Match reports provided by Mr R.E.Porter
(Reports will be archived after a month or so)
The blend of extreme youth and “vintage” experience contained within the 4th Team produced both an enjoyable season for all concerned and a very big positive to the future of the club and its Hockey content. This season saw Luke McComb, Chris Lord , and Callum Plumb all having superb seasons and in doing so graduating from their respective positions within the 4ths to make the leap up into the 3rd Eleven on a regular basis , and saw players Josh Hill , Dobby McHugh , Bobby Mendham , Matt Osborn ,Tom Sutton and James Sanderson all making great headway to joining them. Special mention is made of Dobby McHugh, who as the youngest in the team, very much held his own playing against some huge hulks of opponents without flinching. A true 4th XI trait and he has passed his initiation into the 4ths with flying colours. This all bodes very well for the club. Vintage players Richard Jones, Martin Ash ,Richard Lewis, Simon Fisher and newcomer Tom Kirby all played their part in trying to “teach” the younger players the little “tricks” and player movements for the team that can turn a game and will make the teenagers better players for their absorbing them into their repertoire. Hockey is a Team game, and sometimes individuals can forget that. Late joiners to the Team this season in Duncan White and Andy Slade also played their part. Number one fan Mendham Snr was very vocal in his sideline support whilst attending nearly all the games in wind , rain or sleet. The Team had mixed success in the League, the 2 draws against Top of the League Darlington being two of the many highlights. A respectable mid-table position was obtained, the team losing less than half their games played. The fun side of the season flowed through before, during and after every game, win, lose or draw. One such funny incident was where the younger players, sitting at proper pub restaurant meal tables after a game, were told by a vintage player that the opposition had said they could choose anything from the menus on the tables. They seemed a bit disappointed when their orders of best Steak dinner from the menu turned into sausage and chips. (But they were cooked to taste…haha...). Richard Jones was a fine captain and organised the Team admirably, and he was also ably deputised by other Vintage players when not available himself. With no serious player injuries, no Team leavers, no turmoil and plenty of fun,fun,fun the season was a huge success and pleasure for the 4th XI players and long may it continue. *********************** Top of the Table Darlington came into their final match knowing a win would secure automatic promotion for them. Having steamrolled the League for the whole Season, they knew that Richmond had spoiled their 100% winning record in 2007 with a 5-5 draw at home , so their thoughts must have been could Richmond stop their final push with Norton hard on their tails ? In a classic game, played in heavy rain, which started at a very fast pace and which never diminished in pace, the result was in doubt until the final whistle. Very evenly matched, the two team’s defences were under pressure, with shots being saved, missed and also turned aside by the goalkeepers having superb games and it was 20 minutes before From the backline in the area the Home forward somehow superbly lobbed the ball over a packed area into the far side of the goal. With 7 minutes of the half left, the pressure paid off as Josh Hill scored to put The pressure never relented at either end and Darlo tried hard for an equaliser, but GK Will was having an inspired game for Half Time 1-2. The second half was cut and thrust, before With time running out at 2-2, and the win slipping away from them, a couple of Darlo players started to lose it . Eventually Craig overstepped the mark for the second or third time and was duly carded, leaving the field for the final 2 minutes of the game. Both sides tried for the winner to the end, and G.Hill was put clean through one on one with the keeper but shot just wide, and with the final whistle, Darlo knew their chance of promotion now lay in Billingham getting a result off Norton in their final game. The two games against Man of the Match was awarded to the Whole Team for an excellent display against the Top side.
Richmond 4ths....0....Norton 3rds....3 ...1st March 2008 Half Time 0-1. Both McHugh and Lewis were having good games from midfield and constantly driving at the Norton defence strung along their " D".
A very weakened Richmond team ,and without stalwart defender Richard Jones in the centre of defence and with 4 younger school players playing this game immediately after playing a game , took the pitch against Top of the League Norton .
But as is usual , Richmond gave their all,and with Simon Fisher having a superb game in the heart of the defence ably assisted by Matt Osborn ,Martin Ash and James Sanderson they held firm.The Richmond midfielf of Bobby Mendham , Richard Lewis , Tom Sutton (carryiing an injury) and Dobby McHugh well matched the very experienced Norton Team which was bolstered by 3 players who had played in last weeks 2nd XI fixture against a higher Richmond team .Needing to win this match to try and beat close rivals Darlington to the League title Norton's more experienced players created several chances not converted by the forwards and with several good saves by the Richmond goalkeeper, who was also having a good game .As the half time approached a tragic goal gave Norton the lead .Another Norton shot from the top of the area was whistling wide when it caught a defender's chest high stick and was greatly diverted back into the net .
The Home forwards of Josh Hill and Tom Kirby who were rolling -on/ off with Andy Slade had not had much luck due to the solid play of Norton's higher players in cutting out through balls , and the lack of any favourable decisions by the Away umpire when they did get through to shoot . But still for the first 20 minutes of the second half Richmond were definitely on top, and the ball was almost exclusively in the Norton last third of the pitch, without a clear cut chance actually arising .
Then the home side's younger players began to tire after playing 2 consecutive matches , and in a 3 minute spell Norton scored twice . But Richmond did not lie down , and kept plugging away for the final 15 minutes , until Slade played a magnificent through ball to put McHugh in the clear with only the keeper to beat , but his hesitation in shooting allowed the away keeper to get into position and in shooting wide of him McHugh's shot hit the side netting .The final whistle ended Richmond's attempts to score.
A valiant effort by Richmond that deserved a greater reward .
Man of the Match.
the trio of McHugh and the goalkeeper and Lewis had excellent games and were very close runners-up , but this weeks Man of the Match was edged by Simon Fisher who had a top match .
Richmond 4ths ....0.....v...Stokesley 2nds....0
The low scoring game specialists of the Conference turned up today and kept their reputation in tact ,but only just.
Richmond welcomed Duncan White for his first outfield game, playing up front .
The stifling effect of the away defence and midfield ensured few chances came Richmond's way .
With Richard Jones + GK Callum Plumb performing the same function for Richmond.
Despite the midfield efforts of Chris Lord , Richard Lewis,Dobby McHugh and Bobby Mendham all having good games , the away sides goal held firm .
James Sanderson was covering Martin Ash on his forays up the pitch to lend his support to the attacking play.
Richard Lewis created an excellent chance for White but it ran away from him.
Half Time ...0-0...
A Lord through ball into the area was dummied by Tom Kirby and Josh Hill finding space just failed to capitalise on a rare good opportunity .
Then a Lewis long cross to the far post was deflected onto the side board behind the post by White.
With Richmond pressing , a short corner was awarded and the final whistle then blew.
The short corner was then taken , and Jones shot cannoned off a defender back to Lord whose through ball to the far post was met by Simon Fisher ,but the Stokesley goalkeeper pulled off a stunning save right at the foot of the post , to preserve the 0-0 scoreline at the death.
No Man of the Match was awarded this week ,several players had good games , but none was outstanding .Richmond Fan Steph Mendham, who travels to every game home and away ,come rain and shine, deserves a special mention for his energetic and vocal support of the team today , driving them on in their painstaking efforts.
Hartlepool 2nds 1..Richmond 4ths.0 26th Jan 2008
Richmond travelled to Hartlepool with a squad of 12, including Duncan White keeping his place in goal, and with Richard Jones standing down to umpire.
A win would push Richmond above Hartlepool into 3rd place (once the table is adjusted for Durhams demise).
Richmond played magnificently against a very solid and robust Hartlepool team currently 3rd in the table.
Chances were few and far between but Richmond had the ball in the opposition half a lot more than the home side could do to Richmond.
Some decisions were strange and being given against Richmond by the Home umpire and one of these was a turning point in the game.
A good build up down Richmond's left was taken on by Richard Lewis into the opposition D to score a really good goal , with just 2 minutes of the half left .But again, the umpire made one of his decisions during the celebrations , this time that the ball was outside the D , and he disallowed the goal.
A very big let off for Hartlepool, who must have been thankful the Home umpire was being so magnanimous in his decisions.
HALF TIME 0-0.
The second half saw Luke McComb (returning to the side this week ) and Chris Lord, ably assisted by Lewis and Martin Ash, holding sway over the home midfield.
No mean feat, as this home team were playing to their potential at all times.
James Sanderson took a heavy hit as the half had barely started and needed to retire from the play, although he managed to limp back on near the end for a few minutes , his game was effectively over for today.
Then Lewis had a shot thunder into the post from the top of the D with the keeper well beaten, and a Lewis free hit was clipped agonisingly just wide of the far post by Tom Kirby. Next it was Josh Hill's turn; a well worked move saw him about to beat the keeper when the ball heartbreakingly caught his foot for a foul.
Wide on the wings both Dobby McHugh and Bobby Mendham were well holding their opposition players and also pushing forward to assist in the attacks .Good efforts by both players.
At the back Matt Osborn was having his best game to date, and Simon Fisher was sweeping all before him. So much so that Duncan White was not getting the chance to perform this week, as the Home attacks were smothered.
With 6 minutes of the game left, and Richmond pressing for a winner, disaster struck in the form of a soft goal for Hartlepool. It was unjust and un-deserved, but it stirred Richmond to even greater efforts and to throw everything into an all out siege on the Home sides D.
Richmond were still camped there, battering at the solid Hartlepool defence, when the final whistle blew.
A very disappointing result for a really good team performance.
Several players had excellent games , Osborn, Fisher, McHugh,McComb and Mendham across the middle in particular , but for his tireless running in midfield and his non-stop effort for the whole period of the game ,Chris Lord was this weeks Man of the Match.
Billingham ..2nds … 0…v...Richmond 4ths….. 4 19th Jan 2008
On a good day for Hockey, Richmond travelled to bottom of the league Billingham with a bare squad of 11 , including Duncan White making his debut in goal.
A win was required after several previous week’s good efforts without the necessary result.
The game was even until the 15th minute when Tom Kirby put Josh Hill in to score a good opening goal .A few minutes later the same combination saw Hill with a great chance to make the match safer, but his short whistled wide this time. Goalkeeper White was making a fine contribution on his debut, as Billingham matched Richmond in open play. With Bobby Mendham having another fine game following last weeks good effort, and Chris Lord’s tireless running in midfield ,ably assisted by Simon Fisher, Martin Ashe, Tom Sutton and Richard Lewis it was turning into a good Richmond display . Richard Jones was having a good solid game at the centre of the defence, and was paramount in ensuring the home attacks were rarely getting through on goal now, ably assisted by James Sanderson ,who was set the task of keeping the home sides main attacker from scoring .This he was successful in , as the final score shows.
But Richmond players knew that 1-0 is never safe, and it was actually during a Billingham attack in the 27th minute that the best move of the game made a decisive entrance .The ball was well cleared fast to Kirby, who fed Hill, who fed Chris Lord, and he placed a fine shot into the bottom corner .This was a worthy match winner on its own,as the time from Richmond back line to Billingham net was under 10 seconds .
The home side folded and Richard Lewis helped himself to 2 fine goals in the few minutes before half time.
Half Time 0-4.
Billingham played the second half as if it was still 0-0, putting in a fine effort for a team so low in the league, and looked to have pulled one back, before GK White made a fine save as the shot was entering the net. Several short corners to Richmond towards the end could have increased the winning margin, and Fisher had a good chance from one, but all were saved by a Billingham goalkeeper having a fine match himself.
Man of the Match could have gone to several players after this display, Lewis for his 2 goals, Kirby for his 4 decisive assists in the goals, Lord or Fisher for their untiring midfield input, Hill for his upfront effort, Jones for his solid defensive work or even White for having a fine debut in goal, but edging it today for his fine play was Bobby Mendham .
15th Jan 2008 Richmond 4ths 0.....Sunderland 3rds 1
A 15 man squad for Richmond, with Andy Slade joining the team for his first time this season.
A strong, very tall-looking Sunderland team took to the pitch against the youngsters and oldies of Richmond, but everyone played their part for Richmond today and the teams were very well matched. Chances were few, with Callum Plumb in goal out fast to clear on several occasions when Sunderland reached the D....with Richard Jones marshalling a defence of Simon Fisher, Matt Osborn, Martin Ash, Bobby Mendham and Dobby McHugh, those chances were few and far between. With Luke Mccomb, Chris Lord and Richard Lewis more than holding their own in the midfield battle, assisted by James Sanderson on swap around, the ball was never getting into a clear chance at either end. Forwards Andy Slade and Tom Kirby, swapping around with Josh Hill and Tom Sutton, were finding it hard going to get through as the ball was battled for in midfield.
Then with 27 minutes gone, the only goal came through a slight mistake, as a corner on Richmond's left travelled through the defence which had moved towards blocking the hit en masse, leaving unmarked Sunderland players on the far side of the D to score and GK Plumb with no chance of stopping it.
Half-time 0-1
The second half followed the same pattern, but Richmond started to edge the play, and a chance fell to Richmond as Bobby Mendham' shot arrived at Josh Hill coming in, and his shot hit the goalkeeper's face mask with the keeper unsighted. A lucky let-off!
For the last 15 minutes the Sunderland defence was under siege as Richmond surged for a result. Several attacks were saved at the last second for short corners and as the game reached a climax in the last 5 minutes, both Lewis and Jones had short corner hits saved or deflected for more corners.
As the final whistle blew on the last of 3 consecutive short corners on the run from Richmond, time was allowed for it to be taken. The ball reached Jones and his shot was well struck - it was saved back to him and his second shot was again saved. An equaliser would have been justice for this game was so even.
Man of the Match was only slightly edged by Callum Plumb for his fine keeping in the first half, from Jones and Lewis who both had fine games. But the whole team had performed and battled well today.
With Dobby McHugh and James Sanderson returning to the squad,
An impromptu tactical session before the game put everyone in the right mood.
The midfield was strengthened to 5 players with Tom Sutton, Bobby Meadham, Luke McComb, Richard Lewes and Chris Lord keeping a tight hold during a half that was evenly matched .
With 19 minutes gone a superb Richmond move left Josh Hill free at inside left to calmly place his shot well into the net . Sanderson then got in behind the defence but his well hit shot whistled past the far post.
The second half arrived and the game was swaying to and fro but
Then Lewis’s long run and shot looked to have made it 3-0, but the Umpire gave it as a shot from outside the D, so disallowed.
From a short corner Lewis made it 3-0 with an unstoppable shot, in part rectifying things for his disallowed goal. Then Kirby, McComb and Hill all had chances well saved by the Redcar keeper .Redcar were playing their part and when an attacker broke clear keeper Plumb raced out and threw himself full length to cause him to shoot wide.
Dobby McHugh and Bobby Meadham were stopping everything coming down the right, whilst the Lord, McComb, Sutton combination were now controlling midfield,so it was inevitable
A fully deserved win, an excellent Team effort,with every player playing their part.
Man of the Match went to Josh Hill for his 2 goals and his fine all round play on the day.
November 17th
Stokesley 2nds 0 v
Man of the Match was just edged by Chris Lord, from the rest in a magnificent Team effort. |
Richmonds young 4th XI side took on
With Luke McComb , Chris Lord and Rob McHugh driving the midfield and Tom Sutton raiding down the wing ,it was a very equal game ,until, with 10 minutes of the first half left, Sunderland managed to break the solid defence of Matt Osborn and Bobby Meadham, to finally beat Callum Plumb who was having a storming game.
The second half started with Richard Lewis feeding Josh Hill , who, one on one with the keeper , could only watch as his shot was well saved.
With 7 minutes left
The man of the match was shared by McComb and Lord.
……
A scratch Richmond side took on a strong Hartlepool 2nd XI , and despite the home pressure , the defence of old hands Richard Jones and Martin Ash ably assisted by
Matt Osborn , Bobby Meadham and GK Callum Plumb were stopping everything coming their way . With minutes of the first half remaining Hartlepools pressure told and they finally scored.But Richmond came out for the 2nd half determined to carry the game to Hartlepool , with Luke McComb ,Tom Sutton and Chris Lord forcing the pace Richmond began to get opportunities and from a short corner a powerful Lewis shot rocketed in for the equaliser.
The game then swung back towards Hartlepool and forwards Josh Hill, Tom Kirby and James Sanderson were not seeing the ball .But it was still a shame that with only 5 minutes left , a ball played against Sutton’s feet in the Away area caused Richmond to stop and allowed a Hartlepool forward to score unchallenged as no whistle sounded.
A harsh lesson was learned, and to lose the game in such a way after competing so well was a poor reward .But heads could be held high after this performance.
Man of the Match was shared by Plumb in goal and McComb in midfield, who just edged it from the rest in an excellent team performance.