THURROCK bounced back from two loses to win this weeks game 2 – 1 after a hard fought match against Upminster 2nd XI at Palmers. The first half was a relatively quiet half of hockey with few chances to either side and the half time whistle blew with the score line at 0-0
WITH several key players unavailable, Thurrock struggled to match a strong Harlow side and were under pressure from the first whistle with defenders George McAllister, Mark Mager and Aaron Saunders having to work at full stretch to hold back the relentless attack.
THURROCK played Colchester 2nd XI this week and convincingly won the game by 4 goals to 2. The game started horribly for Thurrock going down 1-0 in the first minute after some bad defending. However once they had got themselves organised and started passing the ball, four goals in 15 minutes put Thurrock beyond the point of return.
THIS was an important game in Division 5SE as both teams looked for their first points of the season. In the early stages it was Romford who dominated the game and forced Thurrock defence, led by Mark Mager, to work hard to repel the strong Romford attack. Gradually Thurrock got into the game and moved play into the opposition half. After 20 minutes, Michael Fleming collected a ball from Alex Taylor and dribbled into the area before shooting. The keeper appeared to be behind the ball, however Jake Lamb nipped in to deflect the ball into the net for his first goal of the season. In the last minute before half time, Thurrock were awarded a short corner which Mark Mager received and slipped to Paul Mailey who hammered the ball past the keeper.
DUE to a shortage of players, Thurrock travelled to this Division 6 SE fixture with only 10 men and so were under pressure from the start as the strong Clacton side moved the ball around to create openings. After 10 minutes a well-struck short corner gave the home side the lead. Soon afterwards Clacton were awarded another short corner which was accidently blocked by a player on the line and a penalty awarded. Thurrock’s agile keeper Garry O’Donohue ensured that at that point Clacton were thwarted, diving full length to deflect the ball over the bar off his stick Thurrock were briefly inspired by the save and attacked strongly down the right wing, however the Clacton keeper dived full length to deflect Declan Salmon’s shot around the post.
THURROCK turned up to Saffron Walden with a depleted side in the hope they weren’t goin to get run over by a well drilled home side. A couple of debut performances to mention with Ethan Pinion making his first start at right back and Gary O’Donohue swapping the pads for a striker role.
AS Thurrock failed to have enough players to field a second team for the third week in a row, the third team were forced to resign from Division 9SE and permanently take over the fixtures in Division 6SE against a strong Southend team.
WITH the first game of the season not going so well the Tee’s changed up their tactics and decided that attack was the best form of defence. However it was Witham that drew first blood with a very dubious goal which the attacker played in with his foot. Worst was to come after another decision left the Tee’s shell shocked and 2-0 down in just 15 mins of the first half.
FOR the second week in a row, a shortage of players in this team forced the cancellation of the 3rd team game and promotion of that team to fulfil this game in Div. 6SE. From the start the home team dominated the play and went into the lead from a short corner after only five minutes.
WANT to try a new sport? A sport with speed, team work and a family atmosphere? Then give hockey a go. Thurrock Hockey Club has it’s annual Club Day on Saturday (April 13th) @ Palmer’s Sports and Fitness Centre.
ON an extrememly cold and snowy March afternoon, Thurrock made thier way to Palmers to play a struggling Havering side who were lookin for the win to stay in the league…that didn’t happen! Havering started the game and within the first minute Jak Taylor stole the ball from the defender, ran towards the D and spotted the captain Steven Abbott at the back post who calmly slotted it in to an open goal.
THURROCK started this match with only 10 men and were behind after only three minutes as Colchester attacked in force. Once at full strength, Thurrock held the visitors and moved the ball up the pitch, however a strong Colchester defence cut out the threat and forced Thurrock backwards.
A well-practiced short corner routine resulted in two more goals to Colchester by half time. Thurrock revised their formation in the second half with Neil Donovan moving to centre forward and this allowed Luke Strudwick to make a series of runs up the wing and centre the ball for Olu Akinwande to force the keeper into some last-minute saves.
A LONG trip down to Colchester to play a high flying Essex University side who were pushing for promotion for the top team in Thurrock. Unfortunately a break down of communication resulted in Thurrock having to dig through the complete shambles of a boot that is Jordan Salmon’s car to find the training bibs because no one mentioned that Essex Uni play in black also!
With no recognised keeper, youngster Luke Strudwick volunteered to don the kit. The home take had the first push back and attacked strongly, however defender Neil Donovan made a timely tackle and quickly moved the ball up for Dave Everett to beat two players before passing to Michael Fleming to dribble into the area and hammer the ball past the keeper for the lead after 10 minutes.
A few chances for both sides lead to some hairy moments but Thurrock drew first blood. A short corner was awarded and it finally paid off! after weeks of messing up short corner after short corner…one finally went in! Kyle Taylor dragged out firmly to his brother Jak Taylor who pushed it slightly into the D where Tommy Ing stepped up and fired home through the legs of the Southend Keeper. 1-0 to Thurrock.
Thurrock continued to have the majority of the ball after the break and Akinwande soon extended their lead by converting a pass by Luke Strudwick. A long range shot from Redbridge should have been easily cleared, however, a defender was caught in possession and the ball was smashed into the back of the net. From the restart, Akinwande dribbled up the field before finding Michael Fleming on the edge of the D who rounded the keeper before shooting into the goal. Thurrock continued to have the majority of possession but increasingly found their passes going astray.
AGAINST a strong Wapping team, were under heavy pressure from the start and defenders Ethan Pinion, Chris Smith and George McAllister had to work hard. Gradually Thurrock got into the game and the midfield of Tom Archer, Ricky Smith, Mat Skinner, George Horgan and Jo Harvey performed some slick passes to move the ball up the pitch and threaten the home side.
The game started well for the home side who took control pretty much across the pitch especially down the centre where East London played their strongest players. About 10 minutes in, a lucky bouncing cross found its way to the East London forward who quite spectacularly managed to hit the ball in the air whilst running away from goal, on the reverse, which found the backboard. Thurrock didn’t let their heads go down however, and took more control after the stand-in captain Nick Stapleton made a tactical change and put 3 into the centre to strengthen the midfield. This worked well as East London were forced to attack down the wings which the Thurrock defence were more than equal to.
Thurrock started the game strongly and Michael Fleming was unlucky to see his shot go inches wide after collecting a pass from Matthew Skinner and dribbling past three defenders. Thurrock maintained their effort and forced the visitors to defend in numbers.
THURROCK turned up nice and early ready for a good warm up and a confident start…the first bit went well…the second not so much! The game started OK for Thurrock with some good chances but nothing clear. It was Redbridge that took the lead around 10 minutes into the game when Thurrock’s defence lacked a little composure and Redbridge managed to squeeze the ball under Andy Gaut.
AFTER eight weeks, Thurrock returned to action in Div.7SE against a strong Clacton team which is pushing for promotion. In the early stages, it was the home team who played the better hockey and forced the visitors into defence. Michael Fleming was unlucky not to score when his shot which beat the keeper, shaved the outside of the post off a defender’s stick.
THURROCK 1st XI travelled to Braintree to face a strong Phoenix team for the rearranged fixture which was called off previously after a waterlogged pitch. So soon after the Christmas break meant that quite a few regular 1st team players were unavailable which gave a couple of the 2nd XI their chance to shine. Up stepped Jeff West making his 2012/13 season debut and also Sam Webb coming in for some defensive cover.
AFTER a four week break, Thurrock played a friendly against their local rivals in preparation for the restart of the East League next week. The game flowed from end to end with both teams having chances but neither being able to convert. After thirty minutes, Brentwood were awarded a series of short corners which keeper Danny Hick dealt with well until a shot was deflected into the net from close range to give the home team the lead.
Thurrock 1st XI have had an up and down season so far with long spells of great results and then a poor spell towards the Christmas break. The new look Thurrock side had drafted in a few new players in particular the goalkeeper Danny Hik who was looking to cement his place in the top team in the club and also Kyle Taylor’s twin brother Jak Taylor who had finished University after achieving a 1st and signed up to join forces with his brother.
