Saturday 16^th February 2008

The 5^th team played out their fourth home fixture in a row on Peffermill’s pitch number two against another young Inverleith B team. Both central defenders Gavin Lotay and Jack Robertson were missing from the line-up but Barry Carmichael and Angus Symondson stepped up to complete the 5^th team’s defence.

The opening ten minutes or so of the match saw neither side take command of proceedings. It wasn’t until University captain Michael Smailes swept a crossed ball into the Inverleith goal that things started to pick up; 1 – 0. The University began to assert themselves in the match and looked by far the more threatening in attack. The 5^th team’s flowing play was soon rewarded with a penalty stroke courtesy of a defender’s body stopping the ball on the goal line after the keeper was rounded. Fresher David Green then dispatched the stroke with a brilliant flick into the side netting which left the keeper rooted to his line; 2 – 0. Just before half-time, a bizarre goalkeeping gaff would give Inverleith a chance to get themselves back into the game. Craig Thurtell in the University goal advanced to just outside his circle to prevent a long corner but the ball bounced up off his stick and embarrassingly clattered his helmet; penalty corner awarded! To add insult to injury, the hit from the penalty corner took a wicked deflection off defender Duncan Graham’s stick to send the ball high into the net over a logged and stupefied keeper; 2 – 1. At the half-time whistle the score remained at 2 – 1 in favour of the University.

The University started the second half well after some standard inspirational chat from coach Dennis Hay. The two goal lead was re-established with a skilful deflection from Michael Smailes at the right post; 3 – 1. The 5^th team captain then completed his hat-trick soon after with a well-placed reverse stick strike into the bottom right corner of the goal; 4 – 1. Whenever the young Inverleith strike force got the ball into the University circle they were met by strong defensive resistance and their penalty corners proved rather ineffective. For the third time this season the 5^th team managed to score a fifth goal on Peffermill’s pitch number two. This time it was fresher Charlie Player who was the provider with an unstoppable strike into the far sideboard; 5 – 1. Inverleith would have the final say in the scoring with a well taken hit high into the side netting from a rebound; 5 – 2. The match eventually fizzled out with the University emerging as comfortable 5 – 2 victors.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers:

• Michael Smailes (3)
• David Green
• Charlie Player

Man of the Match: Michael Smailes for a brilliant hat-trick scoring performance.
Dick of the Day: Craig Thurtell for gifting Inverleith a penalty corner with that bizarre foul thus providing strong evidence that goalkeepers should remain in their circle.

Saturday 9^th February 2008

Illness and injury once again took its toll on the 5^th team as several regular players were unable to play. However, a strong squad was still fielded to take on single-team club Kinross at Peffermill.

The 5^th team got off to a traditionally sluggish start from the first whistle (not unlike their first match against Kinross earlier in the season). The visiting side looked threatening in attack and it didn’t take long to find a way through the students’ defence. A long corner drifted through the circle courtesy of some poor defending to find a Kinross striker at the near post. Craig Thurtell in the University goal made the initial blocker save but the rebound was slipped to another striker at the far post who directed the ball into the goal; 0 – 1 Kinross. The 5^th team took this wake-up call seriously and began to both defend and attack more competently. The equaliser finally arrived when a ball swept towards goal from top circle was deflected under the diving goalkeeper by Will Rainford; 1 – 1. Both sides had their chances to take the lead but the first half saw the teams locked at 1 – 1.

Coach Dennis Hay’s half-time team talk failed to inspire the students early in the second half as Kinross took the lead through a penalty corner. The striker smashed the ball low towards the bottom left corner and although Thurtell got a piece of it he deflected it high into the net; 1 – 2 Kinross. The students then got a penalty corner of their own which was converted into a second equaliser; sweeper Gavin Lotay rifled the ball into the bottom right corner to level the score at 2 – 2. The lead was taken after Andy Young flicked the ball over the keeper on his reverse side from an outrageously acute angle into the side netting; 3 – 2. The three points were secured by Gavin Lotay who produced a carbon copy of his first goal from another penalty corner; 4 – 2. The scoring was wrapped up by Andy Young who added a second to his tally with another reverse stick strike to send the ball into the backboard; 5 – 2. Kinross had their chances to get themselves back in the game at various times in the second half but a combination of gritty defending and a couple of nice saves kept their strikers frustrated. With four unanswered goals in the second half, the 5^th team claimed a well deserved 5 – 2 victory at the final whistle after a skilful and good-spirited performance by both sides.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers:

• Will Rainford (1)
• Gavin Lotay (2)
• Andy Young (2)

Man of the Match: David Munn for an outstanding performance in the centre of defence.
Dick of the Day: Scott Patience.

Having been crowned SUS champions for the 2007/08 season the Men’s 1^st XI hockey team were drawn Nottingham University 1^st XI at home in the last sixteen of their BUSA Championship campaign. Peffermill was treated to lively home support and the scene was set for Edinburgh to triumph once again in university sport. Nerves were high in both the visitors and hosts camps as victory would secure a place in the quarter finals bringing the taste of BUSA glory ever closer. The game commenced at an impeccably high pace with both sides clearly showing they were not here for just the taking part. Edinburgh’s clean and critical attacking hockey saw the Nottingham side put under early pressure and they were rewarded by two penalty corners. Both were executed with professionalism and a firm strike by Will Butler in the second gave the home side a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately this breakthrough by Edinburgh sparked the Nottingham side to raise the level of their game even further and some strong defensive work by every member of the home side was needed to keep the score constant. Tactical aerial play by Joe Gray relieved some of this intense pressure and allowed Edinburgh to exploit further the somewhat uncomfortable Nottingham defence. Half time, however, was a welcomed break for the home side and gave Graham Stapleton, the Edinburgh coach, a chance to consolidate plays throughout the side. Action commenced with rejuvenated enthusiasm and Edinburgh produced some fluent hockey linking defence and attack with magnificent ease. Several chances were created that would have taken the result of the game out of contention but Edinburgh were unlucky not to convert any of these opportunities. Nottingham’s offensive approach continued to apply pressure to the Edinburgh defence and despite Sam Trett continually pulling off fantastic saves an equaliser was unfortunately conceded with only five minutes left of the game. The score after conventional time was one a piece and this saw the play of two seven minute halves in the golden goal format. It was a quick change over allowing both sides to continue fast paced hockey that had already generated a very exciting game. As the extra time period of play evolved, end to end hockey was creating opportunities for both sides to clinch victory. However, to the disappointment of the home side, Nottingham were the team that managed to find the finishing goal that would see them qualify for the BUSA Championship quarter finals. Richard McCorkell, the Edinburgh captain, commended the play by every member of the seventeen man squad involved in this epic fixture that saw a great standard of hockey played by both sides. A huge thanks goes out to all the supporters that made it down to cheer Edinburgh on in a very exciting home BUSA fixture.

Simon Sampson

Scorers:

• Will Butler

Man of the Match: Sam Trett

Dick of the Day: John Martin

Saturday 2nd February 2008

The first (and last) club derby upset of the season was to unfold on a chilly February afternoon on Peffermill’s pitch number one. The 5^th team only managed to field ten regular players with Will Rainford from the 4^th team kindly agreeing to complete the squad. Unusually, the 5^th team took to the pitch wearing yellow bibs over their green playing shirts due to a certain team member’s red-green colour blindness.

It was a sluggish opening few minutes for the team in yellow and the 6^th team got off to a comparatively good start. However, the 5^th team eventually began to assert their dominance of the first half with some nice attacking play. Will Rainford broke into the 6^th team’s circle on a brilliant run but was brought down by a horrendous challenge from goalkeeper Sam Trett. The offending keeper was lucky to remain on the pitch to defend the resulting penalty stroke. Fresher David Green stepped forward to take the stroke but fired wide of the goal. Trett went on to make a number of saves to keep the teams deadlocked but Scott Patience finally found a way through as he managed to hit the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the goal: 1 – 0 5^th team. The 6th team’s only clear chance of the first half came from Peter Ghosh but his reverse stick shot was saved at close range by former 6th team keeper Craig Thurtell. At half time the score remained at 1 – 0 in favour of the 5^th team.

The 6^th team wasted no time in equalising early in the second half. It’s the kind of penalty corner strike that goalkeepers dread: that perfect hit just over the pads that strikes the top right corner of the backboard. Unfortunately for the 5^th team, that’s exactly what Andy McLeod did to level the score at 1 – 1. The 6^th team then snatched the lead with a textbook Dennis Hay goal. It was 6^th team captain Jasper Mogg who received a cross from Danny Oliver before smashing the ball into the middle of the goal from close range: 1 – 2. The 5th team created as many chances in front of goal as the 6^th team, but a combination of inaccurate striking and some great goalkeeping kept the 6^th team ahead for the time being. The 5^th team eventually equalised with a brilliant individual effort from David Green – the fresher made amends for his missed penalty stroke with a mazy run through the circle before calmly flicking the ball into the bottom right corner: 2 – 2. However, the equaliser came against the run of play and the 6th team looked the more dangerous of the two. A frantic mêlée in front of the 5th team goal meant Thurtell had to pull off a diving save to deny Dan Finch-Race but a penalty corner eventually resulted and it was through that that the 6^th team would grab the game-winning goal (and it was a bizarre one to say the least…). Thurtell made both the initial and rebound saves but the ball fell close to the goal line where 5^th team defender Duncan Graham, under pressure and in a panic, accidentally shot the ball into his own goal! 2 – 3. The 5th team were simply unable to equalise again and the score could have looked a lot worse had it not been for some brilliant saving tackles from the likes of Gavin Lotay and Nick Oxley in defence. The 6^th team closed down the game to take all 3 points more than deservedly. One (even a semi-neutral match report writer) had to admire the 6th team’s passion and tenacity in beating their closest club rivals.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers:

• (5^th XI) Scott Patience
• (5^th XI) David Green
• (6^th XI) Andy McLeod
• (6^th XI) Jasper Mogg
• (6^th XI) Duncan Graham (OG)

Men of the Match:

(5^th XI) Will Rainford for making up the squad and playing an all-round brilliant game.
(6^th XI) Harry Gilmore for some excellent play down the left wing to create a huge number of scoring chances and penalty corners for his team.

Dicks of the Day:

(5^th XI) Duncan Graham for, well, scoring for the 6th team.
(6^th XI) Sam Trett for some dubious goalkeeping at times albeit interspersed with some fantastic saves!

Saturday 26th January 2008

A rather depleted 5^th XI squad had the pleasure of entertaining the Falkirk 3^rd XI at Peffermill in another eventful East Division 2 clash. Coming into the match after a demoralising 2 – 0 away defeat to Alloa the week before and the loss of central defenders Gavin Lotay and Jack Robertson to injury meant the 5^th XI’s work was certainly cut out for them. The injured defensive duo did, however, become surrogate coaches for Dennis Hay as he attended another match on pitch 2.

The University started the match somewhat on the back foot, allowing Falkirk too much possession and becoming overrun in defence from the opening whistle. However, the Falkirk strikers didn’t bother the defence too much and only forced Craig Thurtell in the University goal into few simple saves. The 5^th XI eventually began to make a game of it when they got a couple of half-chances of their own in the Falkirk circle but a nice save from the keeper and some gritty defending kept the teams deadlocked. The best chance in the half came from a Falkirk penalty corner attempt but the striker’s flick just missed the goal by a few inches. After the first half contest the score remained at 0 – 0.

With everything to play for, the second half promised to be a hard fought one by either side. The students had their chances to go ahead but the execution of that crucial final pass to find a striker in the circle was lacking. Falkirk once again put pressure on the University circle but Thurtell wouldn’t be beaten easily and turned away everything that was hit his way. The deadlock was finally broken by the University when an excellent cross by Robbie Leigh found team captain Michael Smailes at the far post who made no mistake in slamming the ball into the backboard; 1 – 0. The students did well in absorbing most of the visitors’ subsequent attacks but a few penalty corners resulted from them. Falkirk could have equalised on such a penalty corner but the flick from close range was well saved by the diving keeper and cleared. The students then doubled their advantage from a penalty corner of their own. The keeper saved the initial shot but his defence failed to deal with the rebound that was then flicked into the far sideboard by fresher Charlie Player; 2 – 0. After going two goals behind, Falkirk failed to trouble the University defence (much to their surprise). With tempers flaring a little, the Falkirk umpire had to green card one of the visiting players for a heavy-handed tackle on a University defender. The students could have added a third goal to their tally but a brilliant diving save by the Falkirk keeper on a penalty corner strike kept his team in the game with five or so minutes remaining. However, the score stayed at 2 – 0 up to the final whistle with the students claiming another hard earned three points.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers:

• Michael Smailes
• Charlie Player

Man of the Match: Charlie Player for excellent attacking play and scoring to give the University a crucial two goal lead.

Dick of the Day: Scott Patience for fresh-airing a crossed ball in the second half.

Saturday 19th January 2008

After last week’s postponed away fixture to Carnegie, the University 5^th XI finally restarted their league campaign in 2008 with a match against a tenacious Alloa side at Goldenacre.

The home side started well from the pushback and applied pressure on the students’ circle in search of an early lead. Alloa’s massive hits into the students’ 23 metres area created a multitude of potential scoring chances but the central defensive pairing of Gavin Lotay and Jack Robertson did well to weather the early storm. However, goalkeeper Craig Thurtell was still kept on his toes and made a few sticks saves in open play and on penalty corners to maintain the scoreless draw. Far from being one-way traffic, the visiting students engineered several promising attacks of their own but were unable to execute that crucial final pass in the Alloa circle. The home side eventually took the lead with a well worked penalty corner which involved manoeuvring the ball around the defence before hitting into goal: 1 – 0. Of the two sides on the pitch, Alloa looked the more likely to score next. However, a combination of gritty defending and haphazard goalkeeping prevented Alloa extending their lead; the student goalkeeper just knew it wasn’t going to be his day when he misjudged a kick that deflected the ball into his own goal for a long corner! The first half eventually ended at 1 – 0 with the University failing to direct single shot on target.

The University started the second half a man down with Gavin Lotay unable to continue due to a possible finger fracture courtesy of a lifted Alloa hit late in the first half. Things then went from bad to worse for the students when a long Alloa hit down the pitch found an unmarked striker on the 23 metres line who made no mistake in rounding Thurtell and hitting the ball cleanly into the backboard: 2 – 0. Just as the University started to show more promise in attack, their squad took another injury when yet another lifted Alloa hit struck Harry Eustace on the leg. The injured fresher would take no further part in the game and thus the University were out of substitutes. The students managed to get some shots on the Alloa goal but the goalkeeper remained relatively untested and his defence would simply smack the ball out of danger if the need arose. On two occasions, however, the students beat the keeper but not the defenders who made two terrific goal line deflections to preserve their advantage. The match drew to a close with Alloa maintaining their two goal lead up to the final whistle.

The EUHMC 5^th XI’s six game unbeaten run may have come to an abrupt end at Goldenacre but they still have half their games to play in the 2007/2008 season. With 9 games played they have four wins, two draws and three losses to their name.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers: None

Man of the Match: Fresher Andrew Frame who put in a terrific game in defence.

Dick of the Day: It was a foregone conclusion before the match had even started; Michael Smailes had left a number of the teams’ strips back at his flat and didn’t realise this until arriving at the pitch!

On Saturday 24^th the 3^rd XI played against Grange 3 in an important East 1 clash. The 3s went into the game full of confidence riding high at the top of the league with just the solitary defeat against Edinburgh Hockey Club amidst a tide of impressive victories that sent a clear message to the angry locals exactly who was boss.

Uni started the game well, putting together some excellent hockey and creating lots of good chances, but importantly they failed to capitalise on these. Unfortunately, lapses in concentration defensively led to 3 relatively quick goals being conceded in the latter two thirds of the first half, leaving a mountain to climb in the second half.

Uni got their game together somewhat after half time, showing greater composure in defence, and winning the 50/50 scuffles while the team’s angry red mist in the middle of the park managed to control himself. After increasing spells of pressure, uni pulled back 2 goals after good work from both Kylan Pathmanathan and James Toogood, but sadly it was too little too late. They still go into the new year at top spot, but they’ll need to continue with the class they’ve shown in the first part of the season if they are to claim the first uni win in the league. They’re quietly confident though.

James Maurice

Scorers:

• Kylan Pathmanathan
• James Toogood

Man of the Match: Mike Fenelon

Dick of the Day: James Maurice

Saturday 24^th November 2007

A near full strength University 5^th XI arrived at their home ground on the back of a 5 game undefeated streak to take on the Waverley Inveresk Trinity 3^rd XI. After the school girls were finished at 11am, it was time to grace Peffermill’s pitch number 1 with a suitably higher standard of hockey (barely).

The game began well for Waverley who looked eager to open the scoring. Unfortunately for the students, that’s exactly what the visitors did. The ball found its way through the defence with little resistance and Waverley executed a few simple passes before pushing the ball into the goal; 0 – 1. Waverley continued to attack well and were rewarded with a few penalty corners. However, Craig Thurtell in the University goal made the saves when required and kept Waverley at bay for the time being. Still perhaps not fully recovered from the night before, it took a while for the students to get themselves into the game. A penalty corner for the students was struck well at goal by Gavin Lotay and the rebound fell at the stick of fresher Greg Martin who made no mistake in dispatching the ball into the Waverley goal. Waverley contested the legitimacy of the equaliser for an alleged foul but after consulting his colleague, the visiting umpire decided the goal should stand; 1 – 1. No further goals were scored by either team and the first half fizzled out at a 1 – 1 stalemate.

Coach Dennis Hay provided the half time team chat to inspire the students into some great second half hockey. However, the half started disastrously for the University as Waverley snatched an early lead. The initial high strike was well saved by Thurtell but the ball fell nicely for the same striker who had time to pick his spot as he drilled the ball into the backboard; 1 – 2. But the students didn’t take this lying down and were soon back on the attack in search of another equaliser. This time it was fresher Charlie Player who swept in from close range after an excellent cross from team captain Michael Smailes to the far post; 2 – 2. By this time the tackles were flying in thick and fast in this incredibly tight and closely contested match. It was the students who would grab a slender lead through a deflection from fresher Harry Eustace following another superbly worked penalty corner; 3 – 2. Waverley perhaps felt hard done by, evident by one of their players shouting “they don’t deserve this”! They continued to apply pressure on the University circle but some tenacious defending, including a sliding stick clearance from Thurtell, kept the ball away from goal. The game drew to a close with the students winning 3 – 2 thus extending their unbeaten run in East Division 2 to 6 games. The score line could easily have gone the other way considering the questionable defending at times from the students. However, the University put away their chances when it mattered most. It’s also the first time the 5^th XI have won a game after going behind in the scoring.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers:

• Greg Martin
• Harry Eustace
• Charlie Player

Man of the Match: Harry Eustace for an outstanding game

Dick of the Day: Scott Patience for missing a sitter in front of goal.

The 5^th XI travelled away to the remote Tweedbank pitch in the Scottish Borders to play their 7^th league match of the season against Reivers. It was always going to be a difficult match since only 10 5^th team players could make the trip along with 6^th team stalwart defender Barry Carmichael who completed the squad.Straight from the Reivers’ pushback the students knew it was going to be a tough match. They moved the ball around extremely well, especially in midfield, from which they achieved extended periods of pressure in the Uni half. An early penalty corner for Reivers gave them their first scoring opportunity but Craig Thurtell in the Uni goal made the diving save and deflected the ball over the backline and out of danger. Far from being one-way traffic, however, the students won a penalty corner of their own. Team captain Michael Smailes duffed the injection but the Reivers defence failed to capitalise and the ball fell nicely for fresher Harry Eustace, who let rip a ferocious strike that flew through the keeper’s legs to connect with the backboard. 0 – 1 students’ lead. Reivers went straight back on the attack as expected and the students had a tough time weathering the storm. A free hit from just outside the circle was taken quickly by the home side before the Uni had set up their defence. The ball made its way through to find a striker right in front of goal who struck it hard and low; surely the equaliser had come? However, a brilliant reflex save from the outstretched stick of Thurtell in the Uni goal denied the striker from point-blank range. The first half ended 0 – 1 courtesy of some gritty defending by the students in the closing minutes.

The 2^nd half began well for the Uni straight from their pushback with some nice attacking play. However, Reivers were defending well and maintained their slick passing game which was rewarded with the lion’s share of possession. Another penalty corner for the students allowed them to extend their lead through a lethal strike from Gavin Lotay; 0 – 2. Cue the Reivers’ offensive onslaught! The home side quickly cut the students’ advantage in half through a penalty corner; Thurtell made the initial save but the rebound fell perfectly for a striker who flicked the ball into the goal. 1 – 2. The students continued to press for another goal to kill the game but they troubled the Reivers’ keeper very little in open play. The quick passing from Reivers in the vicinity of the Uni circle eventually caught the students out when a free hit went straight through 2 defenders to find a striker who smashed the ball into the backboard past the off guard Uni keeper; 2 – 2. Despite appearing to tire a little, the home side continued to dominate proceedings and of the 2 teams looked the more likely to snatch a last minute winner. Their best chance came from a 2 on 1 but Thurtell saw the ball being crossed and was fast off his line to kick clear. However, the ball found a striker outside the circle and the advancing keeper was forced into making a couple of glove and stick saves at the top of his circle much to the bemusement and confusion of the Reivers team who were convinced some kind of foul had been committed! The game ended in a 2 – 2 draw; probably a fair result all things considered. The 5^th team were far from their best with several key players missing from the squad but they still managed to extend their unbeaten run to 5 games.

Craig Thurtell

Scorers:

• Harry Eustace
• Gavin Lotay

Man of the Match: Visiting player Barry Carmichael who had a solid game in defence in an effective central partnership with fresher Jack Robertson.

Dick of the Day: Fresher Harry Eustace who took the honour because of various misdemeanours including (but not limited to) taking a fresh air shot, a nutmeg and some dodgy post-match chat!

After a poor show last week with the team losing our first match ever (mainly due to the absence of a few key players), the 7s came back with a storming performance against Stirling Wanderers 2’s.

‘Storming’ is actually quite an apt word to describe the day – it was dark, raining, windy and cold. After an…interesting journey to Dunblane (on my part at least) we arrived (with about ten minutes spare) to find we were playing on a pitch drenched in water from the rain and covered in stick from the overhanging trees. Neither this nor the weather, however, were enough to dampen the rock hard spirits of the 7’s…

With a pretty much full strength team and a new team shout (‘Getcha head in the game!’) we embarked upon an epic struggle against a good, apparently unbeaten, team. We started off well, dominating the pitch; even when the opposition went ahead with a runaway(ish) goal. Edinburgh quickly responded with Man of the Match Caldog scoring a top corner (ahem) drag-flick from a short. This was promptly followed by a well worked move ending in a goal from Dan. And that was the first half.

The second half followed the same sort of trend; we scored two more goals, coming from Pete and finally goal machine Luke. Also worth mentioning because due to funniness is Dereck’s stick being stolen out of his hands, Sandy falling over…again and a kid trying to start a fight with Tim, without him noticing.

Also, team has a new mascot called ‘The Shaggin’ Wagon’ or sometimes just ‘The Beast’.

Everyone played really well. Well done lads.

James Skinner

Scorers:

• Dan Finch-Race
• Luke Rayner
• Callum Beaumont
• Peter Ghosh

Man of the Match: Callum Beaumont

Dick of the Day: James Skinner