21/09/2026
Weekend Roundup - 19 Sep 26
Salisbury Hockey Club’s adult teams got their league campaigns underway with a mixture of encouraging performances, hard-fought defeats, impressive wins and plenty of early season promise. Across the weekend, there were strong individual performances, several new players making their competitive debuts and plenty of evidence that teams are still developing their combinations and adapting to new leagues.
WOMEN’S 1s
The Women’s 1s began their league campaign with a competitive away fixture against Wycombe, eventually losing 2–1 despite creating numerous chances and putting in a strong performance.
Wycombe opened the scoring, but Salisbury responded well and began creating opportunities across the pitch. Good distribution from the defence allowed the team to build attacks, while intelligent running from midfield and the forward line caused Wycombe problems.
Esme Rogers was particularly influential, producing a series of powerful runs from the wing and providing a constant attacking threat. Her performance earned her Player of the Match.
Salisbury earned several short corners and eventually drew level when Imke Sinnema calmly converted a penalty flick. The match remained closely contested, with Salisbury continuing to create opportunities and threatening from set pieces.
However, Wycombe regained the lead with their second goal. Salisbury continued to push forward and earned further short-corner opportunities but could not find a second equaliser before the final whistle.
Although the result was disappointing, the performance provided plenty of encouragement. The team demonstrated determination, created opportunities and showed promising signs for the season ahead.
MEN’S 1s
The Men’s 1s went into their opening fixture against Wi******er 2s with plenty of optimism following a positive pre-match build-up. Unfortunately, that optimism took an immediate hit when Salisbury conceded inside the opening minute.
After regaining their composure, Salisbury began to play some excellent hockey and found an equaliser through Hugo Johnston, who marked his first league appearance for Salisbury with a goal.
The game then took another turn when a Salisbury clearance went straight to a Wi******er player inside the D, allowing the visitors to regain their advantage.
The remainder of the first half was closely contested, with both sides producing competitive hockey. Salisbury also picked up a green card following what was described as an “astonishing tackle”, leaving Wi******er 2–1 ahead at half time.
Wi******er started the second half strongly, winning several short corners and converting one to extend their lead to 3–1.
Salisbury continued to battle, although there was a moment when one player appeared to forget the basic rules of hockey and kicked the ball into the Wi******er goal rather than using his stick.
Wi******er added a fourth, but Salisbury refused to give up. The team continued to work hard and produced strong tackles, although another green card meant Oscar Barnes spent two minutes on the sideline.
The match also produced some lively exchanges on the touchline, with the Salisbury captain being called over by an umpire and instructed to sort out both his team and coach. His response was apparently concise and effective: “shut up”.
Salisbury did have the final major highlight. Awarded a late short corner, Jacob Stocker trapped the ball despite a less-than-perfect injection before unleashing a powerful strike that crashed off the backboard. It was his first goal for Salisbury and gave the team something to celebrate despite the eventual 4–2 defeat.
WOMEN’S 2s
The Women’s 2s travelled to Alton and faced difficult conditions on a bouncy, sandy pitch.
Salisbury started positively, passing well and working the ball effectively up the pitch. However, Alton proved more clinical and scored three times during the first half.
After a motivating half-time talk and some formation changes, Salisbury came out strongly in the second period. They applied pressure and produced some excellent passing moves, eventually resulting in Erin Oliver scoring for Salisbury.
The team continued to battle, but Alton added another goal and secured a 4–1 victory.
Mariam Mohidden Jones was named Player of the Match for her excellent play and dribbling down the line. Erin Oliver received the less prestigious “Wally of the Day” award after hitting the ball into Mariam when she had intended to shoot at goal.
WOMAN’S 3s
The Women’s 3s opened their season against Waterside 1, a side that had been relegated alongside Salisbury and had provided two hard-fought matches the previous season.
The game once again proved competitive, but Salisbury made the perfect start by scoring from a short corner inside the opening ten minutes. Lisa Lovatt’s straight strike was followed by Harriet Sage putting away the rebound.
Salisbury continued to move the ball well during the first half and created further opportunities, while the defence also performed strongly. Several Waterside short corners were successfully defended, including an impressive sequence of saves from goalkeeper Kate Bramshaw, who produced a triple save.
The second half continued in much the same fashion, with both teams creating chances. There was one memorable missed opportunity from Lockett, who narrowly failed to convert from directly in front of goal.
Waterside also threatened, but Kate again produced an important reaction save before Player of the Match Elsa Hawling completed a goal-line clearance.
Salisbury eventually doubled their lead when Gabby Placedi scored following an interception while the team were pressing Waterside high up the pitch. Gabby quickly added another goal to complete the scoring.
The final result was a convincing 3–0 win and an excellent opening to the season.
WOMEN’S 4s
The Women’s 4s faced Romsey 3s in difficult circumstances, starting the match without a goalkeeper and using a 4-4-3 formation.
Despite the unusual set-up, Salisbury dominated much of the first half and spent considerable time inside Romsey’s D, creating a number of shooting opportunities. However, the score remained 0–0 at half time.
The team remained positive and defended strongly whenever Romsey threatened. As the game entered its closing stages, Salisbury were awarded a short corner.
Sarah Llewelyn struck the ball towards goal and, after the Romsey goalkeeper deflected it, Jana Axford reacted quickest to push the ball into the net.
The late goal sparked celebrations as Salisbury secured a 1–0 victory.
Emma Lewis was named Player of the Match for an excellent defensive performance.
WOMAN’S 5s
The Women’s 5s made an emphatic start to their league campaign with an 8–0 victory over Southampton.
Jo B***r opened the scoring after 15 minutes before Jane Herridge doubled the lead seven minutes later. Jo then scored again before half time to give Salisbury a commanding 3–0 advantage.
The second half became the Jo B***r show. She completed her hat-trick in the 38th minute and added a fourth four minutes later.
Salisbury then scored from an attacking short corner, with a great pass from Lucy Welfare setting up Sophie Shord for another goal.
Jo was not finished, scoring again in the 50th and 62nd minutes to finish with an extraordinary six-goal haul.
The performance was built on excellent communication and passing throughout the team. Stacey Morgan also made her goalkeeping debut, while Faye Vincent, Karen Stanton and Emilia Bagshaw defended strongly. Debs Payne, Sophie Shord, Susan Grant, Lucy Welfare, Nyah Morgan and Sally Ehlen all contributed hard-working midfield performances, while Jo and Jane provided relentless attacking pressure.
Sophie was named Player of the Match, while Stacey received the “donut of the day” award.
WOMEN’S 6s
The Women’s 6s produced one of the weekend’s most encouraging performances, winning their opening league match 1–0 against Southampton Uni 4s.
More than half the squad were playing league hockey with Salisbury for the first time, while it was the team’s first full-pitch game together. Despite that lack of experience and familiarity, the team gelled remarkably quickly.
There was strong communication, players consistently offered passing options and Salisbury spent much of the match in the attacking half. The team created space effectively and produced some excellent one-two passing combinations.
The defence was well organised, with Laura Valjak marshalling the back line and Linda Easterbrook providing stability on the left. New recruit Harriet Pittaway looked assured on the right, while Savannah Cropper and Lucille Fox settled quickly into the team.
Andrea “Smasher” Pittaway also worked hard in defensive midfield.
The decisive goal came from new player Arte Cropper, whose lifted deflection found the net following a strong pass from Hannah-Beth Halpin. Halpin also created several further opportunities and was named Player of the Match.
Bex Butterworth provided attacking pace and vision, while Jenny McShane impressed on the left before being forced to leave through injury. Clare Morris provided constant movement up front and Tee Ellis made an important save to preserve Salisbury’s lead.
The team still have work to do on set pieces, but a win and clean sheet provided a major confidence boost.
MEN’s 2s
The Men’s 2s travelled to Bournemouth to face their 3s, who had finished third the previous season.
Salisbury started extremely well and played some good hockey, but Bournemouth took the lead against the run of play when a clearance became a difficult situation involving Ben Green and Freddie Matthews, with the ball eventually trickling into the corner.
Despite conceding, Salisbury maintained a positive attitude and continued to create attacking opportunities. They reached half time only 1–0 down and remained confident that their performance deserved more.
Bournemouth extended their advantage early in the second half following a foul in Salisbury’s back-left corner that resulted in a short corner. The resulting set piece was converted to make it 2–0.
Salisbury continued to push for a way back into the game. An attacking short corner produced an excellent chance when Bailey Hannaford’s drag flick took a slight deflection, forcing the Bournemouth goalkeeper into a spectacular reflex save.
The final score remained 2–0 to Bournemouth.
Despite the defeat, the performance offered plenty of positives. Paddy Selfe was named Player of the Match for an excellent display at right back.
MEN’S 3s
The Men’s 3s began life under new captain Jamie Bundy by hosting Aldershot, who had been relegated from the league above.
Salisbury dominated the opening 15 minutes, creating chance after chance, with Bundy even hitting the post.
Against the run of play, however, Aldershot produced an outstanding strike into the top corner. Salisbury then conceded again shortly afterwards and somehow found themselves 2–0 down despite having controlled much of the attacking play.
The situation became even more frustrating early in the second half when Aldershot added a third.
Salisbury responded superbly during the final 25 minutes. Colin Perkins pulled one back with a short-corner strike before debutant Will Briggs scored his first goal for the 3s to reduce the deficit to 3–2.
Salisbury threw everything forward during the closing stages but could not find an equaliser.
Although the result was disappointing, the performance was highly encouraging, particularly given that the team had no pre-season, were playing a new shape and included several new players.
Barry Morgan was named Player of the Match.
STRIDERS
After winning their league last season, Striders faced a reality check on their arrival in Men’s Division Five South, losing 4–0 to Basingstoke 4s.
Basingstoke had finished in the top half of the division the previous season and proved a well-drilled and competent side. Salisbury were missing several important players but were competitive during the first half.
Striders arguably had the better of the opening period, winning short corners and creating promising attacks. Jim-Bob Whittle was particularly influential.
Basingstoke did score after a moment when Salisbury players stopped expecting a whistle following a clear foot, only for advantage to be played and the opposition to score almost unopposed.
The second half was dominated by Basingstoke, whose greater fitness and younger team began to tell. Several of their goals were somewhat scrappy, including a near-post short-corner goal and a slowly looping shot.
Although Basingstoke deserved their victory, Striders were not overwhelmed and demonstrated that they can compete at this level. The challenge will be maintaining that performance consistently across the full match.
MEN’S 4s
The Men’s 4s began with a heavily reshuffled squad, including two players making their Salisbury competitive debuts and another making his first ever competitive appearance. Junior Benji Farrimond also made his competitive debut.
Romsey had narrowly missed promotion the previous season and arrived with an unchanged squad, including juniors who were now older and stronger.
Romsey dominated the first half, but Salisbury defended resolutely. New players Tom Daniels and Tony Langridge impressed alongside Ed Halsey, Joe Wilcox and Julian Wilson.
Although Romsey had plenty of possession, Salisbury restricted them to relatively few clear opportunities. Nevertheless, two scrappy goals gave Romsey a 2–0 lead at half time.
Salisbury improved considerably after the break. As the players became more familiar with each other, they showed greater composure and began putting Romsey under pressure.
Romsey eventually added two more goals, again from somewhat scrappy situations, to complete a 4–0 victory.
Despite the scoreline, there were many positives for Salisbury, particularly the improved second-half performance and the determination shown throughout.
Tony Langridge was named Player of the Match on his debut.
STROLLERS
Strollers opened their league campaign with an entertaining 3–3 draw against a strong Guildford side.
Guildford scored twice despite the game being relatively even. Salisbury responded when a break forward involving Saboor Ghauri and Carl Hendy resulted in Hendy pulling a goal back.
Tactical changes at half time helped Strollers improve further. They began to match Guildford more effectively and eventually levelled through a superb solo goal from Saboor following an excellent through ball from Jav Jaffer.
Further Salisbury pressure resulted in a short corner. Les Wastie’s initial shot was saved, but Mike Lyons reacted quickest to score from the rebound and give Strollers the lead.
However, with only five minutes remaining, Strollers lost possession inside their own area and Guildford capitalised to equalise.
The final score of 3–3 reflected an entertaining contest. Andy Hollywood was singled out for a superb defensive performance and received the Player of the Match award.
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