Baker boys take down Bristol as Penarth Hockey Club goes unbeaten

Penarth 4 - Bristol University A 3

Having lost their first match of the season at UWE the previous weekend, Penarth’s 1st XI were keen to exact revenge on Bristol's other student cohort at Stanwell, but could only do so thanks to the back-breaking efforts of player-groundsmen Ben Croxall, Jack Jopson and Graeme Jones, who cleared gallons of standing water from the pitch after torrential overnight and early morning rain.

With the 4th XI having shown that the pitch was playable, the Bears match began on schedule, albeit amidst persistently horrible conditions, but the early exchanges were dominated by the away team, who looked dangerous in possession and well-organised across the field.

It was something of a surprise, therefore, that Penarth took the lead against the run of play, stand-in captain Chris Baker picking up a midfield ball from returning leader Tom Haran, before beating a number of students and firing a backhand shot into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Despite the goal, the University side continued to look threatening, and found an equaliser with a very well-placed flick from a penalty corner just five minutes later.

Having been pegged back, the Bears started to gain more control of the game, and responded in kind as Baker added his, and the team's second. This time Croxall was the provider, dribbling his way through opposition tackles before Baker's first time shot stunned the goalkeeper and found the bottom corner.

A third goal would prove important for Penarth, and came after 25 minutes, following some patient build-up play from Rich John, Marcus Powell and Haran at the back. This time, as the Bears ventured forward, it was Rich Baker who expertly fired his reverse-stick shot into the corner to give the goalkeeper no chance.

The half ended with just a single goal separating the teams, as some ill-discipline from Penarth just before the break allowed the students to convert another penalty corner, but the home side were determined to make amends after the break and started the second period at a furious pace, dispossessing the students near their own goal and winning a first penalty corner of the game.

Despite not taking their chance to extend the advantage, Penarth certainly looked the most threatening and started to re-establish control over the game.

Discipline – or the lack of it – continued to plague the Vale side, however, and, having been reduced to 10 players, they saw their lead wiped out completely as the students seized the chance to even things up at 3 - 3 with 20 minutes to play.

Penarth responded positively, however, with numerous forays into the attacking third.

Heroically, Joe Thomas weaved his way through the opposing sticks in a crowded 'D' before finding Chris Baker at the far post, and the captain fired in his third of the game to put the Bears back in front.

For the final 10 minutes, the hosts remained strong defensively, holding on for an important three points to remain near the summit of Conference North.

Goalscorers: Chris Baker (3), Rich Baker

Swansea City B 1 - Penarth A 6

The 2nd XI travelled to face Swansea City B looking for a fourth consecutive win knowing that they needed to maintain their impressive run of form if they were to keep up with the top two in De Cymru 1.

A growing injury list and several late drop-outs meant that some familiar faces returned to the team sheet for the first time this season, with last season’s league-winning captain Matt Birch filling in at the unfamiliar position of centre back and 3rd XI captain Dave Watkins reclaiming his erstwhile centre forward role.

As with the rest of South Wales, the conditions in Swansea were awful and the game started under ominous skies, but that proved no deterrent to the visitors, who made their now customary quick start and pressed forward to test the home goalkeeper several times in the opening exchanges.

Having been rebuffed early on, the breakthrough finally came midway through the first half, as fantastic work from Tom Parkinson and Chris McCarthy created the chance for Watkins to apply a deft touch and guide the ball past the ‘keeper.

With their tails up, Penarth’s lead was doubled soon after, as a well-worked penalty corner routine was finished off by Chris McCarthy, but the strike coincided with the heavens opening and torrential rain made it difficult to play flowing hockey thereafter as the pitch became increasingly waterlogged.

The Bears’ half-time talk focused on playing to the conditions and killing off the game with a third goal, and they did not have to wait long before Watkins applied another smart finish to a well-constructed attack.

Phil Lane quickly continued his goal-scoring streak by adding a fourth with a powerful strike from the top of the ‘D’ but, to their credit, Swansea did not give up and kept pushing for a consolation goal.

That eventually came with 10 minutes to go, as the ball was forced over the line in a goalmouth scramble to deny goalkeeper Adam Putt and the back four the clean sheet their performances deserved.

Despite time running out, Penarth pushed for extra goals that could prove important later in the season.

Number five came as Sam Docherty and Sam Chick linked up to feed Sam Salisbury, who rounded the ‘keeper and, with the goal gaping, hit the post. Fortunately, the ball rebounded straight back to the young striker, who finished at the second bite of the cherry.

The scoring was rounded off by Lane to give Penarth a deserved 6 - 1 victory, and the total could have been more had it not been for some unbelievable saves from the young Swansea ‘keeper in the second half.

The win sees Penarth move to within three points of the promotion places, with a couple of close, but winnable, games coming up before the Christmas break.

Goalscorers: Dave Watkins (2), Phil Lane (2), Chris McCarthy, Sam Salisbury

Penarth C 2 - Gwent B 2

Having arrived at Stanwell wondering whether their match would go ahead at all, let alone on time, the 4th XI got underway against Gwent B with only a short delay to the scheduled noon push back.

With the fine performance against runaway league leaders Swansea University still fresh in their minds, but conscious of the heavy defeat at the hands of the visitors in their last encounter, the C-siders ensured that the opening quarter was competitive and cagey, with little to chose between the two teams.

As the half progressed, however, the discipline and concentration required to effectively play the system that had served the Vale side so well started to fade, allowing the skilful and experienced Gwent team to dominate.

Under greater amounts of pressure, Penarth were grateful for the calm authority of veteran Ian Brookfield and the agility of ‘keeper Luke Williams to keep the scores level going into the half-time break.

The second half began much as the first ended, with Gwent dominating possession but struggling to break down the organised Penarth defence. Growing in confidence, and with Tom Griffiths featuring more and more in the congested midfield, it was the home side who found an unexpected breakthrough, with Griffiths managing to get on to the end of a penetrating cross from skipper Nick Pratt to feed James Kerr-Smith, who calmly beat the Gwent ‘keeper.

Fired up by an apparent sense of injustice amid claims that a Penarth foot had played a part in the opening goal, Gwent redoubled their efforts, forcing the home side backwards before being rewarded with two quick goals to take a narrow lead into the closing minutes.

With frustrations and tempers rising, umpires Colin Crayford and Neil Jewess had to be at their sharpest to keep a lid on things, but it was testimony to the combativeness of the Penarth side that they refused to lie down and pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

With minutes remaining, man-of-the-match Griffiths' produced a fierce shot that gave the Gwent ‘keeper little chance, levelling the scores 2 - 2, a fair result between two-closely matched sides that notably gave the C-siders their first point of the 2016-17 campaign.

Goalscorers: James Kerr-Smith, Tom Griffiths

All four Penarth sides will be in league action this weekend, with the 1st again taking centre stage as they return to Bristol to take on Firebrands in a top four battle.

While the senior side are on their travels, the 2nds, 3rds and 4ths will all be in action at Stanwell, taking on Neath (1.45pm start) Gwent B (noon start) and Swansea City C (3.30pm start) respectively.

Prior to the weekend, Penarth Hockey Club will be hosting a Quiz and Curry night at Penarth Athletic Club, starting at 7.30pm on Friday, November 25. Entry is £5 a head and all are welcome.

Penarth Hockey Club always welcomes new, old and returning players, umpires, supporters, friends and helpers regardless of age and ability. Training takes place on Wednesdays at Stanwell School, with the juniors on the pitch between 6.15pm and 7.15pm and the seniors between 7pm and 8.15pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.