Match report December 11 2010
After two weeks of inaction because of the snow and ice, there was a partial return this weekend with a 3-0 win for the 1st XI over Trojans to lift us to third in Surrey/Hampshire 1, a 5-0 win for the Vets over St Albans but a 0-6 loss for the 4th XI against an excellent Walton/Sunbury side.
1st XI 3-0 Trojans
Saturday saw us welcome Trojans to what used to be known as Fortress Thames Ditton. Before we had our wings clipped recently. And before the ice had seen off three training sessions and two games. Could we rediscover our X-factor?
A lethargic warm up suggested maybe not. But we did have two debutantes to welcome (one of whom turned up 20 minutes before the start, took one look at us and had to see a man about a dog). We also had a new team girlfriend on show with our very own Matt (Cooke) suddenly looking positively statuesque. Maybe one of our new recruits had what we were looking for?
All three of them might have been impressed for the first 10 or 15 minutes as we shook off any pre-performance nerves to carve out various chances. The first and best of these fell to Rory who couldn’t convert - but it is important to stress that he in no way had a poor game, nor did he make the wrong choice at any point. The miss, not that it really was a miss, looked irrelevant minutes later when Gavin converted a similar chance. One-nil and the game was only being played in one direction. It looked easy and probably was, but we somehow contrived to make it hard for ourselves, bypassing midfield and forcing the game. Our new belle amie wasn’t so impressed at this point.
Indeed MOM Cooper even had to make a couple of saves, principally from his own defenders. If only he was as sharp in noticing when he had a problem with his straps that would have allowed us to regroup! Nonetheless, the Trojans threat was limited and it came as no surprise when over-25 Knapp doubled our lead deflecting in following good work from Nick Lewis on the left.
Tea and oranges at half time work wonders and thus it was no surprise that, having not had any, we didn’t work wonders after the break. Second half, same difference. Much huffing, some puffing and a tendency to try to score with the minimum number of passes. In the end we only had one more goal to show for our efforts, our third and final effort a well-rehearsed corner converted by Cookie.
The only thing left to do was retire to the bar and debate long and hard who had earned the pleasure of writing this report. And whilst in the end the vote was close, it was hard to argue with the outcome. A couple of spurned half-chances had left me feeling a bit of a burke. Until next time ... Gav Adair
4th XI 0-6 Walton/Sunbury
No matches report, much in the same way Harmer forgot to bake anything and had to rely on shop-bought Christmas cake. Suffice to say we were up against a side who ought to romp this division and who play quick, strong and entertaining hockey and deserved their win. The game was done and dusted within 20 minutes when Walton/Sunbury scored four times - the first in 75 seconds - and thereafter it was damage limitation. To our credit, rather than roll over we raised our game throughout, and aided slightly by the visitors taking their foot off the gas a little, we had more of the second-half chances although they scored the only goal after the break. And so after two weeks of enforced rest we now head to another three weekends off.
Veterans 5-0 St Albans
After two weeks of inactivity and the danger of forgetting how to play at our age setting in, it was a joy to return to the pitch and the joy of drinking some London Pride at the club with our mates and getting out of having to do the Christmas shopping with the other ‘alf.
The team were delighted to see the return of Gordon Shanks who had managed to recover from his “broken toe” during our period of inactivity. There was also this new young 37-year-old on show in the team who had stepped up from the 2nd team, young Master Grimes. Fortunately he managed to fit in with our fluid style of play and occasionally feed our goal hanging forwards who constantly made themselves available to feast on the supply of ball provided by said Master Neil Grimes and the tireless Vets midfield. If we converted all the chances we created we would be dangerous.
So to the goal hangers.
The skipper, you know who I’m talking about, managed to bag a hat trick, Jones bagged one and Jonny Grey helped himself to a deflected goal. The plan A short corner routine seems to be working well with a couple of goals coming from this direction, one a deflection making Eve look good from Grey.
Memorable mention should go to Cook, Pollard and Judge Sleeman for their wonderful officiating of what was a very well natured game and that moment in the 2nd half when four of the pacy members of the squad, Howie, Shaun, Jon and Neil all found themselves available on the right in space when the man in possession, Skipper Eve decided to whack a hail Mary off to the left which unsurprisingly disappeared off the pitch to the chagrin of the said pacy four.
Mention should also go to Richard, Shaun and Wade in defence who left El Presidente in goal wondering why he had bothered to return from that broken toe so inactive was he kept.
I have to say though that the skipper seems to have found his niche as a goal hanger. What he now lacks in pace, he more than makes up for in his ability to hit a ball generally in the right direction! Tommy Trinder
1st XI 3-0 Trojans
Saturday saw us welcome Trojans to what used to be known as Fortress Thames Ditton. Before we had our wings clipped recently. And before the ice had seen off three training sessions and two games. Could we rediscover our X-factor?
A lethargic warm up suggested maybe not. But we did have two debutantes to welcome (one of whom turned up 20 minutes before the start, took one look at us and had to see a man about a dog). We also had a new team girlfriend on show with our very own Matt (Cooke) suddenly looking positively statuesque. Maybe one of our new recruits had what we were looking for?
All three of them might have been impressed for the first 10 or 15 minutes as we shook off any pre-performance nerves to carve out various chances. The first and best of these fell to Rory who couldn’t convert - but it is important to stress that he in no way had a poor game, nor did he make the wrong choice at any point. The miss, not that it really was a miss, looked irrelevant minutes later when Gavin converted a similar chance. One-nil and the game was only being played in one direction. It looked easy and probably was, but we somehow contrived to make it hard for ourselves, bypassing midfield and forcing the game. Our new belle amie wasn’t so impressed at this point.
Indeed MOM Cooper even had to make a couple of saves, principally from his own defenders. If only he was as sharp in noticing when he had a problem with his straps that would have allowed us to regroup! Nonetheless, the Trojans threat was limited and it came as no surprise when over-25 Knapp doubled our lead deflecting in following good work from Nick Lewis on the left.
Tea and oranges at half time work wonders and thus it was no surprise that, having not had any, we didn’t work wonders after the break. Second half, same difference. Much huffing, some puffing and a tendency to try to score with the minimum number of passes. In the end we only had one more goal to show for our efforts, our third and final effort a well-rehearsed corner converted by Cookie.
The only thing left to do was retire to the bar and debate long and hard who had earned the pleasure of writing this report. And whilst in the end the vote was close, it was hard to argue with the outcome. A couple of spurned half-chances had left me feeling a bit of a burke. Until next time ... Gav Adair
4th XI 0-6 Walton/Sunbury
No matches report, much in the same way Harmer forgot to bake anything and had to rely on shop-bought Christmas cake. Suffice to say we were up against a side who ought to romp this division and who play quick, strong and entertaining hockey and deserved their win. The game was done and dusted within 20 minutes when Walton/Sunbury scored four times - the first in 75 seconds - and thereafter it was damage limitation. To our credit, rather than roll over we raised our game throughout, and aided slightly by the visitors taking their foot off the gas a little, we had more of the second-half chances although they scored the only goal after the break. And so after two weeks of enforced rest we now head to another three weekends off.
Veterans 5-0 St Albans
After two weeks of inactivity and the danger of forgetting how to play at our age setting in, it was a joy to return to the pitch and the joy of drinking some London Pride at the club with our mates and getting out of having to do the Christmas shopping with the other ‘alf.
The team were delighted to see the return of Gordon Shanks who had managed to recover from his “broken toe” during our period of inactivity. There was also this new young 37-year-old on show in the team who had stepped up from the 2nd team, young Master Grimes. Fortunately he managed to fit in with our fluid style of play and occasionally feed our goal hanging forwards who constantly made themselves available to feast on the supply of ball provided by said Master Neil Grimes and the tireless Vets midfield. If we converted all the chances we created we would be dangerous.
So to the goal hangers.
The skipper, you know who I’m talking about, managed to bag a hat trick, Jones bagged one and Jonny Grey helped himself to a deflected goal. The plan A short corner routine seems to be working well with a couple of goals coming from this direction, one a deflection making Eve look good from Grey.
Memorable mention should go to Cook, Pollard and Judge Sleeman for their wonderful officiating of what was a very well natured game and that moment in the 2nd half when four of the pacy members of the squad, Howie, Shaun, Jon and Neil all found themselves available on the right in space when the man in possession, Skipper Eve decided to whack a hail Mary off to the left which unsurprisingly disappeared off the pitch to the chagrin of the said pacy four.
Mention should also go to Richard, Shaun and Wade in defence who left El Presidente in goal wondering why he had bothered to return from that broken toe so inactive was he kept.
I have to say though that the skipper seems to have found his niche as a goal hanger. What he now lacks in pace, he more than makes up for in his ability to hit a ball generally in the right direction! Tommy Trinder
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