HOCKEY: Taunton Vale run out of steam as Whitchurch hit back to share spoils

WHITCHURCH arrived in Taunton for an important fixture, with the hosts four points ahead in the table.

For the second week in a row Vale had no substitutes due to illness and injuries, making it an even tougher fixture.

However this did enable them to sit back and play their very effective, fast counter-attacking style of hockey.

Both sides had early chances, but David Gibson put Vale ahead with a hard, low flick.

Whitchurch equalised, but solid defence and counter-attacking from Vale proved too much for them, and the hosts were 3-1 up with 15 minutes left.

Yet Whitchurch began to dominate their tiring hosts, and some stray tackles led to a green and yellow card.

Whitchurch came back with one goal, and shortly before the final whistle levelled the game up at 3-3.

It was a disappointing result for Vale, but another valiant effort in the circumstances of late unavailability.

Vale, who slipped to ninth in the table, as Firebrands and Swansea University both won, still need points from their remaining fixtures to remain above the relegation zone.

This Saturday they travel to sixth-placed Team Bath Buccs A (2pm).

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GOCREA8 Championship
Team Bath Buccs B 6, Taunton Vale A 3

VALE 2nds travelled to Bath for a tough game at the bottom of the table.

Taunton started brightly, but Bath struck first, on the counter, and added another two quick breakaway goals.

Dom Drew finished a good move created by Tom Evans down the right hand side to claw one back, but Bath responded to lead 3-1 at the break.

Vale came out fighting in the second half, and after some sustained pressure Torsten Junker scored for 4-2.

Bath grabbed a fifth goal from a short corner, Vale replied through Drew’s second of the game, and Bath finished it off as Vale pushed forward.

Man of the match: Joe Morris

Defeat leaves Vale seven points adrift at the bottom; on Saturday they host high-fliers Wotton-under-Edge (1.30pm).

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GOCREA8 Central 1
Taunton Vale B 4, Firebrands B 3

VALE 3rds took a big step towards survival by beating their Firebrands counterparts in a seven-goal thriller.

The hosts took the lead through a Colin Jewhurst penalty corner, only for Firebrands to equalise.

Ian Brewer put Vale back ahead, finishing smartly on the turn, and goalkeeper Ed Peachy and defenders Jerry Osborne and George Hebditch kept Firebrands at bay.

Firebrands started the second half strongly, equalising within the first five minutes and then going in front.

But Vale hit back, as Mark Aspden’s pass found Jewhurst, whose shot was saved, and Mark Lecompte bundled in after a goal-line scramble.

Emboldened, Vale pushed on and, after good work from James Duder, Jewhurst fired home the winner.

The home side then held out for three vital points to leapfrog their opponents into ninth place.

Man of the match: Ed Peachey

Vale are at Wootton Bassett on Saturday (12.15pm).

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GOCREA8 Southern 2
ECV Hornets A 3, Taunton Vale C 1

VALE 4ths made the short away trip to Exeter Hornets 2nds and the game started evenly, until the hosts benefited from a fortunate penalty corner decision for 1-0.

Hornets then scored from another penalty corner, and got a third before half time.

The second half saw a much improved performance from Vale, which led to a penalty corner, expertly dispatched by Andy Rogers – but they could not add to their tally.

Ivo Maxwell, aged 14, showed great maturity in his first game at right-back.

Vale, who are 11th (now eight points adrift of Hornets but seven clear of 12th), entertain third-placed Penzance on Saturday (3pm).

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ON THE OFFENSIVE: Ian Harvey goes forward for Taunton Vale 1sts.

GOCREA8 South East 2
Taunton Vale D 2, Minehead B 0

VALE D played Minehead B on Saturday evening, and defeated the side two places above them in the South East 2 table.

The home team, confident following a win last week, started very well and caused the Minehead defence a lot of problems.

That pressure eventually paid off, with Rich Stock scoring midway through the half.

Josh Baker’s sudden illness meant Vale started the second half without a goalkeeper, while replacement Val Semilien was putting the kit on, but Vale’s defence was outstanding and kept the Minehead strikers quiet.

This excellent defending continued and Semilien did not even have to make a save in the second half.

Charlie Morris wrapped things up with a second goal to secure Vale the three points.

Vale remain ninth in the table, but they are now level on points with Dart A and only two behind East Devon C and Minehead B.

This weekend Vale travel to ECV Hornets B, who are 10th, for a 3.30pm start.

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England Hockey Cup (last 16)
Taunton Vale Under-18s 5, Winchester Under-18s 1

VALE Boys U18s entertained Winchester in the England Hockey Cup last Sunday, and claimed a superb victory to march onto the national quarter-finals.

The hosts scored from four penalty corners and added one outfield goal, the scorers being Sam Whitefield (2), Finlay Quaile (2) and Ben O’Neill.

The quarter-final draw has given Vale an away tie versus Teddington HC, who are based in London, on Sunday, February 19.

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TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts were beaten 1-0 at home by Team Bath Buccaneers last Saturday.

The defeat to the side third in West Clubs Women’s Hockey League Premier Division 1 means that Vale remain seventh, losing ground on their mid-table rivals and remaining seven points clear of basement side Bournemouth in 12th.

This Saturday Vale entertain Somerset Gryphons, who are ninth in the standings and three points behind their hosts – the match starts at 11.30am.

Vale are seeking a double over the Gryphons, having won the reverse fixture 2-1 in December.

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IN the Central Division, the ladies 2nds were 3-2 winners at Firebrands 3rds last weekend.

The win ensured Vale stay in fifth spot in the table, but also sees them close to within a point of fourth-placed Taw Valley.

After a break from fixtures for the next two weekends, Vale and Taw Valley meet head-on in Taunton on Saturday, February 25 (3pm).

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VALE’S 3rds are also without a league match this weekend, the Sedgemoor Division 1 leaders having won 6-2 away to Minehead on Saturday.

Their impressive victory over the side fourth in the standings preserves their five-point lead over nearest challengers Yeovil & Sherborne 2nds.

The Yeovil team were 4-2 victors against Vale 4ths last weekend, the latter remaining ninth in the division – three points ahead of basement side Chard.

The only Division 1 match this Saturday sees the bottom two clash, Vale hosting Chard (10am start) and looking to avenge their 3-2 defeat in their opening game of the season.

Vale 3rds return to action in a couple of weekends’ time, on February 25, when they are at home to fifth-placed ECVH (11.30am), while the 4th team go to Burnham-on-Sea, who are sixth having won their last two, on the same date (10am).

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THE ladies 5ths also have two weekends without league duty coming up.

On Saturday they lost out 3-0 at home to Taw Valley 2nds, their defeat to the team third in Sedgemoor Division 2 leaving them stuck on one point and eight adrift of second-bottom White Eagles 3rds.

Vale’s next match is on February 25 away to Taunton Civil Service 2nds, who are fourth in the standings – the match starting at noon.