Boys' 1st XI v Woodbridge

Result: Won 4-1
Review: After the midweek disappointment and a slightly jaded performance, it was great to see the 1st XI back to full strength. A high energy level was exhibited from the start and typified by the tireless work rate that Sam Malins produced on a return to form. This energy in leading from the front never allowed the Woodbridge defence to settle and a number of turnovers were conceded leading to short corners and open play chances. This is not to say that Felsted had the game their own way. In fact, a very strong Woodbridge side produced a number of excellent attacks and were only thwarted by the superb play of the fullbacks, Padfield and Fillingham and by another excellent display in goal by Pohle-Vasquez. Lane and Brooks-Ward provided thrust from midfield, McLaren once again turned in a performance of high calibre and Burns was back to his best. But the day belonged to Silcock. Sniffing around up front he was in the right place at the right time and put a finish on a fine first half passage of play for Felsted by scoring 3 goals. A rare hat-trick at 1st XI level and a commendable one against such a strong opposition.

Star Player: Silcock

Boys' 1st XI v The Old Felstedians

Result: Lost 1-0
Review: The 1st XI were narrowly beaten by one goal by a typically strong Old Felstedian side fielding its usual quota of quality league players and a sprinkling of the odd junior international. A tight and cagey affair saw much of the game played between the 25s with the OFs retaining the upper hand for longer spells and creating several chances. Hugh Fillingham was outstanding once again and was both calm and assured in leading the defence, as was Cristobal Pohle-Vasquez who once more produced a commanding display in goal. A couple of the 1st XI players looked unusually jaded and this was exposed on the stroke of half time as Iain Rorison, an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a pocket battleship, surged forward down the centre of the pitch, eventually arriving at the circle and scoring. Later in the second half Felsted managed to regain and retain some possession but were unable to turn this into anything other than a couple of squandered penalty corners. To keep such a strong side at bay and to be close to coming away with a result is no mean feat and the boys are to be commended for the efforts they made. Both teams must be congratulated for the patience they showed throughout the evening. Thanks to all the OFs for making the effort to travel back to play and to NJP for putting such a quality side together.

Star Player: Pohle-Vasquez

 

Boys' 1st XI v Oundle

Result: Won 4-1

Scorers: Seager,  Hunter-Jordan

Review: An excellent result against a such a large school. Oundle were an extremely tough opposition who controlled possession for much of the game and were very difficult to break down. Felsted's front 3 worked much better as a unit in defence and managed to keep pressure on the opposition for longer periods. A flick of high class from a penalty corner into the roof of the net by James Seager set the platform for the win but not before Oundle had their moments. Fillingham and Pohle-Vasquez soaked up an enormous amount of pressure at the back and Felsted's patience was eventually rewarded in a superb, one-touch, team goal with Brooks-Ward setting up Hunter-Jordan.

Star Player: Pohle-Vasquez

Boys' U15 v Oundle

U15 B Result: Lost 2-0

Review: After a horrendous bus journey which lasted 2.5 hours, we were a little weary on arrival. However, in the first quarter we started brightly, with some quick passing and movement from our midfield trio of Jackson, Grayson and Taylor, creating a few chances. Oundle were also quick in their passing game and had good chances of their own, but it was Felsted who hit the backboard first, with an excellently struck short corner by Dom (Goal Ma-) Sheehan. We trotted back to our half only for the umpire at that end to walk over for a conversation with the other umpire. It would appear that the Oundle keeper had not taken position behind his goal-line before the corner was struck and the decision was therefore to take the short corner again. Although technically correct, the timing of this decision was far too late and was a real hammer blow to morale. Oundle ended the half stronger with many chances, but the score still 0-0 at half time. In the second half, we struggled to make an impact on the game and the Oundle press kept up in our own half. They had many chances, and Piper was inspired in keeping them out. However, in the end, our last ditch defending was not enough and they breached the goal-line. Our midfield was exhausted by this stage, as we were without a sub, and Oundle had time to add another goal. MOTM award must go to Piper, who showed the reflexes of a cat and the wisdom of an owl in his decision making. Oundle must have had 30 shots on goal, and Piper had kept all but two out. It was a frustrating game and one we would like to quickly forget. 
Star Player: Piper

U15 A  Result: Draw 2-2
Review: Felsted secured a good away draw in an evenly contested contest up at Oundle. Both teams had a fair share of possession in the first half, and despite some good attacking play by Felsted, it was the home side who took the lead. Felsted then stepped up the pressure right from the word go in the second half, and scored from a short corner when Max Malins picked up a rebound from his initial short corner and beat 2 players to force the ball into the goal. Just 2 minutes later, Felsted attacked into the Oundle D. While a defender was trying to clear, Harry Brooke cleverly robbed the defender of the ball and placed it calmly into the goal for a 2-1 lead. Felsted played well in the second half and produced some very nice hockey. However, the home side also possessed much athleticism and strength and some Oundle pressure paid off in the second half when they equalised through a clever short corner routine.

It was a very even and  good quality game, and although Felsted played some excellent hockey, both teams ended up satisfied with a draw.
Men of the Match-Will Scott-Bowden and Ollie Gardiner

Boys' 2nd XI v Oundle

Result: Lost 1-0
In a fast and furious game,Felsted weathered the storm with a really gutsy performance against a strong Oundle side only to concede a late,well struck short corner.
Star Player: W.Edwards

Boys' 2nd XI v Gresham's

Result: Draw 2-2
Review: In an entertaining game, both sides had chances to win it but important saves by both goalkeepers ensured the spoils were shared.

Star Player: B.Harland

Boys' 1st XI v Gresham’s

Result: Won 3-2
An excellent result for the 1st XI but a casual performance in a game that ultimately could have gone either way. Felsted were careless with possession and turned the ball over cheaply to the strong-running Greshams side. The game was decided in either circle. Greshams squandered the odd chance, others were well-saved by Pohle-Vasquez in goal. At the other end, the return of Will Malins was heralded by his calmness in front of goal to wrong foot the 'keeper and win the match. Hamish McLaren was excellent throughout and a worthy Man of the Match.
Star Player: Hamish McLaren

Boys' U15 v Gresham's

Result: Draw 4-4
Review: On Tuesday, Felsted travelled to Harleston Magpies HC to play Gresham’s school. Felsted started brightly, however some defensive errors by the away side saw Gresham’s take a two goal lead at half-time. With some strong words of encouragement at half-time, Felsted came out in the second half ready to claw their way back into the game. This they duly did, when Felsted won a short corner, and after a clever 1-2 with Harry Brooke, Max Malins duly scored. Minutes later Malins was left unmarked and slotted calmly to bring the sides level. An even 10 minutes the ensued, however the home side took advantage of a couple of moments of indecision in the defence to take a 4-2 lead into the final 10 minutes. However, Felsted rallied well and after a good attacking move, Tom Kingham turned and shot well past the keeper. As Felsted continued to mount pressure there were chances at both ends, however one attack found Max Malins in space in midfield. He carried the ball into the final quarter of the pitch, the defence backed up and he proceeded to enter the D and hit an unstoppable shot past the surprised keeper to complete his hat-trick. A good game and a well-deserved draw.
Star Player: Max Malins
 

Boys' U15 v St Albans

U15 A Result:  Draw 3-3

 Felsted travelled to St Albans on Saturday and secured a good 3-3 draw. The home side took the lead early in the first half, before Felsted equalised following a good move down the right. The ball was fed through to the oncoming Max Malins, who finished with aplomb from a tight angle. However the home side were fast and direct and from a counter attack, took a 2-1 lead into half-time. Felsted started the second half strongly and went quickly into a 3-2 lead. Max Malins turned and shot to make the scores level, before the same player forced the ball into the net after good work down the right from Oliver Gardiner. As both sides fought for supremacy, it was the home side who scored the final goal of the game, meaning the final score was 3-3.
Star Player: Match-Ed Lucas and Connor Joyce

U15 B Result: Won 4-2
This was another fine performance from Felsted. Despite taking the lead, RHS equalised in the first half. However, Felsted were much the stonger side and scored further goals in the second half to go 4-1 up. Goals had been scored by Harry Brooke and Max Malins. With the home side producing some good attacking hockey, other chances came, however it was RHS who scored the final goal of the game. Max Malins deserves much credit for scoring a fine hat-trick.

Star Player: Max Malins

Boys' 1st XI v St Albans

Boys 1st XI v St Albans

Result: Lost 1-2

Review: The Felsted 1st XI lost its first school fixture since 2010 against St Albans School. Felsted again played well and created much but a distracted first half performance saw the side concede two soft goals against a well organised and obdurate front defence who outworked the 1st XI and were never afraid to halt Felsted's attacks at source. Having gained the initiative, St Albans dropped deep and awaited the final whistle. This eventually came but not before a strong second half most of which Felsted spent camped in the opposition half. Coming from 2 goals down, Felsted created enough chances to win the game but lacked composure in a packed opposition circle to make possession count. Short corners were also uncharacteristically blunt through a combination of option selection and clumsy execution. The whole team must be commended however for the efforts that they gave at the end of a very busy week. Lane and McLaren in particular were outstanding and Pohle-Vasquez was once again calmness personified in goal.

Star Player: Hamish McLaren

BBC Sports Journalist, Ben Fryer challenges our top hockey strikers

Ben Fryer, BBC Sports Journalist for BBC Essex Radio, bravely took on the 1st XI girls hockey team and two of our top Yr 11 hockey boys, James Seager and Tom Edwards as Goal Keeper, all part of BBC’s Essex Radio’s ‘Try an Olympic Sport’ campaign.  

You will be pleased to know that he survived, and was mightily impressed with the standard of goal scoring! Having never played hockey before in his life, he was given a quick two minute briefing by our Head of Hockey, Duncan Woods, before being kitted in the boys 1st XI goalie kit. The girls then started off hitting some gentle shots at him, before taking it up a gear with some higher flying shots. Then it was the turn of the boys, with James and Tom firing penalty flicks at him left, right and straight at his head! Ben was extremely pleased to make a save with his helmet and came away with just one bruise from his ordeal. Felsted’s fine hockey reputation remains firmly intact.