Website

 

1ST XI  3-4 Atherstone

New look Nuns took on local rivals Atherstone Adders for the first of many games this season.  Atherstone were much the stronger side in the first half and the Nuns failed to get to grips with their fast, effective hockey.

Nuns soon found themselves two goals down with the impressive Martin Webb carving through the Nuns defence. Town finally got back in the game with a goal from skipper Dave Eccles and went into the break 3-1 down.

 

A new formation for the Nuns in the second half allowed Tim (the power) Bowden and Kev Edwards more space, and they started to get back into the game. With a young defence being marshalled by Matt Pegg and Richard Morris, Town started to dominate possesion.

However, this was not helped when vice captain Paul Whitehead received a green and then a yellow card for a bad tackle and lack of discipline in quick succession and found himself sent off for 5 minutes.

Ian Mason scored two superb goals either side of an Atherstone breakaway goal in a frantic last 15 minutes of the game.

The final score was 4-3 to Atherstone.  Although not happy with the result, there were some positives for skipper Eccles in what turned out to be a good show of North Warwickshire Hockey.

2ND XI  5-4  Cov & North Warks 2nd XI

 

Nuneaton started this game knowing that their Coventry counterparts were always going to be strong opponents at this stage of the pre-season.

 

What Town could not have anticipated was the sort of lead they were to establish by the half-time interval.  Due to the fact that the home side had very few defensively minded players, they had to adopt a fairly unfamiliar 5-3-2 formation.

 

It worked wonders though, as Nuneaton raced into a 4-1 lead by half time!  With goals from Pat Moore (2), Ash Barnett and Tom Costello.  The team were working superbly well together – with Moore and Ryan Stokes combining really well up front, and backed up by an energetic midfield of Ian Lawton, Costello, and the commanding Chris Jesson.

 

Defensively, Heath Ghent and Rob Tilley were outstanding, and keeper Graham Reynolds, although rarely called upon, made a couple of superb saves.  A solitary reply from Coventry should have warned Nuneaton of what was to come in the 2nd half.

 

Although told at half-time to avoid being complacent in the 2nd half, Town did exactly the opposite!  Stopped playing the fluent hockey that had, thus far, controlled the match, and stopped talking to each other!

 

Coventry ripped in three fairly swift, but well-worked goals to bring the game level at 4-4.  Credit to Nuneaton though, because, although their heads were down, they found one last burst of energy, and although Pat Moore’s late effort was saved by the keeper, Ash Barnett was on hand to confidently lift the rebound over him to notch his 2nd, and the winning goal.

 

Nuneaton will face much sterner tests this season, and must ensure that they have a more balanced side, and keep the effort going for the whole match, rather than just one half.  On the whole though, a very entertaining game for the spectators!!

COVENTRY NW III 1 NUNEATON III 0

Nuneaton thirds travelled to Coventry with a scratch team and soon found themselves a goal down as they struggled to find any cohesion.

 

The early setback served as a spur to the away side and prompted a fightback that saw Nuneaton enjoy the majority of possession in the period up to halftime.

 

Unfortunately, there was no end product to some entertaining approach play and the game continued in much the same manner during the second period. A combination of bad luck and poor finishing prevented Nuneaton securing an equaliser and even when Mike Parker struck two excellent short corners, the keeper was equal to the task.

 

With time running out, a sublime through ball was collected by Simon Pennington who turned and flicked the ball towards the top corner but had the misfortune to hit an opposition defender on the head.

 

This effectively ended Nuneaton’s challenge but ultimately, the team was thankful for a fine performance from keeper Chris Ellis whose efforts kept the score to a respectable 1-0 defeat.

NUNEATON IV 3 COVENTRY NW IV 3

For the second successive week, the fourths salvaged a creditable draw against strong opposition, after falling behind to an early goal.

 

The game flowed from end to end from the outset, and both sides came close to breaking the deadlock before Coventry capitalised on some tardy defending to force a right wing cross past keeper Taylor.

 

With Gazeley and Moore dominant in midfield, Nuneaton forced successive short corners just before the break, and Ian LAWTON stepped forward to confidently drive home from a wide angle.

 

In the second period, the game continued to be an open affair played at high speed, and Nuneaton surged into the lead after a swift breakaway freed Oli GAZELEY on the left and his lob over the despairing keeper hit the backboard.

 

Craig Gilchrist and Sam Marston were kept busy by skilful and pacy opponents but stuck to the task well, proving a constant frustration to the Coventry forward line. It took a fine piece of skill from Coventry’s centre forward to bring the scores level, as he turned and drilled home in a single action.

 

Josh WAGG was then rewarded for a good all round display when he was on hand to clip into the net with some quarter of an hour remaining, after a mazy run from Mark Lawton.

 

Coventry increased their tempo as the finish drew closer and were awarded a short corner which was duly despatched via Paul Aspley’s foot, looping tantalisingly over Taylor’s upstretched arm.

 

A fair result from a game played in excellent spirit, with Nuneaton’s youngsters showing the improvement required from the previous week.

COVENTRY NW V 2 NUNEATON V 0

This was the first outing of the season for Nuneaton fifths and an opportunity to mix both youth and experience in a pre-season friendly at Coventry.

 

The hosts played quick flowing hockey and showed why they managed to attain promotion last season. 

 

Nuneaton performed well considering the mix of players available and it proved to be an encouraging performance from both the established members of the Nuneaton squad, and the new less experienced players that graced the astroturf.

The younger members of the team showed promise for the future all working hard and fighting for the ball.  Particular enthusiasm was shown by  Ed Gazeley, Josh Pennington, Grant Sketchley and Steve Martin.

The play was fairly even throughout the game and Nuneaton were unlucky to come off loosing by two goals.  Next week provides another chance to improve ready for the season ahead.