ladies but a victory for Centurions.
Chichester 3 Banbury 3
South premier division one
Chichester produced a solid performance to twice come from behind and draw with Banbury.
Chichester enjoyed the best of the first half with Kemp and Thakore making inroads down the right and the Banbury keeper was soon in action.
Chichester opened the scoring when Adam Beere dispatched a bouncing ball. But they looked vulnerable to the counter-attack and were caught out by a pass over the top of the defence. The ball fell kindly for the Banbury forward who slotted home.
Chichester again looked in control but fell behind to a cruelly-deflected short corner, Gotham in goal left helpless.
The hosts rallied and a sweeping passing move saw Alex Thakore charging forward to power the ball home.
Chichester saw the second half as an opportunity to power their
advantage home, but fell behind immediately after the restart.
They pressed to find an equaliser and, having won but not converted a number of short corners, Wallis slipped the ball into the corner.
In the final ten minutes, Chichester were unable to find a way past a Banbury keeper in inspired form.
CHICHESTER: Gotham, Matthews, Spearman, Thakore, S Beere, M Cox, Blakesley, Kemp, Robinson, A Beere, Emmett. Subs used: Wallis, G Cox.
Centurions 4 Mid Ssx Ladies 2
Centurions went on the attack from the start and were denied some early shots on goal.
Against the run of play, Mid Sussex broke through Centurions' midfield and scored.
Proctor made important interceptions and Payne helped feed good balls to the wings.
Williams turned the ball to Thew on the penalty spot for a firmly-struck goal, making it 1-1 at half-time.
Early in the second half came a goal for Mid Sussex from a short corner, also against the run of play.
Richardson made some excellent saves as Harris and Edge worked hard to keep the ball out of the 25.
A through-ball to Eames led to a feed to the top of the D and an
equaliser by Thew over the keeper.
Merrett and Brown passed well and Brooker had a clean run to the D with a shot forcing a save.
Pordage went close, and the resulting short corner saw Eames free to net a third for Centurions.
A penalty shot from Thew sealed the game and her hat-trick.
Chichester Chipmunks 2 Eastbourne Eaglets 5
This game was always going to be tough for Chichester with captain Tom Brixey and experienced striker Jason Lansdale both missing.
Against top side Eaglets, this was a league title showdown. Chichester scored through a Chris Blanks penalty flick early on.
Richard Brixey's shot hit a defender's foot on the line and Blanks converted.
Chichester scored a second as Brixey again turned provider, finding Gary Grant who deflected home.
Eastbourne had an influx of new players arrive and the game turned. Despite heroics from Donaldson in goal Eastbourne pulled a goal back.
After the break, Eastbourne's reorganised midfield overran Chichetser's makeshift and inexperienced midfield quartet and it was down to the defence to preserve the lead.
David Brixey, Trent, Lyons and Whittel defended manfully and kept Eastbourne at bay aided by good saves from Donaldson.
But Eastbourne levelled and Chichester buckled. David Brixey had to retire injured and Eastbourne scored three.
Chichester are still only two points behind Eastbourne after this first defeat of the year.
Brighton & Hove Ladies IV 2 Middleton & Bognor Ladies 0
Middleton came away empty-handed despite a promising performance against a strong Brighton team.
Player unavailability meant Middleton had only ten players, but this wasn't reflected in the first half.
A controversial first goal from Brighton made Middleton's task even harder. Despite being a player down and seeing some dubious umpiring decisions, Middleton remained strong to stay in the game, also creating good scoring opportunities of their own.
The start of the second half saw both sides create good chances but Brighton doubled their lead.
Middleton worked hard for each other, but the goal wouldn't come.
With a full side, Middleton felt the result would have been different.
Amanda Lawrence was named player of the match.
M&B: P Dawling, A Lawrence, S Bond, E Ursell, K Mulry, K Nurse, L Woollven, K Burton, K Jones, S Hodges.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Chichester
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South west
