Blandford and Sturminster set sights on back-to-back promotion

Blandford and Sturminster Hockey Club are hoping to gain promotion after a promising unbeaten start to the season.

A run of solid performances against Andover and Basingstoke have taken the side joint top with Havant but club captain Matthew Lewis believes they should focus on one game at a time.

He said: “We can’t be too focused on the Havant, if we don’t do a job against Peterfields this weekend – each game can be a bit of a banana skin”

“We need to take each game as they come but there is definitely pressure, we really want to get promoted but sometimes if we put too much pressure on ourselves – you can kind of get wrapped up in that.

“Peterfields are on a good run but we need to make sure that we get the job done”

After a successful 24/25 season, Blandford went unbeaten – gaining promotion to the South Central Division 5 south. Lewis knows that his side have the right mentality to do it again.

Matthew said: “I’ve absolute belief in the lads, we are where we are because of them. Every team we’ve faced so far, we’ve not lost too.

“We’ve got to take that confidence but also be weary of what impact you want to have on that day. Everyone that’s in the team is there for a reason because they’re capable and good enough to be there, so just carry it on through the 70 minutes.”

Blandford look to get back to back league wins this weekend with a win putting pressure on league leaders Havant who despite losing two games this season are ahead on goal difference.

Matthew said: “The table is really tight right now, we’re got Havant next weekend so we’re focusing on that game but at the same time just make sure we do the job every weekend

“Good to get back to winning ways but still got an eye on hunting them down.”

The side have started the season off well but Matthew thinks his side has room for improvement.

“There are some weeks that don’t go away even though we haven’t got any poor result but if you look at how many attempts on goal or short corners, we can always do better.”

Blandford travel to East Hampshire to face Peterfields this weekend.