The disappointment was etched on Didsbury’s faces, thwarted by superior work rate and left to reflect on missed opportunities, consoled partially by the knowledge they would still be division leaders irrespective of other results.  Didsbury take their promotion campaign to Northop Hall next weekend hoping to regain some of their class in front of goal, taking with them a timely reminder that they are not invincible.

01/12/2001 - Northop Hall 0 Didsbury Northern Is 5

02/12/2001 - EHA Vase 2nd Round - Berkswell & Balsall Common 1 Didsbury Northern Is 6

South Manchester’s finest made for the Midlands in the second round of the EHA Vase to face Berkswell & Balsall Common, a side unbeaten in East Midlands Division 2.  With the quality of Midlands hockey well known and the recent return to form of Didsbury, there were high expectations for a great game of hockey.  They were not disappointed. 

The early pressure all stemmed from the cultured hockey of Didsbury, slick passing and intelligent movement off the ball laying the foundations from which a number of well worked attacks came close to the opening goal.  Ironically then it was Berkswell who very nearly got the opener with what can only be described as route one hockey.  A ball blasted long up field was stopped only by last ditch defending and from the resulting penalty corner, Hurst in goal made a brilliant stop to keep things level.

Typically this fired Northern into action and they drove forward, pressing Berkswell back into their own half.  Indeed the Midlanders could not clear the half way line for a good few minutes, the pressure was so intense and the goal that had been threatening all game finally came.   After good build up work the ball was fed through to Andy Kwan who had worked a yard of space and from top D he picked his spot, drilling the ball into the bottom corner.

If Didsbury thought the hard work was done, they were very wrong and the second half started with Berkswells best spell of the game.  The backs had their work cut out to contain the surge but aided by a hard working midfield they weathered the storm before relieving the pressure with a trademark goal.  Moved quickly right, the ball was driven up the line and with quick interplay ended with overlapping right back Jordan feeding Tony Forward in front of goal.  One touch and great composure saw him pull the ball away from the keeper and flick it into the roof of the net.

His composure was better still minutes later as he added a third.  In contrast to their usual style it was Didsbury who switched to the long ball as Misselbrook hit a precision 50 yard pass which was taken, driven into the D and smashed home reverse stick by Forward.

With the third, Didsbury saw victory and relaxed, and were given a timely reminder that hockey is played over seventy minutes.  A quick break down the right, and the ball was whipped across the D with pace.  With the defence desperately retreating the ball came unsighted through a gaggle of players, deflecting of a Didsbury foot, straight into the path of the Berkswell forward who slotted home with ease.

With the warning heeded, no more chances afforded to the home side as Didsbury dominated the close, killing off the opposition as they have done so well this season.  The fourth was not long in coming and it came from a short corner, Thomas squeezing it under the keeper and then added a fifth minutes later. A great break and deflected pass from Hogan in the middle left Thomas to round the keeper and slot home, which he accomplished with his customary ease.

Thomas was unlucky not to complete his hat trick as he drove round into a shooting position only to be stopped by a deliberate back stick in the D.  With two players on hat tricks there was an animated discussion as to who would take the resulting flick but eventually Thomas was sent away, to leave penalty flick specialist Forward to slot home number six. 

Didsbury now face another trip to the Midlands when they face Stafford in the next round on the 20^th January 2002.

08/12/2001 - Didsbury Northern Is 4 Chester IIs 0

Didsbury entertained Chester at the weekend with a top versus bottom clash to mark the half way stage of the North West Division Two season.  Riding high at the top of the league after only dropping three points in the previous ten games the home side started clear favourites although were still wary that whilst Chester were adrift at the other end of the table they still surprisingly held one of the better defensive records.

A lively start to the game saw Chester gain the upper hand and although imposing themselves by playing with the poise and control not normally associated with a team struggling in the league their efforts were equally matched by a well drilled and organised defence marshalled by skipper Fernadez that gave nothing away.  The stalemate wasn’t broken until half way through he first half when Beavers, pushing up the left hand side, forced the overlap allowing Thomas to round the keeper and fire home from close range.  A spirited Didsbury, momentary relaxed by the goal, started playing with some of the style which put them 24 pts above their weekend rivals but half time came with few more chances for either side.

Uneasy with only a one goal advantage Didsbury pushed for a larger cushion and were rewarded when a reckless challenge by Chester inside the Twenty Five allowed the Didsbury short corner team to take full advantage with Thomas again slotting in from close range.  Thomas put the game beyond reach with Fifteen minutes to go sealing his hatrick with a fine strike from the top of the circle.  An undeterred Chester side forced keeper Hurst into some quick reaction saves near the end of the match to keep the third clean sheet of the season.  The league leaders made it four shortly before the end of the match when Stanger deflected a short corner flick into the bottom corner.

With half the season over, Didsbury are still well on course for promotion and the top honours in the NW Div 2 league, but as Chester epitomised the quality in the league is still there so Didsbury will have to be at the top of their game to ensure the second half of the season is just as successful as the first.

15/12/2001 - Didsbury Northern Is 4 Warrington IIs 1

Christmas is coming, and didn’t it show in the final game before the mid-season break against Warrington.

The mood before the game was typically determined.  However, this soon wore off and the tip off given to the author that a number of the team had been enjoying the hospitality of a professional services firm the night before was soon proved to be true!

The allegations that blonde bombshell Beavers braved a considerable hangover to give a master class in zipping the ball around the back of defence are of course untrue.  As are the rumours that Ben Hogan’s similarly impressive ball speed (off his stick after his first touch) and speed of thought were due to over indulgence.  Fortunately, he recovered enough to remember to rouse his teammates with the same observations he makes every week, but did once again fail to remove his gum shield.  Hope springs eternal for the second half of the season!

Warrington did score one goal as Hurst in goal decided the moment the centre forward shot was an excellent opportunity to have a chat with his left back, Martin Richardson.  Although it should be mentioned Beavers did repeat his achievement against Colwyn Bay and manage to befriend another amiable 14 year old, who couldn’t resist sharing his joy at scoring with Disbury’s centre back!

Unfortunately the DNHC forwards didn’t enjoy the Christmas feast of goals they were expecting, and Paul Misselbrook was to be heard sobbing, “What about my spreadsheet” as he misplaced another pass.  Fortunately, he was cheered by many of his colleague’s similar inability to pass to a Didsbury stick, which will have to be improved against hardier competition.

Nevertheless DNHC were sufficiently inspired by Hogan’s heroics and Boycee’s impressive debut and well-taken goal to register four goals to Warrington’s one.  Competition is hitting up in the front line!  Tony Forward illustrated his fetish for reverse stick goals and Paul Meredith that last Saturday’s exploits had not blunted his clinical instincts when faced with a prostate man lying at his feet and an unguarded target.

Dobbin was also able to add his name to the score sheet, but unfortunately this took so much out of him he was reduced to walking pace.  Fortunately, a kind umpire took pity on this epitomy of DNHC’s lethargy and blew the final whistle.

Didsbury have had a great first half to the season, but will need to make significant improvements to this performance if they are to have the success they want in the second and most important part of the season.

12/01/2002 - Northern Is 0 Didsbury Northern Is 7

Didsbury lowered the odds of promotion by destroying 3rd place Northern 7-0 in treu 6 pointer.

With half the team only just returned from a week on the slopes, this game was a potential banana skin but Didsbury really turned on the style. Didsbury had control of the game from the off and bar some good work by the fast hardworking Northern forwards, Didsbury were only going to be the winners.

Stirling work in the centre midfield from Hogan and Misselbrook with great rampaging play from Booth and Jordan, gave Didsbury forwards lots of chances. Man of the match Thomas grabbed two, Landon grabbed two with Forward chipping with one. The midfield union grabbed a couple also through Booth and Hogan, however yet again Meredith and Heather contrived to miss gilt edged chances.

Didsbury have set themselves well for promotion in the new year but face yet another 6 pointer next week against Colwyn Bay which will go a long way to deciding who will win the league title. 

19/01/2002 - Didsbury Northern Is 5 Colwyn Bay Is 3

Didsbury Northern strengthened their lead at the top of Northwest Div II following a deserved 5-3 victory against 2^nd place Colwyn Bay.

According to the form book this was always going to be a match that would provide goals and lots of them. Didsbury converted a couple of early efforts early on to carve out a 2-0 lead. Paul Meredith managed to keep his composure for the first after excellent work from Tony Forward while Damian Stanger neatly slotted the second with aplomb.

Injuries in the usually solid Didsbury defensive line up meant a few people were playing out of position. This was a key factor in the Bay fighting back to bring the score to 2-2 half way through the first period.

The game could have gone either way at this point but Didsbury took the initiative with another trademark goal from Mark Landon. Receiving the ball with nothing on, Landon manufactured a shot out of nowhere and rocketed the ball into the bottom corner leaving the keeper stranded. Regaining the advantage at 3-2 gave Didsbury the edge they were looking for.

Next came a great team goal involving a quick midfield break, great work from Alisdair Thomas to beat his man and draw the keeper before releasing the ball to Landon who was face with a simple finish into an open goal from 2 yards out.  Didsbury went into the break having outplayed the beleaguered Welshmen and leading them 4-2.

The second half was a story of missed Didsbury chances. The midfield controlled the game well and linked with the forwards to provide numerous opportunities that somehow Colwyn Bay managed to snuff out.

Tony Forward broke the back of the Colwyn Bay side, keeping his head to finish with a cocky flick over the charging keeper. Captain Fernandez broke down a Colwyn Bay shortcorner and played a 50 yard ball, mid-dive, to Misselbrook who split the defence with a superb pass, playing Forward into a 1:1 with the keeper. Having previously squandered a similar opportunity minutes earlier he made this one count.

Colwyn Bay were handed a possible lifeline in the last 15 minutes after Didsbury’s energetic and hardworking right back, Dorian Jordan limped off injured. Didsbury’s strength in depth filled the gap though Colwyn Bay only managed to retort with a single effort to make the final score 5-3.

With Didsbury flying high 7 points clear and no obvious threats to their promotion, the challenge now for them is to continue scoring at the rate they are and finish with a tally of over a 100 goals for the season.

20/01/2002 - EHA Vase 3rd Round - Stafford Is 4 Didsbury Northern Is 5 (golden goal AET)

The second weekend game was an away trip to Stafford on Sunday morning, with the winners taking a place in the last sixteen of the national EHA vase competition.  Didsbury started poorly with the previous days exertions taking their toll and were soon chasing the match after going behind, but levelled twice in the first half through Meredith and Forward to go into the break with the match drawn at 2-2.  

The second half saw Stafford under the cosh, only to score twice in quick succession to leave Didsbury two goals behind with only fifteen minutes to go.  Desperate to force the game into extra time Didsbury pushed forward but feared the worst when Thomas missed a penalty flick.  Soon after, the match was back on as Boycee scored from the same position and with a few minutes to go Didsbury pushed the game into extra time with Hogan finishing a trade mark short corner routine.  

The golden goal extra time period was only ever going to go one way and as Stafford tried to hold on for penalty flicks, Didsbury twice went close before Boycee finally won the match lifting the ball over the on rushing keeper to round off a successful weekend for the Didsbury Northern 1^st XI.

26/01/2002 - Man Uni Is 2 Didsbury Northern Is 2

With more than half the Didsbury squad having studied at the fine academic institution of Manchester University, and that Manchester were the only team to take points off Didsbury, this was going to be a battle rather than an exhibition of hockey.

As both teams knew each other well, Didsbury changed formation with fine results. The shell shocked students were forced well back into their 25 yard area and could do nothing but defend. Thomas scored from short distance after a defensive mixup but it could and should have been more. The students started playing better and so Didsbury reverted back to a well known structure to compensate and so much of the game was played in the midfield. However the university began to win a lot of short corners, and from one just before the halftime break, Hurst inexplicably allowed one under his body.

From the start of the 2nd half came out very strongly, however the play was often forced rather patient build up. From a broken down short corner Didsbury shot into the lead with Heather striking well from a tight angle. Didsbury continued to push but the University came into the game more. Stanger in an unusual position at left back, played a Man of the Match role, and repelled a lot of attacks.

With 5 minutes to go,  the university equalised with Richardson slow out, the forward speared the ball into backboard from the edge of the D. Both teams had chances to win it, with Thomas being the most guilty today, but a draw was the fair result.

With Didsbury certain to go up and the university destined to remain in NW2 or lower, Didsbury will be glad not to have to play this banana skin side in the league again as they're the only team to take any points of Didsbury. 

27/01/2002 - Lancs Trophy 1/4 final - Lancs Uni Is 0 Didsbury Northern Is 5

A cold miserable day, a cold miserable pitch(with comedy 'straight' sidelines) and a cold miserable university campus was the unfortunate location for this quarter final tie of the Lancashire Trophy. The university known for its suicidal inmates desperately needed something to drag away the depression of a poor start to the new year. They started well too, the warm up looking almost organised but as soon as the whistle went to start the match, there was only ever going to be one winner.

From the off, the Didsbury passing was crisp and quick and the green and whites soon imposed their style of play on the game. Fernandez and Richardson shut up shop in the centre affording Lancs no opportunities, the wing backs pressed forward to press the university back, the midfield switched the ball quickly from flank to flank, Thomas finally broke his Lancs Uni duck and the other forwards.....well they turned up.

It was only a matter of time before a goal came and when it did it was brilliant in its simplicity. The ball switched quickly right, a quick exchange down the line and Jordan drove around the back of the defence. From the by-line his ball was measured and accurate leaving Thomas to drive it into the roof of the net at the first time of asking.

If the first was good, the second was sheer poetry. The ball, snapped around through Hogan with first time touches one way then the other was finally passed clear of the now hopelessly lost defence who could only watch as Thomas took his second in much the same was as his first, blasting into the roof of the net.

The second half was much the same, minus Andy Kwan who minced off with wankers shoulder (not on the night before the game Andy), Misselbrook and Hogan creating a wonderful pivot from which attack on attack was based. Assaults came from both wings but it was down the right where the real damage was done. Jordan and Meredith opened up the defence, ridiculously enough with almost identical moves on every occasion to slice through them like a hot knife through butter.

It was this pairing that created two of the second half goals, Jordans pace and powerful running getting behind the defence to feed Thomas for both his third and fourth. Jordan capped one of his better games in quite some time with a goal as well, blasting in a deflected short corner in his tried and tested manner, hard and on target, not pretty but effective.

It could have been more, Paul Misselbrook came as close as he has this season to opening his account (apart from that reverse stick shot that...ahem...hit the post) driving into the D to hit two shots which diverted wide inexplicably when both were...apparently...going top corner. Hogan also could have scored, as a beautifully worked short corner was put wide of the near post, more impressive still for the fact that Hogan was standing on the far post, or should have been at any rate.

Lancs may have had a late consolation but for a great save from Didsburys self titled Black (and white) Destroyer Chris Hurst who managed two of his four touches of the game in that two second spell sweeping away the rebound from the oncoming hoard.

As performances go this won't rate against some of the tussles the season has thrown up but as solid cup performances go it was certainly up there. Beating the teams you should beat in the cup can be made a whole load harder than it should be but this Sunday game went to plan from the off and was easily good enough to take them through to a Semi final tie with Daten.

02/02/2002 - Didsbury Northern Is 6 Neston South Wirral 2s 1

Jesus may have fed the five thousand with no more than a couple of french sticks and turned water into wine with a flick of his shaggy mane but even the messiah could not have miracled up a result for Neston on their travels in South Manchester.  Instead, the Mersey team found themselves dumped unceremoniously to the bottom of North West Division Two, by the side flying high at the top of it.

They may however have had Moses on side, which can surely be the only explanation for the way the defence parted to allow the relegation favourites to take the lead within five? Minutes.  It was a comic goal to say the least, with Martin ‘calamity  Richardson entering his bid to join the ministry for silly passes cannoning the ball off the back of Jordan’s legs from close range to leave the Neston forward a tap in. 

There followed a moment of surreal silence.  Hurst stared quizzically at the ball now nestling in his goal, Jordan stood stock still, a look of utter incredulity on his features and Richardson’s face was a mask of hope that sometime very soon the earth would open and swallow him whole, or that he would wake up to find it was just a bad dream.  Everyone shuffled not quite knowing what to say before one of the Neston defenders falteringly applauded and with an embarrassed cough from the umpire the game was restarted with no more said on the matter.

It was with some relief therefore that Didsbury got back on terms with a typically well worked goal. The forwards celebrated, the crowd applauded but it was the excited squeal of Richardson’s relief that drowned out all else as the diminutive centre back did a celebratory lap of the D.  The second was not long in coming as Didsbury stepped up a gear to control the game.

The shame of Didsbury was not to stay on poor Richardson’s head today though as Tony Forward wrestled it from him with style.  A penalty flick, awarded after Thomas had been callously hacked down through on goal, was given to Forward as flick specialist.  His flick could be described at best as awful and at worst as no end of rather rude things but with the power of a broken electric toothbrush there was no way it would ever be described as likely to score.  Only the indecision of the Neston keeper made the effort look remotely respectable as he went first the wrong way, picked himself up and went the other way.  Even then, he lay for a while, adjusted his position to optimise saving potential, had a cup of tea and then accidentally stopped the ball as he dozed off.  Forward, needless to say was on tender hooks for the whole period, clasping head in hands as the keeper saved and was heard to mutter “…so close”.

Not to be outdone, Didsbury’s deposed top scorer Mark Landon was first in the queue for the second penalty flick of the game after Didsbury had added a couple more in the second half.  Jordan’s mesmerising skills saw him glide past two defenders and leave the keeper for dead only to see his shot at goal cleared by a defenders foot.  Quite why a man who has now missed (at least) four consecutive flicks was allowed near the ball for this one is not entirely clear, however such poor decision making came nowhere close to the poorness of the actual flick itself.  Had the goal been four times as wide, it may well have, just to say, cannoned in off the post but as it was it just flew off into the distance clipping the corner flag on its way to a nice new home with a Stockport postcode.

In between, Thomas had added his hat trick before adding another to make it two four goal hauls in two games and fire him for the first time this season to the top of the scoring charts.  Didsbury in all scored 6, the others coming from the shamed Forward and Landon and after the initial mishap, Nestons were described as ‘As likely to score as an ugly, fat ginger bird in a monastery’ and very apt it was.  Nestons game revolved around thumping the ball forward as hard as possible in the vain hope that the forwards may get the better of their opposition and this was clearly not going to happen again.

Misselbrook put in another solid performance blemished only by an awful cross field ball hit straight to the Neston centre forward which he was later heard blaming on “…lack of power….new stick…”.  His nice new stick nearly got him his prized first Didsbury goal though.  A well worked short corner left Thomas in front of goal with just the keeper to beat.  His push slipped under the keeper and but for the touch of the defenders stick could have been deflected in by the ex-Loughborough player.  The ball found its way in anyway and Misselbrook charged off to celebrate trying to claim the goal as his own.  No one was remotely impressed and Misselbrook was soon back to his grumbling, “…my old stick…goal..”

Hogan and Kwan (who learning from last week had been less vigorous the previous night) put in good performances with some incisive passing slicing through the defence.  Booth was his usual tank like self, marching forward with the ball on the end of his stick inexplicably at times, going through, rather than round the futile Neston challenges.  Paul ‘Jigsaw’ Meredith was back to his best in front of goal squandering chance after chance, some of which were quite frankly harder to miss.

Stanger put in another sterling left back performance with some slick composed play (though not as slick as his work at the bar later) and Brandon ‘Mr dependable’ Fernandez was as ever the defensive rock, though slightly faster since the removal of his weighty yet magnificent microphone hair-do.

Jordan was given man of the match for a wonderful display of wing play, making the Neston defenders look even poorer than they actually were.  He blemished an otherwise good performance late on by getting himself a fourth card this season for dissent taking him back level top of the disciplinary table.  It was awarded for squealing petulantly as a penalty corner was outrageously awarded when the ball was lifted into Fernandez from close range.  He was heard to comment in the bar afterwards as Neston departed “We’ll see you in your clubhouse next year…….after we’ve given your firsts a good spanking!!” and it wouldn’t be surprising if Didsbury do!!

09/02/2002 - Deeside Ramblers 2s 1 Didsbury Northern Is 3

10/02/2002 - EHA Vase 4th Round - Didsbury Northern Is 7 Newent Is 3

16/02/2002 - Didsbury Northern Is 1 Lancaster University Is 1

Saturday cometh and so would promotion or so Didsbury thought.  Consequently it was a buoyant Didsbury Northern side that turned out for a game against Lancaster University, which if they won would guarantee them promotion with another four weekends of the season left.

In the two previous games between the two this season Lancaster had proved most generous hosts and allowed Didsbury to rattle up 5-0 and 7-2 wins.  Perhaps this explained the lethargy with which Didsbury approached the game.

However, instead of rolling over as it appeared Didsbury expected they would do, perhaps cheered by escaping the confines of their infamous cavernous concrete campus, Lancaster put up a much-improved performance. 

Indeed, following an early mistake in the defence Lancaster were leading at half time and it took a mistake from their keeper from a Tony Forward short corner before Didsbury were able to draw level well into the second half.

Both sides had a number of chances to win the game.  On a number of occasions Didsbury were nearly punished for uncertainty in defence and although Lancaster’s keeper seemed uncertain he was able to make a number of valuable saves.

In the final analysis dropping two points at home may not prove too costly, but there were worrying signs of complacency creeping into Didsbury’s play.  Second placed Colwyn Bay may still be six points behind, but it would be a real shame if Didsbury were to further blot their copybook and allow Colwyn back into the title race.

17/02/2002 - Lancs Trophy Semi Final - Didsbury Northern Is 5 Daten Is 0

Didsbury's semi final opponents were Daten from the league below but the difference in quality was apparent from the start. Their style of play was not dissimilar to old grass hockey tactics of thump and run.  Their ineptitude was such in fact that at one point Hogan was forced to point out that it was in fact the little white thing they were supposed to be aiming at and not halfway up his stick.

Daten by all accounts had accepted defeat before walking onto the pitch and had decided instead to try and kill or maim as many opposing players as physically possible.  They were given a boost in this by the umpire as no end of poor challenges went unpunished until Didsbury were left laughing openly at such a display of disgraceful decision making. 

Didsbury to their credit ignored the barbarity of Datens game and continued to play their slick, sensuous hockey and the goals flowed.  The first was a gloriously worked short corner stroked in at the far post by Hogan, the second a tap in from Forward after a fantastic passing move.  The third came from another penalty corner, Misselbrook finally scoring his first goal for the club with a reverse stick tap in.  Mark Roberts on his second cap scored his first goal for the clubs premier side with a sweet half volley into the roof of the net and Thomas finished things off with the fifth.

23/02/2002 - Southport IIs 1 Didsbury Northern Is 1

Following the dropping of two points last week this correspondent noted it would be a shame if Didsbury were to further blot their copybook. 

Unfortunately this is exactly what happened on Saturday against a determined if negative Southport.  This time just one point would guarantee promotion, but in meeting the high standards they have set for themselves this season Didsbury would not be happy with just a draw.

Southport’s approach immediately became obvious when as soon as Didsbury gained possession from the pushback all eleven Southport players immediately retreated into their own half.  This approach should, however, have suited Didsbury as it allowed them to play the possession game they prefer.  Unfortunately, just like the previous week, there was a lack of the sharpness and imagination necessary to breakdown the massed rank of defenders.

Indeed, once again Didsbury even managed to go behind.  Early in the first half Southport had a few early chances, but then shot themselves in the foot by refusing to pass the half way line.  Early in the second half however, it appeared the change in direction caused all manner of confusion and a number of Southport players mistakenly found themselves in the opposition half.  In their haste to race back to the safety of their own ‘D’ they inadvertedly won a short corner. 

The well rehearsed response to incursions into the opposition half was of course to knock the ball off the back line and quickly retreat.  Unfortunately, in an effort to get involved in the game and to keep up his recent scoring streak Andy Beavers turned the corner bound shot into his own goal.

Soon after though Paul Misslebrook inspired by the visit of his sister and himself on an Adi Akinbyi type scoring run levelled the scores and was unlucky not to score the winning goal when the Southport keeper added to a number of previous good saves when he tipped a fierce shot over the bar.

From here on the direction of play was all towards the Southport goal, but too many mis-placed passes, too much poor control, too few imaginative runs and a couple of missed opportunities meant Didsbury could not claim the winning goal.

Instead, when Southport broke and were awarded a penalty flick when the umpire re-invented the rules and single-handedly removed reserve stick hitting from the game, Didsbury nearly fell behind.  Fortunately they failed to convert this golden opportunity and Didsbury escaped with the point that guaranteed them promotion.