MEN’S 1ST XI
Words: Dan Mees
Oppo: Blackheath & Elthamian 2, Away
Final Score: W 3-1
Goalscorers: Harry Harrison, Dan Vinson, Isaac Dilkes.
After a comfortable home win against Gillingham, Cliftonville were back on the road for the final time this season, this time travelling to Blackheath. A strong side who can undoubtedly cause problems, especially if Ville were anything less than fully switched on.
With the season drawing to a close, the teams no longer had to worry about frozen hands shattering on contact with the ball, but instead had to contend with the heat and, for this match in particular, a sun that decided to sit front row and blind every Cliftonville player for the entire first half.
The conditions caused issues. Cliftonville are at their best when they move the ball quickly and sharply, but that becomes far more difficult when players cannot clearly see which figure belongs to which team. Even so, the first ten minutes saw Ville put together some promising passages of play, although none of them resulted in a breakthrough. The signs were positive.
The opening goal eventually came when Cowelly stepped forward from centre back and found space at the top of the opposition 23. He fired a low, hard ball into the D, which struck Isaac and fell kindly to Mees, who sent it across the face of goal for Harry to finish at the back post. A strong start, and Cliftonville built on it with a superb short corner. Isaac delivered a flick at top backboard height and Dan Vinson deflected it past both the postman and the keeper. Textbook.
The half was not entirely one way. Blackheath’s movement in midfield created moments where players were left unmarked and able to break forward. The defence held firm for the most part, but the pressure eventually told. With the largest object in the solar system acting like a flash bang in a phone box, a loose ball skipped over a defender’s stick and fell to a surprised striker who knocked it past the keeper. Cliftonville went into halftime 2–1 up, slightly less comfortable than they would have liked, but with the advantage of playing downhill in the second half there was plenty to be optimistic about.
Ville’s attack in the second half looked far more like its usual self. They created a series of chances, particularly from short corners, and Isaac converted another with a low strike to the keeper’s right. Unfortunately, that would be the final addition to the scoreline, meaning the push to reach the big 100 goals for the season would have to wait.
The sun setting on a 3–1 win and a successful end to their away campaign.
WOMEN’S 1ST XI
Words: Cat Doherty
Oppo: Canterbury 4, Home
Final Score: L 0-1
Heading out for the last home match of the season in some dazzling sunlight we were determined to bring the game to Canterbury. With a bare 11, we started like we had subs.
Five minutes in, Canterbury won a short which was cleared by the defence. Some great passing and a storming run from Kat split their defence. The shot bounced off the keeper and Canterbury were straight back with another attack. Canterbury forced another short. Deflected wide by the solid Ville defence. Long corner, and Canterbury got the shot away. Saved by GK Emmelia.
Ville’s defence had a little respite as the play went forward, the ball pinging through the middle of the pitch. Twenty minutes in, another Canterbury short. First shot saved. Rebound. Goal.
Ville played hard right from the restart. Passing well and finding space. The pace on this match was relentless. Another short against us. Their player broke the line early, so their injector got sent back to the half-way line. The short dissolved, and play continued. There was a flurry in midfield, and some sustained pressure from Ville culminating in a shot off post.
Ville’s hard work won short for the last play of the half. Harriet’s belter of a shot cleared wide.
The half time talk was one of consistency and using the space out wide.
The second half started as the first finished. End-to-end play with some great link-up work from Ville’s midfielders. Ville definitely had the better of the second half. Two short corners on the bounce failed to secure the goal – a scramble for one and a great shot for the second.
Ville were soon back in defence. Not for long though, as Kat took a long winding run through the middle, and won a short. Harriet’s shot bounced off the keeper, and Canterbury cleared it out wide for another midfield battle. Cliftonville were back on the gas again, driving forward. Hannah picked a great pass cross-field to Maddie who was dispossessed near the top of the D. She got her shot soon after another driving run from Kat who set Maddie up beautifully. The shot went pinging towards goal … Saved. Canterbury made the half hard work for Ville. Ville battled hard, and almost had another short after a great run from Bella who took the ball from 23 to 23. More work for the midfielders finished the game.
Player of the match went to Hannah.
MEN’S 2ND XI
Oppo: Bexleyheath & Belvedere 2
Final Score: W 5-0
Home walkover. Oppo conceded.
WOMEN’S 2ND XI
Words: Tracy Ballard
Oppo: Holcombe 5, Away
Final Score: W 2-1
Goalscorers: Chloe Kingsland.
The Women’s 2s went on nice little trip to Holcombe for our penultimate game of the season. We were missing our Team Captains as one is injured, the other puppy sitting so we were leaderless but none the less determined to get a much-needed win. Teamwork is a strong ethos in our mob and asking someone to move from their position as a forward to play centre back this week proved this! Big thanks to Kryssi. So, we started well and completely dominated the first half and it eventually paid off with a cracking goal.
We continued our pressure with several short corners, but no goals. Half time, drama time, Elizabeth our GK was in pain from a niggling hip issue and therefore couldn’t continue, so who steps up to go in goal… Kryssi! We were so so grateful and glad we had a sub to go the centre back gap and Astrid did an amazing job there. 10 mins in we went 2 nil up after a text book goal from a line driven cross to Chloe who does what she does, slotted it away with a first-time touch.
We knew we should not now sit back and defend, keep attacking and on the front foot. Unfortunately, Holcombe, on a rare foray into our D scored a rather good goal. But we held on and eventually came off 2-1 winners. The match was a delight as were our oppo, so thanks Holcombe and also thanks to their two young men umpires who did a great job of keeping the good spirit the game was played in.
MEN’S 3RD XI
Words: Kit Perdeaux
Oppo: Gore Court 6 Dev, Away
Final Score: W 3-1
Goalscorers: Aron Walker (2), Asa Foster-Troy
With 2 games left in the season, the Ville travelled to 4th place Gore Court, hoping to finish the season strong. With the season drawing to a close, we had the best weather for hockey that we had played in for a while, but we knew as we arrived that Gore Court were bound to bring a strong squad and make us earn the 3 points, especially as we only had 13 men.
We were largely on the back foot from pushback, with a few counter attacks, but we were doing a good job of limiting their opportunities, with Ed, Jude and Fin at the back, Martin had only a few saves to make.
As the first half progressed, Ville started to gain more control of the game, holding possession better and moving forward more effectively, we started to have a few goalscoring opportunities. This eventually culminated in a goal, after Kit intercepted a pass, before giving the ball up to Elliot who showed his skill in beating a few players, before laying it off to Asa who turned and slotted it home past the keeper, sending Cliftonville into a 1-0 lead.
After this both sides struggled against each other’s defences, each holding strong, and possession changing hands quickly. This continued into the half-time break and a much-needed rest for both teams.
Rejuvenated after the break, Gore Court started to look threatening, but the Cliftonville back 3 held strong and the midfield of Ollie, Kit and Aron started stringing some nice passes together, feeding the wings and the forwards. It wasn’t long before Aron smashed home a goal to give Cliftonville a bit of breathing room.
Ville were now back on the front foot, moving the ball nicely and wining possession back quickly whenever they lost it, with Elliot constantly being a thorn in Gore Court’s side on the right wing. But Ville started to get a bit complacent and eventually got caught on the break, with a Gore Caught player smashing in a tricky finish past Martin, the visitors were reminded that this game was by no means over yet.
After this the Cliftonville midfield kicked into a new gear, with Aron distributing around and Ollie beating a few men before making the extra pass, Ville was starting to look threatening, winning multiple short corners. Elliott was continuing to cause Gore Court problems, constantly beating players and bringing the ball into the opponents D. Eventually Aron managed to smash home a short corner and put Ville into a well-deserved 2 goal lead. With the match drawing to a close, Ville stayed on the attack, with Jude, Ed and Paddy at the back making sure that Gore Court didn’t get the chance to get by them again.
Finally, the final whistle was blown and the Ville secured the 3 points, able to carry their momentum into the final match of the season. Ready to end an excellent season on a high.
