Match reports March 17 2012

A gritty draw for the 1st XI but otherwise, aside from the Barnstormers' victory over Indian Gymkhana, there were defeats for the 2nd XI, 3rd XI and Ladies

1st XI 2-2 Southampton
One has to feel sorry for Southampton whose path has been similar to ours in that they competed fiercely for promotiong in our unbeaten season 2 years ago and who are now fighting desperately to avoid relegation. Quiote simply they wanted it more than us and on that basis alone deserved to win. A lively squad of 14 players faced one of 11 with one no show and one worse for wear. We should have absolutley no grouses about ending up mid table and need the influx of players that is possibly on the cards to see us change our current attitude of a reluctance to train and general malaise that seems to affecyt us from mid February onwards.

Southampton were also on the worng end of a series of decisions culminating in yellow cards that disrupted the game that also counted against the travelling side. I lost count of the number of cards and it just wasn't that type of game but instead one in which a team was fighting for survivial and the other going through the motions.

A blank half time scoreline was down to 2 keepers making 6 good saves between them and level at half time was a fair one.

Our susceptibility at defensive shorts was exposed midway through the half with a good save by Ross not being mopped up and the rebound was put home. Knappy could have done better on the line. As is often the case, this spurred us into action and Rippers popped home our next corner with a well worked move. From here one hoped we would step up a gear and bury the game but it was Southampton who regained the lead after pressure form us, a well worked move and a top finish by the oppo's striker who was a constant threat. A curate's egg saw us level when Cato popped up in the D to slot home his first of the year and we had the chance to snatch the spolis with a short corner as the last play of the game but fluffed our lines.

Interesting alleged "quote" via a Southampton member on the subject of selection by a National League second team we still have to play "we will struggle this week ( 17th) as our 1s have a National League game and we will be up to 9 players short". Er, they did struggle, drawing 2 - 2 with lowly Reigate Priory....

As least Wales won the Slam to brighten my day

Match report March 10 2012

A poor weekend with only the 1st XI winning, completing the double over tenants London Academicals to move us to fourth in the league. A loss for the 2nd XI means they risk becoming embroiled in a relegation fight unless they pick up their game, and the 3rd XI also slipped into the bottom four with a heavy defeat. The Ladies levelled from two down against Barnes before losing, leaving us battling to stay up

London Academicals 2-3 1st XI
An end of term feel to this away from home game with our performance in the first half probably the worth of the season that saw us caught twice on the break and down 2-0 at half time.

Fortunately we were wise enough to stop talking to the umpires and keep the ball in the second period with Gavin contiuing his rich vein of form scoring two good goals either side of Cookieys first of the season to enable us to take the points. Suicide was nearly committed with two daft yellow cards but fortunately Accies evened things up with two similarly stupid cards to enable us to complete a double over our tenants.

An important win for various reasons and only three to go with a top four finish our aim. Rex Harrison

Ladies 2-4 Barnes Hounslow Ealing

London Academicals 2-3 1st XI

2nd XI v London Academicals

Surbiton 8-2 3rd XI

Hamstrings 2-3 Reading

Match report March 3 2012

A mixed weekend with draws for the 1st and 2nd XIs and defeats for the 3rd XI and Ladies. The Barnstormers had a hard-fought 2-2 draw with a chippy East Grinstead but the Hamstrings were hammered 13-0 at Maidenhead, our worst result in living memory

1st XI 3-3 Barnes
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Another disappointing result that sees us slip further back in the table. All rather frustrating after a superb start to the game with our taking a 2 goal lead in the first 20 minutes. The first was a great Gavin finish following a slick move and the second a gift as a Knapp trickle somehow rolled over the line - just.

After that we disappeared for 40 minutes playing one dimensional hockey and gifting the opposition 2 goals and, to cap it all, going 3 - 2 down when sloppy marking allowed a swift shot from the top of the D from the Barnes centre half that rattled the back boards. In between times we had received 3 yellow cards and Barnes 2, all of which were correctly given albeit the recipients feeling hard done by. To be frank the decisions were those that would be given higher up and so we need to get used to being umpired properly. The Barnes third goal came when we were down to 9 but our extra man at the death enabled us to score an equalizer with another top finish from Gavin and then with 30 seconds to go had the chance to win the game but could not convert.

If the truth be known, fitness cost us even though having 2 subs along with the predeliction of long balls to the left and into the D seeing our centre midfield bypassed and the open acres on the right rarely used. The fears expressed four weeks ago are beginning to look very prophetic.

Epsom 2-0 Ladies

Wanderers 1-1 2nd XI

3rd XI 3-5 Goan
A match where we started strongly, levelled after going 1-3 down and then threw the game away with some poor defending. Goan were, as always, highly skilful but prone to imploding, and after weathering a good start from us they moved the ball around well to ease into a comfortable lead. They then lost their best player to a yellow card for a flailing hand, and that allowed us back into the game. But having done the hard work, we then fell apart at the back, allowing Goan far too much room and paid the penalty, despite some strong defensive play from Ollie and Rob Crumby and some great diving saves from Matt Olley. School report would read : inconsistent with some promising signs of improvement - needs to concentrate more in exams!
Barnstormers 2-2 East Grinstead
A hard and highly entertaining match which either side had enough chances to win but where a draw was a fair result. The visitors moved the ball around well but were largely undone by the incessant bellyaching of their No. 17 which annoyed the umpires and his own side in equal measure.

Match report February 18 2012

With half the sides resting over the half-term break, it was down to the 1st XI to keep the flag flying with a 4-0 win over Oxted and the 2nd XI with a 2-0 victory at Woking. The 3rd XI went down 1-5 at Sunbury

1st XI 4-0 Oxted
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Ultimately an emphatic win although a 0-0 scoreline after 30 minutes suggested we were in for a frustrating afternoon.

Our opener, Gavin's first, was a touch fortunate to sneak home but on the balance of play a deserved goal with our last pass letting us down on a number of occasions.
Changing our tactics slightly made a difference with Gavin scoring two more and Sniffer Bents rolling the ball home after Rippers precision shot came off the inside of the post into Sniffer's path. We were guilty of by passing our central midfield on too many occasions but a slow Oxted defence made the use of the flanks by us a productive move.

The main positive was the presence of two teenagers in Sam and Giles with our first clean sheet of the season. From this point in the first half of the season we went on a 5 match winning run and if we can do so again we should finish 3rd and so give uis the platform from which to push next season. Rex Harrison

Woking 0-2 2nd XI

Sunbury & Walton 5-1 3rd XI

Match report February 11 2012

For the second weekend running bitter cold and lying snow put paid to almost all matches, with only the 1st XI enjoying a trip to the freezing south coast for a jolly afternoon

Havant 4-2 1st XI
On this showing Havant are comfortably the best side in the league with their professional approach and their hockey ability. For the first 3/4 of the game we were in with a chance but the home side's diminance paid off and they deservedly ran out winners.

The first half saw Havant win a number of short corners with their converting one but we should have equalised shortly afterwards when Knapp tried to set up Brewser but cocked up when a goal looked the easiest option. Ross made a couple of good saves to keep the scoreline down but fair to say Havant were not at their best at this stage.

As expected the home side upped their game in the second half and started playing the type of hockey that has seen them go undefeated for 11 games and ove to second place in the league. Their second game duly came from another short corner and our feint hopes of claiming second place began to fade.

We snuck one back with CB setting up Hunts but within 2 minutes conceded a third, losing the ball when in control and the Havant forward finished well to give them more breating space. A few edges from us flashing by the post, another goal from Havant to close out the game before a consolation from Knappy, well set up by Gav.

No question we played some decent hockey but our final ball in the last quarter of the pitch was lacking but Havant have the professional approach that we lack but let's remember, they are a National League club and have been since the inception of the league being in the top 2 or 3 in the country for a number of the first 15 years or so of the National League. No disgrace in being taught a lesson in approach, provided we learn from the lesson.

Top game at the back from the back five with Sam once again showing his quality and probably our man of the match for the second game running. Rex Harrison

Match report February 4 2012

The bitter cold took toll on most matches with heavy overnight frost leaving only the 1st and 2nd Xis in action - and the 2nd XI returned from Camberley wishing they hadn't bothered

1st XI 1-1 Yatley
The most enjoyable games of the season over the last few years have been those against Yateley and this one was no exception. Surprised to be playing due to the severe cold, we played like it.

To keep in touch with the leaders following our defeat last week we had to win as did Yateley who are surprisingly languishing at the foot of the table. The old adage is that the league position does not lie but it sure does from where I stand. Of the 6 points on offer from the 2 games we have taken 4 and Yateley 1 with a reversal in the distribution so nearly the case and probably deserved.

We snuck a win at their place with a last gasp winner and on Saturday equalised with two minutes to go having been thoroughly outplayed in the first half and, as with Bournemouth, should have been buried by half time.Quite simply our oppo wanted it more than us but not only squandered chances but fell prey to their own doubts and desire to hear the final whistle. We expected to win rather than wanted to win. Oddly we had 14 players which for us is too many. Changes were made for the sake of change when disrupting the flow. In certain quarters our fitness was lacking meaning we could not keep up the intensity and allowed to much space when defending breaks.
Ross was our saviour in the first half with a string of good saves and profligate finishing our saviour in the second but Rob Rowe did give Yateley the lead with an improvised reverse stick shot when a short corner broke down only for Patrick to deflect home our last corner with his having a handy knack to turn up at the right time in the right place.

I for one hope Yateley stay up. Our games are always competitive, played hard but in the right spirit and very enjoyable, unlike some of the rubbish we play against. Respect still exists from when they beat us in the play offs some five or so years ago.

Fair to say that we are needing a number of results to go our way to sneak into second place which is highly unlikely. I bet my bottom dollar that the top three in the league are the three sides who have a better turn out to training than us. About this time last season we hit the buffers and with Havant and Oxted as our next two opponents from whom we gleaned one point in the corresponding pre Christmas fixtures a repeat of 2010-11 is a fear. We thought we had addressed the problems but ... Rex Harrison

Camberley 0-6 2nd XI
Right. Best left alone.

Match report January 28 2012

A weekend best consigned to the bin with the outstanding exception of the Ladies who beat Cheam 4-2 to prove their draw at Wimbledon a week earlier was no fluke

Ladies XI 4-2 Cheam
Last week the Ladies came away with a point from Wimbledon – one hit away from taking all three – and the key seemed to be if that result would be a springboard to better things or a one off. Having been beaten by Cheam in the first half of the season by several goals and not getting great results in the rest of our games, they knew it would be tough.

We started in the kind of form that won us the title last season. Our defence was immense, our midfield dominated and we look dangerous on the attack. We took the lead in the third minute and doubled it on ten, both goals being scored by newcomer Fletch. Cheam did put on pressure – Julia produced two good saves – but we looked assured and a skilful reverse slap hit from Philly shortly before the break gave us the three-goal cushion at half-time.

The Cheam coach gave her side a thorough going over and either inspired or petrified, they came out all guns blazing. We held firm put were having a tougher battle and on 47 minutes they scored. The game was probably settled by Fletch who restored out three-goal lead on 50 minutes - although Cheam scored their second within a minute, we continued to hold firm and the two-goal lead was just too much for the visitors.

London Edwardians 2-1 1st XI

2nd XI 2-1 Purley Walcountians

Oxted 3-2 3rd XI
A trip out to the country, to play at the Alma Mater for a few members of the team, was well received by the 3rd XI. We were also buoyed by a full complement of players and a sub (who lasted 1 minute on the pitch!). There were some tactics from the off as we switched ends to take full advantage of the sunlight, which disappeared beneath the cloud before push back! We started the first 5 minutes well, but were soon on the back foot as Oxted commanded the midfield and pinned us back. Our heads dropped after the first goal and we were then on the receiving end of a well oiled attacking force. It was 3-0 to Oxted at half-time.

Rousing half-time speeches from captain Nick and Andy left the team feeling more positive. We dug in and then started to pass the ball sweetly around the park. It was fairly evenly matched and it remained 3-0 with 15 minutes to play. Some great passing in midfield and a great pass through from Steve H to CD saw our first goal. We were then brimming with confidence and smelt an opportunity to pin Oxted back. Steve H then put Ed through who expertly chipped over the keeper to secure our second. Unfortunately we couldn’t quite secure a further goal before time was up. 3-2 to Oxted, but a second half performance to be proud of.