Ladies 1s: Newmarket Ladies 1s started life in Div 2NW in confident style following on from last season’s 100% promotion campaign. In a keenly fought match Newmarket showed they were more than a match for the step up in standards against Cambridge University 3s. Two goals from Clare McDonnell in the first half, one a short corner, the other a scrambled finish after University were unable to clear a cross from Di Farrell-Thomas. Provider turned scorer in the second half when Newmarket scored their third from a second well taken short corner routine with Farrell-Thomas deflecting home a Faye Andreou strike. Newmarket did not have it all their own way as evidenced by their player of the match going to defender Ellie Chapman, but despite the pressure applied by the university side the defence stayed strong. 3v0 the final score, a great way for new Captain Jersey Bennett to get off the mark.
Ladies 2s: Newmarket Ladies 2s travelled to Haverhill to play their 1s in what is always a tricky encounter. Newmarket took the lead in a fiercely competitive encounter, thanks to a goal midway through the first half from Jess Malings. In the second half Newmarket came under a substantial amount of pressure from Haverhill, who equalised midway through the half and then proceeded to press on looking for a winner. However thanks to a strong rearguard action marshalled by Player of the Match Stef Heslop, Newmarket 2s came away with a creditable 1v1 result.
Ladies 3s: Newmarket ladies 3s started with only 10 against a full St Ives 4s, and in a first half of backs against the wall hockey, their youthful and inexperienced team did brilliantly to hold St Ives to 0v0. With reinforcements arriving for the second half Newmarket were able to go the offensive and with just 6 minutes of the half gone Lea Davenport got Newmarket’s L3s up and running for the season with a fine strike into the corner of St Ives goal. Isla McCulloch made it 2 before Zoe Bailey made it 3 with a powerful shot from a narrow angle. St Ives did rally and Keeper Liv Wright was called into action several times, before McCulloch tapped home her second and Newmarket’s 4th in the dying moments of the match. With another generation of talented youngsters coming through Newmarket look set for a good season.
Mens 1s: Newmarket Mens 1s had a tough introduction to the 22/23 season against a talented but temperamental Harleston Magpies 3s. Magpies were well drilled and well warmed up and caught Newmarket cold at the start of match. Newmarket were missing a few key players, but welcomed in Nick Olding and Dylan Hardy for their Newmarket debuts. Harleston scored 5 unanswered goals in the first half and 4 more in the second, playing with structure and intensity they deserved their win. The only blemish for them being a red card in the second half which will see their player miss a substantial portion of the season. Newmarket wont face many tougher opponents this year and will regroup and go again, away at Dereham 2s next Saturday.
Mens 2s: Newmarket M2s made the trip down the A14 to Ipswich to play IES3s for their opening game. An influx of players into he M1s freed up the likes of Oli Trent, Peter Terrett and Matt Holden to reinforce a side already filled with experience and talented youngsters. Newmarket played their best hockey of recent years, with calm controlled passing pulling IES around the pitch, looking dangerous every time they entered the oppositions half. Peter Terrett opened the scoring 10 minutes into the first half and Alex Aitken doubled the lead with a mazy run into the D, before slotting past the keeper. Matt Holden effectively finished the tie with a hard strike past the keepers right post, a spot that would be found in similar style twice more by Terrett as he completed his hattrick. Newmarket were sharp and clinical and so dominant their keeper did not touch the ball. Next week they are playing another side that finished close to them last season, in Bury 5s and will be hopeful of continuing this strong start.
Mens 3s: Newmarket Mens 3s travelled to play Colchester 5s and in a close encounter with chances aplenty for both sides, came away on the wrong side of a 2v1 defeat. The 3s welcomed several new players to the club and are looking to bring the next generation of talent through again this year and so were pleased with the performance they put in. Peter Booth’s first goal of the season a mere consolation in this case, but the M3s will continue to improve as the season goes on.