Match report March 12 2011

A fantastic result for the Ladies who completed the double over Surbiton – defeating them 2-1 - to leapfrog them and go top of Surrey Division Two, while the 3rd XI made it a miserable day at Thames Ditton for our neighbours by beating them 6-4 and, as with the ladies, knocking them off the top of the league. The 1st XI drew 3-3 away Chichester while the 4th XI lost 2-6 at Barnes to spice up the end-of-season relegation battle. The already-relegated 2nd XI drew 1-1 with Wanderers, while the Vets went down 1-0 to league leaders Wimbledon

Ladies XI 2-1 Surbiton
In November, the Ladies went to Surbiton and inflicted the first defeat of the season on them. In the aftermath one of their number, the fragrant Emily Craig, wrote: “I detest Old Cranleighans to the extent that I now experience a physical reaction of loathing whenever I think about them … Suffice to say, we will destroy OCs next time we encounter them. As in pulp them. Puree them. Write their obituary. You get the idea.”


Had the odoriferous Ms Craig engaged brain before spouting, she would have remembered that such comments a) have the tendency to come back and bite you and b) only inspire the opposition to greater things. Ask Marc Lievremont, whose “we all hate the English” remarks returned to haunt him at Twickenham a fortnight ago.

As a result, we had the best availability we have had all season for a match. In fact, we were turning people away. We have always had a good relationship with Surbiton, and hopefully will continue to. But the ambrosial Ms Craig had stirred some emotions, and we weren’t going to be pureed without a fight. So serious was it, several players had even reportedly not gone out drinking the night before.

Surbiton came into the game with 19 goals for and none against in their last three games, and having only conceded four all season. They were also leading the league and, clearly, setting out to write our obituary. Andy Howell’s match report follows ...

The sun was out for a perfect morning to stage a top of the table clash. Surbiton’s pre game preparation was of a team that had a point to prove. Both teams understood the importance of the game, a win for Surbiton would all but confirm them as league champions, a win for OCs meant the league would be back in their hands, but with still a lot of work to do!

The game started with both teams looking to seize the initiative. Both created a number of clear chances to take the early lead. This was a very different game to the one played back in November. A game in which Surbiton like any other team, felt hard done by OCs’ stout defending and never say die attitude to snatch a precious 1-0 win. This game was the two top teams playing open and fluent hockey. Neither sides were willing to give an inch. Chances were created but as the game went on Surbiton began to gain a stronger foothold. This led to the home side having to soak up a number of short corners. Just as all the pressure had been dealt with Surbiton gained another short corner and put it away at the second time of asking. This left OCs with 10 minutes to keep their chances alive. They never dropped their heads and ended the half positively. Even if down to 10 players for a five-minute period.

Surbiton came very close to doubling their lead at the beginning of the second half. These missed opportunities helped OCs grow further confidence and were unlucky not to force an equalizer on a number of early occasions. But the waves of breakdowns continued and with a fast counter attack down the right from Ana, the ball was crossed in close to GK, with May able to force the ball home for a deserved equaliser. This only encouraged OCs that the game was theirs for the taking. This pressure soon resulted in an attacking short corner, resulting in Ana finishing with a rebound from Hel’s straight strike.

Most teams would have gone on the defensive, but with more than 20 minutes on the clock left, OCs went looking for the all-important third goal. Result on a couple of chances going begging. It was now the turn of Surbiton to have their good period of play, resulting in a number of short corners for the visiting team. But this was a game were their routines were not as slick as usual; matched with brace OC defending. In the final 10 minutes, chances were created at both ends. OCs were able to run down the clock in Surbiton’s half and finish with a well thought win full of character, desire and a belief in themselves.

This leaves the season very much open with three teams in a position to win the league.


3rd XI 6-4 Surbiton
This week it was time to take on Surbiton, who came into the weekend as league leaders. It was not going to be an easy challenge. I am going to keep this match report short and sweet and to the point. Mainly because it was quite a feisty game, in which I was concentrating more on umpiring and stopping any trouble rather than remembering what happened in the match, in fact it was remarkable there were only two yellow cards.

Hopefully everyone would agree that it was a deserved 6-4 victory. In no particular order the goals coming from,Will x 2, Richard Nordgreen x 2, Jimbo x 1 and Lewi x 1. Superb debut’s from Seb and Will.

One of our strongest performances this season, however plenty still to be worked on to ensure it is a good finish to the end of the season.

There was certainly a good level of competition for MOM this week, I have decided to give it to Robin Williams for another great performance holding our defence strong and also distributing the ball well around the back. Chris Bents

Chichester II 3-3 1st XI
With 24 names on the team sheets of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs combined on Thursday afternoon the powers of manipulating players was going to be stretched to the maximum for the games last Saturday.

As it turned out the club spirit came to the fore and even though this season has been unprecedented in the difficulties in fielding teams and the lack of commitment, Three sides were fielded, umpires supplied and a win and two draws achieved. Along with the ladies stupendous win against arch rivals Surbiton this turned out to be the best weekend of the season for the club. I only hope that Surbiton ladies were physically sick back at Sugden Road rather than at TD.

Don on the south coast we gutsed out a 3–3 draw with Chichester in what was a crappy encounter and one that Chichester dominated from a territorial point of view but territory is one thing and goals another. Two slick short corners saw us two up at half time, Cookiey and Woody on the end of two clinical moves, a product of us making the most of the open spaces provided by the home side who had to win to keep their feint hopes of survival alive. Neil Pendle was a continual threat as was their young lad up front – bundles of talent and a good prospect for the future. Coops made a number of top saves to keep his sheet clean at half time. We too had our chances in addition to the corners.

One thing Chichester do not do is lie down. We knew they have scored a fair % of their goals in the last 10 minutes and so it was this week. We were battered in the second half but until 15 minutes from the end we were still hanging on to our two-goal lead. Coops and the back four made save and tackle after save and tackle with our experience showing through and occasions, the home side’s lack of experience costing them. Eventually we conceded one and shortly after a second. Looked like only one winner until Cookiey set up Jock who hit a great shot home, yes, Jock…..CB mark II was also outstanding as one of two front runners who received and bounced the ball back so we could build our play slowly. Thanks guys.

Two minutes to go and it was a matter of our trying to hold out for another famous south coast victory. We didn’t as with the last hit of the game Chichester rifled home a short corner to level the game.

A win would have been very hard on the home side. I for one will be disappointed to see Chichester relegated as they play great hockey, are a good bunch of guys and allow teams to play hockey against them without spoiling tactics. They will return and I imagine it will be a straight bounce back.

Well done to the young umpire who handled pressure situations very well, made a decision and stuck to it, consulting with his colleague when needed. Hockey needs rafts of younger umpires but unfortunately he is one of a very small number.

On the day however, pride of place goes to our excellent ladies who now have the league title in their grasp. David Knapp

2nd XI 1-1 Wanderers
Report to follow

Barnes Beavers 6-2 4th XI
An entertaining game but one in which we were undone by an unfamiliar and very bouncy surface, a solid Barnes defence, and our tendency to give the ball away at crucial times. We went behind after three minutes from a short-corner strike but were back on level terms when Andy Eve rifled home a cracking shot. At 1-1 at the break we were optimistic, but the second half was poor, and but for some excellent goalkeeping from Nige Smith the scoreline would have been even less flattering.

Wimbledon 1-0 Veterans XI
What a difference a week makes as the Vets recovered from a dismal performance against Indian Gymkhana to be very unlucky to lose 1 - 0 to Wimbledon the unbeaten league leaders.

The Vets warmed up in an unusual way with 5 of our squad helping out the 4th XI with their youth policy but a rapid drive from Chiswick with the heated seats and heaters full on to avoid stiffening up, aided by the game before ours running late meant that not too much harm was done. The sight of Dom Tucker and Tim Green on the pitch meant that we had the rarity of some real pace in our side in the continued absence of the injured Jon Gray and even substitutes to cover for when our walking wounded decided to limp off. Thanks in particular to Matt Speers, Tony Jones and Rex Bermon for playing despite carrying injuries and to Tim Green and Dom Tucker for helping us out.

The first half was closely contested and notable for the Vets holding possession and playing good hockey particularly in the middle of the pitch with Tommy, Richard Wheatley Tim Green and Sean Prigmore always involved and I cannot remember us giving the ball away cheaply in the whole match.

The first of the walking wounded Matt Speers had to go off injured early in the first half and the look of terror from the defence when the positionally challenged Andrew Eve replaced him reminded them that they were going to have to do all of the defending themselves which they did magnificently.

We turned round 0 - 0 at half time at which point David Burles had to disappear off to go to the National Theatre ( cultured lot the Vets - Guess whether David or his wife booked the tickets! ). Before we had got completely organised following the reshuffle Wimbledon sneaked into the lead with a breakaway goal which was well taken despite the best efforts of our defence.

The rest of the game was highly competitive with Dom Tucker and Tim Green prominent in attack and as the vets pushed for the equaliser Sean Prigmore twice came close with shots just wide of the far post, and Andrew Eve and Tony Jones also nearly achieved a deserved equaliser. The defence were not spectators but stood firm despite playing with a rather attacking full back not in their midst !

Thanks also to Tim Cook and the Wimbledon umpire both of whom made it a great game in difficult circumstances on a bouncy tigerturf pitch in the gloom despite the assistance they were afforded by the players! Andy Eve