Hockey Report – 15/10/2022: Leatherhead Mens I – 8 Chertsey Thames Valley II – 0
South East Region – Men: Oaks League – Division 4

Leatherhead Romp to Victory to Maintain Their 100% Record

With their coach on hand to offer pre-match advise with three simple instructions: keep possession; transition the ball wide and maintain communication, Leatherhead took charge of last Saturday’s fixture against Chertsey Thames Valley to notch up a comfortable win that leaves them unbeaten at the top of Mens Oaks Division 4.

With a squad of 12, the hosts started with a great intensity, exuding confidence built from three successive wins, and within 3 minutes took an early lead. Intercepting the ball in their defensive 23, Graham Lowe, played the ball to Josh Lewis on halfway, who drove forward before releasing the ball to Andew Egles. Collecting the perfectly weighted pass, Egles calmly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, to put Leatherhead 1-0 up, the perfect start.

For twenty minutes, Leatherhead swept up the visitors forays forward, began to pin them in their defensive 23 and tested the keeper. The hosts showed patience to break down the Chertsey’s resilience and were rewarded after 23 minutes. Skipper Shaun Burchall intercepted one handed, and with a cross field aerial found Hackett at the top of the D. Hackett swiftly passed to Martin Fitzwater who slipped the reverse stick strike under the keeper to make it 2-0.

Leatherhead now enjoyed long periods of possession and on 30 mins Storey stole the ball on halfway, and with a quick turn and step fed Hackett who drove into the D before calmly sliding the ball under the advancing keeper to make it 3-0. From the restart Lewis won the ball in midfield before going on a mazy dribble, before being denied a goal when his shot was saved by a sprawling keeper leaving Leatherhead 3-0 up at the break.

With the team talk committing to move the ball quicker, support one another and keep it simple, after the break, Leatherhead dominated possession, but saw chances go begging, let down by their final touch. After an injury-enforced reshuffle, Leatherhead did not let the re-organisation stop their flow. Just two minutes later Leatherhead wrestled the ball off Chertsey again, Storey feeding Hackett, whose shot whistled just wide off the keeper’s outstretched kicker. What followed was the move of the match, with Storey intercepting a rare Chertsey attack before feeding Egles. He passed swiftly to Tim Pike, who in turn laid the ball off square to Lewis producing a great pass into the area for Hackett. A slick lay-off to Egles for a simple tap in at the far post, capped a fine team move to extend the host’s lead to 4-0.

With their tails up, the game became truly one-sided, with Chertsey having just the odd sporadic foray into attacking territory that were ably stifled by Egles and Storey. As such it was no surprise when, from one these forays, Lowe joined the attack. Spinning like a whirling dervish before releasing Hackett, he drove into the D unleashing a venomous shot but his goal-bound effort struck a foot and a Penalty Corner was awarded. Hackett stepped up to calmly convert, making it 5-0.

Leatherhead’s press was paying dividends and was being so effective, with the forwards marauding through the Chertsey’s defensive lines. Hackett, revelling in the freedom and space made a strong a solo effort, running into the D before a stop, swivel, and strike that grazed the outside of the far post, with the keeper beaten. The resulting 16 was intercepted by Burchall just outside the 23, who selflessly fed Hackett, who rounded keeper and buried his strike, for 6-0.

The hosts soon added to their tally from another turnover on the Chertsey 23. Egles intercepted an attempted aerial clearance, to set up the rampant Hackett. Gratefully accepting the opportunity, Hackett slammed the ball home under the advancing keeper to make it 7-0.

Chertsey had taken a real battering in the second half but to their credit kept their heads high and played out the game in good spirits. The last action saw another Hackett effort being saved by a defender’s foot. Fitzwater assuredly converted the penalty flick to complete the 8-0 score-line and a fine performance which moves Leatherhead clear at the top of the table.

Leatherhead will look to take this form forward into next weekend’s friendly fixture as they take a break from league duties.

Goals: Hackett 4, Egles 2, Fitzwater 2

New players are welcome at Leatherhead Hockey Club. The adult section caters for all ages 14+ and playing ability, with training each Tuesday from 8pm-9.30pm at Therfield School, and matches on Saturdays.
If you’re interested in playing hockey or want to find out more, please visit our website at www.leatherheadhockeyclub.co.uk or get in touch via info@leatherheadhockeyclub.co.uk