Hailsham Hockey Club

Hailsham began their league campaign with a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Park College astro against newly promoted Penguins 3rds. Hailsham were seconds away from taking all three points only to be denied by a Penguins equaliser in the final action of the match.

Both teams started confidently with Penguins having a shade more possession and Hailsham looking dangerous thanks to the pacy running up front of Ian and Steve Johnson. However, it was Penguins who took the lead shortly before half time after Hailsham had squandered opportunities to clear the danger.

The half time message for the Hailsham outfit was clear. The tempo needed raising and the ball needed clearing from the back much more decisively. The plan was immediately executed with Hailsham putting in a brilliant display of progressive hockey that saw them launching wave after wave of attacks for the next fifteen minutes. Inevitably the goals followed. First Ian Johnson cooly put away a penalty flick and moments later the same player struck home a glorious shot from an acute angle after intelligent prompting down the right from Martin Headey. To their credit Penguins refused to crumble and they gradually fought their way back into the game with some well worked passing movements out of defence.

With fifteen minutes remaining they made it 2-2 only to find themselves behind again after an imaginative Hailsham short corner routine. Neil Phillips' long push out to the far side of the D was collected by Mike Dixon who then slipped the ball past the advancing Penguins goalie and defenders for Brian Durrant to sweep the ball home into an unguarded net.

Once again Penguins refused to lie down and in a dramatic finish they carved out an opening following a long free hit that saw them gain the draw their hockey deserved.

Last year Hailsham went 7 games without a win at the start of the season so the posting of an early point was a real boost for the club in spite of the disappointment of the late Penguins equaliser.

The newly formed Hailsham second eleven made the best possible start to their league campaign with a highly competent victory away at Brighton Flippers. Such was the dominance of the Hailsham side that it could have been a much more comfortable scoreline but in the end they were indebted to veteran Geoff Farnes who rolled back the years with a vintage display of finishing. Farnes' two strikes made sure that the Hailsham side could immediately make their mark in Division 4 of the Sussex league.

Crawley 2nds were simply no match for a rampant Hailsham side in which Helen Major and Terri Archer were outstanding. Both players made their mark with two goals each and the game was also a special occasion for Sandra Ellen who scored her first goal for Hailsham.

Although Crawley scored a consolation goal when the score was 4-0 this was in truth a one sided encounter with Hailsham dominating every aspect of the game.

Any worries that the newly promoted Hailsham ladies might struggle in a higher division have been well and truly eliminated after this sparkling performance.

The rarely assembled Hailsham Veterans once again turned out for the annual John Hall trophy fixture against Eastbourne. In a thoroughly entertaining match played in a friendly but always competitive spirit Eastbourne gained the victory their superior passing play deserved.

However, the goal of the game was scored by Ian Johnson who somehow managed to keep in play a long pass from the back out to the right wing before hurtling forty yards and smashing the ball into the back of the net. The day was a good one for both goalkeepers with Eastbourne's Peter Green and Hailsham's Dave Hathaway both pulling off some scintillating stops.

Hailsham Mixed XI 2 v South Saxons 2

Hailsham Mixed XI drew 2-2 with Saxons in a fast flowing and friendly game.

With both sides playing fast flowing yet committed hockey, neither side were prepared to buckle under the heat of the midday sun.

A 2-2 draw seemed was a worthy result with goals from Toni Hobden and Anthony Hathaway (p-flick).

Hailsham Hockey Club

Match Report - 30-Sept-2000