Some people are on the pitch…they thinks its all over…IT IS NOW !!!

Firstly I must apologise for the brevity of detail in the report below, but yesterday (Saturday) was all a bit of a blur.



Going into the match we knew we had to avoid a defeat of less than 4 goals to ensure Midlands Hockey Next Year, easy you would think.... YEA RIGHT !!!, but 4 minutes in we were in serious danger of finding ourselves back in Derbyshire League Hockey next season.

Players started like a freight train and inside 90 seconds found themselves 0-1 up, they say lightening doesn’t strike twice but a further 90 seconds later they were 0-2 up and we were staring down the barrel of a fully loaded gun!

With continuous turning over of the ball and nerves showing in the vast majority of the Derby players, we were constantly under the cosh.

It wasn’t until the 23rd minute that we started to settle after top goal scorer Anna Neilson managed to force home her 1st goal of the match to bring us back into the game 1-2.

As the belief came back that we could compete against Players we started to press our own game and tactics on them, and thanks to her 2nd of the match, Anna Neilson managed to bring the scores level at 2-2 on 30 mins.

Players realised that now it was their turn to be under pressure as they were now staring at relegation themselves. As the tackling became more ferocious and desperate it finally resulted in their dangerous striker receiving a Yellow Card and a 10 minute suspension for taking out Janice hip high just before ½ time.

As the 2nd half started it was vital that we took advantage of Players being down to 10 women and thanks to a superb piece of poaching by Helenor Honarmand at the far post after 40 mins, we did just that. She pounced onto a loose ball and swept home from close range to send Derby into the lead for the 1st time 3-2.

Helenors celebration didn’t last though as just 5 minutes later an unfortunate ricochet saw her take a nasty blow to the face with the ball hitting on the cheekbone.

As she came off I had to re-shuffle the team quickly to give myself time to reassess just where we were.

With 15 to go I put Amanda Petrie back on, but this time UP FRONT with specific instructions to play high in the Taran role and enjoy her opportunity. Despite her uncertainty she took to the role she played last season with ease and thanks to her instinctive positional play she was on hand at the far post to secure the win, sweeping in again from close range for a 4-2 lead and ultimately assure Midlands League Hockey for Derby next year.

With the final whistle came more sighs of relief rather than scenes of jubilation.

Ultimately we have got exactly what we deserved this season. We have consolidated our position in Midlands for years to come and next seasons goal will be even tougher – TO WIN THE LEAGUE !!!

If anyone would have offered us 5th place and safety at the start of the year both Marie and I would have without doubt taken it, but the roller coaster ride we have had all year I wouldn’t swap for the world.

We went out today and bottled it for 15 mins but the character and strength of every member of the squad eventually came through and we got just what we deserved, another midlands win.

Thanks to everyone who came along today to support and I am sorry we put you through hell early doors.


MOM .....Lisa Richardson..... thanks to several spectacular and outstanding saves ( Well deserved )

Pants of Shame..... Amanda Petrie.....for her failure to attend the final and most important team talk of the season on time, and I would like to think for also ignoring the coaches instruction for lucozade and jaffa cakes prior to the match, instead replacing them with Red Wine and Peanuts !!! ( Well deserved ) Hate to say this but she played so so well on it though.

Foot note.....

I am very proud of every player that has turned out for Marie and I this season, I cannot fault their commitment and effort to the overall cause.

Marie and I have had some very difficult times this season, as it appeared to take an absolute age for some individual players to come to terms with the intensity of Midlands Hockey and just what is required to play and compete at this level. The decisions made at times have been unbelievably difficult, but ultimately I hope that the squad now understand just why we did what we did throughout the season.

BUT……… the good times by far outweigh the bad.

The 3-0 win against Ashbourne was very sweet

The win v Loughborough 3-2.

The Towcester cup game where we scored 5 against a mids div 1 team, still lost but played an unbelievable standard of hockey.

Scoring 2 goals inside the final 4 minutes against Brincliffe to get a draw, what a game that was.

Smashing Vauxhall away from home for 10 with Anna getting 5 of the best!

I could seriously go on and on and on and on.


The sweetest matches though for me were the Belper games.

2 absolute cracking fixtures home and away, both of which we could have run out winners in. Despite the class of player they put out against us including both international and national league players, they were lucky on both occasions not to lose both matches. 2 draws were not what we deserved and we are the only team they failed to beat all year despite winning the league.



Thanks everyone and I will write a full post-season report soon.

NOW REST YOU BUGGERS !!!

Next seasons going to be even more demanding but eventually even more satisfying……… HONEST.

Thankyou all

Thanks Andy.

Amanda...Pants of Shame MUST be worn (or at least bring them) to the End of Season Dinner.
Marie wants to award a Pants of Shame for the season to someone!!! I hope It's Andy....just coz he would have to wear them all night and that would be very funny!

Anyway...As a goal keeper I have to depend on certain people week in, week out so I would like to personally thank them!

Marie...my solid back...always there with her fantastic tackle just when it's needed.
Kelly...my fantastic left back...YOU have made such a difference It's unreal.
Val...so old yet you can still run the pants off any of the little nippers you face each week. Brill!
Manda...DON'T PASS ME THE BALL!!!! Really...it scares me! You're a real trooper though Mand, you will just keep going like the Duracell Bunny (on the hockey pitch thank you)
Ali...OMG How many cards should you have had???? BUT without you I know the results could have been different.
Laura...You always manage to get back....One min you are up in the attacking D, the next you're marking a player in mine. Good on ya!

The rest of you have, at some time or other had to come back and cover or make that vital tackle that could have resulted in a goal.

Thank you all.

Bring on the Summer League! Oh and the End of Season Dinner

Lisa, my pass to you was so you did not feel left out I just wanted to keep you involved in the game. I will definatly bring the pants of shame to the dinner. I will have to see if they match my beautiful dress. I wont care after a few red wines anyway.

I have enjoyed and hated hockey this year but it was so good to finish the season on a high. I really enjoyed the last game it was so much fun.

I also can't wait for the end of the season dinner, it will be an amazing opportunity for the whole team to let their hair down.

See you there.

Love

Amanda

Hi Guys

Just wanted to congratulate every one on saturdays result!!!!!!!!!!! So gutted I couldn't be there but well done everyone.

Hel's well done on your goal and also Ruth for your goal last week.
Lisa man of the match for the last two weeks - someone's on fire.
Marie- Thank you! Your leadership this season has been fantastic and I know we've put you through so much, but week in week out you've motivated us and led from the front.

Hope to see you all soon and already looking forward to next season.

Missing you all

Taran
xxx

Just wanted to pass on my congratulations on securing midlands hockey for next season.. No disrespect to those in the Derbyshire league, but didn't really want to go back umpiring in that league. Although less traveling would of been nice.

From where you were last season to the quality of hockey you have played this season, you need to thank andy ( god that was painful saying that), but most importantly thank yourself and everyone who has played for you this season. Without this dedication, drive and willingness to learn that you have all shown, then you would of been playing Derbyshire league next season.

Personal thanks to you all for being a pleasure to umpire, apart from ali's tackling!!!!! May need to give you some coaching sessions on the art of a legal tackle Ali.. :-)

Once again well done. Bring on next season..

Hey Taran...Hope you're having a great time. We wish you were with us to help celebrate! It was great to have a drink in the pub after knowing that we had done enough and we could all now relax!

Nige...thanx for being such a wonderful Umpire!!!! Yes I said it, wonderful! You are.

X

View from the side line (Bloody Umpires Grrrrr)

This season has seen us receive Umpiring of incredible diversity from the absolute superb through to the absolute absurd, but throughout it all there has been one constant official who has had a great season. Nigel.

I know Nigel and I rib each other but my respect for him is immense. His consistency in good umpiring has been fantastic and as testimony to that, on several occasions we have been at away game where our opposition have commented on his high standards of umpiring. You are a credit to the club Nigel.

Thanks for everything mate, the travelling, the commitment, the ease of which your style allowed me to accept with questioning your every decision – no honest mate LOL

YOU are a part of OUR TEAM and I look forward to you being with us again in Midlands again next season.


Thanks Mate


p.s Now can I have that 28 handicap ?????

Well done ladies !
Those first 10 mins were a bit nervy for us all, but afer that - a plesasure to watch - throughly deserved victory and congratulations on remaining in your league
J
x

Andy,

Well what can I say.... 2 things actually

1/ The £10 I payed you to say those nice words went a long way....

and

2/ Yes, you can have the 28 Handicap now!!!!

Lisa,

Thanks for your comments, must buy you a couple of pints!!!!

where has Andy's pink tutu gone????

Think he decided that pink was not the colour for him!

Maybe he wants a new outfit....ummm like the one he has on now!

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

So wrong.

2 words - my eyes!!!!!

YOU PROMISED NOT TO PUBLISH PICTURES FROM OUR NIGHT OUT LAST SUMMER !!!

I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS ONE !!!

ha ha. Sooooooooo funny