Pre-tournament News

28 March 2010

Whitchurch retain Welsh Cup and finish fourth in England Hockey League

Whitchurch HC 3-1 Cardiff & UWIC

In a busy weekend of hockey Whitchurch retained the Welsh Cup with a 3-1 win against Cardiff & UWIC but next day lost their final EHL Conference West match of the season 4-1 to Fareham to finish the season in fourth place in the table.  It was only the second home defeat of the league campaign for Whitchurch, but they started the match brightly, Laith El Khatib going close from a pass by Mark Whatling in the first couple of minutes.  It was the visitors, though, who opened the scoring, Ben Hibberd finishing a fast break-out from defence in the fifth minute. 

Whitchurch enjoyed good possession without creating clear chances, and it was the fast counter-attacking Fareham forwards who looked most dangerous.  Shaun Baker added a second for Fareham after twelve minutes and although Whitchurch had a couple of chances to open their account Iwan Williams in the Whitchurch goal was the busiest of the keepers, making one particularly fine stop to prevent Fareham adding to their score before the interval.  Whitchurch started the second period in positive fashion and almost pulled a goal back in the first couple of minutes, the Fareham goalkeeper making a fine reflex save from a goal bound shot from Jamie Westerman. 

Mark Whatling was on hand to clear off the line as Fareham counter-attacked and then eight minutes into the half Whitchurch got the goal their efforts deserved, Whatling, working hard in midfield, starting and finishing off a fine move from the Whitchurch attack which opened up the Fareham defence.  Whitchurch strived hard for the equaliser, the Fareham keeper saving well from a penalty corner, but it was Fareham who scored next, James Seagar latching on to a loose ball in the circle to fire home Fareham’s third midway in the half and seven minutes later John Billington scored in similar fashion to make the final score 4-1 to Fareham.  

In the Welsh Cup Final a goal early in the game from Rhys Gowman gave Whitchurch a 1-0 half time lead.  Neil Potter and Laith El Khatib added further goals for Whitchurch in the second period before Tim Jones scored a late goal for Cardiff & UWIC. 

20 March 2010

Whitchurch remain second

Team Bath Buccaneers 4-2 Whitchurch HC

Whitchurch lost 4-2 at EHL Conference West champions Team Bath Buccaneers, conceding late goals after holding a 2-1 lead going into the last quarter.  Whitchurch started the game well, passing the ball around with confidence, and took a well-deserved lead after 22 minutes with a fine finish from Rhys Gowman.

Whitchurch enjoyed good possession but could not add to their score before half time.  Whitchurch conceded the equaliser just a few minutes into the second period, Richard Bendry finishing as Team Bath broke quickly from defence but Joe Naughalty restored Whitchurch’s lead five minutes later with a fine solo goal.  Team Bath though finished the game strongly with a burst of three goals in six minutes, Tim Davenport equalising from a penalty corner with eleven minutes remaining, Eugene Malthouse scoring in open play a minute later and Richard Bendry adding his second with five minutes left to leave the home side 4-2 winners.

Despite the defeat Whitchurch remain in second place in the table, two points clear of both Guildford who are third and Fareham who are fourth.  A win against visitors Fareham in the last League match of the season this Sunday will give Whitchurch a second place finish.

Image courtesy of fidopics.co.uk

14 March 2010

Whitchurch consolidate second

Whitchurch HC 4-2 Bournville

Whitchurch overturned a half time deficit with a fine second half display to run out 4-2 winners against visitors Bournville, a result that leaves Whitchurch three points clear in second place in the EHL Conference West with just two games remaining.  Whitchurch opened brightly, the Bournville keeper saving well from Rhys Gowman after good work from Mark Whatling in midfield.  Whitchurch keeper Iwan Williams had to be quick off his line to smother a dangerous attack from the visitors ten minutes into the game but a minute later Bournville took the lead, Mark Crennan firing home a powerful reverse stick shot.

Whitchurch reacted well, forcing a succession of penalty corners without success and Richard John went close to equalising after a good interchange of passes with Ben Croxall.  Whitchurch enjoyed plenty of possession with Joe Naughalty looking dangerous breaking from midfield but the Bournville defence held up well and Williams had to pull off a fine save to prevent the visitors from increasing their lead following a dangerous counter-attack.  Whitchurch opened the second period strongly with quick passing and fine movement and scored twice in the first twelve minutes.  Naughalty earned a penalty corner and his shot rebounded off a post for Alex Keating to fire home from close range.  The Bournville keeper then made two fine saves to deny Whatling and Croxall before Whitchurch took the lead, Naughalty collecting a forty yard pass out of defence from Jon Collis before driving into the circle and firing home past the Bournville keeper.

Bournville responded well and Louis Jones made an important tackle to break up a dangerous attack, but the visitors grabbed an equaliser with fifteen minutes remaining, Oliver Jones scoring from close range following a cross into the circle.  Whitchurch were not to be denied though, and with ten minutes remaining Neil Potter restored Whitchurch’s lead following a good interchange of passes with Gowman and a few minutes later Laith El Khatib finished off a strong run by Naughalty to score Whitchurch’s fourth and round off a fine team performance.

7 March 2010

Whitchurch answer any criticism

Whitchurch HC 5-0 Stourport

Swansea Bay 0-12 Whitchurch HC

Whitchurch answered any criticism this weekend with a five goal rout in the league against Stourport to take them back into second place - with Fareham losing out at home to local rivals Havant.  A brace a piece from Joe Naughalty and Mark Whatling and a fifth from Laith El Khatib, all from open play bouyed the confidence in the side ahead of the Welsh Cup trip to Swansea Bay.

Whitchurch were always favourites for this game, With Swansea Bay having suffered a loss of players in recent years.  Whitchurch used it as an opportunty to give squad members a run out together, in a bid to stake a claim for a place in the final 18 for Europe.

28 February 2010

Whitchurch slip up in Birmingham

University of Birmingham 4-2 Whitchurch HC

Whitchurch slip to fourth place in the EHL Conference West after a 4-2 defeat at Birmingham University.  In a hectic opening twenty minutes the teams shared four goals.  Nils Lloyd-Penny opened the scoring for Birmingham seven minutes into the game following a well-worked move which opened up the Whitchurch defence.  Whitchurch responded immediately, Laith El Khatib finishing off a good passing movement to equalise, and then a few minutes later Rhys Gowman fired home from a penalty corner rebound to give Whitchurch the lead.

The hard working students hit back, Peter Jackson equalising for Birmingham also from a penalty corner and the game was evenly poised at half-time.   The students started the second period strongly and twelve minutes into the half Nick Rees cleverly turned home a loose ball to put Birmingham ahead.  Whitchurch pushed hard for an equaliser, but could not find the net, and then three minutes from time Ben Stoney made the game safe for Birmingham, firing home to leave the students 4-2 winners.

21 February 2010

Whitchurch held at home

Whitchurch HC 1-1 Guildford

Whitchurch drew 1-1 with visitors Guildford in a closely-contested EHL encounter.  Both sides struggled to create openings in an even first half against well-organised defences, though Whitchurch missed a penalty corner chance early on.  Midway through the half a forceful run by Mark Whatling earned the first of three penalty corners in quick succession, but they were well defended by goalkeeper Simon Mason and the Guildford defence.   Guildford enjoyed good possession and were neat in their build-up but their final ball failed to pierce the Whitchurch defence, well-marshalled by Jonny Gordon and Alex Keating.  Whitchurch keeper Iwan Williams was quick to move off his line to smother a dangerous Guildford attack early in the second period and the visitors failed to take advantage of their first penalty corner opportunity minutes later.  The deadlock was broken by Whitchurch fifteen minutes into the half.  A strong break out of defence down the right led to Laith El Khatib crossing for Jonny Gordon to earn a penalty corner, well despatched by Mark Whatling to put Whitchurch 1-0 up.  The lead, though, lasted just seven minutes, William Blockley firing home from a penalty corner to earn Guildford a share of the points.

14 February 2010

Whitchurch gain a point on the road

Havant 1-1 Whitchurch HC

Whitchurch had to work hard to earn a 1-1 draw from a difficult away encounter at Havant in their latest EHL match.  Whitchurch dominated the early possession and took the lead after six minutes, Alex Keating converting a penalty corner.  Whitchurch had another penalty corner chance following a good run by Joe Naughalty before the Hampshire side broke quickly, forcing Whitchurch keeper Iwan Williams into a smart save to deny the Havant forwards.

Whitchurch were playing well but could not convert their chances and six minutes before the break Havant drew level, danger man Ezz Mohamed firing home from close range.  Both sides had chances to win the game in the second period, Mohamed hitting a post for Havant and Jamie Westerman going close for Whitchurch after a fine pass from Ben Croxall. Both sides went for the winner in a hectic last quarter but there was no further score and Whitchurch gained a creditable point to keep them in second place in the Conference West table.

Photo courtesy of Brian Lovegrove

7 February

Whitchurch re-start league with a win

Whitchurch HC 3-1 Plymouth Marjons

Whitchurch were keen to kick start their league campaign after a disapointing finish to 2009.  They started the game well and looked composed on the ball.  The sharpness gained from the indoor season was evident.

Both teams seemed keen to play expansive hockey, with the game flowing from end to end.  It was the home side who generally looked the more dangerous, with Whitchurch keeper and Captain Iwan Williams largely untroubled, bar the odd half chance.

Mid way through the first period and strong drive infield from the left by Richard John released Mark Whatling, who in trun found Laith El Khatib free on the right of the circle.  His mis-trap popped the ball up, allowing him to tap it around the on-coming keeper and Jamie Westerman to volley home.

Whitchurch continued to look dangerous and the more likely to add to the score, but a combination of stout defending, solid goalkeeping and profligate finishing left the score at 1-0.  Jamie Westerman made a break down the left and took a snapshot when a slip square might have been the better option.  El Khatib repeated matters from the right, with the same result.

It was again El Khatib making inroads down the right and driving into the circle. Cutting across the on-rushing keeper and cleverly turning away from goal had his standing leg taken by a helpless goalkeeper, resulting in an inevitable penalty stroke.  Ben Croxal stepped up and duly drove the ball low and wide.

With the score remaining at 1-0 it Was Plymouth who were spurred on.  Calum Giles forced a smart save from keeper Williams with a rising reverse drive.  Whitchurch were made to regret not taking their chances - giving away a needless penalty corner, duly despatched by drag flick specialist Giles, inside the hour.

The true turning point in the game was a smart double save from Williams following another Plymouth penalty corner.  Whitchurch realised all three points could easily have been lossed and this was their game to lose.  To their credit Whitchurch stuck to the task and sealed the game with two fine goals from 18-year old Rhys Gowman.  The first a clever deflection, stealing in around the back of the defence and the second a probing run into the circle with a composed reverse stick finish, a minute before time.

Whitchurch consolidated second place after leaders Team Bath Buccs could only draw 3-3 at home to third palce Fareham.  Next week Whitcurch travel to Havant.

24 January

Whitchurch resume outdoor campaign

Following the winter break, Whitchurch resumed their outdoor assualt for honours, by defending the Welsh Cup against UC Aberystwyth. The result was a resounding 13-0 victory against a shellshocked University side. Whitchurch now progress to the semi finals of the Welsh Cup, Joe Naughalty (4), Rhys Gowman (3), Laith El, Khatib (3), Alex Keating, James Kyriakides and Jamie Westerman the goal scorers.

Whitchurch will restart their England Hockey League campaign on 7 February against at home to Plymouth Marjons. Whitchurch suffered a dip in form before Christmas, which correlated with a number of senior players (including goalkeeper and captain Iwan Williams) being away on World Cup Qualifier duty in New Zealand.

During the winter break a number of squad members have shown a renewed interest in the indoor format of the game. Whitchurch won the Welsh indoor hockey Shield and Wales resumed international representation, picking up a silver medal in the EuroHockey indoor Challenge 2 tournament, in France. The side was captained by Whitchurch player Jonny Gordon and also contained Ben Croxall and Joe Naughalty.