Match reports - March 28, 2009
As the season slowly winds down, the 1st XI kept up the pressure on Wanderers with a 3-2 win at OMWs, but the 2nd XI, unchanged for the first time this season, missed out after Epsom failed to raise a side. The Ladies went down 0-3 to Wimbledon.
OMWs 2-3 1st XI
Well, we came needing three points and came away with three points - just. Our team talk concluded with the very prophetic words of "we don't want to be playing the last five minutes only one goal ahead - we must kill the game off early on. We, er ended up 3-2 up with five minutes to go, having been one up inside five minutes and then Knapp having a stroke saved two minutes later. Two-nil at that stage would have killed off the game. As it was we were indebted to Trickster who had his best game of the season making three fine saves in the last quarter with the pick being the one on one at the top of the D with ball and then man being cleared out of the circle. How different it could and should have been.
We started very well, forcing three corners in the first five minutes with Knapp fortuitously rolling home, rolling being the operative word, the third of them. We continued to press and forced a stroke with Jonny Hunter being impeded when about to shoot but the resulting stroke was poor and easily saved by the keeper. Nevertheless we continued to press and created a series of good chances that we were unable to convert partly due to some excellent goal keeping and our profligacy in front of goal. In between times OMWs looked dangerous on the break, forced some corners and a one-goal lead was never going to be enough.
In the second half we had shots taken off the line, mistrapped when under pressure and began to leave ourselves exposed at the back. OMWs belied their post Christmas poor run of results putting us under pressure and quite clearly saw an opportunity to upset our promotion aspirations. Not to be denied though, Eds dribbled home a topped short corner strike and two fortunate goals had given us the breathing space we required. OMWs are nothing if not fighters and pulled one back when Wobble was deemed to have impeded the oppo's striker and gave away a stroke and earned a yellow. OMWs showed us how to take a stroke. 2 minutes later and whilst down to 10 A sweet move down the right saw Eds crash home our third and with OMWs losing their left half for five minutes for a clumsy stick tackle with 10 minutes to go the game should have been closed out. 2 perfectly weighted passes by Gavin into the D went begging and we were to pay the penalty when OMWs deflected home a crash free hit - five minutes to go. Up stepped Trickster to make those two of those three saves including a left-leg stretch popping the ball round the post.
Hold out we did and so a win next week against Addiscombe - who also need the points for different reasons - will give us the promotion spot we have been yearning for four years.
Last word goes to Rob Parry who umpired his last game (a bit like me retiring four years ago perhaps) as well as he always has done, providing class in the most difficult of roles on the hockey field. Never confrontational Rob has earned the respect of players at all levels and his sanguine and level headed approach has always pervaded through the tensest of situations. Rob, many thanks for your involvement over the many years you have umpired and best wishes for your retirement - as long as that may be ... David Knapp
Wimbledon 3-0 Ladies XI
Keeping it brief it was not our finest hour. We seemed to be a bit lethargic from the start and Wimbledon seemed to be that much quicker and fitter than us, passing the ball around easily and being the team to make the 50/50's. We were not outclassed and are were more than capable of beating the Wimbledon side, we just weren't really with it on the day. There were moments of good hockey and Steph in goal having to pull off a couple of great saves including an awesome double save. There were a couple of short corners each end with Wimbledon being the side to convert.. At half time it was 1-0. In the second half Wimbledon managed to secure the win with two more goals. The final score finished 3-0. Thanks to Goalie for umping. It is not all over yet though we are relying on the two teams above us to lose next week, but if they lose and we win our two final matches, we would actually stay up!! So lets put this match behind us girls and pull out a better performance next week to give a hope of staying up for our penultimate match! Jackie Waite
OMWs 2-3 1st XI
Well, we came needing three points and came away with three points - just. Our team talk concluded with the very prophetic words of "we don't want to be playing the last five minutes only one goal ahead - we must kill the game off early on. We, er ended up 3-2 up with five minutes to go, having been one up inside five minutes and then Knapp having a stroke saved two minutes later. Two-nil at that stage would have killed off the game. As it was we were indebted to Trickster who had his best game of the season making three fine saves in the last quarter with the pick being the one on one at the top of the D with ball and then man being cleared out of the circle. How different it could and should have been.
We started very well, forcing three corners in the first five minutes with Knapp fortuitously rolling home, rolling being the operative word, the third of them. We continued to press and forced a stroke with Jonny Hunter being impeded when about to shoot but the resulting stroke was poor and easily saved by the keeper. Nevertheless we continued to press and created a series of good chances that we were unable to convert partly due to some excellent goal keeping and our profligacy in front of goal. In between times OMWs looked dangerous on the break, forced some corners and a one-goal lead was never going to be enough.
In the second half we had shots taken off the line, mistrapped when under pressure and began to leave ourselves exposed at the back. OMWs belied their post Christmas poor run of results putting us under pressure and quite clearly saw an opportunity to upset our promotion aspirations. Not to be denied though, Eds dribbled home a topped short corner strike and two fortunate goals had given us the breathing space we required. OMWs are nothing if not fighters and pulled one back when Wobble was deemed to have impeded the oppo's striker and gave away a stroke and earned a yellow. OMWs showed us how to take a stroke. 2 minutes later and whilst down to 10 A sweet move down the right saw Eds crash home our third and with OMWs losing their left half for five minutes for a clumsy stick tackle with 10 minutes to go the game should have been closed out. 2 perfectly weighted passes by Gavin into the D went begging and we were to pay the penalty when OMWs deflected home a crash free hit - five minutes to go. Up stepped Trickster to make those two of those three saves including a left-leg stretch popping the ball round the post.
Hold out we did and so a win next week against Addiscombe - who also need the points for different reasons - will give us the promotion spot we have been yearning for four years.
Last word goes to Rob Parry who umpired his last game (a bit like me retiring four years ago perhaps) as well as he always has done, providing class in the most difficult of roles on the hockey field. Never confrontational Rob has earned the respect of players at all levels and his sanguine and level headed approach has always pervaded through the tensest of situations. Rob, many thanks for your involvement over the many years you have umpired and best wishes for your retirement - as long as that may be ... David Knapp
Wimbledon 3-0 Ladies XI
Keeping it brief it was not our finest hour. We seemed to be a bit lethargic from the start and Wimbledon seemed to be that much quicker and fitter than us, passing the ball around easily and being the team to make the 50/50's. We were not outclassed and are were more than capable of beating the Wimbledon side, we just weren't really with it on the day. There were moments of good hockey and Steph in goal having to pull off a couple of great saves including an awesome double save. There were a couple of short corners each end with Wimbledon being the side to convert.. At half time it was 1-0. In the second half Wimbledon managed to secure the win with two more goals. The final score finished 3-0. Thanks to Goalie for umping. It is not all over yet though we are relying on the two teams above us to lose next week, but if they lose and we win our two final matches, we would actually stay up!! So lets put this match behind us girls and pull out a better performance next week to give a hope of staying up for our penultimate match! Jackie Waite
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