The Cheltenham Badgers recorded another win (3 - 1) against Sherbourne. However the real winners were all the boys, the umpires, the coaches and especially the spectators who withstood a continual downpour which lasted for the whole game.

Stuart Diesel (Badgers Manager) must have known about the weather as he decided to manage this game from the 19th 'T' in Portugal. 

The boys, once again playing without any adults, started the game well and opened the scoring with a well taken short corner strike from Dan Baker. This was then followed up with an open play goal from Dan.  However, Sherbourne had their share of attacks and the defence remained composed, marshalled well by Andrew Boulton.  

Cheltenham played some good hockey using both wings and passing the ball about well.  George Wilshaw added a third goal in the second half.  Alex Hewer, Alex Diesel and Tom Mitchener went close with further chances. Towards the end of the game, after several good saves from Stephen Pashley, Sherbourne were finally rewarded with a goal. In addition to good performances from all, special mention goes to Sam Woods making his debut and not at all over-awed by playing with older boys.

A great game of hockey played in atrocious conditions, but in the right spirit is a credit to both teams.

-- Mike Woods

Despite the appalling conditions 15 enthusiastic youngsters turned out for the Badgers yesterday.

Although Stroud were a younger and slightly weaker team they did field 2 strong adults in defence. We must commend Stroud for the excellent spirit in which the game was played and in particular the positive contribution that their adults made. It is always a pleasure playing against a team where the adults do not dominate but hold the structure of the game together.

We played excellent hockey and there were a number of key highlights which warrant mentioning:

Despite trying to drive everything through the middle in the first half our lads took on board the half time chat and started to use our width. Such was the efficacy of this that we were commended by the adult opposition as being the first team that they had played against where width had been used to negate the effect of the adults.

We had a number of new team members and they were made to feel welcome by the regulars and contributed in a very positive manner. If ever there was proof required that dynamite comes in small packages Alex Hewer is a perfect example of this.

Dan Baker had an excellent game and contributed 4 of the 6 goals we scored as we went on to win this game 6-1. Despite this excellent contribution, our man of the match award went to Matt Woods. Matt's workrate on the field is an example to all and he played a significant role in the second half by using the width we so desperately needed.

All in all, once again this was an excellent team effort.

I would also like to make special mention of Dan Roach and Tim Bannister, who very kindly agreed to play for the opposition, who were a couple of players short. This meant everyone had more time on the pitch rather than on the bench.

May I remind all of the system we try to follow. An e-mail is sent out on Sunday / Monday inviting responses. The team is generally announced on a Thursday evening and generally speaking all respondants do get to play, but we do get occassions where too many players are available and this causes chaos on the sideline with too many players on the bench getting bored or frustrated.

Finally, thanks to all the lads who mucked in and helped tidy up the clubhouse, and excellent effort.

-- Stuart

Training at Balcarras is OFF tonight (Friday 13th appropriately enough!). The pitch is flooded.

Although we lost our first game this week I can honestly say our performance, and most importantly our attitude, left me feeling very proud of the team.

We were under extreme pressure the whole of the first half and I, rather optimistically, commented that I would be pleased to come in at 0-0 at half time. Sadly we conceded 2 late goals and I do not blame the boys for feeling thoroughly demoralised at the break.

We then conceded a quick 3rd early on in the second half and I feared the worst as we defended short corner after short corner. It was then that our fighting spirit and attitude paid dividends and we went on to score 3 goals in the second half thanks to excellent efforts by Dan Baker, Rich Owen and Matt Woods. The final score was a closely contested 4-3.

As stated after the game I was reluctant to nominate a man of the match as I felt the collective team effort was the real highlight, but I believe the defence team deserve a real pat on their backs - well done all.

-- Stuart

Cheltenham started well from the first whistle, playing fluent hockey. Within a few minutes an attack from the left resulted in Vicky Harris scoring the opening goal. Amy Collinson, Vicky Harris and Alice Tredgett all linked well together on the left side resulting in another open play goal. The back four Tegen Lockahead, Alice Jollans, Amy and new player Leanne Biss kept Newent from scoring  with good solid tackling and clearing the ball to the mid field. Alice Tredgett scored the third goal from following up a shot and deflecting the ball into the goal from the keepers pads. Emily Arnold had a super game on the right wing, creating spaces, 2 v 1`s and individual attacking play. The second half saw Vicky Harris score her hat trick, and Alice Conquest continue to work tirelessly in midfield.  Emily Clark played her second game in goal for the Vixens, she made a couple of good saves to keep Cheltenham with a clean score sheet. Final result Cheltenham 4 Newent 0,

-- Karen

Cheltenham and Lansdown both played without goal keepers. Both teams started well with attacking play and shots at both goals making the defenders work hard to keep the ball out of the net. Cheltenham settled down quickly and started to move the ball around and were soon rewarded with a goal, followed by a second before the half time whistle.

In the second half Cheltenham stepped up another gear and played some good flowing hockey, with movement off the ball causing Lansdown problems in defence, Further goals came from short corners, and attacking play from the right where the ball was crossed and the left sided players swept the ball in and also attacking play from the left side resulting in the right slotting the ball home.

Lansdown continued to work hard and continually attacked. Their efforts were rewarded with a late consolation goal.

Goal scorers for Cheltenham were Amy Brown 3, Alex Hardy 2, Alice Tredgett 1, Kayleigh Tompkins 1.

The Cheltenham continued their winning form with their fourth win of the season. It was their first home game and with 15 boys in the squad, everybody contributed to a comfortable win against a slightly under-strength Lansdown team.

Goals came from Alex Diesel (2), Richard Owen (2), Tom Hage, Tom Mitchener, George Wilshaw and Benji Grew.

Lansdown never gave up and got a deserved consolation goal towards the end of the game.

The outstanding player and Man of the Match for Cheltenham was Max Holland. Max was unanimously nominated for this, through his almost faultless display - solid tackling, good interceptions and, most importantly, great distribution every time he got the ball.

-- Mike

The Badgers travelled to Yate with a record of played 2, won 2 so far this season, but without the inspiration of chief organiser Stuart Diesel and so the pressure was on even before the game started, to do Stuart proud.

At half - time this looked like a daunting task. The side were 2-0 down to a well organised Yate team, who, at the time, were playing the better hockey.

However, the team transformed their performance in the second half. With Nathan in goal, determined not to let in any further goals and Max Holland and Tom Bannister playing well in defensive positions which clearly they are more comfortable with, it gave the midfield and forwards more confidence to attack.  

After several close misses, Ton Hage pulled one back and shortly afterwards, George Wilshaw added a second to get the scores level. The badgers now had belief that they could win and further sustained pressures led to Dan Baker (captain for the day) adding 2 goals to double his tally for the season.

The final score was 4 - 2 victory. Credit must also be given to a good Yate side who played the game in the correct spirit and kept going until the final whistle.

There were excellent second half performances from the whole team, with Michael Hollingshead playing a pivotal role in midfield, enabling George Wilshaw, Matt Woods and Tom Mitchener the freedom to attach down the right.

Tom Hage was also starring at left midfield, providing an outlet for the defence and using the ball cleverly and effectively, constructing attacks on both the left and the right. Tom knew when to take a player on, when to switch the play to the right or when to slot a ball through to the attacking trio and for this performance he is our man of the match.

-- Mike

The autumn newsletter is now available. Please note the following dates.

• 20/10/2009 AGM
• 27/11/2009 Young Umpires night
• 29/01/2010 Stix night
• 21/03/2010 Presentation night

Full details are in the newsletter which can be viewed by clicking here.

We played against Newent this week. They had a very strong side last year and have now lost a number of their senior lads, but then we are also in a process of developing a new squad as well.

They were unable to field a fully compliant Badgers team so they ended up with 5 adults on the field. The match was played in excellent spirit and reflects the positive experience of Badgers Hockey!

Much like last week, we played the better hockey but struggled to find the goal in the first half. A goal by Dan Baker early in the second half settled nerves and we dominated for the rest of the match. A cracking second goal by Sam Wood meant one of the oldies could be substituted!

Although we are a young team we are playing to a really high standard. I was encouraged by the link play, in particular between Andrew Boulton, Olly Birmingham and Tom Mitchener on the right hand side.

Rich Owen deserves special mention for the wonderful, mature attitude he has brought to the team this season, he really has stepped up and is taking real responsibility!

Special mention must also be made Ben Bolwell and Joe Colona in goal, but this weeks Man of the Match goes to Tom Mitchener.

The only disappointing aspect of this weeks game was the overall workrate and effort, we really do need to step this up. It is in this regard that Tom stood head and shoulders above the others, well done Tom!

-- Stuart