TEM Weekly Review #18

Mens Vic League 1 - TEM faced Mentone in a vital game in the context of the 2016 season, a win would see Mentone hold onto top spot, while TEM could secure a finals berth. TEM started well dominating the opening 20 minutes. A number of great chances were created with TEM unable to find the back of the net. Mentone's keeper Boucher made a number of brilliant saves. 

TEM's pressure eventually told with Braden Pitcher scoring a lovely tomahawk goal. The score would remain at 1-0 at half time. The second half started well for Mentone who took control of the game. A stroke, followed by a corner would see them up 2-1. TEM responded through an Angus Gillespie deflection. 

Locked at 2-2, Mentone attacked and scored off a sharp deflection, this was then followed by another stroke which was promptly converted. Down 4-2, TEM rediscovered their form from the first half and began to assert themselves on the contest. A penalty corner resulted in a stroke which Steve Miller scored. Mentone would hold on to win 4-3, leaving TEM in fourth spot, needing a win next week to make finals.

Mens Vic League 1 Reserves – An exciting top of the table clash at the Hockey Centre on Saturday against Mentone was a great chance for the Reserves to show their toughness heading into finals. With the return of their spiritual leader Andrew "Hungry" Mills the first half began at a blistering pace with both sides attacking quickly on the counter. After a tough tussle Mentone broke through off a short corner fortunately however it was disallowed due to being too high. Not long after Mentone struck again with a goal off a short corner and this time it counted.

After some great build up work from Cam Mckenzie the equaliser was scored by Andrew “Millsy” Mills to bring the half to a close. Second half was played with the same intensity both teams dominating for sections of the half but both unable to break the deadlock resulting in a 1-1 draw.

Mens Pennant A – This week had the men’s Pennant A side head out to Southern United in a must win away game to keep TEM in contention for finals. Unfortunately after going down 1-0 by half time, despite some promising chances, the men were unable to get back into the game and conceded a second goal thus ending their finals hopes for this season. Despite the disappointment of a couple of key losses to finish the season and missing out on finals, this season has provided many positives, in particular considering Pennant A were facing relation at the conclusion of the past two seasons. The final match gives the team a chance to gain some revenge on MCC who triumphed over TEM earlier in the season and finish the year with a win.

Mens Masters – TEM Men’s 35A Masters lost 3-4 to Mentone and have moved down to 8th place, while the 35B team lost 1-2 to Croydon Ranges and are now 5 points out of the ladder with one game to go, so can't make the final four.

45D TEM had a 4-1 win against Powerhouse/St Kilda and remain top of ladder 13 points ahead of 2nd place. The 50B team also lost 0-1 to Yarra Valley and are 4th place on the ladder, but must win or draw next week to remain in the final four.

Womens Premier League – TEM Premier League Women went out to Footscray for the penultimate round of the season. The girls were looking to continue their fantastic second half of 2016, but these hopes took a backward step as Footscray scored first off a low flick from a penalty corner. The Footscray forwards were doing well at stretching the TEM defence high and wide, and created a few chances in the first half. The girls were up to the challenge, and played a great first half of hockey, with some fantastic passing play! 

TEM equalised through a classy goal to Gemma Donataccio. After the halftime break both teams came out fighting, with TEM gaining the lead through a magnificent break away goal by Courtney Hansford. Footscray rallied and equalised again within a couple of minutes. The TEM defence stood up well against many Footscray attacks, and the game played out to a 2-2 draw. Next week the girls take on Mentone at the State Netball and Hockey Centre to try and gain that elusive last win!

Womens Premier League Reserves – The Reserves put up a great fight this week versus a slick Footscray. The line-up for the reserves this week featured some of TEMs youngest and brightest stars. The girls held the centre as part of the game plan for the first half, with Jordi McCulloch and Charlotte Ritman working hard on the half line for a half time score of 0-0. In the second half Footscray scored two well deserved goals off flicks from short corners. TEM had Eugenie Rickard working hard in the centre and the 2XU-Crisp-Hi-Performance visor player of the day went to Nikki Sonenberg.

Womens Pennant A – Women’s Pennant A matched up against second placed Doncaster this weekend. It was a physical match with Doncaster sinking two early goals in the first half. The score finished at 3-0, so not the result TEM were looking for. There were superb performances by young gun Clare Freeman and immense work-rate demonstrated by Georgia Bird and Sonia Burman. Last round next weekend at home, H1 at 3:30pm. Come and make some noise for the non-relegators!

Womens Pennant C - With grey skies overhead WPC packed into various cars for the road trip down to the Peninsula Hockey Centre. With a draw last time TEM were ready to come out on top for the penultimate game of 2016. Luckily the rain held off and the ground didn't become an island like last year and this allowed the girls to play their game. Without a goalie or helmet TEM played 11 field players but despite this came out hard and kept the intensity up the whole time. An early goal deflected in by Mackenzie Barham got spirits up and then another from Gabby Lewis on the spot. TEM were awarded a stroke after that and Bridgette "field player extraordinaire" Allen put it in the net. A late first half goal by Mornington put the score at 3-1 at half time but the girls weren't too phased. In the second half another two goals from Gabby and Bridgette respectively settled the score at 5-1 at full time. It was great to sing the TEM song, let's do it again next week!

Womens Metro Red – Well it's been a topsy-turvy ladder and TEM came with their best intentions to give the top team OHA a red hot go. It was a very winnable game but somehow TEM just need to find a way to get the ball in the goal to win! There were some great efforts by all on the pitch, and some good ball movement but 1 field goal snuck in each half, resulting in a final score of 2-0.

Womens Metro Blue – With a fine line between qualifying for finals, TEM Blue needed to secure a win against Collegians this round. A cold and miserable Sunday afternoon found TEM playing quite scrappy in the first half, with soft and sometimes lazy passes and defensive presses not quite up to scratch. Besides this, TEM managed to secure 2 goals to give them a 2-0 lead by half time.

TEM Blue lifted their game in the second half, aware of the earlier errors. TEM focused on accurate and stronger passing, and tighter defense with patient tackles, as well as more hunger at the goals, particularly at the pads given the skillful saves made by the Collegians goalie on every first shot. Some excellent two on ones resulted in some more goals, and wider use of the field created open spaces and depth leading to the circle. TEM finished off with a convincing 6-1 win following a much better half. Goal scorers of the match included Katie Jewell, Kim Davie x2, Alice Whitford, Fiona Troise, and Emma Clarke.  

Womens Masters – An easy game for the ladies with a comfortable 2-0 win. The score line doesn't really reflect the game as TEM also had many missed opportunities. Palma Casonato in goal really only got to use her vocal cords, though an odd break away from Hawthorn saw Palma use her kickers every now and then.