Match reports October 9 2010

A battling 4-3 win for the 1st XI maintained our good start, but we had to fight back from being two goals down inside five minutes. The Ladies also kept their 100% record with a thumping 5-0 win over Purley Walcountians, but elsewhere it was not so good. the 2nd XI also kept their 100% start, losing 0-4 to Barnes, the 3rd XI lost 2-4 at Spencer, and the 4th XI 1-3 at home to Oxted. The Vets drew 2-2 at Woking

1st XI 4-3 Reigate Priory
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Sandown Park is a few hundred yards from TD and we may as well have been there for the first 10 minutes as we were not at the races in this game from the off.

Our warm up was disjointed and sloppy with us not in any way being cocky but for some reason phased as a result of last week. Against a Priory side who have threatened at the top of the league for the last 2 or 3 years we were always going to face a tough task and we were completely bossed for the first 10, losing 50/50 balls and being forced into errors due to their higher tempo of playing and physicality with our being unused to this. Good play saw the away side take a 2 goal lead with a couple of soft goals from our point of view as Priory capitalised on our failings. The second goal followed an excellent save from Goalie but the rebound was popped home, the away side reacting quicker than us to the loose ball.

However we recognised this and got stuck in forcing a couple of shorts and open play chances with Gavin a constant thorn in their side forcing some shorts and stretching the opposition. By half time we had done enough to give us a great deal of hope and belief.

2 down at half time was converted into a 3 - 2 lead 10 minutes into the second half with Gavin scoring 2 and Woody one, Gavin's from open play and Woody's from a well worked corner. Our play in this period was exceptional and we tore them apart.Priory were not to be out done and forced their way back into the game and won a corner that was converted at the second or third attempt as we failed to clear the ball off Goalie's pads following his making a top save from the first corner. All credit to Priory who sensed they were not out of the game and were determined to fight their way back into the match and at 3 - 3 sniffed the chance to win.

Surprisingly for a side as good as Priory their discipline then let them down with a number of negative comments towards the umpires and this eventually cost them as they went down to 10 and then 9. The first card followed our being awarded a stroke for a clumsy tackle on Gavin that Jonny Hunter despatched to put our noses in front and the second for some back chat. Priory pressed us for the last few minutes but we held out without their threatening our goal. This was a really good game of hockey and Priory gave us the wake up call we required playing a brand of hockey against us that we have not experienced for a number of years

This was a big win especially as we only had 11, including the retired manager, as Rory failed to show which is totally inexcusable and was a major factor in our shocking first 10 minutes. We have to avoid playing as lacklustre as we did in the first 10 and become more professional in our match preparation but 2 wins out of 2 including this one against an opposition of the quality of Priory is a huge start to the season. Guys not turning up does not help. David Knapp

Ladies XI 5-0 Purley Walcountians
A good win against a young Purley Walcountians side who paid the penalty for not having anyone able to hold onto the ball in our half of the field. We started slowly but it soon became clear that our defence was solid enough, and once the midfield and forwards woke up, there was only ever going to be one result. The killer goal, the third, came ten seconds before half time, but to their credit Purley kept battling, never allowed us to cruise, and their goalkeeper produced several good saves. Our passing was good as was running off the ball, and so controlled was the performance that Helen didn't swear once.

Barnes II 4-0 2nd XI


Spencer Hurricanes 4-2 3rd XI


4th XI 1-3 Oxted
In preparation for a new season, I always recommend a trip to Waterstones. Whilst some of my well-intentioned team mates favour running, cycling or swimming, I have found that a thorough perusal of the latest top-shelf best-sellers from Messers Ramsay, Oliver and Lawson furnishes one with a more than satisfactory arsenal of culinary inventions to impress one’s captain and fellow team members.

After dispensing with four-letter-man Ramsay as being a little colourful for my purposes, I also gave short-shrift to Jamie Oliver as being a little obvious. I finally decided on Nigel Slater, who’s approach to cake is relaxed, unfussy, yet undeniably smart and modern, indeed a perfect tonic for this, our second game of the season.

If you crave incredible flavours created from interesting, quality ingredients, then Slater’s vibrancy, diversity and assimilation of ideas and influences from all over the world is just the ticket.

For my chocolate fudge nemesis creation, I was searching for a texture and consistency that was moist but hearty, decadent but unfussy. For colour and hue, nothing less than an earthy, rich festival of chocolate was worthy of my task. For flavour, I had set my sights sky high. Taking Heston Blumenthal at his most literal best, I opted for experimentation, attempting a synthesis of nougat and vanilla, rich Bourneville chocolate and Grand Marnier.

However, at 10.30 on a Friday night, I had to settle for a Marks and Spencer packet cake mix. And what the cupboard lacked in essential ingredients, it made up for in strong liquor not to mention hundreds and thousands handily in OC colours. Nice touch.

And the result?

Simply delicious.

Chocolate Fudge Nemesis. Done.

Woking 2-2 Veterans XI