Match reports - November 22, 2008

The weekend the wheels came off, with the 1st XI's unbeaten start to the season ending with a 1-2 loss at HAC, a result which sees us leapfrogged by Wanderers at the top of the league. The 2nd XI came from two down to draw with leaders Old Whits in a feisty game which Whits, not for the first time, tried to keep simmering after the final whistle. The Ladies went down 1-2 to Guildford, while there were also losses for the 3rd and 4th XIs. Click here for this week's match photos

HAC 2-1 1st XI
The unbeaten record has gone in the most frustrating of circumstances. Perhaps this match was the indication we need that the old guard should move on and the younger aspirants in the seconds be given a chance en blok. HAC thoroughly deserved their victory in a game that produced no more than five shots on target in the 70 minutes. At this stage of the season I would say that HAC were by far and away the most organised, fittest and hungriest side we have played against. Of course one defeat in eight games does not herald a crisis and the league is still in our hands. However, if our interpretation of the complicated rules is correct by finishing third we could end up in the league below our seconds next season - bizarre. Last year saw our first defeat rapidly followed by another five loss of points that scuppered our season. No repeat this year however as two of the next three are against our main protagonists.

The first 15 minutes set a pattern for the day - losing the 50/50 balls and on a skiddy and slightly bumpy pitch having inferior basics to the home side. Once again our undoing was a sharp short corner strike that zipped inside the right post - an excellent strike but one that should have been dealt with. Although still struggling we were back in the game from our first short corner and against the run of the play David Knapp popped home a well-worked corner. No more chances for either side before the break.

We knew that big players play well in the big games and so our big players needed to step up to the plate. Sadly they did not - the writer included. Although we spent 80% of the second period encamped in the HAC half we did not have a single shot on target and only won a single short corner. Our play to the 25 was good but after that shocking. Quite why we did not win more short corners and use our now slick routine is something we need to work on. Again, HAC defended resolutely and although not creating much were intent on catching us on the break.

The turning point was when we had a gilt edged chance to go 2 -1 up with Knapp robbing the defence and then consummately failing with the one-on-one against the keeper passing instead of taking on the keeper. Five minutes later we were one down as a poor clearance found its way back to the HAC centre half who slipped the ball goalwards and a swept shot found its way home. Pressed though we did, our naive play created zero. Cato was once again outstanding and fair to say the only bright spot of our day other than the corners.

Well done HAC for playing a game that exposed our weaknesses, something we have to put right in the next three games. David Knapp

2nd XI 3-3 Old Whitgiftians
If their was any pre match hype surrounding the top of the table clash at TD on Saturday between the OCs and Whitgift then the game definitely lived up to it. Both sides were boasting unbeaten records going into the encounter and it was clear from very early on that neither side was going to let their records slip without a scrap. League leaders Whitgift are a good side, full of confidence after winning 6 on the spin and came to TD with high hopes of adding to that tally. After going 3 up in the space of 20 minutes their hopes had turned to expectation but a spirited comeback from the OCs meant that the spoils of this war were ultimately shared. What the game lacked in overall quality it made up for in intensity and aggression with both sides collective tempers simmering on the edge of legality throughout ...

In truth we started woefully and Whitgift rightly made us pay with 2 well taken short corners. It was not as if we hadn't been warned as Whitgift narrowly missed the backboard from their first short of the game. We need to be more streetwise against the top teams, if it looks like they have a slick routine then foul them outside the 25 or at least outside the D...Whitgift's 3rd came after about 20 minutes, a quick break and some non existent marking ensuring that we had a considerable mountain to climb if we wanted to get anything from the game. Finally we switched on and began to settle into the match, making decent headway down the right flank and getting ourselves in decent attacking areas. Our increased intensity paid off as from a short corner Paul slotted home with composure after his initial strike was blocked by the onrushing Whitgift defender: 3-1. With the bit between our teeth we pushed forward for another goal, which thankfully came before the interval after more good work down the right culminated in Rory finishing well past a rattled Whitgift backline: 3-2 game on. As the half drew to a close the opposition were fuming about what they thought was "a foot" in the build up to our second goal. The bruising on my foot is beginning to subside....To give you an indication of their anger I was told by their number 8 that he was going to "knock my f****** head off". Although this made him an instant hit with the majority of our side, I can regretfully inform you that i still have my head, poor chap.

The main directive coming from the half time talk was not to get sent off. This was salient advice given the nature of the game. The fact that we had 9 players on the pitch at one stage tells you all you need to know about our listening skills. Paul (already on a green card) obviously had one eye on Twickenham as he felled one of Whitgift's midfielders with a pretty dire challenge. Whether or not it warranted being stamped on is contentious, however it definitely deserved a yellow and a spell in the bin. Things got worse when Rory couldn't reign in his temper after scoring what looked like a legitimate goal. Their umpire was taking no prisoners even though he sounded like Penfold. So 11 played 9 but such was our resurgence in the second half we rarely came under any concerted pressure. We began to pass the ball shorter, faster and with more accuracy and for extended periods were camped in the opposition's half. Any traces of first half composure evaporated from Whitgift who seemed content to blast the ball into corners in order to try and regain a territorial foothold in the game. Back to 11 a side we applied more pressure and after a cross from Duncan and a deflection from me, the ball was steered in calmly by Mini Mez at the back post. 3-3 - a superb comeback complete!

Both sides had chances to win the game in a frantic finale. A cross from the right evaded everyone. Duncan came close but their keeper saved from yards out. Right at the death Whitgift broke away, Jon Heard shadowed his man for 30 metres and then performed an awesome rendition of "Swan Lake" and fell on his arse. Eventually our keeper Tim made a great save and the ball was cleared first by Rob and then by Duncan. The game finished in an ugly fashion as the usually docile Dodie had a bit of a run in with their striker. Everyone picked up their handbags and shook on it with one eye firmly on the return fixture next year.

In the end a good result given the first 20 minute debacle, and we move on with our unbeaten record intact. In periods in the second half we played extremely well as our passing became more accurate, but we need to ensure those periods last much longer if we are going to win the league and turn these draws into wins. Also we need to cut out uncharacteristic errors in terms of man-marking and keeping 11 men on the pitch. But it was pleasing to see that our heads never went down and we showed real fighting spirit to emerge with the 1 point.

Another hard game against Barnes on Saturday who are now level on points with us - a must win game.

Ladies 1-2 Guildford
A late push back saw us playing Guildford at freezing 4pm at TD. Guildford were flying high leading our league, but had actually lost more matches than we had going into the game. We were missing our usual back line but had Mez back from uni and Rewa stepping out of goal for us instead. We started well and were dominating the first 15 minutes. The defence were doing a sterling job and an unfortunate defensive error against the run of play saw us go 1-0 down. It stayed this way until after half time when an awesome cross from Ems into the Guildford circle saw Dora 1 on 1 with the Goalie. We held our breathe - if anyone could nail this it was Dor and sure enough she did leaving the GK without a chance. We were back in the game. We were passing the ball around well determined to get another goal and knowing we were more than capable of winning the match. But Guildford pressurised us well, forcing our defence to do a grand job and Steph in goal to pull off some outstanding saves. There were several penalty corners either end and the run of play was pretty much end to end. There were close calls in both penalty areas.

A back pass from Vikki to Muriel saw Helen set up a good goal - unfortunately as Muriel plays sweeper it was a Guildford goal and earning her the dick of the day title and Guildford the three points! It was unfortunate and apart from that incident Muriel and the rest of the defence had had an awesome game, Muriel mopping up the loose players and Mez fully fit, Sarah H dropping back and Rewa on the right all doing a sterling job defensively and pushing up to support the midfield. Those missing will have to work hard to regain their places! It was down to a great Guildford defence preventing us scoring and putting us under pressure that lost us the match.

Even though it finished 1-2 to Guildford, it was still a good team performance from the ladies and a lot of positives to take away from the game. Thanks to the umpires for some good fair umpiring. Jackie Waite


Addiscombe 4-1 3rd XI
The 3rd XI’s Groundhog Day season started in its normal fashion again on Saturday, commencing with another enjoyable car ride through the beautiful streets of Croydon. Included within this drive were plenty of enforced stops which allowed us to admire our surroundings, these stops being allowed to us by the sheer volume of our fellow travellers (it still escapes me why so may people choose to come to this part of the country). On finally arriving at another school in Croydon the normal conversation ensued about how poor the Germans had been with their bombing in not taking out more of the area. We had plenty of time on our hands to have this discussion due to the rest of the team being held up in the Croydon traffic until just before push back.

Eventually once almost everyone had turned up (Rich N being top of the Sat Nav for Christmas list) and we had found the correct astro, which we were to play on, the match got started. The first part of the match started pretty well with the back four of Ollie, Tommy, CD and Stefano holding strong whilst playing the ball around the back before supplying the midfield. The ball was being played around nicely all around the field as we had discussed and the plans seemed to be coming together with Armo and Chris linking up well in midfield we definitely seemed to be holding our own.

That was until Addiscombe won a short corner. A seemingly innocuous shot was initially saved but slow reactions led to a goal being scored and we were 1-0 down. Thankfully, though, we have got rid of our habit of giving up the game on going a goal down. Everyone picked themselves up and went straight on the hunt for an equaliser. With the ball being run hard down both wings by Rich and Dom the attacks were relentless for a period of 10 minutes. With Dave and Chris up front making some great runs. This ended with us scoring a great goal when following a great passing move Dom found himself in front goal and calmly slotted it past the Keeper. Just as we thought though that we might go into half-time all even, we were caught by a sucker punch. With a great run down our left Addiscombe got in behind Nige and scored their second to make it 2-1 going into half-time.

The second half started in much the same fashion with honours all even for the first 15 minutes. Unfortunately though we started to chase the game, a little too much. This meant that Addiscombe were starting to catch us on the break. This left us defending against excess numbers and twice in quick succession Nige was left with one on ones, thankfully these were dealt with and the defence were able to get back. We then pushed our luck a touch too much and the third one on one was not repelled and we went 3-1 down. This was followed by a fourth before the end and again our day ended with us believing we should have done better.

Thanks go to Addiscombe for providing both umpires and for being one of the friendlier sides in the league. Its bizarre how two teams who are based so close can be so different? Nigel Hawes


4th XI 1-3 NPL
Report to follow