Pre-league wobble

1st XI 1-5 Wanderers
Not the ideal result the week before the first league game but with a mix of 1s and 2s and good test for a number of fringe and new players and guys who could be called on to fill in gaps as the season progresses. A good first 10-15 minute spell saw us have the lion's share of the possession without looking dangerous and being caught on the break by an efficient and well organised Wanderers side. Wanderers deservedly ran out comfortable winners leaving us to lick our wounds against a team who have always given us a hard time, even with a full team. League action commences next week with our first mact against the well fancied Woking team on their new pitch at Goldsworth Park.

Match report September 18 2010

The league season is still a fortnight away but the 1st XI and Ladies XI turned in good performances away from home to beat Epsom and Surbiton


Epsom 2-3 1st XI
Following the creditable performance against Teddington last week we followed up with a heartening victory against Epsom who finished second in and were promoted from the league in which we play this season.

A poor warm up due to our not meeting on time as opposed to Epsom's efficient and well structured warm up not surprisingly produced a first 10 minutes where we were off the pace, Epsom moving the ball around well but without creating too much. Coops was called in to play a couple of times dealing efficiently with what came his way. As we settled in to the game we began to produce some very good hockey with Danny P and Adam Davies very effective down our left. Danny provides a completely different dimension to our play as evidenced late in the game when setting up our third goal. As it was we went in at half time 1 - 0 down, Epsom scoring their one and only first half short corner with our having had sufficient chances to be on level terms. On occasions we made the wrong choice of pass or going alone instead of making things easy but this will come in time. Disappointingly we created chances but only one corner.

In the second period we tightend up our play and allowed Epsom to play the ball around without their looking dangerous in the last quarter with our, in turn, loking effective on the break. Epsom won a number of short corners which were dealt with very well by the defence and Coops in goal but as they pressed our first goal arrived with Rory shooting home at the second time of asking. A rapid break and 1 touch hockey saw us score our second as the ball went from our 25 to the goal in 3 touches, Gavin finishing with his customary coolness. Rory added his second and our third with a top draw finish following another excellent move from our half, started up by Danny.

For the next five minutes we stopped playing the hockey that had served us well and allowed Epsom to snatch one back but for the last 5 went back to the transfer hockey we had been playing and should have scored at least one more from very good positions.

This was an extremely important result and performance with the league 2 weeks away but as always with games at this stage of the season there are a number of important aspects on which we have to work. David Knapp

Surbiton 1-2 Ladies XI
Click here for match photos
A really gutsy performance to start the season, one in which we were under the cosh for much of the first half but defended well and scored twice from defensive hits through Philly Denman and Georgie Syms. The second half was more even although we made things hard for ourselves by relaxing in the last five minutes, gifting Surbiton a goal with a misplaced pass and then having to survive a late flurry of attacks and short corners.

Callum Giles sinks 1st XI

The 1st XI lost their pre-season warm-up against Teddington 6-2 over four 20 minute periods.

“The only difference was Callum Giles who scored four out of eight shorts whilst we scored one from nine,” explained newly-appointed manager David Knapp, who surprised everyone by not turning up in his kit in the hope of a game.

“We were excellent with DP left midfield, Dan Marshall left back, Nick Lewis up front and Cookiey right back. The chuckers went 0 – 3, 1 – 1, 0 – 0 and 1 – 2, with the other two goals from counters when we over pressed. We dominated 60% of the game and they have great expectations of being in the top 2 of the Prem A but I reckon they will finish mid table.”

Season slowly grinds into life

The combined might of the Vets and the 3rd XI took on Spencer on Saturday in a friendly organised by Chris Bents. This was a notable match for OCs as for a pre-season game we had 14 players (nine vets + 19 twelfths (4 3rds and a 4th!) present and correct at the start time and so provided two rolling umpires and had a sub in hand.

Pre-match conversation mainly came from making introductions and the Vets saying "the oppo look a bit young" then we realised that this was not a Vets match. This became particularly apparent when the game started and Spencer romped into a 3 - 0 lead at half time in a game played at a breathless pace.

The half time conversation revolved around all of the players and subs saying " the oppo are a bit young and good " but agreeing that they would tire if we could just keep the ball and make them run around not us.

The fairy godmother waved her wand and in the second half OCs imposed themselves on the tiring Spencer side and the half was narrowly lost 3 - 4 with our goals coming from Ross Alexander, Jon Gray and Stuart Sleeman who became joint top scorers for the season even if only briefly. Andy Eve