Match reports - February 28, 2009

A good day all round with wins for all but the 3rd XI, with the highlight being the Ladies’ 3-1 victory over Teddington, our first win in more than four months. The 1st XI eased past Cheam 5-0, the 2nd XI beat Walton & Weybridge 2-1 and the 4th XI edged out Teddington 1-0. The 3rd XI’s miserable campaign continued with a 0-5 loss at NPL

Click here for this week's photos


Cheam 0-5 1st XI
We set out to obtain three points with a healthy win, win short corners and keep a clean sheet all of which were achieved. Cheam had surprised us all last week with a 0-0 draw against our nemesis, Bank of England so were not to be taken lightly.

With a settled side, save the unfortunate Nick Lewis who has a long time on the side lines following his brush with a plate glass door, we took the game to Cheam with Jonny Hunter impressive - again - in the deeper of the central-midfield roles and the instigator of most of our early openings. The pitch was a little skiddy and although we scored after about 10 minutes when one of Cookiey's famous reverse stick shots somehow looped over the keeper and ran over the line. The goal at that stage was a deserved return for constant pressure. For the remainder of the half we spent most of the time in the Cheam half without creating any clear chances but instead flailed at bouncil balls with any goal bound efforts handled capably by the keeper. Our 6 short corners came to nought but there was one of the Alexander exocets that the Cheam defence knew little about even though they kept it out. Cheam did look competent on the break so a 1-0 half time scoreline was never going to be enough.

Ten minutes into the second half we notched our second following more pressure play, forcing a short that Nick Woods tucked away after a somewhat unorthodox routine. We had learnt from our first half performance and were spreading the ball wide and up the lines. The third came soon after as another short was converted by Knapp followed by one of the moves of the season and one that has been 14 years coming ! Cheam's only short of the match ( they were unlucky not to be awarded at least two others ) was capably dealt with by our solid defence, played out left, picked up by Knapp, swept up the line, a sumptuous dummy by Wobble to Gavin who laid it on a plate for Rory to slot home. 10 seconds from one end to the other.

Our final goal was from our final short and a wicked flick from Jonny Hunter capping another good performance save the harsh yellow for his first and only foul in the three games he has played for us.

This was a good second half performance on the back of a scratchy first period and one that adds to our goal difference that could be crucial at the end of the season.

Unfortunately no Hunter or Valentine next week but James Wood returns and there will be a recall for Ed Breton having served his time. David Knapp


2nd XI 2-1 Walton & Weybridge Hawks
Given the records of the two sides, this was never likely to be a goal-fest and so it proved, but at least we did enough to banish memories of last week’s loss at Wanderers. Walton may be bottom but they are far from pushovers and they gave us a tough workout. We played far more controlled hockey, Heard, Stephens, Khurshid, Breton and Grimes combining well in some slick moves but chances were not plentiful. Despite dominating the first half we went behind three minutes from the break when a short corner squeezed under the keeper from what was Walton’s first real shot of the game. We started the second half with more purpose, Breton causing problems and stretching the Walton defence, although winning short corners was hardly advantageous, so poor was our routine. We drew level when a neat ball from Breton was well converted by Preston Rutt, and seven minutes from time he scored the winner from close range after some sloppy defending. Our best hockey followed as we stretched Walton’s defence as they pressed for the equaliser, and Breton contrived to fire wide from five yards to tarnish an otherwise good performance.

NPL 5-0 3rd XI
Report to follow.

4th XI 1-0 Teddington
Teddington might be bottom but they gave us an entertaining and enjoyable match. On another day we could have won by a hatful of goals, on this one we could have even been held to a draw. With more subs than the Russian navy, the comings and goings, especially in the second half, undermined our continuity and for the last quarter of the game we were on the backfoot. The one goal came from Steve Harmer who rifled in a strike from ten yards eight minutes into the second half, and Harmer soon after cleared Teddington’s best chance with a overhead tennis smash from a goalbound shot.

Ladies 3-1 Richmond
With new aerodynamic shirts the ladies were feeling confident of a win on saturday. Looking exceedingly smart we took to the pitch to play Richmond, the only team we hadn't played yet this season.

We started well and were in control of the match from the start,passing the ball around and distributing well from the backs of Ros, Rosie, Tux and Rewa. Within 10 minutes however we saw our first casualty of the match as Caz on the right Wing tweaked her medial knee ligament, an injury she has been battling with since November. Reinforcements were at hand in the form of May who had made her usual late appearance having gotten lost on the way to the pitch.........(we were playing at home....) May subbed on for Caz and within minutes was using her pace to aggrevate the Richmond defence and along with Dora putting pressure on the Richmond GK who we suspected was a stand in and not their regular keeps. We had plenty of shots on target and the GK did a great job of keeping them out but before long we broke the deadlock and from some quick passing Dora managed to put the ball away. We were 1-0 up and the first time we had taken the lead in a match since I can remember this season!!!! Still only 1 goal up and still a long way to go we new it was far from over and kept pressing hard. Richmond defended well and caught us several times on the break. At one point Ros being last in line to take a loose player on a break was passed by the player leaving a one on one with Steph in goal, but somehow Ros managed to get back and get a crucial touch on the ball to clear it and prevent a likely equaliser. Before long we thought we had another injury as Dora received an elbow in the face from her opposing player, but managed to regroup and play on. We conceeded a couple of shorts but so did they.We we were the first to capitalise on this as a shot from Nina as right slip was deflected by the keeps into a circle of OC players all waiting like vultures to finsh off. After several more deflections it was eventually Viks that managed to secure our 2nd goal to take us 2-0 up. It looked like we would go into half time in the driving seat until a short blown right on the half time whistle was converted by Richmond to keep them well in touch in the game and we went into half time 2-1 up.

We were not going to let this win get away from us and took to the field in the second half, the midfield of Manny, Viks, Nina, Jax and Liz as usual were working their socks off with Liza and Mez subbing up front and in the defence to provide fresh legs to run around a Richmond side with no subs.Steph I recall made a crucial save 15 minuites in but apart from that was not really challenged. Eventually a match securing goal came for us in the form of a super strike from Manny taking us 3-1 up which Richmond were never going to come back from. A couple more shorts each end but no more goals. The match finished 3-1 a very long time coming, much deserved win for the OC ladies! The new shirts did their job and hopefully if we keep up our hard work our luck will finally have changed. Although we are still bottom we are by no means down and out and a winning streak that we are more than capable of could see us to safety. Come on the ladies!!!!! Thanks to Martin and the Richmond Umps who did a great job. Thanks to the pregnant possy on the side and Snoops and the boys for their support! Jackie Waite

Nick Lewis falls out of a window

Nick Lewis will miss the rest of the season after falling out of a window. As you do. He might have sustained more serious injuries had he not been drunk as well.

"Following an alleged 12-pint drinking binge, Nick was unfortunate enough to lose balance and fall through a window in his Esher mansion," explained the ever-helpful Eds Copleston. "He has suffered severe cuts to his arm and after 20 hours in A&E on Saturday he goes in for an operation to place a cast on his arm and begin rehabilitation.

"This is not the first incident of injury under the influence this season and it is hoped club members will drink more sensibly from now on. As a club we wish him a speedy recovery.”

Match reports - February 21, 2009

A mixed day with a well-taken 6-0 win for the 1st XI over Camberley to keep us in second place (Bank of England slipping up with a draw at the bottom side) but the three other matches all ended in defeat. The 2nd XI lost 1-3 at the joyless hole that is Wanderers’ Kennington pitch, the 3rd XI self-destructed against Kenley, squandering a two-goal lead to lose 3-5, while the 4th XI went down 3-4 in a cracker at Horley

Click here for this week's photos


1st XI 6-0 Camberley
At last an even performance with three goals in the first half and three in the second, with four open-play goals and two short corners.

Although it took us a little while to settle down the re appearance of Cato at the back gave us the solidity missing from last week and with Jonny Hunter showing that last week's excellent performance in the middle was not a flash in the pan we started to boss the midfield. Only when we began to be more patient in the build up did the chances come our way. Our first corner enabled Eds to open the scoring with a strike reminiscent of his golden run three years ago and from then on the game was ours. Gavin kept up his good post Christmas scoring run finishing off an excellent and incisive move started by Chris Valentine.

Five minutes later we won our second corner and Jonny Hunter stepped up to drag flick our third - just reward to his efforts in midfield. In between times Camberley did not make the most of the chances they did create squandering some good opportunities, a couple of last ditch tackles by Cato saving the day. CB was his usual efficient and calm self at right back.

The beginning of the second half saw us go through a stodgy patch but breaking with speed and width Gavin claimed his second and Andy Bennett slotted the ball home from the top of the D - his first for the club. Knapp rounded off the scoring when Nick Lewis laid the ball on a plate. Camberley refused to give up and continued to come at us but again did not look confident in the last quarter and made some good chances into difficult half chances when choosing the wrong option.

Our target of four post-Christmas clean sheets is now very much achievable and with six games to go we need to continue to play with the commitment shown for the bulk of today. Selection will be interesting when everyone is available with some tough decisions likely to upset those who lose out - should we ever have everyone available ... David Knapp


Wanderers 3-1 2nd XI
Report to follow.

3rd XI 3-5 Kenley
A match that summed up the season. Burst of excellent play, two stunning goals, some tight defending … but some abysmal distribution, two soft goals conceded, appalling self-discipline and in the end nothing from a game we should have come away from with at least a point.

Armitage’s two first-half goals were as good as you will see all season, lobbed over the keeper and defenders from an outrageous angle, and we went into the break 3-1 up with a good Kenley side visibly rattled. But with half our side praying that they would not be breathalysed on the way home – amazingly one of them was not Christian Davies who, sober, was tetchy and energetic - and a defence waging war against each other and the umpires, the wheels slowly came off. Kenley drew level with 15 minutes to go and from then on there only looked as if there would be one winner. The last five minutes saw two of our players yellow carded for unnecessary yak seconds after a Kenley attacker had gone for exactly the same (at least Jock got one card on his 32nd birthday) and Nigel Hawes capped the day by saving the ball and then, prostrate, cracking it into his own goal.

Relegation is certain, but there is still pride and no end of fun to be had. But some self-discipline would be good.


Horley 4-3 4th XI
Report to follow.

Match reports - February 14, 2009

The Bank of England have helped destroy the economy, and they pretty much did the same for our hopes of winning Surrey Division One with a 4-1 win over the 1st XI. The Ladies slipped to their fifth straight loss, going down 1-2 at Surrey’s other South African side, Merton, and the 3rd and 4th XIs both lost to Old Reigatians. The only glimmer of light came with the 2nd XI’s 2-0 win over Spencer, but they “won” the game 5-0 after the opposition failed to arrive with a keeper or anyone willing to take on the role.

Bank of England 4-1 1st XI
Another disappointing result at Bank of England against an efficient Bank side who fully deserved the three points. Once again however our ever present self destruct button was in evidence and firmly pressed.

We missed Cato, James Wood and Rippers big time but it could and should have been so very different. The second goal was always going to be the key, we fluffed our lines but Bank did not.

Bank had the better of the early exchanges as we took our time to find our feet but when we did come into the game we played some very good and enterprising hockey creating a number of chances that the Bank keeper dealt with comfortably. Our first short corner was followed by our second and Nick Lewis's shot was stopped on the line by a Bank foot and Knapp put home the resultant stroke. We could have scored again before the break but one goal difference was probably a fair reflection of the first period. At half-time we knew the second goal was crucial.

We began the second half as we finished the first and should have gone two up within five minutes but Knapp missed a golden chance when set up by Cookiey following our best move of the match. Two minutes later Bank were level. A Bank foot was missed on the half way line by an apologetic Sean but full credit to the Bank scorer whose sublime dummy took Trickster out of the game and made a difficult finish look easy. At this point the button was pressed with Ed Breton starting his unjustified tirade against Sean earning yet another yellow card. Down to 10 men and with defensive resources at a minimum we were forced to put the excellent Jonny Hunter to sweeper taking him out of the role he had played so very well at the bottom of the diamond. Five minutes later a sloppy pass gave Bank their second - and again we were penalised by the loss of Breton.

From this point onwards we were chasing the game. A number of shuffles in the pack produced some good moments but we were unable to unpick the 10-man defence of the home side. Bank scored their third on the break with another good finish, we wasted three shorts and even when having the extra player ourselves did not look dangerous. The denouement came with Bank's fourth, a super strike from the top of the D.

Our rejuvenated and youngest side for many years - if not ever - was unable to cope with the need to win a crucial game but fair play to Bank who made the most of their few chances to score four very good goals.

Seriously disappointing but still a huge amount to play for albeit a difficult mountain to climb. Bank must now be favourites to win the league as they are on a hot streak of form and have in the past three weeks disposed of the points above them with consummate ease. David Knapp

2nd XI 2-0 Spencer Saints
Spencer arrived "looking like a bunch of students" according to one onlooker and, true to student form, failed to provide a keeper or even anyone willing to go into goal. As a result, we were handed a 5-0 walkover, hardly a satisfactory state of affairs for the people who had turned up. A decent friendly followed which we won 2-0, squandering a hatful of chances.


Old Reigatians 4-1 3rd XI
We faced a tough challenge against the league leaders Old Regiations, arriving at the ground with four players with the opposition already warming up. At push back we did eventually did manage to get 11 out on the pitch.

We started well with good ball pace moving through the midfield well. Defensively we also looked stronger. Unfortunately we could not hold on to 11 players for long with Jock getting a yellow card. This lead to continued pressure at the back and we conceded. Unfortunately we then went onto concede a second within quick succession.

With 11 back on the pitch we started moving the ball nicely again the midfield with Chris Scott making some great runs down the left then linking well with Andy and Ross up front. This lead to some good chances at this point I will apologise to Armo as he did set Chris B up with a chance that was easier to score than miss (I blame it on the bad knee!).

Unfortunately we could not reach half time without conceding a third. We went into half time 3-0 down. As the team talk reflected we had played some good hockey in the first half and we unlucky to be 3-0 down.

As our captain said go into the second half and pretend its all square. At the back we held strong with Tim, Jock, CD and Ewan all putting in their fair share on tackles. When I oppo did get through Nige was making some great saves. Doug and Chris S we giving as the width and we were starting to exert some pressure on the oppositions goal winning some short corners and getting some shots on goal. And yes Armo, Chris B did also miss another sitter(I blame this on not having my own stick).

We did concede again with Reigate getting through on a counter attack. However we all dug in and never gave up. A few minutes before the end. We got a short corner. The ball came out to Jock who struck the ball sweetly to the left hand post where Doug was waiting to slot the ball past the keeper.

The game finished 4-1. The score line did not reflect how much better we have played compared to previous weeks. If we can perform every week there is hope for the rest of season . Well done to everyone that played it was good team effort all round. Nigel Hawes

4th XI 0-4 Old Reigatians
a thoroughly entertaining match against a side who are our most welcome visitors, playing in the right spirit on and off the field. The scoreline didn't do us justice but the result was fair. Louis Strover could have scored five but all his bullet-like shots went inches wide.

Merton 2-1 Ladies XI
We were in dire need of a win and some much-deserved points to add to our tally. Merton were mid-table and we knew we were more than capable of beating any team in our league on our day – it just hasn’t been our day recently.
However, the match started and it was always going to be an uphill battle against Merton’s 12 - 11 on the field and their umpire. The game was fairly even to start with, some scrappy play from both sides, neither playing to their full potential. But after 15 mins or so we settled and began to play better hockey with good touches, quick passing and some good attacking play. Merton had some good attacking play too which we defended well although eventually conceded a penalty corner. This was where the match became controversial. A shot on goal hit the post and rebounded out onto Sarah’s foot – not toward the goal line though therefore not preventing a probable goal. We expected another shorty and started to get ourselves back into position to defend it, however the Merton umps had other plans. Not being sure which had been hit first – the post as could clearly be heard or the players foot in front of the goal line. Play was stopped to discuss with our umps, and after the discussion, as the Merton umpire wasn’t certain which it had hit, our umps saying it was the post first, he was over ruled and a flick was awarded which Merton took advantage of going 1-0 up. Although we felt this incredibly unfair we relished the challenge and kept our heads up.

After half time the match got even more ‘interesting’. Several calls that should have been shorts in our favour somehow went Merton’s way, our umps blowing in our favour and being told off by the 12th Merton player for blowing in ‘her D’. We did not allow ourselves to get rattled however (well maybe only me on the sidelines) and we kept pushing Merton’s defense with some fast breaks from May and some very quick passing between Niks, Nina and Liz in the midfield eventually saw Liza fire home an equalising goal for her first OC goal, which couldn’t have come at a better time. At 1-1 we were ready for more goals and yet more breaks from May with Snoopy, Dora and Liza pressurising the Merton keeps who made some great saves. We did manage to gain ourselves some short corners though not before time, however failed to capitalise on these. Merton kept the pressure on us too with Tux, Mez, Lucy and Rosie doing their usual sterling job in the defense and Sarah playing as Sweeper having to make some crunching – but fair tackles. After 1 particular tackle in our umps end which the Merton player on the receiving end didn’t like (however was a good tackle from the clear view of our umps), it was time for the Merton umps to step in again (surely not in our umpires half?). The whistle was blown and the cards were being reached for … however, our ump was having none of it as the tackle was clearly good. No card, but a firm talking to from the Merton umps over a clean tackle …

Eventually, and this is where memory fails me in the adrenalin of the match, Merton scored another goal to take them again into the lead which although we continued to fight hard until the very end in true OCLHC style, we didn’t recover from. Maybe this match report is slightly biased and sees things from the OC perspective. And to be fair, the umps was consistent in the fact that the decisions were consistently bad - for both teams, however the worst decision of all was what eventually lost us the match. Well done to the OC ladies, we did have a good game and played some of the best hockey we have seen all season, and most of all for keeping our calm and composure. Thanks to our umps for what must have been a frustrating match to umpire. Jackie Waite

Up? Down? Who knows in league restructuring

It’s a fairly thankless task organising and running leagues, so it’s understandable that every once in a while those in charge need to tinker a little to keep their interest alive. They must be very bored indeed because at the end of this season there is some major tinkering.

Nobody seems quite sure what is going on. The main side affected will be the 1st XI who could be promoted to the regionals with a nifty top-two finish or even end up a league below the 2nd XI if they finish lower then seventh. Lower than tenth and they will play in the same league as the ladies.

Eds Copleston, not always Mr Reliable, reckons as follows for the 1st and 2nd XIs:-

The top club will go into Hants/Surrey Regional League Division 1

The club finishing 2nd will go into Hants/Surrey Regional League
Division 2

The clubs finishing 3rd - 8th will remain in Surrey Division 1

The clubs finishing 9th - 12th will go into Surrey Division 2

This also shows our 2nd XI go into Surrey 1 should they stay 2nd in
Surrey Open

The far more intelligent Dodie Khurshid says:

"Insofar as I can work it out, it looks as if the top two go into Surrey Division 1, then next four go into Surrey Division 2 and the remainder into Surrey Division 3. With Old Whits looking good for first place, it means that we must finish second to get into Surrey Division 1 rather than finishing third (or seventh) and ending up in Surrey Division 2. With Reigate Priory playing well at the moment, winning 9-3 at the weekend, it means we must, must, must keep our league form going."

We will keep you updated as soon as anyone anywhere can work out what is happening.