Basingstoke Hockey Club – News Report 11th Oct

Basingstoke Blaze Through the Weekend

It was another action-packed weekend of hockey for Basingstoke, with goals, grit and plenty of team spirit on display across the club.

The Ladies 1s thrilled the home crowd in a 4-3 victory over Oxford Hawks, in a game that showcased everything exciting about attacking hockey. Heidi Lloyd, Amelie Nuttall, Roxy Record and Fi Parker were all on the scoresheet, and the team’s energy and determination ensured they edged a pulsating encounter.

The Ladies 2s also came away smiling, putting in a composed performance to secure a 2-0 win against Southampton 2s thanks to strikes from Maren Mellman and Evie Rolt. There was pride too for the Ladies 3s, who battled hard against Bournemouth 2s; a team recently relegated into their league, and only narrowly lost 1-0, with player of the match Connie Pike outstanding at both ends of the pitch.

The Ladies 4s earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Waterside 1s, a match full of end-to-end moments and tenacious play. Emily Morgan shone with her creativity, while captain Rhiannon Smith’s sheer persistence brought a well-deserved equaliser. Another strong all-round performance from the Ladies 5s saw them take a 1-1 draw against Havant 4s, with Lexie Parnell grabbing the goal in another great team effort. Despite a 5-0 scoreline, the Ladies 6s showed real determination away to Havant 5s. The result didn’t reflect the game’s competitiveness, with Basingstoke showing resilience, teamwork and plenty of promise across the pitch.

On the men’s side, the 1s continued their strong form with a commanding 3-0 win over Winchester, featuring goals from Andy Pett and a brace from Josh Fiske. The 2s were equally impressive, running out 5-1 winners against Fareham 3s. Stefan Bonsor hit two, with further goals from Lucas Chambers, Will Hazelwood and Phil Stewart in a performance full of attacking flair.

The 3s produced another composed display, winning 3-0 against Southampton 2s. Graham Garrett-Lang opened the scoring from a short corner before Dave Stones doubled the lead with a cracking reverse-stick finish and later added a second with a deft lob - MOM Elliot Kirkman impressed up front with constant movement and creativity. The Men’s 4s continued their fine form with a well-earned 3-1 victory over Andover 2s. Chris Townsend opened the scoring before Elliot Boyd and Jude Smithers both struck from short corners, rounding off a game full of pace, commitment and teamwork. The 5s faced a tough Bournemouth Vets side and, despite plenty of effort, were beaten 3-0. The 6s, however, enjoyed a 2-0 win over Chichester 6s, with goals from Karl Neighbour and Thomas Fowles rewarding their solid performance. The 7s battled hard against Aldershot & Farnham 4s but were edged 2-1. Stephen Harmer found the net, while Luke Newman earned MOM for an excellent display in only his second adult match!

Adding to the weekend’s excitement, the newly formed Basingstoke Allsorts marked their first O45s Cup adventure with a 1-1 draw against Wimbourne Wayfarers Ways and Strays, going on to win 2-0 in a tense penalty shootout. After falling behind early, the Allsorts regrouped and found their rhythm, equalising through a slick short corner routine.  The team pushed for a winner late on before holding firm under pressure to force the shootout, where calm finishing and solid defending saw them progress to the next round - a fantastic achievement for the new squad.

All this action took place despite our Maidenwell clubhouse’s continued closure following last month’s fire. With the building still out of use until at least November, we’re incredibly grateful to the rugby club for sharing their facilities, and to everyone across BHC for adapting so brilliantly. Despite the challenges, the club spirit shines brighter than ever - and as always, Basingstoke Hockey Club continues to welcome new players of all ages and abilities, as well as supporters and sponsors who want to be part of something special.