Match reports - October 20, 2007

1st XI 1 UCL Academicals 0 Click here for photos An ugly win but a very important one. The game was extremely scrappy with neither side creating any really clear cut open play chances in the second half with in the final analysis the number of yellow cards we received being the talking point.

UCL complained they were 5 short including 2 New Zealand internationals so more fool them for missing such an important game. We too were 5 men short taking into account Smudger, Rippers twice, Duffers and Knappy so all in all an even encounter.

We took the lead somewhat against the run of play when a slick move down the right enabled us to attack the back line and set up Gavin Adair who tucked the ball away with a difficult finish. Again, excellent use of the advantage by the umpire allowed the move to continue when a number of umpires would have called the play back. The ensuing 15 minutes saw us play our best hockey and some incisive passing and running into space enabled us to create a number of chances that were not taken. Meanwhile at the other end Robbo dealt very effectively with all that was thrown at him. Our deficiency was the way we kept giving the ball away with UCL putting us under pressure which made us hurry and force the ball too much – a distinct lack of using our experience.

This was always going to be a tough match and our cause was not helped by a flurry of yellow cards – 4 in all for us – and yet none for UCL whose goalkeeper told the umpire for 34 minutes of the second half what he thought of him. Fair to say that the UCL vociferous crowd were very good at calling the decisions which the umpire followed to a T. The game should have been wrapped up in the 50th minute when we were very fortuitously awarded a stroke for a stick tackle when a short corner would have been a better decision but Knappy gave the keeper an east save with a very poor stroke. Surprisingly the UCL player stayed on the pitch unlike 2 of our players who received yellows for less innocuous tackles.

Nevertheless our dogged determination and Duffy’s ability to crack the ball off the end of the pitch when needed – something we have lacked for many years – saw us run out winners, the defence dealing capably with the eight or so short corners we needed to defend.

After four games we now find ourselves three points clear at the top Merton losing to Bank of Boks who have at last emerged from their slumbers. In fact, that match must have been like playing in Cape Town with their doubtless enjoying their country’s deserved win in the world cup final. As the league stands at the moment after this coming weekend we will have played the top four so a win would put us in a very strong position.

Merton next week at home which is another must win game.

2nd XI 3 UCL Academicals 0 The first win of the season came at the fourth attempt and it was a well-deserved victory, even if the margin rather flattered. UCL had much of the early possession but failed to do anything with it, producing only one on-target shot all match. Jon Heard and Dodie Khurshid, down from the 1st XI, marshaled the defence with veterans’ skill and broke down attack after attack, and we were dangerous on the break. We went one up on 17 minutes, very much against the run of play, but after the goal the same was more even. A defensive mix-up and some hockey bagatelle produced goal No. 2 seconds before the break. UCL huffed and puffed with little to show for their efforts, and a third goal, well taken from a route one ball, sealed the points.

4th XI 5 Staines 1 The IV team put the double shock of Bertie Bance’s arrest in South East Asia (yes, Interpol finally caught up with him) and John Mulholland’s turquoise Peugeot cabriolet behind us to notch our first league win of the season with a strong away performance against Staines V, deservedly winning the game 5-1.
Louis Strover struck a fine early goal high into the net, setting the tone of a half which saw us pile on the pressure against a Staines team doggedly packing their area. Chris Bents and Rob Jonker linked well and at pace down the right flank whilst John Mulholland set the pace of the game from midfield, ably supported by Steve Harmer’s incisive tackling. Continued pressure culminated in a goal from Steve Harmer [note to editor - insert Steve’s six-page thesis on his goal here]. Staines pulled a goal back shortly afterwards, giving us a 2-1 lead at half time.
Staines opened up after the break, allowing Louis Strover to do what Louis Strover does, slotting home two more goals to complete his hat-trick, either side of a well taken debut goal from Smeer. Thanks to Peter Shanks for stepping in for us at short notice! Dom Tucker

Ladies 0 Old Georgians 0 Stalemate at TD but a cracking game nevertheless, with excellent skills on display from both sides even though there were not many clear-cut scoring chances. Georgians enjoyed the lion’s share of the first-half, failing to get more than a couple of shots on target despite 16 short-corners, including nine in succession. The second half was more even as holes began to appear as legs tired, but even thought we finished stronger a draw was a fair result. What the game did show was that without Dora we lacked enough firepower up front.