No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League: Prem A (Mens) | Match Report(s)
Goal Scorers: Paul Hillsdon & Shane Vincent
CoP continued their East Premier A league campaign this weekend away to Watford based West Herts. West Herts dominated the game from the start and bisected CoP's new formation at will. West Herts scored three similar goals before half time with each being 'walked' into the CoP goal after smart interplay. Although West Herts played reasonably well, it was the lack of team play and individual mistakes by CoP which allowed West Herts to dominate. CoP changed their formation during the second half, but this failed to alter the pattern of play in West Herts favour. Further pressure was applied when Carl Daniels (bad tackle) and captain Simon Shorter (verbal) were awarded yellow cards. However, with eight minutes remaining, CoP secured a penalty corner which was expertly dispatched low to the West Herts keepers left by Hillsdon. This energised CoP into a more cohesive unit and then dominated the last few minutes of the game. A further Hillsdon short-corner hit a post and Vincent was on hand to mop up the rebound, making it 3 - 2. CoP even had time for a couple of opportunities to level the score, but this was West Herts day and with CoP only playing well for the last eight minutes did not deserve anything out of the game.
Elliot Stevens came on during the game at the back and played well and richly deserved his man of the match award.
CoP remain mid-table and next week face table topping St Albans at Bretton Gate
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League: Prem B (Mens) | Match Report(s)
Goal Scorers: Adam Wilson (2)
The performance of the City 2nd XI is now becoming a big concern with another comprehensive defeat despite a significant number of very experienced players on display including the welcome return of Jim Tansley. City gave away an early goal when James Fisher was missing from defence, temporarily injured but soon equalised through a smartly taken near post goal from Adam Wilson. At 1 - 2 down at half time a good second half performance could have led to a reasonable result but as their "old soldiers" tired City found themselves more and more exposed as Harpenden found space around and behind their midfield. Darren Griffiths made several great saves and was particularly unlucky on perhaps 3 of the goals where the ball fell to another Harpenden forward to convert.
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League: Division 2N (Mens) | Match Report(s)
Goal Scorers: Lost 1 - 2 Aggi Milner
City found themselves generally out muscled by a well organised and competitive Dereham side who now rise to 2nd in the table. City felt that they did not get the "rub of the green" from some inexperienced umpiring and that they deserved a draw. In reality they missed an experienced head up front and Dereham had the better of the play overall.
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League: Division 3NW (Mens) | Match Report(s)
With a depleted side due to some late withdrawals skipper Tom Handley had to resort to borrowing one of the 8th XI just before leaving to ensure he had 11 players. In the circumstances this was a good performance where they came close to getting a draw, only conceding in the last few minutes.
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League: Division 3NW (Mens) | Match Report(s)
City 5th XI were again outclassed by a side with young legs and a coached plan of play that they could not cope with. Despite Kevin Ledbrooke's manful attempts to achieve some equality in midfield, the University's fast raiding forwards were always likely to score. One or two umpiring decisions went against City at crucial points but this only served to give a slightly false scoreline to what would have been a defeat anyway.
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League: Division 4NW (Mens) | Match Report(s)
Goal Scorers: Steve Browning, Phil Martin & Ian Kennedy
City again fell to a comprehensive defeat but their team spirit was again in evidence against a (on the day) good Cambridge side. An Ian Kennedy drag flick was thought to be worthy of mention (by himself) and Steve browning scored his annual goal with Phil Martin deserving his goal for a man of the match display.
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League Division 6NW(S) (Mens) | Match Report(s)
Goal Scorers: Olly Grant, Leo Davies and Declan Shepherd
City suffered a slow start struggled to find fluency but created enough with good move in last quarter of first half to take the lead.
A much improved second half with better movement meant they scored 2 more goals in open play including debut goal for Declan Shepherd form an assist by Brian Lau.
There were solid performances from the defence with Adam Kimber again having an influential game.
Jonathon Short (1st team keeper/manager !!) on his return from injury, provided good advice and encouragement to the developing players, some of whom show enough promise to be considered possible stars of the future.
If this team continue to play to their strengths and move the ball quickly they should be able to maintain progress and keep a position at or near to the top of this division.
No Venue | NE14HOCKEY East Men's League Division 6NW(S) (Mens) | Match Report(s)
Goal Scorers: Rob Goodall & Gaz Mohammed
City came away from this match very disappointed to have somehow lost when they had had much more of the possession. St Neots had a fast adult forward who proved just too difficult to handle. Although now bottom of the table, City on the evidence of this display will find some games they can win. There were excellent performances from Callum Rigby in goal and Ashfat Mohammed up front. Sunday 11th
Veterans Cup 1st Round
City Vets Vs Canterbury Vets XI (H) Won 1 - 0
Goal Scorers: Richard Herbage
In many ways this was replica of City's first round win at Letchworth - a bright start with City dominating and then a goal from Herbage - this time a "controlled" reverse stick at the near post - and then other opportunities spurned before allowing the opposition to gradually take charge of the game but a tremendously committed rearguard action then preserving the one goal lead. As usual City were indebted to a tireless covering of acreage by Aggi Milner in midfield as a skilful Canterbury side flooded midfield and commanding displays by Peter Hings and Simon (Baz) Roberts in defence who were well supported by "young" James Knight on his debut at this level. Canterbury must be disappointed at not at least forcing a penalty shoot out (no extra time in this competition!) as they had many more shots than City but the defending was good and therefore Jon Short in goal was only called into serious action perhaps 3 times as he also watched several shots pass safely wide of this goal. Town were short of a 3 vital players through injury and unavailability and could go far again in this competition if they return and the draw, of course, is favourable.
Junior Indoor Competitions
After starting up an indoor training session just 8 weeks ago with the clubs juniors at the Thomas Deacon Academy the club have gained county club success. City of Peterborough U16s & 18s played Saffron Walden in the above competition in Cambridge today with the U16s playing first and winning fairly comfortably 5 - 2. Jordan Heald and Scott Howard were outstanding in defence. Scorers were Adam Wilson (4) and Marcus Howard. The U18s were next up and eventually won 3 - 2 despite some indiscipline leading to them being down two players towards the end of the game at 2 - 1 up. Saffron took advantage and equalised despite Nathan Stevenson making a number of outstanding saves in goal before City were back to full strength. Once back to full strength, City found a winner through Chris Porter. Scorers were Elliott Stevens x 2 penalty strokes and Chris Porter. Matt Porter was outstanding in defence as was James Fisher in midfield. Both teams now go through to the East finals held in December. Thanks go to all who helped and supported the lads particularly Simon Miles who coached on the day.
U18s Squad
Elliott Stevens, Chris Porter, Matt Porter, Darren McIntosh, Aaron Dawson, James Fisher, Tom Wadsworth, Nathan Stevenson .
U16s squad Marcus Howard, Adam Wilson, Callum Rigby, Scott Howard, Jordan Heald, Cameron Heald, Nathan Foad, Edward Fitch.
