Driffield Ladies 3rds 3
Bradford Ladies 1
After last week’s break the Driffield team were looking forward to this home game. The sun came out for the start and continued to shine throughout the game.
Driffield started well putting pressure on the Bradford defence and were unlucky not to score twice in the first five minutes, though it did not take long before Ruby opened the scoring, having picked up a good through ball from Nicola.
Bradford back hard to get the equaliser, but this resulted in the Driffield girls stepping up a gear and with some good tactical play and short passes from Sara, Katie and Kirsty H this resulted in them finding Ruby yet again who netted her second in the last minute of the first half.
In the 2nd half Bradford came hard at Driffield and put a lot of pressure on the solid defence of Lucy, Sharon and Amy. With some good clearances from the back, Kirsty on the right collected the ball and made a great run down the wing crossing the ball to the top of the D which was collected by young Sophie who hammered it into the back of the net.
Driffield continued to put pressure on the defence with some great play from Nicola and Kirsty working well on the right, again putting some good through balls to Wendy and Sophie who were unlucky not to add to the scoreline.
It was a good team effort to get three points. Girlie of the game: Nicola. Donkey: Kirsty Hall. This week home again to top of the table Lincoln.
Huddersfield 4th 2
Driffield Men 2nd 0
On Saturday Driffield 2nds travelled away for their second match against Huddersfield 4’s.
Due to Steve Gate being injured Charlie volunteered to take the role of goal keeper.
Huddersfield came out strong and scored a sloppy goal in the first 10 minutes. Driffield seemed to be off on a slow start and not working well.
The ball was played between the defence, the defence stood still. Will Mitchel at right back, the two centre backs Tom Billam and Adam Harriott and in left back Danny Hammond.
Driffield couldn’t hold the ball for long and kept losing it from silly mistakes, the ball was played down the wings and through the midfield which stood as Jacob, Noddy and Tom Beachall in centre midfield and Jack at right wing and Martin left wing, and played through on goal which was soon broke down by the Huddersfield defence.
Substitutions were made, with Kaelum on for Jack, Steve Sowersby for Tom Beachall and Ryan for Harry up top.
Soon after Huddersfield were through on goal and the keeper came out to meet the ball and Tom ran across to tackle the player, unfortunately Tom tripped up and fell over, and his stick became an obstacle and caused the Huddersfield player to send the ball out of play and the umpire awarded a penalty flick, which Huddersfield scored.
Half time approached and still Driffield could not find an opportunity to seek a goal. Driffield won a short corner but failed to take the chance.
At half time Jacob gave a team talk with help from other players, and in the second half Driffield came out a much better team but still unable to claim a goal. After numerous amounts of chances nothing came to it but the defence held their own, keeping the score 2-0.
Driffield received yet another short corner which came to nothing and Huddersfield counter attacked which was stopped by the defence. With minutes left Driffield tried their hardest to equalise but couldn’t finish the chances that were made. The match drew to a close with Driffield losing their third game of the season which could ruin their chances of promotion.
Man of the match: Danny Hammond
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including one sin bin offence.
Sadly, Driffield simply could not capitalise on the one man advantage with their penalty corner routines not working out as they have done so effectively this season – and they would end up rueing these missed opportunities.
After a positive teamtalk from matchday manager Steve Gate, Driff went back out and attacked from the off.
To give Boston Spa credit they were a much more organised side than the team that was thrashed 8-0 earlier in the season, playing to their strengths and looking to hit the Woldsmen on the break.
Midway through the second half, the away team had a rare attack and were allowed far too much possession down the right flank. The ball was pulled back into the centre where a physical Boston Spa attacker shirked off a challenge to be presented with a free shot at goal, which he gratefully took.
Despite this being Boston Spa’s first shot at goal, Driffield weren’t creating many clear cut chances themselves. The running was relentless but too often possession was conceded, allowing the away team some respite.
With nine minutes on the clock, a crash ball was sent into the Boston Spa circle. James Levitt got the faintest nick on the ball to make it 2-1 to Driffield. Immediately, the Woldsmen pulled back into a 4-4-2 formation and would rightly have thought they were about the see the game out. However there was a final sting in the tail.
With just five minutes left, Driff conceded a free hit just outside their 23 metre area. This was taken quickly allowing Boston Spa to send a crash ball into the circle. In a mirror image of Driff’s goal just four minutes earlier, a Boston Spa attacker got a slight touch on the ball to deflect it into the goal to make it 2-2.
With barely any time left, Driffield desperately scrabbled to retake the lead, but to no avail.
It could be said that the visitors were lucky to have nicked a draw, considering they only had two efforts on goal all game – however, Driffield looked tired and simply didn’t play their usual high tempo game. Passes went adrift and moves which would normally come off, just didn’t – so the home team can have no real complaints.
Thanks go to Dodds Solar (main club sponsor), Cherry’s Country Hardware of North Frodingham (men’s sponsor) and Original Keys of Driffield (refreshments and away match sponsor) for their continued support of Driffield Men’s Hockey Team.
Team: Chard, Hickie, Gate, A, James, Jackson, Measom (c), Shephard, Robson, Cherry, Richardson, Levitt, Dewhirst.