THE new Astroturf pitch at Stanwell Comprehensive School was well and truly inaugurated at the weekend as a Stanwell Old Boys Hockey team took on a Penarth Select XI in the first match of any kind at the facility.

After years of waiting, the day proved to be an emotional one for players on both sides, many of whom have lived a nomadic existence for the past two decades as Penarth Hockey Club searched for a permanent home.

With Stanwell having provided PHC with talent for much longer than that, a meeting between the local club and the debutant Old Boys team provided a fitting backdrop to the occasion.

A large crowd of stakeholders, well-wishers, interested spectators and assorted family members had already gathered by the time that former Welsh Hockey Association – and long-standing PHC – president Alan Carter recalled moments from the history of both school and club, before cutting the ceremonial ribbon and allowing everyone access to the pitch.

After a brief warm-up to get used to the new surface, the teams were ready for action, although the early stages suggested that Penarth were a little more prepared as the first 10 minutes of the game took place largely in the Stanwell half.

Ironically, therefore, it was just as the ‘home’ team was beginning to gain a foothold that Penarth opened the scoring, with Sam Salisbury and Sam Chick combining to set up Gareth Hurman for a simple tap-in and the first goal of the new era.

Despite Kevin Maddox and Phil Lane continuing to cause problems for the Stanwell defence, it was the former students who scored next, coming back into the game and levelling as Sam Wooding converted a pass from Dave Watkins to make it 1-1.

The game appeared to be heading into the interval on an even footing, thanks to goalkeepers Mark and Jason Harris, who both pulled off fine saves, and the defensive efforts of Jamie Davison, Dave Stevens and Craig Llewellyn, the latter clearing off the Stanwell line.

Penarth, however, had other ideas and, with just minutes left on the clock, Chick found a gap in the Stanwell defence to fire home and put PHC 2-1 up.

With the ‘keepers staying put during the break, and thus swapping teams for the second half, the respective forwards faced a different challenge when the game resumed, and this time it was the former pupils who made the early breakthrough, with Wooding linking up with father Derek and capitalising on a through ball to score his second of the game and bring the sides level once again.

With their tails up, Stanwell continued to take the game to Penarth, led by the veteran guile provided throughout the game by skipper Nick Pratt, ‘returnee from across the Irish Sea’ Rob Harris, Thomas brothers Dave and Paul and the effervescent Dave Morgan.

It was youthful vigour that applied the finishing touch, however, as the efforts of Tom Davies and Matt Noble eventually led to a third goal for Wooding Jr, who completed the first hat-trick on the new pitch with quarter of an hour remaining.

Falling behind clearly wasn’t in Penarth’s game plan however and, spurred into action by facing a one-goal deficit with 10 minutes to play, Laith El-Khatib converted a penalty corner to bring the sides level for a third time.

Taking advantage of a tiring student side, Chick and El-Khatib then grabbed a second goal apiece in the waning moments to make the final score 5-3 in Penarth’s favour, giving former St Cyres pupil Mark Robinson the honour of having assembled and captained the first winning team at Estadio Stanwell.

"It was a great game to christen a great new facility,” PHC chairman and Old Boys captain Nick Pratt observed, “Penarth Hockey Club will be eternally grateful to head teacher Derek Jones, deputy head Clare Kynaston and the governors for their vision in bringing this pitch to fruition, and both club and school can look forward to many more games like this as a result. Hockey has well and truly come home!"

Teams:

Stanwell Old Boys: Mark Harris, Rob Harris, Craig Llewellyn, Nick Pratt (captain), Simon Pedwell, Dave Stevens, Paul Thomas, Dave Thomas, Dave Watkins, Dave Morgan, Derek Wooding, Sam Wooding, Tom Davies and Matt Noble

Penarth Select: Jason Harris, Mark Robinson (captain), Graeme Jones, Jamie Davison, James Davies, Rob Williams, Phil Lane, Laith El-Khatib, Sam Salisbury, Sam Chick, Gareth Hurman, Kevin Maddox, Richard Clarkson and Dave Kidby

Umpires: Colin Crayford and David Gale

With the official opening now in the rear view mirror, Stanwell will begin life as Penarth Hockey Club’s official home as the 1st XI continue their pre-season preparation by hosting Cardiff & Met on Saturday, September 5, while a combined 2nd/3rd XI will take on the same opposition at UWIC.

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 6.30pm and 7.30pm and the seniors between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

Anyone interested in joining the club at senior or youth level can contact either player-coach Ben Croxall (b_croxall20@yahoo.co.uk) or club secretary Dave Stevens (d_stevens81@hotmail.co.uk) for further information.