Winning close to season for Cliftonville Hockey Club

Cliftonville Women’s 2nd XI host K Sport Cobdown

Cliftonville Women’s 2s closed out their season in style with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Cobdown on home turf. With a full squad available and Hannah managing confidently from the sideline, the team came out determined to end the season on a high.

Right from the first whistle, Cliftonville set the tone, applying early pressure and playing an aggressive, attacking style of hockey. The home side created a number of promising chances, with Tracy, Ruocco, Ineta, Kerry & Kryssi consistently testing the K Sport defence. While Cliftonville dominated much of the first half, Cobdown did manage to break through on a few occasions, keeping the Cliftonville defence on their toes. Ville defended successive long and short corners, but the back line held strong. Ville again broke with Maddie, Kerry & Tracy putting together some great passes. Despite the intensity, the opening half ended goalless.

The second half mirrored the first, with Cliftonville maintaining control and pushing forward as a unit. Their teamwork shone through, creating wave after wave of attacking play. Both Maddie & Kerry won short corners. KSport made a break, but Claudia made a great last-ditch tackle. Cobdown tried again, but a great interception by Olga lead to another break forward with Tracy powering the ball into the D, sadly it didn’t get the final touch it needed.

More sustained pressure from Ville with Maddie, Sally and Tracy all winning short corners. The breakthrough finally came with around 15 minutes left on the clock. Ruocco won the short, and Kryssi seized the moment, showing determination and composure to slot home a committed finish and give Cliftonville a well-deserved lead. Ville weren’t about to sit back. The final minutes saw Ville continue to press. Lydia was unlucky not to get on the end of a great ball from Sally. In a final effort to double their lead, Cat won a short that Sally was determined to put away, but sadly not the case.

A 1-0 win sealed a strong finish to the season, with the team showing grit, unity, and flair throughout the match. A fitting end to a great campaign.

Player of the Match went to Kryssi.

Men’s 2 travel to Canterbury

By James Perks

Final game of the season away against one of our nearest rivals (in distance and points as we were level on points at the start of the day), Canterbury, awaited us.

Another flying start from Ville saw us take the lead after only three minutes. The ball broke to Dave Hooper who found Perks on the byline who passed across the face of goal for Sidders to finish and make it 1-0. Ville found themselves 2-0 up five minutes later after being awarded a penalty corner. A straight strike from Perks and the keeper couldn’t keep it out. Ten minutes later with a Ville break, Perks slipped it Simon Hooper who drove towards their D, passed it to the other Hooper, Dave, who beat the oncoming keeper to make it 3-0.

Canterbury did manage to pull one back before the break from a short corner to make it 3-1 at half time.

More of the same was asked for in the 2nd half with some sublime hockey having been played during the 1st half. The 2nd half was a tighter affair, Canterbury managed to get another goal to make it 3-2 which could have set the game up for a nail-biting finish. Thankfully Ville also managed to score another to put the game out of sight and make it 4-2. Simon drove into the D, unselfishly passed it to Perks who returned the favour passing it off the post to Simon for him to score.

A great win against our local rivals and a very strong finish to the season, with 5 wins in our last 5 games. Lots to be pleased with and build upon for next season where we will hope to mount a serious title challenge.

Men’s 1st XI travel to Ashford

By Dan Mees

Cliftonville Men’s 1s went into the last game of the season away to Ashford full of confidence, coming off the back of a hard-fought draw to league winners Folkestone the previous week.

After a small delay, the day started with the team heading down to Ashford in the battle bus in high spirits.

The game started and Ville quickly went on the offensive putting pressure on Ashford’s defence. In a similar fashion to the defeat at Canterbury, Ville managed to create a lot of chances resulting in short corners. Unfortunately, similar to the Canterbury game Cliftonville were unable to take advantage from these opportunities, keeping Ashford in the contest.

Still, Ville pushed and were nearly rewarded by a deflected effort from forward Seb Cox, to which the keeper made a great save. This pressure finally reaped its rewards, with Dilkes slinging a ball into the D from the 5-metre line which was promptly stopped spun and slotted home by Lenny Dalrymple for his 3rd goal in as many games. The first half did not come without pressure from Ashford who managed to win multiple short corners of their own, but a well-disciplined Cliftonville side kept them at bay and went into half time with a 1-0 lead.

On-trial Manager Dan Vinson who had clearly taken fashion advice from Gareth Southgate gave words of encouragement at the break. Ville hoping unlike Southgate’s teams that they could get this win over the line.

With the second half underway Ashford really went on the offensive and the team had to work hard to limit their chances.

Some fantastic cat-like saves from goal keeper Jamie Ullyett kept Cliftonville’s lead. Just like his draft proof doors nothing was getting through him this game. And nothing did. Cliftonville kept Ashford out which secured the 3 points and the double over Ashford this season. With the game now over and the boys suited and booted ready for their epic road trip back home, the 2024/25 season drew to a close.

Cliftonville Men’s 3^rd XI

The Men’s 3 finished the season with a 3-1 win over Maidstone. Goals from Rob Macer (2) and Asa Foster-Troy.

The team, newly-formed this season, finished third in the league winning 12 of their 20 games. As a development team, we have players moving up from our thriving youth section, many of whom haven’t played competitive matches before.

Results: