It was another action-packed weekend for Salisbury Hockey Club, with teams across the club delivering strong performances, hard-fought contests, and some standout individual displays. From confidence-building wins to determined defensive efforts against tough opposition, every squad showed commitment, resilience and growing cohesion as we edge closer to the Christmas break. Several teams secured important victories, others battled bravely in narrow defeats, and our juniors continued to impress under the floodlights.

LADIES 1s
The Ladies 1s faced Fareham on Saturday, carrying momentum from last weekend’s win. Fareham started strongly, testing Salisbury’s defensive structure, but Salisbury held firm with strong midfield tackles and good link play up front. The match stayed balanced until just before half time when Fareham found the breakthrough. Salisbury pushed for an equaliser in the second half, creating several promising attacks, but Fareham remained dangerous on the counter and added two more goals. Despite the 3–0 scoreline, Salisbury’s work rate and spirit were excellent. The squad now looks ahead to their next home fixture against Bournemouth.

MEN’s 1s
Facing unbeaten league leaders Havant, nine wins from nine, the Men’s 1s knew they were in for a huge test. A poorly judged pushback left Salisbury staring into the setting sun, and Havant immediately applied pressure. But Salisbury’s defence was immense: Jacob Stocker and Hamish Cameron broke down attack after attack, and Harry “Pat” Knight delivered an outstanding performance in goal. Salisbury created attacking moments of their own, including a short corner, but couldn’t convert. Havant eventually scored from a rebound and took a 1–0 lead into the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Pat continuing to repel short corners and younger players Oscar Barnes, Freddie Shardlow and Nick Llewelyn showing great discipline. Despite their resilience, Salisbury couldn't find a way through, and the match ended 1–0. A brave display proving the team can compete with anyone.

MOTM: Hamish Cameron
The Other Award: Isaac Garner

MEN’S 2s
The Men’s 2s travelled to Aldershot still hunting their first win of the season. Historically slow to raise their game against lower-table sides, the pre-match team talk clearly worked. Salisbury dominated the first half and took the lead when Finn McCormack pounced on a loose ball and smashed it home. A brilliant run from Ant Gallagher doubled the advantage after he outmanoeuvred both defender and keeper.

Two–nil up, a rare luxury, the second half became scrappy. Aldershot pulled one back, chances were missed at both ends, but Salisbury held out for a much-needed 2–1 win.
The team was both relieved and strangely disappointed not to have played better, but happy to finally take three points. Onwards to Chichester next week.

POTM: Bailey Hannaford for relentless running and constant threat.

MEN’S 3s
Back home after a tough trip to Hamble, Salisbury Men’s 3s started perfectly: two early short corners and a slick sweep finish from Jamie Bundy inside the first minute. Moments later it nearly became 2–0 when Oliver Lampert was denied smartly by the Bournemouth keeper. But Bournemouth grew into the game, stretched Salisbury in the wide channels, and struck three times before halftime.

A halftime reset brought improved movement, quicker passing, and a barrage of short corners, but the Bournemouth keeper kept everything out. Salisbury pushed, Bournemouth finished clinically, and a late green card for Renners didn't help as Bournemouth pulled away to 5–1.

MOTM: Jamie Bundy for constant threat and the early goal.
Other award: Josh Cowling for TikTok dancing excellence.

MEN’S 4s
The Men’s 4s have produced positives all season but struggled for a full 70-minute performance. This week, with a strong squad and a four-player bench, they set out to change that.

The first half was tight, both teams creating chances. Salisbury defended confidently and countered dangerously, but Wimborne snatched the only goal — a scrappy rebound forced over the line.

The 4s’ famous mantra is that after a mistake, the next five second’s matter. Unfortunately, Dave “Disco” Hillier often interprets those five seconds as the perfect moment for the Hillier Dance, a strange but committed blend of YMCA and the Timewarp. A step to the right, arms thrown high, then hands on hips … and the ball is already gone.

This time, though, Disco redeemed himself, recovering a mishit penalty corner injection with a lung-busting five-second effort, winning the ball back, and smashing a shot just wide.

Wimborne, rattled, slowed the game down as Salisbury pressed, but the equaliser never came, and the match ended 1–0.

There were excellent performances across the team, with special mention to player of the match Chris Stevenson, who repeatedly broke up Wimborne attacks and launched Salisbury’s counters with equal composure. Ben Raymond continued his run of strong displays, while Alfie Williams delivered his best game yet for the 4s. Graham Dean, as ever, put his body on the line for the side, even requiring a brief injury timeout after a Wimborne player opted to go through him rather than around. With Disco Hillier back in the squad and linking up with Steve Robinson up front, Salisbury finally had the cutting edge they’ve been missing at times this season.

A frustrating loss, but their best, most complete performance of the season. Blandford next week will be another huge test of progress.

STRIDERS
Striders’ pre-match calm was shattered when someone foolishly pointed out, they’d gone four games without conceding, instantly jinxing everything. The first half produced wave after wave of Salisbury attacks, but somehow the ball refused to go in.

It took a moment of class from Tom Morton, who swept up the right, exchanged passes, and finished with a relaxed flick into the corner. Moments later, Damien Paterson rounded the keeper but rolled it agonisingly past the far post.

In the second half, Salisbury dominated possession. Rob Selbie distributed superbly, and Adam Durston-Hillyer repeatedly won the ball and surged forward. Paterson continued his run of “nearly goals,” and Iain Harrop also struggled to calibrate his radar until finally finding the target. Andy Grandfield rolled back the years with expert positioning for two well-taken goals.

A chaotic final quarter included Bournemouth’s keeper accidentally batting a high flick into his own net and a tidy finish from Graham Goodey. Bournemouth grabbed one back, but the 6–1 win was emphatic and well deserved, and other league results went Striders' way too.

LADIES 3s
At 10 a.m., with rain clearing and a kestrel supervising from the netting, the Ladies 3s began their match against Gosport Borough. Early nerves showed as Gosport carried confidently, but once Salisbury settled, counterattacks flowed.

A composed Gabby Placidi finish opened the scoring before Gosport equalised with a solo dribble. A sharp Salisbury counter then saw Tanith Jones deflecting a cross-field pass at the far post.

Hamish Cameron delivered calm halftime wisdom, and the second half became a Salisbury masterclass. Within a minute, Lisa “Lockett” Lovatt scored, then added two more for a hat-trick. Sophie Trowbridge added two of her own, and Gabby grabbed another to complete an 8–1 victory.

Defensively, Tee Ellis, Nats Cameron and Jo Halsey were outstanding.
POTM votes: A five-way tie — Ottilie Knight, Lockett, Gabby, Lyndz Smith, and Miranda MacTaggart.

Next up: the league leaders.

LADIES 4s
The Ladies 4s played far better than the 4–0 scoreline suggests. Wimborne scored early, but Salisbury responded with strong pressure and created as many chances as their opponents by halftime.

Wimborne returned fired up in the second half and managed two more goals, but Salisbury never stopped fighting, repeatedly turning over possession and driving forward.
POTM (three-way tie): Emma Lewis, Ruby Hines, Poppy Warburton.

A tough result but a strong performance from a team showing real improvement.

LADIES 5s
An early pushback away at Trojans didn’t faze the Ladies 5s, who aimed to stay top going into Christmas. After settling quickly, Salisbury struck twice through Tiann Morgner following excellent build-up play.

Trojans fought back in the second half, scoring twice in quick succession to level the match. But Salisbury responded brilliantly: Rosa Herring fired home, and Tiann completed her hat-trick with a late goal to secure the win.

POTM: Rosa Herring
Other award: Jane Herridge — for accidentally diving into the goal instead of the ball.

One more match before Christmas, and the goals keep flowing.

U14 BOYS
Under floodlights at Trojans, the U14 Boys conceded early against the run of play — but hit back instantly via Billy Foster. Goals from Stan Howland and Albie Beebe gave Salisbury control at halftime.

In the second half, Stan and Billy combined superbly, adding one for Stan and three more for Billy, with Olly Wade-Smith firing home a lovely near-post finish.

A superb all-round performance.

LADIES 2s, LADIES 6s & STROLLERS
The Ladies 2s and 6s had no fixtures this weekend, and the Strollers’ match was cancelled after Epsom were unable to field a side. More action expected from all three next week.

EDITORS NOTE
Full reports in the team section of Pitchero. Check out the Ladies 3’s goal fest.