Sunderland Hockey Club

1st Team News

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Captain - Matt Dench 07877 748811

Fixtures 09-10

Date
Opposition
Venue Result
18 Jul North Shields 7s North Shields  
7-9 Aug Halifax Tournament Halifax 5th
11 Aug North Shields Home 3-3
27 Aug Medics Away 4-3
29-30 Aug Ayr Tournament Ayr  
1 Sep North Shields Away  
5 Sep Stockton 3 Away canc
9 Sep Gateshead 1 Home 2-7
12-13 Sep County Cup tbc w/d
16 Sep Morpeth 1 Home canc
19 Sep Nth. St. Georges Away 2-7
26 Sep Stokesley 1 Home 3-4
3 Oct Stockton 2 Away 2-6
10 Oct Norton 1 Home 4-2
17 Oct Newcastle Uni 3 Away 1-1
24 Oct Durham Uni 3 Home 1-3
31 Oct Hild Bede Away 0-1
7 Nov Wilton 1 Home 2-1
14 Nov Durham Uni 4 Away 4-5
21 Nov Newcastle Uni 2 Home
28 Nov Richmond 1 Away
5 Dec Stockton 3 Home
12 Dec Stokesley 1 Away
16 Jan Stockton 2 Home
23 Jan Durham Uni 3 Away
30 Jan Hild Bede 1 Home
6 Feb Norton 1 Away
13 Feb Newcastle Uni 3 Home
20 Feb Wilton 1 Away
27 Feb Durham Uni 4 Home
6 Mar Newcastle Uni 2 Away
13 Mar Richmond 1 Home
20 Mar Stockton 3 Away

7 Nov 09

Sunderland 1sts - 2 Wilton 1sts - 1

Games between Wilton and Sunderland have always been hard fought and this particular game was no exception. This was largely a midfield battle with the two defences on top and restricting chances for either side. Sunderland deservedly took the lead in the first half with a well placed shot by Chris Brown from a short corner. However, Wilton fought back and managed to force a goal via a number of deflections from a scrappy short corner. Matt Dench missed an open goal after rounding the keeper and it looked like it might be one of those days with Sunderland struggling to find their rhythm going forward.

Of the two teams though, Sunderland always looked the more likely to snatch a win so when Andy Brown was in the right place to provide a reverse stick finish to a neat passing move, it was probably a fair reflection of the balance of play. As the game entered the last 10 minutes, Wilton pushed men forward to try and salvage a point and the Sunderland team started to give the ball away a little to cheaply under pressure. In the end it was Wilton ’s indiscipline that ended their hopes of getting anything from the game when their keeper was sent off for continuing to argue with the umpires decision after having already been given a warning. The team can be pleased with the result and the defensive performance, although they will hope to improve going forwards against Durham Uni 4ths this Saturday.

Sunderland 1sts - 1 Durham Univ 3rds - 3

With Durham having won all of their games in the league so far by 5 goals or more, Sunderland were always going to be the underdogs going into this match. Then when Durham were wrongly awarded a short corner in the first 5 minutes, and it was clinically put away, this could easily have been used as an excuse for the Sunderland team to self destruct. Instead, they fought back with considerable spirit, not only keeping the Durham team at bay, but also creating some really good chances of their own on the counter attack. Whilst Durham had the lions share of possession, they were kept to very few real chances by a dogged Sunderland defence. At the other end, Sunderland were able to craft several chances on the counter attack including a number of short corners but they just couldn't get the ball into the Durham net. 
 
When Durham got a well worked second goal, that probably should have been game over. However, Sunderland were just not prepared to give this one up and their perseverance was soon rewarded. Matt Dench found a way straight through the middle of the Durham team with a strong break away, before rounding the keeper and squaring the ball for Neil Holmes to finish. For the last 30 minutes of the second half the game was well in the balance. However, with 5 minutes left on the clock Sunderland were having to push higher up the pitch for an equaliser leaving gaps at the back. When one of the Durham forwards intercepted a tired pass out of defence the game was finally put out of reach.

17th Oct 09

Newcastle Uni 3rds 1 Sunderland 1sts 1

After a good win against Norton, the first team went to Newcastle hoping to start a winning run. They got off to a good start, taking the lead through a controversial Dan Thwaite goal. Dan showed some neat football skills to get the ball into the D before hitting a strong reverse stick strike into the corner of the Newcastle goal. That was balanced 5 minutes later, however, when Andy Brown scored a great goal that was disallowed for no apparant reason. That was made worse by the fact that Newcastle Uni went straight down the other end and equalised.

Sunderland lost Alec Jackson to injury early in the second half and had to play most of the half with 10 men. Despite this, the game remained an even contest. Sunderland defended well and restricted Newcastle to only 1or 2 chances, although Newcastle should have taken the lead, missing a harshly awarded penalty flick. Sunderland had 9 penalty corners and should have scored from at least one to win the game. Overall though, a draw was probably a fair result.

10 Oct 09

Sunderland 1sts 4 Norton 1sts 2

With several 1st team regulars missing, and having lost the first two games of the season, this was always going to be a tough game against newly promoted Norton. However, Sunderland started the brighter and managed to storm into a two goal lead. Norton barely threatened the Sunderland goal in the first half but pulled a goal back right on the stroke of half time through a short corner. When Norton scored again early in the second half, the game could easily have swung, the way of a well organised Norton team. However, Sunderland defended with a lot of discipline and commitment, whilst at the other end, the Norton defence could not cope with the pace of Dan Thwaite and Andy Brown on the counter attack. Two goals apiece for Andy and Dan resulted in Sunderland ending 4-2 winners and that should give the team a lot of confidence for the next game at Newcastle University.

 

31 Jan 09

Newcastle Uni 2nds -3 Sunderland 1sts -7

The 1st XI stunned Newcastle Uni 2nd XI by dishing out a 7-3 thrashing at Coach Lane. Newcastle never recovered as Sunderland pressed right from the whistle, scoring a well worked goal with the first attack of the game. The high tempo was maintained throughout the first half and Sunderland looked to have the game almost wrapped up at half time with a 3 goal cushion.

Newcastle woke up in the 2nd half and had some spells of pressure and several short corners. The Sunderland team dropped deeper and deeper into their own half, but still looked dangerous on the counter attack. Whilst Sunderland occasionally threatened to self destruct under pressure, arguing with each other like a bunch of teenage schoolgirls, the overall quality of passing and speed of the Sunderland midfield/attack on the break was just too much for Newcastle Uni. If the Newcastle keeper had not pulled off several outstanding saves from point blank range then Sunderland would have hit double figures.

The 1st XI have been playing some much improved hockey and have put in some consistant and disciplined performances since Christmas. Hopefully this will continue and they can chalk up a 4th win on the bounce against Durham Uni 4 XI next Saturday. The goals came from Andy Wilson, Andy Wilkinson(2), Ally Campbell (2), Matt Dench and Nick Campbell.

10 January 09

Sunderland 1sts - 5 Stokesley 1sts 2

Sunderland got a deserved win to avenge their opening day defeat to the Cleveland side. The home side got into their stride quickly and raced into a four goal lead. A loss of concentration allowed the visitors to score twice but the home side added a fifth for a good win. The goals came from M Wikinson 2, Andy Wilson 2 and A Campbell on his return to the club. Next week the firsts host Stockton 2nds in what should be a close game.

8th November 08

Sunderland 1sts 1 Newcastle Univ 2nds 4

The first half was very close, with Sunderland slightly edging it; Mark Wilkinson had a penalty flick brilliantly saved by the Newcastle University goalkeeper shortly before half-time. If that had gone in then the game may have played completely differently. In the second half, Newcastle University picked their game up and pushed into the lead, but not without Sunderland having enough chances to draw the game at least. A single goal from Andy Wilkinson proved to be nothing more than a consolation.

 

 

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