Match reports February 12 2011
A good all-round week with wins across the board, but one overshadowed by a serious injury to Stuart Sleeman in the Veterans match. He suffered the three fractures and a dislocated ankle when he clashed with the goalkeeper. Our best wishes go our to him.
1st XI 1-0 Bournemouth
Another good and hard fought win against Bournemouth who made the long trip up for a 13.00 start which was a very civil decision of our fixture secretary but not picked up by Knappy who told everyone it was an 11.30 start before the opposition’s skipper put him right. Not too sure anyone would have been happy with a 10.30 meet for a 13.00 start….
Sticking in the main to the side that battled hard against Southampton and came home with the spoils, the game was a near repeat of the first game v Bournemouth. Early pressure from them, 2 top short corner saves from Ross and then concerted pressure from us, an inspired performance from the Bournemouth keeper who kept us at bay, a number of short corners to us that were comfortably dealt with by the away defence and some top play by us. Just as we appeared to be becoming frustrated we won a short corner at the death of the first half and Cookiey was again on hand to deflect the ball home. Fair to say he had badgered us all to use this corner, but you have to play difficult to get.
The second half was again one where we had the balance of play but were unable to score a second. Great save by Danny Poulsen on the line, but unfortunately to deny Cookiey his second with a wicked reverse stick shot. More corners came and went with Bournemouth having sufficient character to look dangerous on the break. We held out and as 1 – 0 wins go, this was as comfortable as they come.
The game was played in great spirit and great that Bournemouth like to play good hockey and also allow us to play. Both games against them in the top few of the games played so far this season.
Havant this week with a score to settle following the concession of 2 poor late goals last time around that enable them to sneak a victory. David Knapp
Ladies XI 7-0 Reigate Priory
Once we’d all found our way out of the local forest and found the pitch (Helen), Old Cranleighan Ladies started off in fighting form, all ready for this game against Reigate Priory Ladies 2s.
We started off with a strong attacking move with quick one-twos into the opposition’s half. Keeping up this team work, with some good dispersal of the ball and May speeding down right wing, soon our attempts on goal by Michelle, Emma and Philly landed us a short corner. Sarah Mann made short work of this and got a straight strike into the corner of the goal.
The first half continued in this vein with good movement from the middle of the field by Philly, Anna and Jax, until Sarah Mann pushed forward again to put another in the back of the net. We finished the first half 2–0 up.
After a rousing half time talk we put into practise our training sessions’ ‘quick-shots-on-goal’ technique. We were communicating well and even giving the ball round the back a try between Tux, Mez, Lucy and Helen. We pushed forward to attack and had several close calls as May and Jax struck balls across the D which were either not picked up or Reigate cleared. The pressure finally paid off and Sarah Mann did the unspeakable reverse flick into the top right hand corner of the goal (if Goalie hadn’t been umpiring he would have looked away!). Sarah was on fire and closely followed this goal with another, this time with a ‘take-no-prisoners’ strike from the top of the D from open play.
At 4-0 up we were on a roll and kept up the pressure against the Reigate goalie, though there was the odd break from Reigate to keep us on our toes - one of which saw Julia being pressured and coming out on top in a 1 on 1 situation.
May and Michelle now took up the scoring mantle and tucked another goal away each with persistence and good placing by the posts. This took us to 6-0, at which point Helen found the perfect run to take her upfront for a well placed cross, so that she could whip the final goal into the bottom right.
The game finished 7-0 – hopefully Manny is going to score 4 goals everytime she comes back from holiday! Sarah Tucker
Old Kingstonians v 2nd XI
3rd XI 7-1 Leatherhead
We faced Leatherhead this week, I have to say I was rather worried when I found half the team in the bar drinking beer and watching the rugby before the game, in true 3rd XI fashion.
Starting off with a 3-4-3 formation. The goals started to come with Dickie getting the first (no it was not a reverse stick in the top corner). Andy P got the next one with a sweetly worked move and a shot struck past the keeper, leaving him no chance.
Alex Lewis got the third, coming from a short corner, hit straight at the keeper although, a connection was defiantly made as I could not even see the ball from the touch line.
Leatherhead caught us napping at the back and managed to pull one back. That proved to be the only strike that got passed Nige (I play better after three pints) Hawes.
Two more goals came from Alex and Ross before half time. After half time we went back to our traditional 4-4-2 and closed the game out.
To summarise my rubbish match report: the goals came from:
Andy P x 2
Alex L x 2
Ross A x 2
Dickie x 1
The score line eventually finished 7-1. That’s 14 goals in two games, what does that say about the injured Captain? That is not an invitation for your opinions. CD gets MOM this week, this is given for consistency of performances over the last 4 weeks. DOD goes to Jock, for only getting one decent photo of Nige sticking his finger up and the camera. Thanks again to Nick Lewis for umpiring us. Chris Bents
Sanderstead 0-4 4th XI
A somewhat beaten and battered OC team eventually all turned up to play Sanderstead – several carrying ageing aches and pains, plus no substitutes! The future certainly did not look bright…....but the side was predominantly made up of the same bodies that in recent week’s have started to play purest 4’s hockey in many a year….. the Surbiton game excepted.
Sanderstead were riding in comfortable mid-table, but were really up for this clash against one of the apparent minnows of the league. OC’s started strongly, but without a recognised striker……would they be able to fill the onion bag? The answer came surprisingly quickly………Howie despatched a slow bouncing bomb into the area and Nick J took aim and despatched on the volley from top of the D…..1-nil to OC’s in under 2 mins.
OC attacking control continued and a 2nd goal quickly followed with 4 mins on the clock………Robin Smith rifled a ball across the front of goal and Smeer sniffing on the left post did the honours.
Through the rest of the 1st half, OC remained camped in the Sanderstead half, but could not convert a series of good half-chances…..would they rue the lack of a Louis or Jamal? Sanderstead were also dangerous on the break and only some great last minute defending and several fantastic saves from Matt Olley kept them at bay.
At half-time Grant (skipper for the day) stressed the importance of keeping our shape and warned against complacency…….reminding us of the 2nd half last week …where a combination poor defending and crooked umpiring saw us concede 4 goals, and defeat!
OC’s continued much the same in H2, dominating possession and leaving Matt needing binoculars for the most part. The game however was not put to bed until……after excellent approach work, Robin S got on the end of a strong diagonal ball to the back-post…..game, set and match! …with 20 mins to run. Smeer later bamboozled their keeper with snap shot from close in to complete the rout. The game was seen out comfortably, with Howard performing one remarkable act of time-wasting……the ‘over-the-shoulder moon-ball-over-the-fence trick’!
Overall the score for once reflected the level of OC possession and control…..AND this was the 1st clean sheet of the season. Well done to all and thanks to both umpires....not that I’m still bitter about the Woking umpire from last week! AND…..who needs Harmer??.......in fact who is Harmer? Nick Jocelyn
Veterans v Tring - Match abandoned
1st XI 1-0 Bournemouth
Another good and hard fought win against Bournemouth who made the long trip up for a 13.00 start which was a very civil decision of our fixture secretary but not picked up by Knappy who told everyone it was an 11.30 start before the opposition’s skipper put him right. Not too sure anyone would have been happy with a 10.30 meet for a 13.00 start….
Sticking in the main to the side that battled hard against Southampton and came home with the spoils, the game was a near repeat of the first game v Bournemouth. Early pressure from them, 2 top short corner saves from Ross and then concerted pressure from us, an inspired performance from the Bournemouth keeper who kept us at bay, a number of short corners to us that were comfortably dealt with by the away defence and some top play by us. Just as we appeared to be becoming frustrated we won a short corner at the death of the first half and Cookiey was again on hand to deflect the ball home. Fair to say he had badgered us all to use this corner, but you have to play difficult to get.
The second half was again one where we had the balance of play but were unable to score a second. Great save by Danny Poulsen on the line, but unfortunately to deny Cookiey his second with a wicked reverse stick shot. More corners came and went with Bournemouth having sufficient character to look dangerous on the break. We held out and as 1 – 0 wins go, this was as comfortable as they come.
The game was played in great spirit and great that Bournemouth like to play good hockey and also allow us to play. Both games against them in the top few of the games played so far this season.
Havant this week with a score to settle following the concession of 2 poor late goals last time around that enable them to sneak a victory. David Knapp
Ladies XI 7-0 Reigate Priory
Once we’d all found our way out of the local forest and found the pitch (Helen), Old Cranleighan Ladies started off in fighting form, all ready for this game against Reigate Priory Ladies 2s.
We started off with a strong attacking move with quick one-twos into the opposition’s half. Keeping up this team work, with some good dispersal of the ball and May speeding down right wing, soon our attempts on goal by Michelle, Emma and Philly landed us a short corner. Sarah Mann made short work of this and got a straight strike into the corner of the goal.
The first half continued in this vein with good movement from the middle of the field by Philly, Anna and Jax, until Sarah Mann pushed forward again to put another in the back of the net. We finished the first half 2–0 up.
After a rousing half time talk we put into practise our training sessions’ ‘quick-shots-on-goal’ technique. We were communicating well and even giving the ball round the back a try between Tux, Mez, Lucy and Helen. We pushed forward to attack and had several close calls as May and Jax struck balls across the D which were either not picked up or Reigate cleared. The pressure finally paid off and Sarah Mann did the unspeakable reverse flick into the top right hand corner of the goal (if Goalie hadn’t been umpiring he would have looked away!). Sarah was on fire and closely followed this goal with another, this time with a ‘take-no-prisoners’ strike from the top of the D from open play.
At 4-0 up we were on a roll and kept up the pressure against the Reigate goalie, though there was the odd break from Reigate to keep us on our toes - one of which saw Julia being pressured and coming out on top in a 1 on 1 situation.
May and Michelle now took up the scoring mantle and tucked another goal away each with persistence and good placing by the posts. This took us to 6-0, at which point Helen found the perfect run to take her upfront for a well placed cross, so that she could whip the final goal into the bottom right.
The game finished 7-0 – hopefully Manny is going to score 4 goals everytime she comes back from holiday! Sarah Tucker
Old Kingstonians v 2nd XI
3rd XI 7-1 Leatherhead
We faced Leatherhead this week, I have to say I was rather worried when I found half the team in the bar drinking beer and watching the rugby before the game, in true 3rd XI fashion.
Starting off with a 3-4-3 formation. The goals started to come with Dickie getting the first (no it was not a reverse stick in the top corner). Andy P got the next one with a sweetly worked move and a shot struck past the keeper, leaving him no chance.
Alex Lewis got the third, coming from a short corner, hit straight at the keeper although, a connection was defiantly made as I could not even see the ball from the touch line.
Leatherhead caught us napping at the back and managed to pull one back. That proved to be the only strike that got passed Nige (I play better after three pints) Hawes.
Two more goals came from Alex and Ross before half time. After half time we went back to our traditional 4-4-2 and closed the game out.
To summarise my rubbish match report: the goals came from:
Andy P x 2
Alex L x 2
Ross A x 2
Dickie x 1
The score line eventually finished 7-1. That’s 14 goals in two games, what does that say about the injured Captain? That is not an invitation for your opinions. CD gets MOM this week, this is given for consistency of performances over the last 4 weeks. DOD goes to Jock, for only getting one decent photo of Nige sticking his finger up and the camera. Thanks again to Nick Lewis for umpiring us. Chris Bents
Sanderstead 0-4 4th XI
A somewhat beaten and battered OC team eventually all turned up to play Sanderstead – several carrying ageing aches and pains, plus no substitutes! The future certainly did not look bright…....but the side was predominantly made up of the same bodies that in recent week’s have started to play purest 4’s hockey in many a year….. the Surbiton game excepted.
Sanderstead were riding in comfortable mid-table, but were really up for this clash against one of the apparent minnows of the league. OC’s started strongly, but without a recognised striker……would they be able to fill the onion bag? The answer came surprisingly quickly………Howie despatched a slow bouncing bomb into the area and Nick J took aim and despatched on the volley from top of the D…..1-nil to OC’s in under 2 mins.
OC attacking control continued and a 2nd goal quickly followed with 4 mins on the clock………Robin Smith rifled a ball across the front of goal and Smeer sniffing on the left post did the honours.
Through the rest of the 1st half, OC remained camped in the Sanderstead half, but could not convert a series of good half-chances…..would they rue the lack of a Louis or Jamal? Sanderstead were also dangerous on the break and only some great last minute defending and several fantastic saves from Matt Olley kept them at bay.
At half-time Grant (skipper for the day) stressed the importance of keeping our shape and warned against complacency…….reminding us of the 2nd half last week …where a combination poor defending and crooked umpiring saw us concede 4 goals, and defeat!
OC’s continued much the same in H2, dominating possession and leaving Matt needing binoculars for the most part. The game however was not put to bed until……after excellent approach work, Robin S got on the end of a strong diagonal ball to the back-post…..game, set and match! …with 20 mins to run. Smeer later bamboozled their keeper with snap shot from close in to complete the rout. The game was seen out comfortably, with Howard performing one remarkable act of time-wasting……the ‘over-the-shoulder moon-ball-over-the-fence trick’!
Overall the score for once reflected the level of OC possession and control…..AND this was the 1st clean sheet of the season. Well done to all and thanks to both umpires....not that I’m still bitter about the Woking umpire from last week! AND…..who needs Harmer??.......in fact who is Harmer? Nick Jocelyn
Veterans v Tring - Match abandoned
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