Ladies Second XI Hockey

Harrogate Ladies 2nds is a mix of experience and youth, giving the team a great chance to do well in the Yorkshire Premier league.

 

Last year was a great season that saw some awesome results and promotion into the Yorkshire Premier league.

Everyone has a role to play in making the team what it is; socialable, but dedicated and serious about hockey.

 

Club Socials:

 2nd Feb - Wine Tasting

2nd Mar - Race Night

23 Apr - End of Season Dinner Dance @ HHC

 

Kate Merrick will be leading the 2nd team squad for a second season - her successes as captain in previous years will ensure the squad's well earned place in Yorkshire Prem is maintained! We are opening the door to new and returning players as well as looking for aspiring juniors coming up through the other teams.

E: kate5merrick@hotmail.com

M: 07789 773 272

For the full fixture list please visit: www.yorkshireha.org.uk.

 

 Last updated 14th March 2013

Leading Goalscorers:

Claire Turner 6, Beth Evans 4, Maggie Pimley 3, Anne Maguire 2, Dawn Thorley 2, , Lizzie Partridge 2, Steph Hopkins 1

 

Man of the Match Awards:

Laura Woodbridge 3, Tracy Lorriman 2, Dawn Thorley 2, Abi Hatch 1, Georgia Lightbody 1, Lizzie Partridge 1

 

 

 

 

LEAGUE FIXTURES:

 

 

16th Mar - Harrogate v Leeds Adel Carnegie

10.30 am push back, nice and early to set up goals and take advantage of the full pitch. Final match 12/13 Team photo??

 

***We are on Sandwich rota***

 

23rd March - Leeds v Harrogate

12.15 meet at Trinity Church. 1.30pm push back at Horsforth High School;

Lee Lane East
Horsforth
Leeds
LS18 5RF

 

***Please bring White shirts and white socks along with Blue kit***

 

  

MATCH REPORTS:

 

5th Jan - City of York 2 2-4 Harrogate 2

After a three week hiatus the Ladies 2nd team returned to action in 2013 in York for the first of three away games this month. The home game earlier in the season had been a very close affair, which York stole in the last 5 minutes despite being down to ten men after their goalkeeper was yellow carded.

York dominated the early exchanges and put plenty of pressure on the Harrogate goal. Keeper Tracy Lorriman made a number of good saves. Eventually the pressure told and 'Gate conceded a penalty corner. Tracy saved the first effort only for the rebound to be lifted over her and into the net. A second goal followed when York broke away and they beat Tracy with a two v one.

Not giving up has been the forte of the 2nd team this season. In the last game before Christmas 'Gate camed back 3 times to draw against the league leaders Hull. With more possession 'Gate were able to put pressure on York and won their first penalty corner. Claire Turner deflected Anne Maguire's strike into the net to leave 'Gate 2-1 down at half time.

After a change of formation at half time 'Gate were able to attack the York defence more and won some further short corners. Lizzie Partridge's first shot was saved only for her to get the equaliser from an unorthodox position on the ground . Her second shot was helped over the line by a York defender and despite some York protestations the goal stood.

York pushed forward and it looked like 'Gate were going to be able to hold out for another well earned draw with some stout defence. However York scored a lucky 3rd goal and then sealed the game with a well taken 4th. Late goals are certainly their forte!

Goals: Claire Turner, Lizzie Partridge MoM: Tracy Lorriman

 

15th Dec - Harrogate 3-3 Kingston-Upon-Hull 1

Goals: Beth Evans, Claire Turner, Maggie Pimley MoM: Laura Woodbridge

 

8th Dec - Leeds Adel Carneige 0 - 2 Harrogate

 

1st Dec - Harrogate 1 - 1 Sheffield Hallam

Goal: Beth Evans

 

24th Nov - Ben Rhydding 6 - 2 Harrogate

Goals: Anne Maguire (2) MoM: Tracy Lorriman

 

17th Nov - Harrogate 1 -2 City of York

 

10th Nov - Otliensians 1-3 Harrogate

Thankfully the late change of venue didn't result in us ending up in a pickle in the wrong part of Leeds! Instead we all made it safely to John Smeaton Academy in East Leeds. This week saw quite a change in personnel after injuries forced Sophie Littlefair and Beth Evans out of action but we did welcome Jayne 'Fozzie' Montague back in action after a long term hamstring injury. and a second team debut for junior Dani Henderson.

This match also saw the 2nd team model the new HHC white shirts which made a nice change from the baggy old ones! Despite the loss of key players 'Gate started much better than the opposition who haven't had the benefit of being able to train yet due to their home pitch being relaid. Quickly 'Gate went 1-0 up when Lizzie Partridge calmly slotted home in the D from a cross from the right. A second goal could have followed were it not for a great save on the goal line from an Otley defender from an Anne Maguire strike at a short corner.

Otliensians main tactic was to hit the ball long for in the home of their forwards picking the ball up and trying to beat us on the counter-attack. Thankfully it didn't work too well as the mid-field picked off a number of passes and sweeper Laura Woodbridge stood firm at the back. They did though come close to an equaliser when the ball deflected onto the crossbar only to hit one of their players in the face. Thankfully no real harm was done.

In the second half 'Gate started determined to make the game safe and to avoid falling into the trap of conceding late goals. The second goal came from a short corner (at last) when the first shot was saved 'Gate kept going for the rebound and eventually Steph Hopkins shot was deflected into the goal by a helpless Otliensians defender.

As ever though 'Gate decided to make the last ten minutes of the game a nervy affair after Otliensians scored from a straight strike at a short corner. Thankfully though it was 'Gate who scored the late goal when Maggie Pimley crossed from the right. Claire Turner was able to pounce and get the ball over the line for a vital 3 points which moves 'Gate up to 6th in the league after 6 games.

Goals: Lizzie Partridge, Steph Hopkins, Claire Turner MoM: Lizzie Partridge & Laura Woodbridge

 

 

3rd Nov - Harrogate 1-3 Leeds

Last season a narrow defeat to Leeds denied Harrogate the chance to win their league. Matches between Harrogate and Leeds are often heated contests with sparks often flying so it was quite fitting that we played in freezing conditions in the dark on Bonfire Night in Harrogate! Leeds won the first push back and immediately started to pressure the Harrogate defence. However 'Gate soon won the ball back and started to attack the Leeds defence from the right handside of the pitch and won an early short corner which didn't trouble the Leeds defence. The opening goal came when Dawn Thorley seized the ball in midfield and rocketed through the Leeds defence to score from the top of the D. Harrogate continued to dominate possession and Sophie Littlefair tested the keeper with a great shot only to fall victim to a nasty ankle injury (get well soon) to leave 'Gate down to just 11 players. Leeds were fortunate to equalise when they got away with a foot in the D despite the barrage of complaints from the defence the goal stood and the game was delicately poised at half time at one all.  In the second half 'Gate dominated possession and forced Leeds back into their own half. Despite some sparkling play from the 'Gate forwards they simply could not put the ball into the back of the net. Leeds were able to captialise on some good fortune with some counter-attacking two goals in very quick succession which sealed the game in their favour. It was a disappointing end to a tough game but Harrogate could not have tried harder to get back into the game. Guy of the match was Abi Hatch who put in a confident and mature performance on the left handside of midfield (and no we didn’t give her a penny!).

Goal: Dawn Thorley GoM: Abi Hatch

 

 

21st Oct - Harrogate 3-0 York Uni

After the disappointment of only drawing yesterday after being 3-0 Harrogate were intent on gaining their first three points of the season. Last season it was  defeat to York Uni in the final game of the season which denied ‘Gate the chance of finishing second in the league. The weather in Harrogate was very foggy and it made for an eerie feel!

Harrogate started brightly and dominated the early possession but despite a few early short corners were unable to break the deadlock . York Uni appeared to be a very different side from last year and despite forcing some pressure on the ‘Gate defence they weren’t really troubling them. The opening goal came from a classic second team move down the right handside with Maggie Pimley rifling into the bottom corner.

The second goal took a little time in coming with the York defence coping well with numerous crosses and attacks from both sides of the pitch. However, it was worth the wait as man of the match Dawn Thorley went on a trademark mazy run and then shot from the top of the D to score a beautiful goal.

In the second half York Uni tried to push higher up the pitch leaving a couple of players high. They did win a few short corners but never really troubled the ‘Gate defence. Instead it was Harrogate who continued to go in search of more goals. There were several chances but too often shots just brushed the post of went straight at the keeper. Finally, Claire Turner scored her third goal of the weekend to round off a strong ‘Gate performance.

Goals: Maggie Pimley, Dawn Thorley, Claire Turner MoM: Dawn Thorley

 

20th Oct - Harrogate 3 - 3 Bingley Bees

After a six week hiatus the Ladies 2nd team returned to fortress Granby to try and secure their first win of the season. Thankfully this week there was plenty of time for a warm-up which made a change! Harrogate certainly started the stronger and made the most of early possession with another cross from the right which Claire Turner duly slotted home. The second goal came from a very careless mistake at sixteen which presented Claire Turner with the easiest of chances to put ‘Gate 2-0 up. When Beth Evans scored the 3rd goal it looked like 3 points were well on the way to being secure.
Bingley though had other ideas and were doing their best to cause problems on the counter-attack with at least one player hanging high. A mistake from a ‘Gate freehit gave Bingley the chance to cross from the right and their centre forward made no mistake to leave them 3-1 down at half time.
In the second half the Bingley captain was on a mission to lead the fight back and was constantly dropping back to pick the ball up to get the attacks going. The second Bingley goal came from a counter-attack and some wayward marking which allowed an unmarked Bingley player to lift the ball past GK Tracy. Their third goal came from a short corner and left ‘Gate with a nervy last 10 minutes or so to endure to ensure that they didn’t lose their first home game of the season. Man of the match was Georgia Lightbody who worked tirelessly up and down the left-hand side of the pitch.
Goals: Claire Turner x 2, Beth Evans

 

13th Oct - Kingston-upon-Hull 7 - 2 Harrogate

The second team met bright and early for their first league game in three weeks. It was a long journey and you could be mistaken for thinking that ‘Gate were heading towards the Baltic Sea rather than the North Sea it took so long! It also didn’t help that we got ourselves in a bit of a lime pickle finding the right pitch. By the time we arrived we only had time to poppadom our shin pads and get playing.

Despite the lack of warm up Harrogate started aggressively and tried to force a goal. Kingston-upon-Hull quickly showed their class seizing on any loose ball and counter-attacking swiftly. Hull were awarded the first penalty corner of the game which they scored from after Tracy Lorriman could only deflect a lifted shot into the middle of the net. This early lead didn’t stop Harrogate from attacking and they soon won a penalty corner which Maggie Pimley shot wide from. The equaliser came when curry guru Lou Boyd took a quick free hit and passed into the circle where Maggie Pimley calmly slotted home. The equaliser fired up the free scoring Hull (just the ten last week!) and they quickly overloaded the Harrogate defences to be 4-1 up at half time.

Harrogate spiced up their game after half time with Dawn Thorley working hard to make runs through the Hull midfield to create further chances which included Claire Turner shooting narrowly wide. The second Harrogate goal came from a classic Blayney run to the back line and cross which Beth Evans slotted home.

Hull continued to push forward and on occasions sliced through the ‘Gate defences like a hot knife through ghee, quickly stretching their lead. The score could have been even greater were it not for GK Tracy making some fantastic saves and the post denying the rampant Hull forwards. A final over-time short corner (which was always going in,) gained a bit of a helping hand from birthday girl Georgia Lightbody to put Hull into seventh heaven.  Despite an encouraging performance from ‘Gate after a three week league hiatus, the Hull side were like a fal; far too hot to handle.

Goals: Maggie Pimley, Beth Evans Mango chutney of the match: Dawn Thorley

  

22nd Sept - Wakefield 0 - 0 Harrogate

Harrogate’s first game in the new-look Yorkshire Premier was away at Wakefield which gave us the chance to play on “smurf turf” for the first time (albeit it minus the sexy pink run-off area a la the Olympic Riverbank Arena). The side was something of a scratch side with a number of regulars from last season unavailable due to injury or participating in three sports successively!

 

The first half was a close affair with both teams seemingly well matched. The match was often end to end with the best chances falling from fast breakaways. Harrogate’s best chance came when Shelly decided to practice her Olympic style diving only for her effort to go narrowly wide. Wakefield came close towards the end when they had some successive penalty corners which they weren’t able to convert thanks to some stout defending from Harrogate.

In the second half Harrogate started much more brightly and dominated possession putting the Wakefield goal under much greater pressure than in the first half. However despite winning several penalty corners in succession they couldn’t quite convert their chance. Wakefield’s frustration at not being able to break through was evident after they received a whole team green card and then had a player yellow carded for dissent. Harrogate couldn’t make the extra player count and Wakefield rallied to put the pressure on for the final five minutes. Thankfully Laura Woodbridge made some important tackles and GK Tracey made some crucial saves to give Harrogate their first clean sheet and point of the season.

Man of the match was Laura Woodbridge who put in such a strong performance at sweeper that you wouldn’t have known it was her debut for the second team!

 

Premier Ply W D L GF GA GD Pts Max
1 promoted Kingston-upon-Hull 1 17 14 3 0 73 17 56 45 54
2 level Ben Rhydding 2 18 14 0 4 62 21 41 42 48
3 level Sheffield Hallam 2 19 11 3 5 52 35 17 36 39
4 level Wakefield 3 18 9 7 2 37 19 18 34 40
5 level City of York 2 17 8 2 7 38 27 11 26 35
6 level Bingley Bees 1 18 5 8 5 29 36 -7 23 29
7 level Harrogate 2 18 5 5 8 36 42 -6 20 26
8 level Leeds Adel Carnegie 2 19 5 3 11 21 43 -22 18 21
9 level Leeds 2 17 6 0 11 28 54 -26 18 27
10 relegated York University 1 20 3 4 13 21 51 -30 13 13
11 relegated Otliensians 1 17 1 1 15 17 69 -52 4 13
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Harrogate Hockey Club. Granby Hockey Centre. Ainsty Road Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4AP, England.
Telephone: 01423 565696. eMail: info@harrogatehockey.co.uk