Morpeth M2 vs Stokesley M2 (A) - 1-1 (L)

Date: Saturday 12th September 2026

MOM: Dave Tucker

Goals: Alasdair Anderson (sort of)

Morpeth 2s 1–1 Stokesley 2s 🏑

The league season is officially underway as Stokesley 2s travelled to Morpeth for the first game of the campaign and a chance to finally blow away some of the summer cobwebs.

Conditions were just about perfect for hockey. Not too hot, no rain and thankfully no excuses from the weather department.

It was Morpeth who started the brighter of the two sides. They pressed Stokesley high from our 16 and made it difficult for us to get the ball out and into the attack. Their midfield closed down the space well, stifling our passing options and making it difficult for Stokesley to find any rhythm.

That pressure eventually told. Morpeth intercepted a pass around the Stokesley 16 and quickly moved the ball to the top of the D, where a hard strike found the bottom left corner, with our keeper agonisingly close to keeping it out.

1–0 Morpeth.

Stokesley were under the cosh and frustrations were starting to show. Morpeth dropped into a half court press towards the end of the first half and we struggled to find the breakthrough before the whistle.

Half time came at a good moment.

A rousing team talk from the captain and some of Stokesley’s more experienced heads helped put the game plan back into action. The message was simple. Move the ball quickly around the back four, let the ball do the work and stop trying to carry it through a slow pitch and a packed Morpeth defence.

The difference in the second half was clear.

Stokesley came out with renewed energy and suddenly the game began to flip. The ball started moving much quicker, passes were finding the wings and Stokesley spent much of the half on the attack, regularly getting the ball into the Morpeth D.

With the pressure building, mistakes started creeping into the Morpeth defence and Stokesley began winning short corners.

The first came and went.

Then the second.

Surely third time lucky?

Mark fired in a strong injection, Chris brought it under control and Ali got the strike away. It might not be one for the hockey coaching manuals, but the ball took a horrible bounce for Morpeth and found its way into the goal.

They all count! 😂

1–1.

Stokesley continued working hard but neither side could find the winner, with the final whistle bringing an entertaining opening game of the season to an end.

After a difficult first half, the response from Stokesley was excellent. We adapted, stuck to the game plan and turned a match where we had been under serious pressure into one where we spent much of the second half on the front foot.

A well deserved 1–1 draw and, most importantly, the first point of the season is on the board. 💪🏑

Honourable mentions go to Dan Walker for some excellent defensive work and Harry Bell for his attacking movement and stick skills.

Man of the Match goes to Dave ⭐

A stellar performance at the back, keeping the defence organised, standing up Morpeth’s strikers and consistently playing the kind of simple, effective hockey we’ve come to expect from him.

A solid point away from home to start the season.

On to the next one! 🏑

Next game: Stokesley M2 vs Tynedale M1 - HOME