Match reports - December 1, 2007

1st XI 6 OMWs 2 (Click here for match photos) We needed to start enjoying our hockey again after an indifferent last month or so and on certain areas of the pitch make the correct choice of ball and pass. OMWs sadly have suffered the same lack of loyalty that we suffered when starting our descent from the Southern Premier league with a mass exodus of players who felt that the standard of the league below the one relegated from was above them. Funny thought really as the players were not good enough to keep them ( us a few years ago ) and so why not stick around and help them bounce back?

David Knapp on the ballWe took the game to OMWs from the start and threw the ball around and Smudger started his season’s goal scoring popping home a loose ball – at the third attempt… The next 10 minutes saw us trying to play a different style and this combined with the sudden loss of structure allowed the opposition back into the game, and one of our too regular for comfort moments saw a strong defensive situation converted into an easy equaliser for OMWs who at stage deserved the equalizer. Once Smudger took over the role of the high midfield player our lead was restored when Smudger finished off a move with a rising shot over the diving keeper. Robbo at the other end was not however a spectator and had to make a number of fine interventions and laid the platform for his man of the match performance. At the end of the first period the lead was extended to three as pressure on the away side’s defence enabled us to break from just over the half line and some incisive movement of the ball saw Gavin Adair score our third and Knapp the fourth.

The game was killed off with Knapp slotting the fifth at a time when OMWs were in the ascendancy but again we robbed the defence as they brought the ball out and took advantage. Cookey nicked the sixth which was an excellent team goal, but the highlight of the half was a top drawer save from Robbo who some how elongated an arm to push the ball away when moving the wrong way and on the ground. Our bedrock today was the hard work put in by the midfield with Rippers playing better and having more influence as each game goes by and Nick Lewis and Eds running tirelessly all afternoon. Nick had his best game of the season, linking well with the ever dependable Brewer.

One more to go before the break and the way the fixtures have fallen one win could put us third or fourth a mere two points behind the second-placed team, remarkable bearing in mind our appalling November. David Knapp

Wanderers 4thXI 2 2nd XI 0
Firstly our thanks go to Wanderers who kindly provided both umpires at short notice and also played the game in great spirit – both sides correcting a number of indifferent umpiring decisions. We were once again the wrong side of a result which could easily have gone the other way. Short, slick passing saw us string together some excellent passages of play, to which the Wanderers defence had no answers. However with Wanderers defending deep we struggled to convert them into clear cut scoring opportunities. Wanderers also looked dangerous in attack - with speed upfront matched with a patience that we probably lacked. However some good defending at the back and a couple of excellent saves by Smithy prevented them from converting.

They looked to have taken the lead having hit the backboard at a short corner only for it to be correctly disallowed as it had clearly crossed the line above the back board. New recruit Paul Accutt was excellent in the middle of the park, giving us control, and linking very well with the other players – especially considering this was his first outing for us. The end of the second half saw a concerted period of OC pressure and we managed to create a few short corners. We failed to convert three and the forth (as blatant a foot as you will see) was missed by the umpire just before half time.

We started where we had left of in the second half. However we managed to concede two soft goals less than 10 minutes into the half. The first dribbled into the left corner when it had looked like we were easily in control. The second a ridiculous stick tackle when our man had full control of the ball saw the ball pop over the line again. Although in the cold light of day the prudence of casually dribbling it along our goal line might be questioned! After the second goal we struggled to get back into it as fitness and the fact that they had 15 men to our 12 (thanks to Armo for volunteering after his game was cancelled) started to tell. We did however create our first really clear cut chance – 2 on 1 with the keeper, only for the pass to just slide behind the last player.

Nick LewisOnce again a frustrating day. Again we conceded soft goals, when we had defended well for the majority of the day. Again we failed to convert some excellent passages of play into goals. But the most frustrating thing is that we are a decent side playing some good hockey and we can and should be doing better than we are. Rob Merry

Richmond Ladies 2 Ladies 0 The match was always going to be hard from the start as Katy the GK was away this weekend along with 50% of the rest of our defence! Muriel was injured so took Katy's place in goal and myself and Nikki had to drop back from the midfield to play defence, which we didn't mind but defence isn't what either of us are used too! We also had no subs!

Nikki had a blinder in defence, playing more as a wing back and had some excellent attacking play as well as legging it back to defend, whilst I was left trotting around marking my playing who was playing very high to keep Ros' nerve at rest! Tux as always dependable as ever in the central defence. Dispite the unusual defence we still had an excellent midfield of May, Ana, Vikki and Dora who played well moving the ball around the pitch and having some good attacking play, some close calls, as well as several shorts - but no goals.


A goal for KnappThe forwards of Caz and Nina, feisty as ever, were also putting the leg work in as always, closing the Richmond defence down, but without the respite of having a sub to give them a breather. Although we had a large amount of the possession and probably looked the better team putting the Richmond defence under pressure, the story was a familiar one as of late as we just couldn't seem to score. Two Richmond attempts on goal and we found ourselves 2-0 down at half time. Richmond also had some penalty corners which with the stand in defenders we managed to defended successfully!

The second half ended up a stalemate with neither team scoring leaving the final score 2-0 to Richmond. A big thanks to Hels who braved the goal even with an injury and also for missing out on half of a hen party to play for us (having fibbed to the bride to be about her whereabouts, although the hen may have figured it out being a team member and in on the email list!) We will need to improve on our fire power for next week as we take on top of the league Merton - sure to be a tough match.

4th XI 1 Teddington 3 There’s no disgrace in losing to the league leaders, but there was still a feeling of what might have been. The Teddington side, very much a development XI, contained several players in their early teens and their skill was evident from the off. But instead of using experience and size to impose our authority, for too long we allowed them to run rings round us. We actually took the lead off a short-corner strike from Steve Harmer, and in the first third of the game probably created more chances. But we allowed Teddington to equalise from a set piece on 25 minutes, and although we continued to press, forcing some good saves, we went behind to a soft goal after squandering possession and the game was decided by a well-taken direct hit off a short corner ten minutes from time. We failed to force one short corner of our own in the second half and in the end our lack of penetration was the difference.