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Ladies Second XI Hockey
Harrogate Ladies 2nds is a mix of experience and youth, giving the team a great chance to do well in Yorkshire Division 1.
Last year was a succesfull season which saw some awesome results. We finished a respectable 6th in thetable, which was a great result for the new 2s team.
Everyone has a role to play in making the team what it is; socialable, dedicated and serious about hockey.
Club Socials:
Next Social will be a Curry Night, end Feb/early Mar - TBC
Kate Merrick will be leading the 2nd team squad for promotion.
E: kate5merrick@hotmail.com
M: 0778977 3272
This year we welcome Dawn Thorley, Sophie Littlefair and Laura Cooper to the club and are pleased to have Sam Swenson safely back at home in goal. Experience, juniors, old and new we are in for a treat this season!!!
Bring it!
For our fixtures please visit: www.yorkshireha.org.uk
| Division 1 | Ply | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  York University 1 |
15 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 55 | 20 | 35 | 35 | 56 |
| 2 | Harrogate 2 |
14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 47 | 16 | 31 | 33 | 57 |
| 3 |  City of York 2 |
13 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 38 | 17 | 21 | 29 | 56 |
Last updated 2nd Feb 2012
Season so far: P14 W10 D3 L1 GF47 GA 16 GD +31 Pts 33
Leading Goalscorers:
Natalie Clayton - 10
Sophie Littlefair - 8
Claire Turner - 8
Maggie Pimley - 7
Dawn Thorley - 5
Jenny Allen - 2
Haley Bellerby - 2
Georgia Lightbody - 2
Anne Maguire - 2
Laura Cooper - 1 (PS)
Man of the Match Awards:
Dawn Thorley - 5
Jenny Allen - 2
Sam Swenson - 2
Sarah Blayney - 1
Lydia Clissett - 1
Laura Cooper - 1
Anne Maguire - 1
Kate Merrick - 1
Match Reports:
28th January 2012 Huddersfield Dragons 0-5 Harrogate 2
Lockwood Park is certainly a unique place to play hockey. There is a dramatic viaduct and probably the longest walk between changing rooms and the pitch in the league! Fortunately a long warm up wasn't required due to the walk and forgetting the balls at the end of the game last week. If anyone has them we could do with them back...
Thankfully though we started off like a train with the first goal coming in the first five minutes. Sarah Blayney was back to her best racing down the right-handside like an express train before crossing into the D for Georgia Lightbody to score an easy tap in. One quickly became two when Blayney again crossed this time for Claire Turner to score. The third goal again featured a Blayney cross from the right for Claire Turner to score her second.
Our first short corner was a straight strike from Anne Maguire which beat the defender on the line only for the umpire to disallow it for being outside the D. Thankfully though this didn't cost us too much. The 4th goal came from a short corner following a one-two the keeper saved the first shot only for it to fall to Sophie Littlefair to rifle at shot into the net to make it 4.
The play in the first half was fantastic with Huddersfield having very little chance to show us their "firepower". The ball regularly was passed skillfully from player to player and there were numerous chances on goal. Huddersfield did have a few chances at end in the first half with Sam Swenson required to make some good saves including stopping a lifted shot with her head!
Dawn Thorley made it 5 with another solo effort where she went through the Huddersfield defence like a knife through soft butter and before soundly beating the keeper.
The half time team talked certainly "fired" the dragons up and the second half was more of a contest although the umpires did their best to make sure that it wasn't much fun to play in. Harrogate didn't quite find the high level of hockey that they managed in the first half and Huddersfield tried to catch Harrogate on the break. Thankfully keeper Sam was more than a match for their forwards and got some valuable saves in to keep ensure we kept another clean sheet.
Teas were certainly up there with some of the best we've had this season and the vampires will certainly have been kept at bay. It's just a shame that we had to wait until after our opponents to get our food.
Goals: Georgia Lightbody, Claire Turner x 2, Sophie Littlefair and Dawn Thorley MOM: Sarah Blayney
21st January 2012 Harrogate 2 3-2 City of York 2
What a difference 17 weeks makes... I don't think many of us would have predicted that we would be 2nd in the league in January and pushing hard for promotion after the first game of the season. That first game was against City of York where we bravely played with 10 for an entire match after a mix up with a potential new player (lost 4-0). Ironically, the missing player was actually on the opposing side today!
Whilst the weather this weekend was mild enough for hockey to be played (last week we were postponed due to a frozen pitch in Doncaster) the wind was bitter. The match started in a tense manner with both sides anxious to do well. The first real chances came to York through a short corner but some stout defending meant that they didn't take the lead. The game was delicately poised when York opened the scoring from a great strike from the top of the D which just squeezed into the left-hand corner of the goal.
Despite the setback Harrogate continued to push forward and create chances in the opposing D and won several short corners. Eventually the equaliser came when Jenny Allen squared the ball to Dawn Thorley who passed the ball across the circle for Nat Clayton to score her 10th goal of the season. Another short corner was won just on the stroke of half time which resulted in the whole team coming up. Jenny Allen managed to convert with a straight strike which the keeper missed leaving Harrogate 2-1 up at half time.
In the second half Harrogate started the stronger and there were a few chances that went begging from crosses right across the D. Again good work in the D ensured that we won more short corners. Jenny Allen and Dawn Thorley were fantastic at drawing the fouls from the York players. Bizarrely one short corner resulted in us gaining a free hit at the half way line when a short corner broke down and York were penalised for subbing before the short corner was over. Certainly a first for me and Nat had no idea what was going on!
The third goal came from a mistake at a short corner. Anne Maguire failed to stop the ball but Georgia Lightbody calmly stopped the ball and passed it to man of the match (again!!!) Dawn Thorley who's shot hit the bottom left hand corner. To say that most of us were relieved is an understatement!
The "depleted" York to their credit keep threatening and Katie Taylor made some fantastic saves to ensure that they didn't get back into the game. Sadly a last minute error gave York a glimmer of hope at 3-2 but thankfully there wasn't time for them to draw the game. Overall an excellent team performance with all three goals scored from short corners. Man of the match was Dawn Thorley who again dominated at top of the diamond with her maizy runs and Nat Clayton is the first player to reach 10 goals this season (sorry Sophie!).
Goals: Nat Clayton, Jenny Allen, Dawn Thorley MOM: Dawn Thorley
7th January 2012 Harrogate 2 5-0 Brigg 1
The first match of 2012 was eagerly anticipated by all after the 4 week festive break. Thankfully there was no new year hangover as we comprehensively beat our opponents 5-0 to remain second in the league. However it didn't start as planned as we forgot how to do our team huddle and 'Gate chant and needed a second attempt to get it right!
The scoreline was Brigg's worst defeat of the season and they were unlucky not to score as they had far more possession than the scoreline suggested. The first goal came when Nat Clayton skillfully ran the ball along the backline and lifted the ball in the back of the net from the most acute angle. Dawn Thorley then made it 2-0 with a goal from the top of the circle after one of her trademark mazy runs.
Nat Clayton scored her 2nd goal after a fast break down the lefthandside which saw her tap in to leave Harrogate 3-0 up despite the fact that Brigg had seen a lot of possession in our 23 but just couldn't make it count.
The goal of the match was scored when Brigg lost possession in the Harrogate half,. Nat Clayton ran half the length of the pitch with the ball on the end of her stick and the defender unable to get anywhere close. Sophie Littlefair kept pace with Nat and in the circle Nat went to take the keeper on before calmy squaring the ball for Sophie Littlefair to tap in. The final goal came again when defence was turned into attack. The ball went from a 16 and up the left hand side with Lydia Clissett and Sophie Littlefair before it was calmly finished it off by Sophie for her second of the game.
Man of the match was Dawn Thorley who continues to provide the engine in midfield. Even a stick to the knee wasn't enough to keep her off the pitch for long!
Goalscorers: Nat Clayton (x2), Dawn Thorley and Sophie Littlefair (x2) MOM: Dawn Thorley
10th December 2011 Harrogate 2 2-0 Airedale 1
Thankfully this weekend Harrogate were not stuck in the bleak midwinter that seemed to be affecting a number of fixtures this weekend. Though the frost was cruel the new surface at Harrogate didn’t let us down and the last game before Christmas went ahead as scheduled.
3rd December 2011 Driffield 2 2-5 Harrogate 2
When the fixtures were decided in the summer you could have reasonably assumed that a trip to Driffeld in the first week in December would be at the mercy of the weather. Thankfully though the mild weather we are having meant that we were safely able to navigate the infamous Garrowby Hill.
Conditions in Driffeld weren't ideal. The combination of a low sun and teams playing in pale blue and white meant that visibilty wasn't easy for those looking into the sun. Having chosen to play into the sun in the first half Harrogate started well but weren't able to make posession count. Driffeld opened the through a break away. Once again we found ourselves 1-0 down (4th time this season we've come back from this position to win or draw).
Despite the setback we worked hard to get back into the game. Dawn Thorley made some excellent runs through the middle of the pitch and eventually equalised having followed up an initial shot which had rebounded off the top of the upright. It was a shame the first shot didn't go in as it would have been spectacular goal.
Scrappy goals were the order of the day. Maggie Pimley scored the second goal after picking up the rebound from a short corner. It certainly looked like it was going in but the defender on the line made sure it was a goal when trying to clear it. A third goal followed from Sophie Littlefair who's found the scoring nack again. The best Harrogate goal of the day came from a short corner. After the 3rd one in a row Maggie Pimley skillfully deflected Jenny Allen's powerful shot past a helpless keeper to leave Harrogate 4-1 to the good at half time.
Driffield came out determined in the second half and scored a second goal within a minute of the push back. A brilliant cross from the right was clincally finished off by the Driffield centre forward to leave the game interestingly poised. Thankfully though Harrogate were able to keep most of the possession and put Driffield under a lot of pressure. The final goal was another scrappy effort with a number of players trying to score in the D. Eventually Jenny Allen made sure that Claire Turner's shot went in the goal.Maggie Pimley did have the ball in the back of the net for a 6th time but it was disallowed for an offence in the D.
It might have been the longest journey of the season thus far but the teas certainly made up for this with a yummy lasagne and garlic bread. Next week is the final game before Christmas so please come and cheer us on if you can!
Goalscorers: Dawn Thorley,Maggie Pimley x 2, Sophie Littlefair, Jenny Allen MOM: Jenny Allen & Dawn Thorley
26th November 2011 Harrogate 2 3-1 Leeds 2
To quote the Captain "Sexy Hockey continued" today. Sadly I wasn't there to witness it as I have flu. A real match report might appear in due course...
Goalscorers: Sophie Littlefair x 2, Maggie Pimley MOM: Sam Swenson
19th November 2011 Tadcaster Magnets 1 1-5 Harrogate 2
12th November 2011 Harrogate 2 1-1 Otliensians 1
Another glorius November morning saw the 4th and 5th teams in Division one battle it out for 4th place overall. Harrogate were bolstered by having a full squad of 14 including the return of former 2nd team Captain Beth Evans from an ankle injury.
Once again Captain Kate Merrick won the toss and Harrogate had the first push back and started intent on getting an early goal. Otliensians though weren't going to allow Harrogate to have it all their own way and forced a very early short corner courtesy of Blayney's foot (which was her first contact with the ball!) The short corner was successfully defended and Harrogate continued to attack.
Harrogate had a few good chances but good saves by their goalie keeper and shots just wide meant we weren't able to take the lead. Otliensians siezed their chance and took advantage by overloading the Harrogate defence passing it quickly up to their high forward who shot at keeper Sam Swenson only for the shot to deflect off the inside of the her pads and in.
Shortly before half time Harrogate were able to equalise after winning a short corner. We had tried to slip the ball right but joint MoM Dawn Thorley came under pressure from Otliensians who then tried to clear the ball only for the tenacious Dawn to win the ball back and slip it to Anne Maguire to push the ball into the bottom left hand corner to bring the teams level. Despite further attacks from Harrogate it remained 1-1 at half time.
Otliensians started well in the second half and had some good chances but Sam Swenson and the defence did well to keep them out. In the second half Harrogate continued to intricately pass the ball around the opposition (which the opposition goalie commented on!). Jenny Allen in particular showed great vision in the way that she managed to pick out her team-mates. There were numerous chances in the circle but some resolute defending ensured that Harrogate just couldn't find the final touch to gain the win.
This week saw Jenny Allen and Dawn Thorley nominated as joint Man of the Match. Special thanks should also go to Goalie Sam Swenson who made us all some delicious brownies and Mrs Swenson for looking after Archie throughout the game who was willing his owner Sophie Littlefair on to score with all his barking!
Goal scorer: Anne Maguire MOMs: Jenny Allen & Dawn Thorley
6th November 2011 Harrogate 2 2-2 York University 1
After the fun of the fireworks yesterday, we were just grateful that our guy of the match survived the bonfire and was fit and raring to play! It certainly was a lovely autumnal afternoon to play our rearranged game from earlier in the season against York Uni. Both teams came into the game on the back of emphatic wins yesterday, with York scoring 10 goals against the Dragons of Huddersfield who have clearly lost their fire!
Harrogate dominated possession from the push back and were keen to carry on where we had left of yesterday. Despite some good attacks we just couldn’t get that final killer shot on goal due to the strong defending of York who were happy to soak up the possession and wait for their chance to break. There were a few occasions when they were able to break but some strong defending from Laura Cooper and Kate Merrick stopped them from reaching the goal.
Harrogate’s best chance of the half came from a short corner when the York goalkeeper made a fantastic save at the left post from Sophie Littlefair’s shot. York gained in confidence towards the end of the second half when they were able to break away and overload Harrogate in defence. A shot from their player agonisingly went through the legs of the keeper and was unable to be retrieved from the line by the covering defender.
In the second half both teams changed formation with Dawn Thorley moving back to bottom of the diamond and Becky Mawson going up front. York dominated position with their number 12 able to pass the ball at will all over the pitch. The pressure showed and Harrogate gave away a costly free-hit from a mistake at a 16 and York pounced to score their second goal.
Harrogate didn’t give up and continued to try and score their first goal and won a series of short corners which we finally managed to convert when Anne Maguire found the bottom right hand corner of the goal with a straight strike. This seemed to spark Harrogate back into life and we started to have a lot more pressure in their D but their strong defending was able to keep us at bay. In the end Harrogate equalised with the move of the match. Dawn Thorley picked the ball up in the middle of the park and hit a beautiful long ball to Claire Turner who was on the edge of the D. She was able to take it into the circle and score to allow Harrogate to equalise.
Both teams had further chances in the last 5 minutes and Sam Swenson made some crucial saves to ensure that Harrogate didn’t give the points away at the end of the game. Overall it was a fantastic high-octane game played between two teams in the top 4 of the league. A great weekend for Harrogate with 4 points picked up including our first away win of the season. Roll on next week!
Goal scorers: Anne Maguire, Claire Turner MOM: Anne Maguire
5th November 2011 Skipton 0-4 Harrogate 2
22nd October 2011 Airedale 1-1 Harrogate 2
For those of you who've never been to Keighley before it can be quite easy to get lost, judging by the fact that we actually had to start with 9 as Sophie and Dawn weren't quite ready. Thankfully it was our push back and no harm was done!
Airedale were promoted to Division 1 this season and are familiar foes for those of us who've played against them in the 3rd and 4th teams. They play a very direct and combative game of hockey and early on in the first half were able to take advantage of Harrogate losing possession in their half to take the lead.
Harrogate tried to come back in the first half but lost possession too easily and only once came close to scoring. Decisions just didn't seem to go our way with one of the umpires getting in our way too! At half time we decided to play to our strengths and pass the ball around their players instead of trying to dribble through them. We also remembered that we hadn't done our all important sticks in a circle and Harrogate call. Clearly that was why we hadn't had a good first half...
The second half was a much better performance than the first and we were close to scoring on a couple of occasions. Claire Turner missed a chance when the ball just passed the post and our only short corner of the game came to nothing. Airedale thought they were going to go 2-0 up when the ball hit the post and rebounded off the post and out, rather than in as some players thought!
Harrogate finally scored through Sophie Littlefair who managed to put in a ball at close range. Sophie later was on the end of a "good tackle" which caused her to go flying through the air. Fortunately the umpire saw sense and awarded us the free hit! There were more attacks at both ends but neither team could take all three points.
The journey home proved interesting. If Hovis are looking for a road to shoot another commerical on they should look no further than this one! Definitely a first for me!
Goalscorer: Sophie Littlefair MOM: Laura Cooper
15th October 2011 Harrogate 2 8-2 Huddersfield Dragons 2
The game was late starting after a mix up over umpires meant that Mike was called on a short notice to umpire for us. Thank you very much!
Huddersfield had been relegated last year so we were expecting a tough game however we quickly dominated possession and were soon 1-0 up. Huddersfield threatened with some quick breakaways but by half time Harrogate were 4-0 up. Dawn Thorley was most unlucky when a shot hit the underside of the bar and in but the goal wasn't awarded until the follow up went in. I'm sure if we had goal-line technology it would have shown it was over the line!
Within 90 seconds of the restart 'Gate had their 5th goal but Huddersfield scored two very quick goals from breakaways and looked like they were threatening to get back in the game before we got 3 more goals to record a thrashing. The whole team played well and the score could quite easily have been into double figures if we'd taken more of our chances!
Goalscorers: Maggie Pimley x 3, Natalie Clayton x 2, Claire Turner x 2, Georgia Lightbody x 1. MOM: Kate Merrick
1st October 2011 Harrogate 2 3-0 Doncaster 3
No idea what happened in this game as I was away but Nat Clayton scored twice and Claire Turner got the other goal.
24th September 2011 City of York 2 4-0 Harrogate 2
Not the best start to the season when a mix up leaves you with just ten players! However we made the best of a bad situation and for long periods of the first half, thanks to some great saves from Sam Swenson we managed to keep them at bay. York finally broke the deadlock just before half time.
In the second half York stepped up the pressure and took advantage of their extra player to put in 3 further goals to beat us comfortably. No revenge either in the cup game two weeks later when they beat us 4-2. We had 12 players that time!