Tunbridge Wells 2 - 2 Gore Court

Gore Court's third team took their first point of the season in a match played without their keeper. Skipper Paul Birch took on the responsibility of keeping duties, but without the usual protection of keepers padding. After a good opening spell, Gore Court were opened up easily on the break and the decision to play without a padded keeper looked to have been a bad one as Tunbridge Wells went one up, crashing the ball past the exposed Birch.

But Gore Court kept their discipline and stayed to the game plan with Mike Bishop orchestrating play from just behind the centre midfield pair. His superb passing display, matched only by his gritty defensive work, was the springboard for a flood of Gore Court attacks with Paul Mills taking an excellent opportunity to put the visitors level before half time.

Dan Holdstock and Tom Aylen were resolute in their defensive work while Ed Bishop and Chris White worked creatively all game, but the second half produced fewer Gore Court chances and when Wells converted and excellent penalty corner it looked like the keeper-less effort might be in vain. However, with around 10 minutes to go the game changed in Gore Court's favour. A cross from Tim Clark was mis-controlled by Mills just 8 yards from goal, but his touch took it slowly goal-wards and inexplicably the keeper stepped over the ball giving Gore Court their second of the match.  Then with just 5 minutes on the clock Gore Court were awarded a flick, a decision which after discussion was reversed and left the Sittingbourne side with just a single point rather than all three.

Gore Court 2 - 3 Herne Bay

Gore Court were once again masters of their own downfall picking an early match time which allowed their opposition to field higher team players before they returned to their own game.  However, unlike their previous home encounter, they more than matched their opponents.

Having gone 1-0 down, James Kennedy was given the ball from the re-start, proceeded down the right wing passing four Herne Bay players as though they were not even there and set up Paul Mills for a simple equaliser.  Chances then started to come easily for Gore Court but they could not take the lead and they were hugely disappointed when they went behind again.

Gore Court drew level with a penalty corner strike from skipper Paul Birch and again went looking for a match winner.  This was to prove their undoing as Herne Bay caught them on the break late in the game, leaving Dan Holdstock and keeper George McDonald little chance against the four onrushing forwards.  Gore Court will need to learn to be a little more patient in future games.

Sevenoaks 1 - 3 Gore Court

Gore Court, a little depleted by illness and injury put on a fine display against a physical Sevenoaks side this week.  Trying a new system seemed to have backfired early on when Gore Court, still finding their feet, conceded a simple goal.  George McDonald in goal was more reserved than he might have been about his defenders.

From there on Gore Court did little wrong.  Max Kemsley settled well into the back three for the fist time this season, Connor Annand and Stuart Kennedy covered a lot of ground in their new roles as wing-backs and Peter Bublik worked tirelessly wherever he was required on the field.  James Kennedy continued his sparkling form up front. It was somewhat surprising that the visitors were unable to go in all square at half time, but Sevenoaks were resolute.

Once the breakthrough came though, from Tim Clark, the writing was on the wall for the hosts. Ed Bishop added to the tally with a fine strike from the top of the area and Paul Birch sealed the win with a couple of minutes to go.  Gore Court will take heart from this win.  They have played well for little reward so far this season, perhaps this will change their fortunes.

GORE COURT 4 - 1 GILLINGHAM ANCHORIANS

An Adam Hart hat-trick help Gore Court deservedly take all three points from a contest which was closer than the scoreline might suggest.  Anchorians started brightly and had chances but failed to convert them, George McDonald playing his part in goal whenever called upon.  Gore Court were much more clinical in their oppositions half with wave after wave of attack from Andy Pittard and Connor Annand eventually paving the way for Hart to open the scoring.  Similar pressure led to his second before half time.

Although Gore Court went three up, with Hart completing his hat-trick, Anchorians stayed positive and were rewarded with a goal.  However they could not change the course of the match and when Darrel Cassidy struck from a penalty corner with 10 minutes to go the victory was assured.  Gore Court had one final chance when young Hart beat the defence and cut the ball back across the keeper for his father, Guy, to slip it into the open goal.  However, Guy's cameo wasn't to be topped off with a goal as the pace deceived him and he failed to connect.  Gore Court move up to 7th in a very tight league, just four points off the top spot.

BLACKHEATH 4 - 1 GORE COURT

Gore Court never got into their stride in a game which eventually got away from them too easily.  With a few new faces, the team never managed to become a cohesive unit, particularly at the back.  Blackheath showed early signs of their danger up front, but their finishing lack the killer instinct.  Having seemingly ridden the storm, Gore Court's third string were able to put together some good passages of play.  They began to take control of the latter stages of the first period and when Mark Slater opened the scoring for the visitors, it was not undeserved.

However, the second half started with Gore Court in further disarray and as Neil Wanstall ran out of energy having covered a lot of ground to help others, Blackheath found chinks in Gore Court's defensive armour.  When they got on level terms with 20 to go Gore Court would have been well advised to regroup and sit back, instead they game became even more stretched and the hosts were able to take advantage of their superior fitness converting their chances while Gore Court squandered their own opportunities.

GORE COURT 1 - 4 OLD BORDENIANS

Gore Court slumped to their third straight loss this weekend. After starting brightly, simple mistakes and a loss of structure allowed their visitors back into the game and eventually to win with relative ease.

An early spate of Gore Court pressure was rewarded when Paul Birch pounced on a loose ball and was able to drive into the area to set up an easy tap-in for Mark Slater.  Bordenians then created pressure of their own and with Gore Court missing tackles the inevitable come when a mistake led to the equaliser.  The rest of the first period was a level affair and Gore Court with think themselves a little unlucky to go in one down at half time with Bordenians netting a second.

After half time things changed. Gore Court ceased to stick to their game plan, while Bordenians kept to theirs. Two goals early in the second half carried the game beyond Gore Court, who despite creating their own chances, never really looked like scoring. They eventually ran out of ideas and Bordenians we are able to close out the game.

GRAVESHAM 1 - 5 GORE COURT

Gore Court remain an enigma. Playing badly they can’t string two passes together.  Playing well they are Arsenal-like in their ability to pass the ball into the back of the net. This week they played well.

The scoring was opened with an individual effort from Tim Clark, but the home team struck back when a mix up between a defender and three voices let them in one-on-one.  Gore Court regained the lead when Paul Birch stole the ball in midfield, beat two players and after a one-two with Mark Slater slipped the ball into an open net.

The second half became one way traffic with Birch, Ed Bishop and Sam Stone dominating the midfield.  Slater was next on the score sheet after his penalty corner attempt was stopped illegally on the line and he confidently put the resulting flick away. Birch set up the fourth latching on to a 16-yard hit. Beating his man, he and Clark linked with one touch hockey to open up the defence and Birch returned the earlier favour giving Slater the open goal to score his second.  An Ed Bishop strike finished the game after a superb run by Connor Annand.

GORE COURT 2 - 1 BURNT ASH

Gore Court moved into the top half of the table with a fine win this week.  The back four of Tom Aylen, Peter Bublik, Neil Wanstall and moving up from the fourth team, Paul Mills were all resolute and the visitors found it difficult to create any clear chances all game.

Chris White was the key to the game with a solid performance in the middle allowing Paul Birch and Connor Annand the freedom to cause Ash's defence continual problems down the right. Sam Stone and Stuart Kennedy created similar troubles on the left hand side of the park. Gore Court took the lead from a well worked move when the Skipper Birch and centre forward Mark Slater re-created a play from the previous week giving Slater a simple tap into the open net.

Although Ash got back into the game when Dave Watts was unlucky to be unsighted in goal from a good penalty corner strike, Gore Court re-took the lead from one of their own with White getting a deserved winner deflecting in Birch's strike.  Gore Court were strong in the last 15 minutes closing out the game with some excellent retention of the ball.  A win next week will leave them 5th going into the Christmas break.

HOLCOMBE 1 - 4 GORE COURT

Gore Court started strongly against a robust Holcombe side and created a host of scoring opportunities which went begging. Holcombe steadied their ship and only stout defending from full backs Mutahir Khan and Chris Orr kept the scores level. As the half wore on, Gore Court re-gained control and a mazy run by Paul Mills led to a short corner efficiently dispatched by new boy Tim Clark. Winger Will Reynolds and centre forward Ryan Elvy terrorised the home defence only to be kept out by some stellar saves from the keeper. As the half time whistle blew, Holcombe manufactured a corner which they converted via a wicked deflection. The second half started with Gore Court on full throttle and within 5 minutes had gained the advantage when Reynolds brilliantly deflected a cross high into the Holcs net. Mills added a third and Tareq Bascal killed the game with a deft shot into the corner following more good work from Elvy. A very satisfying performance all round.

ASHFORD 0 - 1 GORE COURT

Gore Court can hardly claim to have finished the year in style, but they did get 3 points.  With the Christmas party season clearly in full swing a few of the players never managed to get to full speed and the performance reflected this.  Stray passing from Gore Court meant that Ashford controlled large portions of the game, but they failed to convert this dominance into goals.

Midway through the first half a well executed penalty corner finished by Paul Birch turned out to be the difference.  Gore Court hoped to move on from this, but never managed to raise their game.  Bright moments came from Connor Annand and Sam Stone, but Gore Court's attacks were limited.  At the other end of the park, however, the back four of Paul Holton, Tom Aylen, Mike Bishop and Neil Wanstall were looking indefatigable.  On the odd occasion Ashford broke through, Mark Garbett in goal was in fine form and never looked like he would be beaten.

Gore Court go into the Christmas break in 5th place.

OLD WILLIAMSONIANS 2 - 1 GORE COURT

Gore Court put together a good performance against a team well ahead of them on points and felt more than a little aggrieved that they came away with nothing this Saturday.  Starting the more positive of the two teams, they took the lead through Paul Birch after some quick thinking by Tim Clark at a penalty corner.

The game became a midfield battle as it went on and chances were few in number.  Dan Holdstock and Tom Aylen played well together at the back and George McDonald was outstanding in goal.  It was an incident involving McDonald which turned the match.  Mid way through the second half he deflected a cross for a corner and the umpire at the “wrong” end over-ruled the closer umpire, suggesting the foot had been that of an outfield player.  Old Williamsonians scored from the resulting opportunity.

Five minutes later things got worse for Gore Court as they conceded a penalty flick and were reduced to 10 men.  Despite a good late chance falling to Birch, Gore Court could not get the reward of a draw.

GORE COURT 2 - 2 TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Gore Court's third string are beginning to compete with the top teams in their league.  After a narrow loss to the team in second last week they followed it up with a fine performance this Saturday against fourth placed Wells.

In a match that had several twists and turns, Gore Court started excellently, dominating the play in midfield with Tim Jenkins and Harry Stiles well in control of their opposite numbers.  This gave plenty of support for Tim Clark and Mark Slater to cause problems up front.  They were rewarded with their first penalty corner when Paul Birch put them ahead.  Continued control did not reap further reward though and Wells were happy to regroup at the break and came out the stronger. 

Two penalty corner strikes in 10 minutes put the visitors ahead and it seemed that they would take the points having been more clinical in front of goal.  But Gore Court did not give up the fight.  They carved several more chances in the last 15 minutes and finally levelled the game through a penalty flick from Slater and a well deserved point was gained.  A trip to top place Herne Bay awaits them next week.