Wellcome Dartford Hockey Club

Welcome to the new Wellcome Dartford Hockey Club website. We are an ever growing and friendly social club. Currently we are running 4 men’s teams, which includes our Unicorns team who are nominally our mens veterans or social side, 2 ladies teams. We play our home matches at Swan Valley Community Sports College in Swanscombe, but will be moving closer to home in November.
All new members of any ability are welcome to join our club. Use the contact us menu to get in touch.
This website is maintained by Surinder Bodwal, who can be contacted at SBodwal@Yahoo.co.uk or 07736 480264

Ashford v Wellcome
Wellcome turned up at Ashford in the twilight hours of Saturday afternoon. On the pitch before them Ashford 1’s were demonstrating how to play hockey, we decided the first thing we had to do was silence the crowd. We managed this when Robert Brine and Andy Ryan took to the field, never seen so many people run for the bar.

With both teams occupying the bottom positions in the league any team would have thought this would not be one for the neutrals, they would have been wrong. Strengthened by the return of Stefan Diecher, Dave Whatrup and Mike Jackson, Wellcome were looking to impose themselves on this game early. Ashford looked to defend in numbers seeking to balance a pressure game with a counter attacking game. Wellcome pinned Ashford in their half for the first 15 minutes, the endeavour was there but Wellcome were unable to pick the lock. Ashford regrouped and in turn pinned Wellcome back in their own half seeking a way past the indomitable Andy Ryan. Unfortunately Wellcome’s resistance was broken just before half time.

After a rousing speech in the damp conditions Wellcome took to the field and looked to even the scores.

Some nice play from both sides left this anyone’s game to have, Wellcome had more short corners but Ashford were looking dangerous on the break. With Ashford sitting deep both of Wellcome’s full backs were encouraged to come up the field, looking to pen Ashford into their half. However a break led to an Ashford short which couldn’t be stopped. 2-0 to Ashford. With their defence looking strong it looked like Wellcome weren’t going to get on the score sheet, however the industrious running of Mike Jackson had been giving the Ashford defence a torrid time and eventually led to yet another corner. This time Robert Brine stepped up and hit arguably the worst shot of the game which dribbled into the goal. Wellcome had 5 minutes to level the score. Alas they couldn’t, the game ended up 2-1 to Ashford. A good game played in good spirits.

Team: Keith Willis (GK), Adam Todd, Andy Ryan, Dave Whatrup, Sean Todd, Ian Fisher, Lee Jackson, Steve Powley, James Barton, Mike Jackson, Stefan Diecher, Robert Brine (Cpt), Ian Walkling (Umpire)
Man of the Match: Dave Whatrup