Match reports - February 9, 2008

The 1st XI kick-started their promotion chase with a battling 1-0 win at Merton, a result which lifts us into third place, four points off the lead and one behind second-placed UCL. The Ladies scored all four of their goals in seven first-half minutes to beat Purley but there were defeats for the 2nd XI, 3rd XI and 4th XIs.

Merton 0-1 1st XI
This was an important indeed vital win against one of the five teams vying for the two promotion places. Both sides realised that losing the game would signal the end of any promotion hopes barring a series of odd results. Our fate may well be in the hands of goal difference even if we win all the remaining games to play and currently we are well behind those ahead of us.

The first match against Merton proved to be a scintillating game of hockey and the first half followed suit on a warm winter’s day with Merton having the chance to wrap the game up in the first eight minutes forcing three short corners following some serious defensive aberrations. However our defence held firm and although having a large percentage of the play the home side were unable to create any real chances and leaving us space up front we created the best of the chances in the first period. Cookiey got the deftest of touches to a Bruce Davies crashed ball to put us one up and Knapp should have doubled the lead when going round the goalkeeper but firing wide of an empty goal. Fortunately the miss did not cost any points. Robbo was called upon to make an outstanding save at the top of the D to keep our lead and was on hand to repel a Merton corner routine that was not firing on all cylinders. Bruce coolly took one off the line. The half came to a close with the game being played from end to end and with some quality hockey being played.

Tiredness set in for both sides as the second period progressed with less chances being created even though the pendulum swung as the game switched from end to end. Merton forced more short corners but were unable to convert any of the chances on offer whilst at the other end we had the opportunity to kill the game off when a Cook cross flashed across the goal. Merton will be frustrated at not creating any real open play chances having as they did the majority of the possession in the final 35 minutes, their slick and pacey passing coming to nothing as the final pass was lacking. Indeed, the game followed the pattern of the last three meetings when we have played half court more by necessity rather than design.

Next week we face our nemesis London University with our having the same number of points – 13 – from the first five games of this half of the season as we did after five before Christmas. The next three games produced zero points whilst on this occasion nine is the minimum we need to keep us on the leading teams' heels. David Knapp

2nd XI 1-5 Reigate Priory
Another frustrating week for the 2nds, another performance that was largely good but after which we ended up on the receiving end of a sound defeat. For the first 15 minutes we outplayed a strong Reigate side only to go one down from a stroke which neither umpire was in a position to give but which was awarded after Rob Merry asked for it! Salt was rubbed in the wound when a minute later a speculative cross was slotted home from close distance. We had a gilt-edged chance which Bruce spurned before Doug cracked home a well-taken strike. Trailing 1-2 at the break, we conceded a third 13 minutes from time, but when Reigate were reduced to ten men we had a glimmer; a minute later Tissy got himself yellow carded for a finger gesture and our heads dropped. Two goals in the final five minutes gave the scoreline a distorted look. Reigate were superb on the counterattack, and but for some outstanding tackles from Jon Heard we might well have shipped even more.

Ladies XI 4-0 Purley
A beautiful winter’s afternoon saw the arrival of Purley to the mighty TD. Having already beaten them in the away leg, we knew they would be coming out strongly and so knew we couldn’t sit back. We started the game well, our defence of Katy, Ros, Mez, Tux and international jetsetter Rosie were all working very well, picking up their players, extinguishing any attacks and then distributing the ball to the midfield of Captain Jax, Vikki, Nikki and Dora. The forwards of Nina, Caz and May were running their socks off causing the Purley defence plenty of problems and we were pressing hard for the opening goal. A through ball saw Vikki pick up the ball in the D and reverse tap it past their keeper, 1-0 (Vikki is too modest to add a description of her Alan Sheareresque celebration). We then played our best hockey of the match, Nikki was making some excellent runs, passing the ball to the forwards who were creating some great chances. A ball saw Dora pick it up in the D and drive it home for her first and our second. Dora’s second goal, two minutes later, was superb, picking up the ball near to the top of the D, she undercut it in to the top right-hand corner, giving their keeper no chance. We had settled in to a rhythm and were even passing the ball pack to Ros to create new options through different channels (we do listen in training honest Coach!) and a goal straight from the training ground saw the ball go from defence to attack in four quick passes, May running on to an excellent cross and coolly slotting the ball home left hand corner to give us a commanding lead and our fourth goal in seven minutes. We continued to press and Nina, Caz and May were chasing the ball down and forcing the oppo in to unforced errors. The midfield were distributing the ball well and the defence were keeping the oppo at bay. The half time whistle went and we were all very grateful for our orange quarter (a great tradition!) and water. Knowing Purley would be coming out hard in the second half, we were focused in raising our game and increasing our goal difference, unfortunately, this didn’t quite happen and we didn’t have our best attacking 35 minutes. Our defence held very firm, determined to keep a clean sheet and were all making excellent tackles with Katy making some excellent saves. Rosie, having backpacked around New Zealand for two weeks with nothing so much as a scratch, came off injured after her hand was caught between the ball and stick. We battled hard in searching for another goal but nothing was coming, (Dora the things you’ll do to avoid buying a hat-trick jug!!) and when the final whistle went, we knew we had done enough, and went inside for teas. It was only then we learned of Ros’s hidden talents as a campanologist – we sat and listened about the dynamics of the church bell, the order you ring in and that you have a Tower Captain!! A great result, lets keep the momentum going for the visit of Tulse Hill in two weeks time who we know will be tough. Vikki Mottram