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Roller Hockey News 1996-1997 Season
National Cup Final: Apex Herne Bay United 5 - 6 Maidstone
Apex Herne Bay United's bid to claim a national roller hockey double failed in a thrilling match against Maidstone in the National Cup final at Middlesbrough on Saturday. Their Kent rivals claimed the trophy 6 - 5 after a match that went into extra-time and last two hours.
Apex, who won their fifth league title in succession the previous week, did not give up the trophy easily and the match held spectators until the final whistle was blown. It was not a game for the faint-hearted and over fussy refereeing served only to frustrate the players and led to 14 cards being show.
Apex had an early scare, but keeper Dan Barton foiled Julian Dennard's penalty and within a minute Neil Austin had opened the scoring for the Herne Bay side. Maidstone immediately responded thorough Joe Wheatley, but Nigel Mills restored Apex's lead a minute later. Maidstone's players proceeded to collect two yellow and one blue (five minute suspension) card before there was a repeat scenario of Barton again saving another penalty, and Apex making them pay with a Simon Hosking goal to made it 3 - 1 at half time.
The second half, though, saw Apex struggle to settle into any rhythm and Maidstone took full advantage, and midway through the half, they had taken a one-goal lead. The Bay side's efforts were further frustrated when the referee failed to play advantage and disallowed an Apex goal, giving them a free-hit instead. But with only three minutes remaining, a brilliant goal by Simon Hosking took the game into 10 minutes of extra time.
The first half of the extra period yielded no goals but this was mainly due to both keepers, Apex substitute Garrett Priestley and Paul Haynes. Maidstone, though, took the initiative when Doughty made it 5 - 4, but once again Apex showed their fighting qualities with a Mills equaliser. Both teams pressed for the winner, but it was Maidstone who stole the glory when they struck the winner two minutes from time. Mills became the last player in the referee's book, and he was given a red card after the final whistle.
Apex HBU: Dan Barton, Philip McVey, Nigel Mills, Kurt Holmes, Simon Hosking, Neil Austin, Dendy Hudson, Tommy Garboard, Nick Espejo, Garrett Priestly.
Posted 26 June 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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National Cup Finals
The strength of Herne Bay United Roller Hockey and Skating Club's youth programme was underlined at the national cup finals at Middlesbrough on Saturday. With three teams of youngsters qualifying, two returned as champions and one as runners-up.
The under-13 Minors' game against Sharley Park was a re-run of the game which gave United the league title a few weeks back. A goal from Sam Jackson gave them a half-time lead but three minutes into the second period, Sharley Park levelled the scores. United were struggling to add the finish to their usual good team play and Jackson was on the receiving end of some severe tackling but United managed two more goals. The win gave the Minors the cup to add to the National league championship - the second year running they have completed the double.
There was double too, for the under-20 Juniors, who beat Manchester 4 - 1. The rink surface was not a good one for United, who rely on their ability to outskate the opposition, and the juniors did not give their best performance. Luckily Dendy Hudson was on top form, scoring two goals in the first half and a third in the second. Simon Hosking added a fourth with 17 seconds to go. The Juniors, also league champions, collect the cup for the fifth year in a row.
The under-15 Intermediates were up against Adur and, having suffered some heavy defeats from them in the league, they began tentatively and were 3 - 0 down by half time. Strong talk from the management during the interval lifted the United players and some spirited play coupled with good teamwork pulled the scores back to 3 - 2, both goals coming from Joe Fidock. United failed to continue the recovery when Fidock was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm, which proved to be only severe bruising, and the final score was 6 - 2 to Adur.
Posted: 26 June 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Premier League: Apex Herne Bay United 16 - 2 Middlesbrough
Champions Apex Herne Bay United put the seal on another remarkable season in the National Roller Hockey Premier League when they beat Middlesbrough 16 - 2 at the Pier to finish their campaign with maximum points. Apex claimed the title six points ahead of nearest rivals Maidstone, whom they meet in the National Roller Hockey Association Knockout Cup final on Saturday. The league trophy was presented to Apex captain Philip McVey, by NRHA president Ron Barker, and afterwards the club received a £100 cheque plus 10 hockey sticks from league sponsors Rollerskater.
Apex played some brilliant hockey against Middlesbrough, with every outfield player bar Philip McVey finding the net. Simon Hosking led the rout with five goals and there was a hat-trick for Kurt Holmes. Nick Espejo and Nick Barton both struck twice, with Dendy Hudson, Neil Austin, Nigel Mills and an own goal completing the scoring. Goalkeepers Garrett Priestly and David Garlick both had superb games.
For the cup final this weekend Apex will be without Nick Barton, who has work commitments, and there is also a doubt over Nick Espejo, who has a groin strain.
Posted: 19 June 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Premier League: Middlesbrough 4 - 8 Apex Herne Bay United and Manchester 3 - 9 Apex Herne Bay United
Apex Herne Bay United made sure of the Roller Hockey National Premier League title for the fifth successive year at the weekend. They travelled north to defeat Middlesbrough 8 - 4 and Manchester 9 - 3 to move six points clear at the top. The triumph qualifies them for the European Cup again next season, although Apex will not make a decision on whether to enter until the competition format has been confirmed.
Apex's final match, now a celebration, is at the Pier Pavilion on Saturday, when they again play Middlesbrough, start 7.45pm. Middlesbrough, in fact, are the only side to have beaten Apex in the league in the last five years, when they defeated them last season.
Apex will be going for a cup and league double on Saturday, June 21, when they have to travel to Middlesbrough to play Maidstone in the final. The club's juniors are also featured in several other finals in Teeside on the same day.
"It has been a competitive season and every match has been hard," said manager Terry Barton. "But we have been able to field several of our junior players and still win matches. They have shown great promise and their displays in the senior side means we are looking good for the future."
In the away league trip to the north east club, Apex worked extremely hard and were rewarded with hat-tricks from Simon Hosking and Nigel Mills with two strikes from Kurt Holmes. Solid performances from goalkeepers Dan Barton and Garrett Priestly also frustrated Middlesbrough's attack.
The game against Manchester produced a similar tale with goals being scored by Hosking (2), Mills (3) and Holmes (4). They received good support from captain Philip McVey and Apex newcomers this season, Nick Espejo and Steve Newman.
Apex: Dan Barton, Philip McVey, Steve Newman, Nick Espejo, Simon Hosking, Nigel Mills, Kurt Holmes, Garrett Priestly.
Posted: 12 June 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Premier League: Apex Herne Bay United 11 - 3 Sheffield
Apex Herne Bay United look certain to retain the National Roller Hockey Premier League title after an 11 - 3 victory over Sheffield Wildcats. They have such a superior goal difference over second placed Maidstone that it is virtually impossible for them not to be champions for the third successive year. Goals by Dendy Hudson, Phil McVey, Chris Espejo and Nigel Mills plus first half keeper Dan Barton keeping a clean sheet resulted in Apex having a 5 - 0 lead at half time.
In reply to the Wildcats' three second half goals, Apex slammed in another six. Three of these were scored by an in-form Espejo, two by Simon Hosking and a spectacular volley by Hudson with only one second of the game remaining.
Posted: 15 May 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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National Cup Qualifiers
Herne Bay United have four teams through to the finals of the roller hockey's national cup tournaments. The senior Apex side will face the country's other leading club, Maidstone, in the final at Middlesbrough on June 21. The same day the club's juniors will face Manchester, the under-15s Adur and the under-13s Sharley Park in their own finals at the same venue. Although Apex must be senior favourites after beating Maidstone twice this season in league games, the smaller Middlesbrough rink could be a real leveller between the Kent teams.
In the semi-finals Apex thrashed a Grimsby side missing two of their strongest players, Tony O'Donovan and Dean Willett, 17 - 1. Simon Hosking scored five, Chris Espejo and Kurt Holmes three each, Dendy Hudson and Philip McVey two each and Nick Espejo with Neil Austin one each. The solitary Grimsby goal was scored by Alan Johnson.
Apex: David Garlick, Philip McVey, Nick Espejo Chris Espejo, Dendy Hudson, Simon Hosking, Neil Austin, Nick Barton, Kurt Holmes, Garrett Priestley
United's under-15 side, the Cobras, began their quarter-final against North London, at Peterborough, by conceding two goals in the first five minutes, but levelled by half time with goals from Keith Ritchie and Ben Jackson. In the second half United's flowing play brought a hat-trick for Joe Fidock as they held on for a 5 - 4 victory. Later they faced northerners Sharley Park in the semi-finals, and came from 2 - 1 down at half time to win 7 - 4 with Fidock scoring four.
The under-13 Adders team, already British League champions, beat Barry Island 10 - 3 in their quarter-final, then overcame Manchester, to whom they had lost 7 - 5 to the previous week, 11 - 1 in the semi-final.
One Herne Bay team to miss out on a final were the Pythons under-17s, who hammered Sheffield 8 - 0, but found semi-final opponents Manchester, most of whom were national players, too tough a test. Herne Bay scored with eight minutes gone, but in a tight second half Manchester equalised on 12 minutes. With tension growing a spate of referee's cards reduced Pythons to three outfield players, but they took the match to extra time before going 3 - 1 down. Some spectacular saves from goalkeeper Ross Halfpenny kept them in the game but, although Adrian Owen pulled a goal back they could not find an equaliser.
Posted: 22 May 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Under 13's National Championship
United's under-13 side, the Adders won the National Championship after a great fight-back. After getting off to a good start against Bury with a comfortable 12 - 2 win, the Adders ran into goal scoring difficulties against a Manchester keeper on top form. Under strong Adders pressure, saves by the Manchester keeper led to counter attacks which left the score level 3 - 3 at half-time. In the second half Manchester established a clear two-goal lead to win the match 7 - 5.
After beating Adur 17 - 1, Adders needed to beat Sharley Park by more than four goals in order to win the competition. The Adders set off in style and led 4 - 0 at half time with two goals from Bryon Davis and one each from Ben and Sam Jackson. In the second half the Adders were tiring and finding it difficult to keep the pressure on. Even so, Paul Nelson was determined to keep a clean sheet in the Adders goal, which gave the team the comfort to score twice more through Davis, which won them the title for the second year running.
This Sunday, the Herne Bay Adders (Minors), Cobras (Intermediates) and Pythons (Schoolboys) will be competing in the National Cup qualifiers at Peterborough, to win a place in the finals on June 21 at Middlesbrough.
Posted 15 May 1997
reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Under 13's International Tournament
Herne Bay United's under-13 team, the Adders, produced an outstanding performance to finish second in an international tournament hosted by the St Omer club SCRA in France. United were among three English teams who took part in the event, and they opened their group programme with a surprisingly comfortable 12 - 0 win over Cronenberg, one of Germany's leading clubs. Ben Jackson led the scoring charts with five, while Sam Jackson claimed a hat-trick and there were two goals apiece for Bryon Davis and Stavros Zacharia.
The second match against Belgian side Louvain proved equally conclusive with Ben Jackson (4), Sam Jackson (3), Davis (2) and James Clapson netting the goals in a 10 - 0 success.
With host SCRA enjoying good wins against the same opponents, the group leadership rested on the final game and first blood went to the French team, who were ahead inside 30 seconds. United equalised soon after, but three goals on the break saw them 4 - 1 down at half time, and although a change of tactics tightened things up after the break, they were unable to claw back the deficit, losing 5 - 2. The goals were scored by the Jackson twins, Ben and Sam.
As group runners-up United were paired in the semi-finals with Portuguese club Turquel, whose first team and coaching staff are all professional. Undaunted the Bay youngsters carried the game to their rivals and were rewarded with a 3 - 1 half time lead. Three further goals followed after the break, with Davis and Ben Jackson both finishing with hat-tricks.
SCRA's 9 - 5 victory over Sharley Park in the other semi-final ruined any chance of an all-English final, but the Adders did the country proud, restricting the French side to a 4 - 3 triumph. Scorers for the Adders were Davis, Ben Jackson and Sam Jackson. The Adders squad was captained by goalkeeper Paul Nelson.
Final placings: 1 SCRA, 2 HBU Adders, 3 Turquel (Portugal), 4 Sharley Park, 5 Remscheid (Germany), 6 Cronenberg (Germany), 7 Louvain (Belgium), 8 Manchester
Posted: 8 May 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Premier League: Maidstone 2 - 4 Apex Herne Bay United (Played: Sunday 20 April)
Apex Herne Bay United only have to win one more of their remaining four games to clinch the national roller hockey title for the fifth successive year after a 4 - 2 victory over Maidstone at Chatham last Sunday.
Apex enjoyed a close, exciting clash with the only first half goal going to Nick Barton with a brilliant pivoting hook shot, giving keeper Haynes no chance. Christ Espejo rounded Haynes to score the second, after swift passing moves had opened the Maidstone defence in the second half.
Shortly afterwards, what manager Terry Barton called a 'screamer' from Kurt Holmes increased their lead to three goals but within a minute Morgan pulled one back for Maidstone. Chris Espejo scored his second and Apex's fourth, putting the game beyond Maidstone, with another fine strike, but they did not give up and late pressure awarded them with a Wheatley goal with just a minute remaining. The victory was built on the solid foundation formed by defender Philip McVey and goalkeeper Dan Barton.
Apex Herne Bay United: Dan Barton, Philip McVey, Jamie Baker, Dendy Hudson, Chris Espejo, Simon Hosking, Neil Austin, Nick Barton, Kurt Holmes, Garrett Priestley
Posted: 24 April 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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Premier League: Apex Herne Bay United 13 - 5 Grimsby
Apex Herne Bay United maintained their unbeaten run in this years' National Roller Hockey Premier League with a 13 - 5 victory over Grimsby on Saturday. Apex led 7 - 3 by half time and the teams exchanged early blows in the second half with Chris Espejo scoring a sharp flick shot for United. Simon Hosking, Kurt Holmes and Nigel Mills were other scorers, and there was a debut goal for young Karl Smith. The result gave Apex confidence for the sides' next meeting, on May 11 in the National Cup semi final.
Apex's next league game is against second-placed Maidstone at Chatham on Sunday and victory would bring them close to retaining the Premier League for the fifth successive year.
Apex Herne Bay United: David Garlick, Philip McVey 2, Jamie Baker, Karl Smith 1, Chris Espejo 2, Simon Hosking 3, Nigel Mills 2, Nick Barton, Kurt Holmes 3 and Garrett Priestley
Posted: 17 April 1997
Reported by: Herne Bay Gazette
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