Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeHOCKEYHC Knole Park women’s 1st XI continue their fine form!

HC Knole Park women’s 1st XI continue their fine form!

Six goals from Annabel Cheveley and five from Anna Faulstich helped Knole Park’s women’s 1s to another remarkable victory. Further goals from Ruth Bingham (2), Josefina Hippe (2), Charlotte Watkins, Elloise Paler, Bea Jones and Phoebe Gough-Cooper resulted in another 19-0 win for the young stars!

The match started in the perfect way with Captain, Bingham slotting home after a great run from Faulstich . Faulstich then completed a quick fire hat-trick with Elen Nicholls, on debut, providing one assist and Hippe the other. Faulstich’s third goal was a brilliant individual effort. The fifth goal came after an excellent run from flying half-back Paler and Cheveley scored her first goal of the day. A strong run from our other flying half-back Jones then allowed Hippe to slot home the rebound. Before half-time, Gough-Cooper scored a lovely flick and Bingham completed the scoring after some excellent play from daughter Lottie Bingham. 8-0 at half-time.

The second half was an even better performance as the goals continued to flow. Cheveley scored the second of her double hat-trick after another great run by Paler. Faulstich then scored two remarkable goals – the first was a skilful individual effort and the second was a backhand strike into the top corner! A robust tackle from the Herne Bay defence unfortunately ended Lottie Bingham’s afternoon as she was taken out in the D. Cheveley calmly put away the penalty. Further goals came from penalty corner finishes from Paler and Cheveley, a wonderful solo effort from Jones for her first goal of the season and Hippe on the rebound. Cheveley completed her double hat-trick with two incredible solo goals – the first she won in the press and glided through the defence before finishing and her sixth of the afternoon was a sublime backhand receive before rounded the goalkeeper to finish.

Watkins completed the scoring with an excellent and now trademark forehand strike! 19-0 win and the women keep their place at the top of the league.

The Herne Bay goalkeeper should be commended on the number of shots she saved on a busy afternoon.

This week, the women host Bexleyheath 2nd who are one of only two other teams yet to lose so far this season. 

HC Knole Park Women’s 2nd XI storm to victory in first ever fixture!
HC Knole Park’s Women’s 2nd XI team stormed to victory in their first ever fixture on Saturday.

A number of signings over the summer, in addition to a highly enthusiastic junior membership eager to play adult hockey, has meant that Knole Park decided to field a Women’s 2nd team for the first time in the club’s history. The team will play in Kent Division 6.

The team’s first outing, before their league debut next week, was a friendly against Maidstone 4s, who play Kent Division 5. Many players were making their adult hockey debuts and were very eager to play well. Winning the ball from Maidstone’s first centre pass, Knole Park dominated the game early on. Some quick passes between Mackenzie Ward, Summer Knight-Thompson and Sarah Eversfield led to a shot from Summer within the first minute and Sarah was quick to convert the rebound into a penalty corner. Maidstone’s goalkeeper played well and made a good save from Summer’s forehand strike. A second penalty corner followed quickly and after a last-ditch save on the line from a Maidstone defender, Sarah pounced on the ball to open the scoring.

Summer was on outstanding form in midfield and dominated possession, making strong runs from the halfway line throughout the match. She scored two goals in the first 15 minutes with two impressive forehand strikes into the side netting, before completing her hat-trick with a penalty corner strike. Mackenzie Ward followed it up with a trademark dribble, eliminating a couple of players before launching a reverse strike past the keeper. A lovely solo effort from Evie Smith brought the score to 5-0 in a blistering start by the young Knole Park team.

An effective press meant that Maidstone struggled to outlet the ball from free hits and the Knole Park midfield could capitalise, often winning the ball straight back. Robin Zijdenbos was able to make some runs down the left, but the circle became ever more packed. Knole Park found the keeper’s pads a few more times before a penalty corner was tapped in by Cara Gould. Soon after, Natalya Harvey received a pass on the move and made an excellent run down the right to score her own forehand strike. Summer scored another two superb individual goals to bring her personal tally to four, before Mackenzie pounced on a rebound for her second. Carlotta Kern, who had been excellent in midfield throughout, converted another rebound from the excellent Maidstone keeper. A final penalty corner before half time saw a slick move back to the injector before Summer deflected in from Mackenzie on the left post to give her five goals before half-time and make the score 12-0. 

Maidstone were very gracious in defeat but decided that the match was too uneven to continue. Knole Park 2s were disappointed not to continue, but made the most of the pitch slot by enjoying a 7-a-side full pitch game that tested their lungs and allowed them to play some trademark attacking hockey with some outstanding counter-attacks.

Director of Coaching, Duncan Parnis, said: “Knole Park continues to go from strength to strength and introducing a Women’s 2nd Team is the next step in what has been a remarkable journey so far. The enthusiasm for hockey at Knole Park is unlike anything I have experienced before – it’s inspiring for everyone! We look forward to support the Women’s 2s next week when they make their league debut.”

History repeats itself for Knole Park’s Men’s 1st XI
In an almost carbon copy match to the week before, Knole Park’s men’s 1s lost conceding seven goals. A hat-trick for Duncan Parnis allowed the score line to stay competitive before Canterbury took the game away from the young Knole Park side.

In an excellent and positive match, both teams came to play a fair and good spirited match. Canterbury fielded a similar side to Knole Park: a mixture of good adults and talented youngsters.

The early exchanged where unfortunately punctuated by defensive errors as Knole Park conceded early again. Two quick goals from Canterbury gave the Knole Park defence that feeling of deja vu. A backhand strike from Duncan made the score 2-1, but another defensive error left the Canterbury centre forward 2v1 with David Gough-Cooper and Canterbury extended their lead to 3-1. Chances came and went for both sides. A Canterbury effort seemed to defy the laws of physics to hit the post before curling around the goal mouth and rolling wide. Likewise Knole Park had two penalty corners saved off the line. Finally one of the penalty corners paid off and a smart play between Duncan and Lars Hansen allowed the former to score and make the score 3-2 at half-time.

In the second half, both sides pushed on for the win. In a very open match both sides enjoyed the space to play, but it was the clinical nature of the Canterbury side that was the difference. Enjoying some excellent counter-attacks they extended the score line to 7-2 with a number of excellent finishes. Knole Park did have chances as Dave Smith had his effort defended off the line, Duncan had another penalty corner saved off the line and Charlie Harrison had a solo effort well saved by the excellent Canterbury goalkeeper. In the final moments of the match Duncan did complete his hat-trick with a superb backhand strike into the bottom corner after good work from Charlie. Another seven goals conceded in search of playing expansive hockey! Work to be done and a valuable learning experience for all.

Next week against Marden will no doubt be an open match too, but one that Knole Park must defend better in should they want to collect any points out of the match. Marden, a late entry to the league have made a very good start to their season already.

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