Banbury Bulldogs

Skater Hockey Club

GLOUCESTER BOXERS v BANBURY BULLDOGS

TEAM: Dale Hodgins (G), Simon Read (G), Stuart Hayes, Adam Capel, Charlie Clarke, Mark Andrew, Art Batchelor, Steven Wiggins, Carl Walker, Joseph Cochrane, Sam Hankin and Tom Littledyke.

MANAGER - Jamie Cochrane COACH - Dennis Hayes

Gloucester Boxers 3 - Banbury Bulldogs 8

The first line out was Joseph, Adam, Sam and Stuart with Simon in goal. Adam and Sam played up front, Joseph and Stuart in defence. They were all playing well, in position and calling for the ball. The change call went out and on came Carl, Steven, Charlie and Art with Dale in goal. They played well off each other, against a good Gloucester team. Carl and Steven up front. Carl has the ball and takes it a bit further, pass to Steven and the first goal is in. 1-0 to the Bulldogs.

Minutes later Carl has the ball again passes to Steven and there goes the second goal 2-0 to the Bulldogs. Everyone shouts with delight. All change - on comes Adam, Sam, Joseph and Stuart with Simon back in goal. The Gloucester goalie is kept busy and keeps all attempts out of the net. Mark comes on for Sam.

Gloucester are now at our end and their No.61 scores. 2-1 to the Bulldogs. All change again and on comes Steven, Charlie, Art and Carl. Off they charge to the Gloucester end with Carl and Steven looming large at the front. Charlie and Art doing well in defence. There's an attempt at goal by Carl but well saved by the goalie. Around the ball goes and finds Steven who shoots at goal but again is saved. Another attempt by Carl is saved. They take it round the back of the net and Steven picks it up and puts it in the back of the net 3-1 to the Bulldogs.

Joseph, Stuart, Sam and Adam come on again with Dale back in goal. Gloucester are playing well but just can't seem to break the defence down and the ball is picked up by Adam with Sam on hand to receive it. Attempt on goal by Sam but saved well by the Gloucester goalie. The ball is being fought for and ends up back with Adam who shoots in the back of the net 4-1 to the Bulldogs. Gloucester win the face-off and after a well fought battle bring the ball down to our end and it's in the back of the net 4-2. The half time score stands at 4-2 to the Bulldogs.

Off they all go and water up. Dennis and Jamie give their pep talk to the team before they go back on for the second half. Carl, Steven, Tom and Art with Simon in goal are first on. Carl has the ball and shoots at goal - it's just over the top but he manages to get the ball back and has another go at the goal but the Gloucester goalie saves it. The ball goes loose and there's a scramble to see who can get there first. It's a one on one with Carl who gets 2 minutes in the sin bin for charging down a player.

Bulldogs are now down to three players - can they keep the ball down the Gloucester end until Carl comes back on. The answer is yes. Off go Art and Tom to be replaced by Charlie and Joseph. Still with three players Steven takes the ball and goes all the way to shoot at goal but it is well saved. Carl comes back on as Steven and Charlie go off so that Mark and Stuart can come on.

Gloucester have got some energy and they're running rings around us. In goes another goal 4-3. Not happy with their performance the Bulldogs grit their teeth and get down the Gloucester end with Mark on the ball. He shoots and in it goes 5-3 to the Bulldogs. Up goes a roar from the crowd. Dale comes on for Simon in goal. They're both doing very well. Again Mark has the ball and takes it down the other end, passes to Carl who passes back to Mark who shoots at goal. It's now 6-3 to the Bulldogs. Everyone is now buzzing in the crowd and down in the"pits". Changes afoot and off go Mark and Carl to be replaced by Adam and Sam. Some nifty footwork by all, then Sam takes the ball and passes to Adam who shoots at goal. It's saved but picked up again for another attempt, which hits the post. A bit of to-ing and fro-ing behind the goal, it's picked up by Sam, passed to Adam who scores. 7-3 to the Bulldogs.

All change again, as on comes Simon in goal, Charlie, Art, Steven and Carl. Again lots of passing backwards and forwards and an attempt on goal by Steven is saved. He tries again but the goalie saves it. The ball ends up back with Carl who shoots. The ball goes in the back of the net. 8-3 to the Bulldogs.

Gloucester pick up a bit of pace and the ball ends up at the Bulldogs end. A bit of confusion behind the goal and Gloucester are in front of the net. They shoot but Simon saves well and clears the ball to Steven, who takes it down the right hand side. He passes to Carl who shoots at goal. The goalie saves well.

Time out is called for a water break. Tom comes on for Art in defence. Again the ball is with Steven whose attempt at goal is again saved. The ball finds it way back to the Bulldogs end and again Simon saves well and clears the ball. Carl and Steven again take the ball up front. Can they get another goal? Steven's first attempt goes over the top of the goal to be picked up by Carl whose attempt at goal is saved. After some rapid changes of possession, the ball ends up back with Steven whose shot hits the post.

There goes the full time hooter.  The final score stands at 8-3 to the Bulldogs who are ecstatic at their win. Dennis and Jamie worked well together to pull off a fantastic match against a very good Gloucester Boxers team who did very well especially as they only had about 6 players on their side.

Gloucester Boxers presented a medal to their player of the match, who was their Goalie, and they also presented a medal to player of the match for the Bulldogs who was Stuart. The Bulldogs trophy for player of the match went to Steven.

Thank you to all parents and family members who travelled to Gloucester to support the teams.

Our thoughts and best wishes go to the Littledyke family.