League and cup wins get Chichester's hockey season moving

It was a strong, calm and confident performance from all involved, including a National League debut for one of Chichester’s rising stars - Alex Pendle aged 15, equalling the club first-team record age for a debutant set by new team-mate and fellow midfielder Luke Emmett.

The game was free flowing and fast paced by both sides making for exciting entertaining for a packed sideline of supporters.

It wasn’t until 15 minutes into the first half that Chichester were able to take the initiative and the lead through a clinical short corner by Martin Gough.

The second half proved even more exciting.

A well-worked short corner routine and a goal-line save attempt by Dan Brook handed Isca a penalty stroke which they converted to level.

Isca took the lead with an impressive overhead deflection from a airborne shot.

Chichester responded with another clinical short corner conversion from Matt Cox to level the scoreline and regain the momentum of the game.

Minutes later Chichester regained the lead with an impressive overhead finish from Alex Baxter from a well-placed Cox aerial pass.

The game finished 3-2 to Chichester with some very promising patterns of play that bode well for a successful season.

Chichester: Pacanowski, Brook, Sewell, Henn, Gibbons L, Gibbons C, Emmett, Cox, Lerwill, Thakore, Sparshott, Gough, Baxter A, Baxter O, Whitehouse, Pendle A.,

Wapping 2 Chichester 3

HA Cup

Chichester got the better of newly-promoted national Conference East outfit Wrapping in the HA Cup.

Last season’s finalists Chichester started brightly and were soon ahead with a goal from Martin Gough. However, Chichester took their foot off the gas allowing Wapping back into the game with a controversial deflection at the back post.

Straight after the break a revived Chichester stamped their authority on the match. A well-worked move down the left led to Alex Baxter supplying Luke Emmett, who finished coolly.

Then a flick won by the legendary Neil Pendle was converted by Gough.

Wapping got one back in the the final stages but Chichester’s defence held off numerous attacks with superstar goalkeeper Magic Pacanowski making some crucial saves to earn Chichester a place in the next round.

Chichester: Pacanowski, Brook, Sewell, Henn, Gibbons L, Gibbons C, Emmett, Cox, Collins, Thakore, Sparshott, Gough, Baxter A, Baxter O, Pendle N.

Horsham 3rds 2 Chichester Ladies 9

With four players out with injuries, Chichester had plemty to prove – but prove it they did.

With plenty of support on the sidelines, all players were on form. New keeper Steph Kalber kept a clean sheet and the transfers around the back from Sally Bradley and Amy Chaplin created some fantastic opportunities.

Greenlees on the right wing connected well with Meg Goring and Anna Healey. When the opportunities came all four forwards took them.

Verena Sambel had a hat-trick before half time and Healey did well. She made a run along the left wing, around two players and a reverse around the goalie saw the ball in the back of the net. Chichester were 4-0 up at half-time.

After half-time a lapse of concentration saw the Horsham centre-forward grab a short corner. Bradley couldn’t move out of the way fast enough and a penalty stroke was awarded – goal to Horsham.

Horsham added another goal within five minutes. But Chi woke up with a burst of pace down the left from Jess Gleeson that ended with Chichester going 5-2 up.

Meg Goring seized a chance to make it 6-2. Chances kept coming and the goals were shared.

This was a fantastic performance, putting Chichester top of the league. This week, the ladies face Crawley on the home turf.

Chichester Ladies 2nds 9 Worthing 2nds 0

Chichester’s first home game of the season brought a big win over Worthing.

The city side have a great mixture of young and older players this season, and they started well by instantly putting pressure on Worthing. This led to Xenia Trueman scoring in the first five minutes.

Chichester were the stronger side and bombarded the Worthing defence. The next two goals were scored by Rachel Trent a stunner from Jenna Greenway and Trent completed her hat-trick before the break.

Chi became slightly fragmented but in the second half Sarah Pack got on the bandwagon, and Sarah Jessop was rewarded with a goal as she had worked so hard.

Trent got her fourth and best goal and towards the end Nat Spencer put one away at the far post.

Chichester: Claire Young,Tracy Austin, Vicky Catt, Sarah Jessop, Sarah Pack, Jenna Greenway, Cheryl Parrott, Rachel Trent, Nat Spencer, Alisia Wergan, Harriet Gray, Xenia Trueman, Merryn Young.

Chichester Canons 1 Eastbourne Chicks 5

Canons were a player short but Eastbourne were very sporting and happy to play ten-a-side.

Canons were strong and dominated the first half. They were rewarded by a goal by Beanie Bradley, the newest member of the team, assisted by good team play and passing up the wing from Beth Savory and Remi Briggs.

But Canons began to tire towards the end of the first half because they had no substitutes, resulting in two goals from Eastbourne.

Lottie White and Olivia and Annie Eden performed some great block tackles in defence, strongly pushing it back up to midfield. We were often dominant in midfield with lots of energetic attacking play.

Canons had chances to make it 2-2 as Savory, Rachel Turner and Ella Eitel showed up well. However, Eastbourne went on to score three more goals.

Credit goes to their three solid defenders, who are usually forwards. Player of the match was goalie Rhianna Batchelor, who saved numerous shots with good reflexes and agility.

Other Chichester sides had wins at the weekend.

The Chipmunks beat Lewes 4-0, the ladies thirds beat Crowborough 1-0 and Canons beat Mid Sussex 2-0.

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