Match reports - December 6, 2008

The 1st XI's see-saw occupation of the top spot lasted a week after they squandered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to new leaders Wanderers, but the 2nd XI remained unbeaten after a feisty 1-1 draw with Reigate Priory. The 3rd XI will go into the New Year without a win after a 0-7 drubbing at Reigate, the 4th XI enjoyed their day out at Cranleigh with a 6-1 over Aldershot, and the Ladies drew 1-1 with Wimbledon.

Click here for this week's match photos

Wanderers 3-2 1st XI
Another big game lost and in the most frustrating of circumstances but a sign that we are not at this stage promotion material.

We said the game would be won in the first five minutes by our imposing our authority on the match and so at 2-0 up after 10 minutes it all looked good. Rippers slotted from a tight angle from our first short corner and five minutes later Ed Breton was on hand to roll the ball home after Gavin had set him up following some excellent work down the left. At this stage Wanderers looked very ordinary but we then made a few changes and let them back in the game. However for 15 minutes or so they did not create anything but exerted more and more pressure on our midfield. An incisive move down the left cut us open and a sharp shot from the top of the D found its way home. We then missed a good chance to make it 3-1 but two minutes from the break a failure to clear from defence handed another to the home side and we were level.

The second half saw neither side creating any clear cut chances with Wanderers winning the two short corners of the half with which we dealt comfortably. The game began to stretch out with Duffy and Brewer clearing up everything they had to do and Cato his usual tireless self in his new centre-back role. The chance to win the game came our way just before the end with a deft deflection by Chris Valentine from a superb ball in by Chris Brewer was hit first time by Gavin who saw his shot go narrowly wide. As a draw looked a certainty we played the ball from top left corner back to the defence, made a complete Horlicks of possession and gave the two Wanderers forwards the simplest of 2-on-1s against Tricky. There was insufficient time to restart and so we now slip to third in the table.

To be completely frank and having watched the last two UCL homes games neither of the teams on today's showing would be able to keep up with the standard of the league above. There is no coincidence in the fact that we have conceded the last goal in a game more often than we have scored the last goal and so a number of us need to take a harsh look at their levels of fitness. There is one more game before a four-week break so plenty of time to put in a great deal of hard physical work - if the desire is there. David Knapp

2nd XI 1-1 Reigate Priory
After playing two of the top three sides in the league (us being the other) over the last two consecutive weekends it was back to HQ against fifth-placed Reigate Priory - no rest for the wicked, and so it proved...

The side changed yet again (I'm not sure we have had the same side out once this season!) as the Wood brothers left for South Africa, and Andy Selby was also away. The skipper returned from his working weekend (playing golf in Spain), and we welcomed Jamie Brough and Tim Durant to the fold.

The game started well enough with us launching some concerted attacks and looking generally solid. We converted this early pressure when Paul Acutt made it nine goals in 10 matches by rifling a short-corner strike just inside the right post. We continued to dominate, forcing them to hit targetless long balls from their 16s. Having failed to pass it out from their 25 and hit it out, they launched an aerial bombardment. This was similarly targetless, but a missed forward defensive by Tom Merry (work to be done before his liniment cricket tour to Southern Africa) after the ball had gone over Dodie left their quick striker one on one with Heardy. A missed tackle and a decent finish and they had levelled.

A hard core of their players seemed to decide that they missed the autumn internationals and rugby should be the order of the day. Both umpires (or should that be referees) seemed content with this approach and the game therefore got unnecessarily feisty. At half time the discussion was around finding the acres of space, rather than trying to continually press down one channel - not that this changed much in the second half.

The second half continued in much the same fashion. At one point the skippers were asked to talk to both sets of players about the increasingly physical nature of the game. This had been triggered by one of their player's objection that we had shot at goal... In truth the second half was probably fairly even in terms of territory and possession but I suspect that it was us that were the more disappointed at the final whistle.

If we can clear a potential banana skin away against Epsom, who are currently propping up the table, then we will remain unbeaten this side of Christmas - which after last seasons trials and tribulations would be a commendable effort. A bit of consistency around availability should see us well placed to continue this form in the New Year and mount our charge for the top of the table. Rob Merry

Reigate Priory 7-0 3rd XI
Nigel Hawes announced last week that he was refusing to submit match reports until the 3rd XI win a game. Or score a goal. Or he keeps a clean sheet. Even against ladies.

4th XI 6-1 Aldershot
Report to follow.

Ladies 1-1 Wimbledon
Saturday saw us playing a struggling Wimbledon at 10am at home. We started the first of our 2 matches for the day well, moving the ball around easily and dominating the game. We had a few near missing with a shot going just wide of the goal and a few balls whizzing past the goal but with noone quite being able to get on the end of them! We won a couple of penalty corners too but failed to convert. Wimbledon weren’t really in the game although eventually won themselves a penalty corner just as the whistle indicating the end of the first half was blown. They pushed all their players up and although we valently defended they managed to hammer the ball into the goal leaving us 1-0 down at half time completely against the run of play.



We knew we deserved better and were determined to settle the score in the second half. However the goal had obviously given Wimbledon some much needed confidence and they pressurised us well. We weren’t the dominate side we had been in the first half. Again we conceded penalty corners but thankfully defended them successfully, Steph in goal making some awesome saves. We kept fighting on and soon won ourselves a penalty corner. This time a quick slip back to Vikki from the top of the circle was intercepted by Gayle who swept the ball beyond the keeper into the goal. We had levelled the score. Although we continued to fight hard for another goal it was not to be our day for three points. The score ended 1-1 and leaves the ladies without a win in seven matches. Jackie Waite


Ladies 1-2 School
Saturday afternoon saw the OC Ladies play the girls school team and having won last year the OC ladies were ready to retain the title...

With the school lacking a keeper it was decided that Goalie and Nigel H would don the pads at either end. Which given they were lying in the Hawes marital bed together only hours before sipping their morning coffee seemed appropriate as their sexuality had been called into question - for the record I legged it to my morning match and left them to it!

The game nearly started on time but some underhanded tactics from Beardy Hawes meant the oppo had clearly been told who to mark and who to put under pressure - where is you allegiance Hawes! As the game started both teams seemed to be lacking some pace and structure, probably the cold winter air and a couple of sneaky beers hadn't helped. Oh and the fact that the OC ladies had already put in one game that morning!

Eventually the game flowed with both sides making strong advances on their oppos other halves. It was the school girls that opened the score following a strong drive down the right and eventually the cross was put in for one of their players to sneak it past Goalie! Now he is Mens National League standard keeper, the goal scorer an 18 year old school girl! However in his defence (and I could tell from the sideline!?!) there appeared to be an infringement before the goal which was not blown but many of the girls (and the one she-man) stopped to watch!

The OC ladies then decided to wake up for 10 minutes and following a sustained period of pressure a run from mini Mezz down the right meant her cross allowed OCLHC to pull back the equaliser before half time. Dora picked up the ball and with her silky skills slotted the ball past Nigel (superman dive) Hawes! 1-1.

As the second half started the tension showed with the odd niggling tackle going in here and there. Rob and Duncan obviously needed to control the game and to get a closer look at young ladies they kept pulling them to one side for a quick chat! Finally with 15 mins to go before the end the support on the sideline obviously spurred on the school girls as they made another break from mid field down their right and promptly put the defence under pressure! The ball eventually squeezed between Goalster nether regions as he hadn't quite managed to do the splits in time! You see girls can get balls into small places! Final score 1-2 - oops! Well we will get the victory next year!

Thank you to Dunx and Big Mez for umpiring. Also to Nigel and Goalie for keeping or should they be thanking us after they reconfirmed their love of women by watching 10 fit young ladies running around in front of them! There were also another 10 fit ladies there but apparently we are past it! Goalster given your recent drought I thought you would be up for anything! Helen Hawes