Match reports - April 4, 2009

The 1st XI booked their promotion with a 7-2 win over Addiscombe in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggests. The Ladies beat Woking but other results went against us and so we are relegated, but there were two wins for the 2nd XI at Epsom (yes, two) meaning that a win in the final game will win them the title. The 3rd Xi lost an ill-tempered game against Goan 2-4.

1st XI 7-2 Addiscombe
Match photos
Possibly the best day in the club's history started at 10am and ended at approximately 2.30pm with wins for the 1st XI, two for the 2nds, one for the ladies, two promotions and a real chance to avoid relegation. The ladies gritty and impressive performance takes pride of place coming as it did against an experienced and well drilled Woking side and of the four wins the one against the highest odds. A couple of other results going in their favour could see the relegation battle won.

Promotion for both the first and second XIs is a first for the club with the 2nds having the chance to win the league if they win on the 18th April at TD, a remarkable achievement having regard to their sweating on the last few weeks last year to avoid the drop themselves by winning 4 of the last 5 games they played.

So, why the change? At last we are playing as a club. 6 of today's starting line up were not even club members at the beginning of the season but working through the teams have ended up being key players in the 1st XI but more importantly the guys displaced are all playing for the 2nd XI. Being only one league apart there will be fierce competition for places next season and with both teams playing a similar standard the transfer of players between sides will be far easier and have much less an effect on the balance of the teams than would have been the case in previous years.

The biggest disappointment of the season has been the loss of Nick Lewis to his horrific injury and it is this that has been the main dampener on the success on the pitch. Fortunately it coincided with the arrival of Wobble who has been outstanding at the back with his arrival completing the transformation of the side following the introduction of Nick and James Wood, Jonny Hunter, Trickster and Rory. All have played key roles once settling down and into our style of play.

Today's result was a great deal closer than the scoreline suggests. Dave Cresswell's influence was evident in the first 5 minutes as we settled down and played the ball around the team without allowing Addiscombe a touch. Addiscombe were themselves in need of points to avoid the drop and had run us close in November when we squeaked home 3 - 2, scroing late on. As it was we took the lead when Rory at full length steered home a cross but we were unable to add to the lead allowing Addiscombe to level mid way through the first half. A Jonny Hunter short corner drag restored the lead but we did not look convincing as we allowed the oppo far too much space in the middle of the pitch. We did have chances but a couple of good saves from their keeper kept us at bay with Trickster making one fine save with his stick - before he broke it - from a short corner.

2-1 at half time became 2-2 in somewhat chaotic circumstances and there was a tension in our play that was beggining to cost us our domination. We have to stop criticising each other on the pitch and instead support those going through bad patches and pull through. Lack of fitness is a key element in our attitude preferring as we do to grumble as an excuse to make the 10 yard cover run to break down the play.

As it was Eds smacked home a corner closely followed by Gavin deflecting home a James Wood cross having in turn been set up by a superb cross field aerial by Wobble and Rippers scoring a rare goal to make it 5-2 and game over in the space of five minutes. Rory then slapped home a Rippers cross ( his 10th or 11th 1st team goal) and Knapp tucked away the last goal two minutes from time.

A successful conclusion to a good season and one in which we regenerated the side thanks in the main to Cookiey who introduced James, Nick and Jonny. We now have a side that should be able to stay together for a few seasons and work its way up the leagues.

However we have to recognise that to become a more efficient unit we have to work at our fitness and have as full a turn out at training as possible. An increase of 15% in our fitness will increase our ability on the pitch by 30% and this will be needed if we are intent on challenging at the top of the new league next season. David Knapp

Ladies XI 2-1 Woking
Report to follow.

Epsom 0-1 2nd XI
A game which should have been played last weekend had Epsom internal politics not meant they failed to raise a side and were docked points as well. That left them embroiled in a relegation fight and so we expected a tough game and got just that. In the heat, the pace was slow and that enabled us to dominate possession, although both sides created chances. The one goal came on six minutes through Ed Breton, but James Robson had to pull out two excellent saves, one in each half, to keep us ahead. Chris Valentine created no end of problems for the Epsom defence, and in the end we were good for the points.

2nd XI 2-0 Epsom
A result which meant the season and the title hangs on our final game against Surbiton in a fortnight. The win meant we gained promotion at the least, and given Surbiton pulled off a remarkable win at Reigate today to lift themselves off the bottom, they appear to be hitting form at the right time.

This game was decided by two goals from Ed Breton, the first a brilliant solo effort which started on the halfway line and ended with an easy slip past the keeper. The second, shortly after half time, knocked the stuffing out of an Epsom side who looked better than relegation candidates. Andy Duff and Jon Heard were outstanding at the back, Will Stephens tormented the Epsom backs, and Chris Porter did the same to the umpires.

3rd XI 2-5 Goan
Report to follow.