SEASON 2008 / 9
SEASON 2007 / 8
Mens 3's (2) v Colchester 2's (1) on 12 - April - 08
Havering went into the game against Colchester knowing that a win would keep them safe from relegation and anything less wouldn't be enough. End of season encounters are never easy and with several players not available Havering's third string led by captain Roger Hiett had to call up youngsters O'shea and Jupp from the fourth eleven.
However the men in black are renowned for their ability to battle and expected to be met by a very strong Colchester eleven which have swept aside many teams this season. This gave the team impetus and the drive that was needed to do what needed to be done.
Colchester started off the better team with crisp passing however Havering defended like never before and Colchester just couldn't break down the stronghold. The men in black gained confidence from this aided by vocal support from Havering's traveling supporters and Marc Lloyd who agreed to manage the side in such an important game for the team and club.
During the first half Havering managed to break away through the smart use of the aerial ball from Roger Hiett and Anthony Vaquero, one finally resulting in a short corner which was smashed against the Colchester keeper, the ball rebounding to Ashley O'shea who cleverly swept the ball to the far post where Christian Vaquero was waiting, equally he swept the ball in for the lead. This goal helped lift the men in black to fight even more for the ball. The break away attacks increased but at the end of the first half the score stayed the same.
The second half started in a similar fashion as the first with Colchester pushing forward in numbers in search of the equaliser. Despite superb defending led by Haverings player of the season Jeff Johnson aided by the ever young Mike Hosier and a young Jupp unfortunately Colchester eventually scored in the form of a half hit - half pass ball from the top of the D which bounced towards the back post through four defenders, although the pass didn't need a touch from another Colchester player as it crept in at the far post.
Man of the match Tom Woodman made some absolutely fantastic reaction saves to keep the pumped up Colchester team out and preventing them from scoring a second goal that would put them in front. Havering's men were indebted to the goalkeeper this day. Then came the Havering second goal, a ball whacked into the D from Jonathan Wigham, defender miss-controls and John Toh tips in. After what was eventually the winning goal, Havering defended and defended and managed to keep Colchester out, having to withstand many short corners, including four after the final whistle!
Well done to the whole team who gave everything to the cause and those who came up from lower elevens who also played superbly. Finally to Marc Lloyd who constantly barked directions all over the pitch and the traveling supporters who cheered and encouraged throughout.
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Mens 3's (1) v Upminster (2) on 01 - Feb - 08
Havering were unlucky not to get anything out of this local derby having gone 0-2 down early in the first half. Jim Bennett reduced the deficit in the second half and despite the home side bombarding the Upminster defence with some good attacking hockey , Havering were unable to grab a deserved equaliser.
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Mens 3's (5) v Witham (4) on 26 - Jan - 08
Havering eye eye eye 5 Witham eye eye 4
Its never going to be pretty. Its not fluid. Its not an example of how to play the game. It resembles a car crash. But it sure does work!
The Three's set about Witham with a fair bit of gusto and alot of weight, Andy Rowe and Dave Pasola joining the fitter and slimmer members of the team. Captain Dodge Hiett took some advice from last week and walked to this weeks game rather than risk going AWOL in the car of John Toh. John himself was at a cousins birthday in Yorkshire, and at half five was reported to be near Birmingham. Tom Woodman was again looking forward to playing his first game since breaking his arm in October.
The game started and a fine strike from Andy Rowe saw Havering go one up inside 10 minutes, all looked set fair for the boys in black. Then a slightly raised ball from the Witham rightback caught Jim Bennett square on the top of the foot forcing an early substitution.
Witham then played some good attacking Hockey down our right wing and caused several opportunities. They scored from three of these. Then Havering used poor decisions to their advantage. Andy Rowe can feel aggrieved that his deflection from a Hiett free hit was perplexingly dissallowed by the umpire. Such an obvious goal was bound to enrage some, most seemed totally bemused! Five minutes later and after muttering the profetic words "I'll be back" Andy spun the defender in the D an spanked the ball at the keeper, forceably removing his glove. The ball spun towards the line and with a defender in close attendence, ON THE LINE, Dave Pasola tapped it in the avoid a repeat of earlier decision making.
So half time in what had been the most exciting and action packed half of hockey I've been involved in, in a while. Experienced and scalptorially challenged defender Geoff Johnson focussed on the need to keep it tight at the back, especially thier right hand side, and pick up players running through midfield. In addition the need to use the right was also highlighted.
With this in mind Havering promptly conceeded a forth with play down the right and runners from midfield! But underdetered Havering cotinued to press forward. With 7 minutes to go Havering went to a 4-3-3 formation and the hard working Simon Constatine made way for the extra forward. Soon after Haveringf won a short corner and Roger Hiett dispatched arguably one of the best flicks seen in the outdoor game, off the underside of the bar and into the back of the goal. The force and accurace made it truely unstoppable.
Spurre don and one nil down Havering then equalised a minute and a half later when superb work down the right saw James Schollhammer crack in a cross from inside the D And Dave Pasola apply the finish cooly into the nearpost. James' run on the right deserved top finish in a goal and Havering were definately on top with two minutes to go.
In the last minute proved a point a high drama. Havering won a short corner, a up stepped Roger Hiett hopeing for a repeat. of earlier. Unfortuantely to feed went to Andy Rowe's open stick who changed hands quickly before firing an absolute rocket towards goal. CAnnoning into the postman's shin pad about half wayup. The sound signalled several appeals for varying things, noticably Dave Pasola dancing in the goal mouth with hands in position for a flick and varied other screams. The whistle blew the umpires conferred and condferred and conferred, eventually awarding a flick. Tenhe brave walk oft the postman surely hiding the pain that musty have come with the shot. Hiett stepped up and expertly finished into the bargin. 5-4.
In the final minutes Tom Woodman made a good save to prevent Havering sharing the points. In the bar after the postman had a noticable limp! Andy and Dave settled down to a good old game of "who scored the second" the credit changing frequently on the score board. Until finally at two am with Andy asleep on the bar stool the truth finally stayed put Hiett 2, Pasola 2, Rowe 1, Havering three well earned hard fought points.
Credit must go to the team in full their names are listed as a photo would reqire the panaromic vision of a space satelitte. Also thankls to Rory for umpiring and having the cahoonas to make that last minute award!
Tom Woodman, Martin Turner, Terry Turner, Geoff Johnson, Mike Hozier, Jim Bennett, Roger Hiett, Simon Constantine, James Schollhammer, Andy "one Goal" Rowe, Andy Lawson, Dave "two goal" Pasola.
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Mens 3's (4) v Saffron Waldon 2's (3) on 08 - Dec - 07
The day got off to a terrible start withit being cold wet and after the journey and arriving at the ground the game was very nearly abandoned as they had to stop the previous match due to flooded pitch! Luckily though the pitch recovered ad the game was just about allowed to be played. The game started off at a good pace with both sides creating early chances however a fine save from the Havering keeperkept a point blank range shot out and a Roger Hiett penalty flick save from the opposition keeper.
Havering dominated in the first half with good work on the width by James Scholhamer and Andy Lawson creating attacking moves from which we gained numerous short corners. A charged down drag flick lead to an absoloute belter from Andy Lawson driving the ball into the roof of the net. Havering did not rest on this and pushed for more goals with good play between Simon Contantine, John Toh, Chris Clarke in his strikers role and the two prementioned wide players and it wasn’t long before the second goal came with Scholhammer firing the ball across the goal for John Toh to pick it up far post and slot the ball in. Saffron Walden did not lay down and take this and started playing better than they had been and got the reward with a well taken goal retrieving the ball through a group of Havering players and firing past the goalkeeper. Determined not to let this be the start of a come back Havering continued to play and then restored the 2 goal lead with another goal from John Toh again slotting the ball past the keeper in similar fashion.
In the second half Havering did what has become accustomed this season, sat back and let the oppositon play hockey and move the ball around. Defensive work from Martin and Terry Turner, the young Alex Jupp who played a good game against good opposition, Mick Hosier and Hiett could only keep them out for so long along with good saves and it was inevitable that the score was brought to 3-2. Play continued and Havering upped the tempo a little but struggled to find alot against a fired up home team but managed to create a half chance which the keeper dealt with only for the ball to fall to Andy Lawson for him to score another screamer blasting it past two defenders and the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner again restoring the 2 goal cushion. Hard work by the home side earned them a string of short corners which one was struck hard into the bottom left corner. Havering just managed to hold onto the lead with ten men and a short corner after the final whistle which was put past the keeper only for it to be deemed as marginally over the back board as it crossed the line, very unfortunate but we will take results any way they come! A deserved victory for the hard work in the first half and defensive hold in the second half.
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Mens 3's (0) v Witham 2's (2) on 06 - Oct - 07
Havering 3s faced a tough away encounter against Witham 2s.
As with last week, Havering’s first half was far better than their second. They played some good hockey going forward, while good defensive work from man of the match Martin Turner along with erry Turner and the returning Mick Hosier and Chris Clarke, kept the Witham strikers out as they only created scoring opportunities from short corners with which Tom Woodman dealt with aptly.
The score remained goalless until after halftime but in the second period Havering began to tire and more opportunities came the way of Witham. The deadlock was finally broken by the home side and they doubled their tally shortly after with a well worked goal, although at this level a player should not be able to beat three players on the base line and then set up a goal. As the half progressed Havering tried to get a goal back and were unfortunate to have a goal disallowed due when the umpire failed to see the ball just cross the line. Despite the loss Havering played some good hockey but clear cut scoring chances were quite few.
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Mens 3's (4) v East London 2's (5) on - 29 Sept - 07
havering thirds lost by the odd goal in nine against east londons seconds in another close game. havering took the lead in good fasion with a beast of drag flick from your truely into the low right of the goal. havering continued to pressure the opposition but conceded an equaliser against the run of play. havering bttled back and a rebound from another short corner drag flick enabled simon to come through and smash the ball into the roof of the goal to take the lead. east london still put pressure on the home team defense with some well worked play but tom woodman kept the opposition strikers at bay making some fine saves. near the end of the half a well worked goal which saw anthony vaquero recieve the ball wide left, sweep the ball to the right hand side of the d to james scholhammer who hit the ball across the goal for john toh to put the ball in behind the keeper. in the second half the game was turned on its head as east london took the oppotunities very well with a quick fire goal from the off. havering were trying to play as they did in the first half and managed to score but east london ran riot and shut havering out of the game scroring 3 more goals to take the three points although they had to withstand some late pressure from havering as they hunted for the equaliser.
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