Match reports - November 8, 2008

The 1st XI remained top and retained their 100% record with a 4-3 win at Camberley, but nobody is quite sure how we came away with all three points. The 2nd XI remained second with a thrilling 0-0 draw with Wanderers. The 3rd XI were left still looking for their first win after a 0-4 loss at Kenley, while the 4th XI went down 1-3 to leaders Horley. The Vets, despite the rare fielding of a brace of Shanks, lost 0-5 at Southgate but were boosted by a cultural match report (see below) while a double-booked pitch meant the Ladies had a wasted trip to Richmond

Camberley 3-4 1st XI
Holy jamolee - not only was the biscuit taken but the whole factory's supply taken. The factory has shut down.

We knew that Camberley were going to be a tough nut from their results. Giving them space in the midfield and conceding short corners was what they wanted. We had the bulk of the ball in the first five minutes but then went to sleep, lost our pattern and changed our style so it was no surprise when from their first corner the home side went one up with a wicked dipping strike.

The first of the howlers then let us back into the game when Eds’ dying swan won us a penalty stroke and fortuitously we were level when David Knapp popped it home. Neither side managed to create much for the next 10 minutes or so but instead traded passes in the midfield. Cookiey was instrumental in clearing up a lot of loose ball at the back and a change in our tactics saw us beginning to dominate the game and thwart the danger of the two wide-midfield players. Following a strong run and sublime skill from Rory Gavin was set up for our second with Cookiey winning a free hit in our half, making a forward run and picking up the resultant aerial. Back line was again hit and this time Cookiey set up Gavin for our third.

The same style was used in the second half and on winning a short a well-rehearsed move enabled Knapp to pop the ball home. From this point it seemed that it was a matter of how many. Rory had a stinging reverse-stick shot saved but we then lost our shape completely. The injury to Cato hurt us and was evidence of his importance. At this point the fun started. Both sides received two yellows for what were in essence innocuous tackles. Gavin’s was for "being frustrated because I did not blow the two fouls on you before you stick tackled the player"...!! Rippers was for a tackle being of such a high standard that its kind has probably not been seen at this level before. The reverse stick clean nick of the ball was OK but apparently Rippers had the opponent's shirt in his hand. Isaac Newtons theory of relativity would have been oh-so-different had he seen this tackle before the apple fell on his head.

Two quick goals from Camberley, another powerful short corner drive and a cracking shot from the oppo's man of the match gave us a tense last few minutes. CB then went off and we were down to a fit 10.

Nick was penalised and a stroke given for what appeared a clean tackle as the ball went directly off his stick into touch, but this decision did even out the earlier howler. Step up Trickster who worked out the flick taker to save easily. However, not so simple. Feet off the line for Trickster, much questioning and a retake. Ball fired wide so still 4 – 3, and so it remained.

Both sides suffered in equal measures. Camberley were unlucky not to blemish our 100% record and so we were lucky to win but win we did. Twenty-four players baffled in the bar afterwards but still top tonight. David Knapp


2nd XI 0-0 Wanderers
If last week's result opened up some early-season OC wounds, then this week's had the effect of rubbing salt firmly into them. Another game we really should have won but in the end had to settle with a hugely frustrating draw. On a miserable, wet morning at TD we dominated for long periods but could not convert our territory and possession into a goal. Wanderers, who defended stoutly throughout; were clearly the happier of the two teams as the final whistle echoed around our ears like the school bell sounding the end of break - we didn't want it to end...

Once again keeper Mike decided to turn up two minutes before push back which meant that Captain Mez had to get into his fancy dress gear - My constant jibes about his ill fitting gloves did nothing to lift our skipper's rather glum mood. In terms of the line-up we looked really strong, not only did we welcome back Neil and Dodie from their successful exploits with the 1st XI, but were also supplied with Will Stephens and Bruce Davies. We started confidently as you would expect from our league position and the personnel we had on board and consequently spent much of the first period camped in the Wanderers half. The passing and movement was good but as the half progressed it was becoming evident that we were lacking a cutting edge, with our strikers limited to a hand full of "half chances". Wanderers, to their credit; defended well, displaying high levels of determination and concentration. Their game plan was clearly to hit us on the break and we had to be on our toes on one or two occasions in the first half when they surged forward - but these were very much isolated incidents.

The second half was, in reality; a bit of a mess. We became disjointed, our movement lacked real purpose and mentally we became edgy - the thought of not winning playing on our minds. The combination of these factors actually helped Wanderers get more of a foothold in the game which, given their overall lack of skill was hard to accept. However the second half did grant us a few real chances, a series of short corners from which Paul came close at least twice, and another heroic goal line clearance from a defender who "knew nothing about it" after great work from Woody (Woody is now my name for either of Nick and James as I am never going to be able to tell them apart.) and Andy Selby. And much like the fireworks this weekend, the game disappointingly fizzled out.

We are still undefeated but a few alarm bells are sounding in my ears - We have a lot of good players in the 2s this season but there are genuine concerns about the balance of the squad. It became increasingly clear that neither Bruce nor Will are strikers, Will on reflection; probably would have preferred to stay in bed than suffer the ignominy of playing for the 2nd XI but there you go. It is easy to be down on ourselves but it could have been another three points and overall we deserved to win. We do need to work on our shape, movement and structure, especially when working the ball into space in wide areas, but our cause is not helped when faced with five new team-mates every week. A settled team, who are used to how each other plays is crucial - so is finding a real out and out goal-scorer ... Chris Porter


Kenley 4-0 3rd XI
The 3rd XI travelled to the far depths of southern England to play Kenley. Coming off the back of a well-fought and played game last week, a strong team with Duncan Mottram returning to the fray after two years in the lofty heights of the 2XI, we had promise, guile and a fair amount of rain beating down to make for an interesting game.

Kenley started the game moving the ball fluidly and using their flanks. Our defence quickly realised that their game was not going to be quiet and Stu and Tim coordinated affairs with strategic cunning that neutralised Kenley's attacks. As we found our feet, excellent marking at the back and coordination in midfield started to provide opportunities for our own attacks. Two early short corners proved threatening and some luck on Kenley's part prevented us taking the lead. Rich Lawrence was making a nuisance of himself on the right flank with balls being played through to Dave, Chris and as Andy came on to provide new legs, the game was becoming a fast flowing and competitive. Duncan was proving instrumental in midfield with competition for every 50/50 and distribution up both flanks keeping us well in the game.

Our beloved captain, Nigel, felt that there were perhaps a few decisions that were being affected by Kenley's appealing made this opinion felt. After an eternity of discussion with the umpire, an exchange of phone numbers, bit of a hug and a pat on the bum, he returned to the goal mouth without a card.

The first-half continued with end-to-end play and a solid approach. The only criticism would be that the ball was been given away a little cheaply in midfield but 0-0 at half time. After the break both teams appeared to lose their structure and Kenley's attackers started to become niggly … however, the defence held their own. Our midfield couldn't find itself and with some solid play in places, seemed to lose the ball too easily and cheaply that kept the defence busy. Ollie and Stefano were kept busy on both wings however it was Kenley that opened the accounts first with a scrappy play that resulted in a close slap past an already committed keeper. Unfortunately, the second came quickly after from a short corner routine that broke down leaving three Kenley players on the right side facing a man on the line, it was inevitable, 2-0.

The game settled for five minutes before some nice passing from the Kenley midfield cut through too easily to expose our fitness issues we were now facing to score another goal. To our credit, attacks still came forward and Rich and Andy were both unlucky not to put a goal in the back of the net. Midfield had found its structure again and the game started to swing back our way only for a bemusing attack, where the ball went off the back line in front of the umpire, five OC defenders stopped, but the umpire “didn't see it”, 4-0. With five minutes remaining, Armo was called over to be reprimanded for appealing for the ball. Being asked what was he going to do, blow a whistle as he wasn't the umpire, asked the umpire if this was a rhetorical question, diplomacy not a forte obviously.

A very creditable game for us, the score line unflattering and unfair but nonetheless, the score line. A younger Kenley team showed their fitness when it mattered but a well grafted game by Duncan, Stu and Tim with good performances all round. The season is far from over based on the OC's last fortnights play. James Armitage

Southgate 5-0 Veterans XI

And so to Southgate, OC hearts beating with hope on the back of the cliff-hanger that was last week’s win against HAC. But, as Robert Louis Stevenson so aptly observed “to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour”. We travelled hopefully and we laboured hard and long but five goals later (none ours sadly) we trooped off, heads held high(ish) but, in truth, soundly beaten.
This could almost have been a game of two halves, save that we lost both. We drew inspiration from the heady cocktail that was (a) the re-appearance of Shanks (younger) – in borrowed kit and claiming an improbable Vets goal-scoring average of 2.6 goals per match – (Statto over to you for due diligence on that one please!) (b) the welcome addition of the classy Richard Womack finding a moment before his baby arrives to play beautifully in support of our lonely strikers until eventually limping off mid-way through the second half and (c) the return of the surgically enhanced ‘flying’ Pyne. We battled manfully against a powerful Southgate side and might easily have gone into the break level. Loates and Speers stood firm at the back in front of Shanks (elder), Trinder as ever authoritatively organising the middle and Jon Gray and Tim Neligan tireless in attack. We made chances, we came close, but fatally were unable to convert.. And then the inevitable, a Southgate short corner awarded, a five minute break for 21 players as Trinder debated and re-debated the minutiae of the decision with the astonishingly patient Southgate umpire and then the corner itself, the ball rolling to an unmarked striker in space, with time to line it up and smash it through Shanks (elder), who until then had defended his goal with characteristic determination.

At half time there was still all to play for. An early goal and we would be right back in it. Alas there was indeed an early goal - theirs!

The writer pauses the action at this point to remark on the colourful reaction of Shanks (elder) to this particular Southgate score and indeed to the others that followed. Perhaps it had been a tough week flogging Cruise Liners but big Pete’s response(s) to the goal(s) can perhaps euphemistically be described as ‘colourful’. The only printable part being his command to each delighted Southgate goal-scorer “Don’t say anything!!!” bellowed at point blank range into the nearest ear. As a deterrent against further opposition goal-scoring it proved entirely unsuccessful (although in fairness this was true of much that we attempted in the second half) but I am surely not alone in noticing that the enemy celebrations thereafter were distinctly muted. On a more serious note anyone who was actually at the game will have appreciated that Peter’s therapy-needs are now urgent and all contributions should please be made (as usual) via the website www.ourgoalkeepersisbonkers.com.

Thus the second half passed in a blizzard of Southgate attacks (largely successful) and a handful of OC forays into the enemy territory (all unsuccessful). Eve battled gamely down the left, looking close to fully recovered from his shoulder damage, Bermon came on and tied up their inside right and Butch bottled up their right winger – but all to no avail. In many way we were all winners - we had fun, the sun shone as we played, the post-match chilli hit the spot and some of us even cycled home (sort of). But on the pitch we definitely came second. David Burles