Match report October 1 2011

It may have felt like midsummer, but the full season got underway this weekend and suffice to say it was an inauspicious start with only the 2nd and 3rd XIs winning ... and even then the 3rd XI's victory was over the 4th XI!

Reigate Priory 4-3 1st XI
Last season we had two great games played in good spirit agasint a friendly Reigate team and yesterday we renewed battle in similar fashion. Apparently it was the 1st October (officially autumn) yesterday as the first league game suddenly appeared. Now I'm all for playing hockey in the sun but it was ridiculously hot and ultimately the undoing of us. Mainly because Reigate seemed to have about 22 players as they continuously rolled players on and off and we had the bare minimum as a couple of our regulars booked in for their pedicures (or splinters or something) and others had work commitments (who's buying kitchens in this economic downturn really?)

Turning up 30 mins before the game to see Reigate looking like they'd been there for well over an hour, just completed a training session and about to properly warm up we knew we'd be in for a difficult game. Reigate started fast as we expected moving the ball around and making us work for possession and breaking down the flanks at speed. It was a rather harsh short corner for an alleged stick tackle (naturally the defender saw is as a stick block by the attacker who I'm sure gave a wry smile) in the 25 after five mins that gave Reigate their first short corner of many.

Remembering back to previous encounters and how slick the Reigate corner routine has been we were rather suprised that a good old fashioned strike from the top just inside the post put us 1-0 down. We then started to get back into the game with Woody making some strong runs through the middle, CV causing all kinds of troubles along the baseline and it was off another of these situations that we put the ball in to level the scores. Then we scored a couple more and found ourselves in control of the game before another short corner shortly before half time brought Reigate back in the game. Again, none of this fancy move the ball around just a straight strike - how odd in this modern day and age of hockey.

At half time we talked about how hard it would be to continue at the pace of the first half especially as Reigate would be able to rotate players but there would be more goals in the game. And that was how the second half went. They scored another short corner and then it was a slightly tired pass that was picked off and Reigate broke at speed and converted the opportunity. As we continued to push forward looking for an equalizer the ball was drilled in from the right and neatly deflected by one of our attackers and the lose ball slapped in...goal given by the closest offical..Reigate protested claiming a foot I think and somehow the decision was overturned despite allegedly no other officals seeing alleged foot allegedly if you get what I mean. But that's the way game goes.

So we paid the price for only having the bare minimum players and a lack of professionalism before the game - a couple of things easily rectified. But given the circumstances the effort and commitment by everyone on the pitch was fantastic. Rex Harrison

Ladies XI 1-3 Wimbledon
So this week the ladies played Wimbledon who we knew were a good side and it was going to be a tough match. However we were not prepared for one of the hottest days of the year, a scorching 29 degrees on 1st October and then playing in the midday heat to top it off. We started off strongly with lots of possession and good passing amongst us all but as the half went on the possession evened out and both sides had opportunities to score but the half ended with a fair 0–0.

The second half again started well with the added bonus of a second quick break for water half way through. After about five minutes of play our first goal of the season was scored after a bit of a battle in the D but definitely deserved.
Unfortunately with about 15 minutes still to go our standard of play began to drop, the heat was getting to us and although our fitness had improved due to the nature of the game and the constant end to end running we became totally drained and the errors crept in. They scored their first and second goal in a similar style to our goal, some battling in the D. Their third and last came from a clean strike at the top of the D on a short corner. With nothing left in our legs the final score was 3-1 to Wimbledon. Sarah Mann


2nd XI 4-1 Reigate Priory II
A much-needed opening weekend win for the 2nd XI in the new league

3rd XI 5-1 4th XI
despite the 4.30pm start time it was a still a searingly hot afternoon, and for the first 40 minutes the 4th XI kept in the game. Partly because of some wasteful possession in the attacking third by the thirds and also because of the constant danger posed by Smeer and Louis. One-all at half-time was fair, but two goals in as many minutes early in the second half killed off the game as a contest, although the final two goals late on were a little harsh on the 4th XI.

Barnstormers 1-5 Sunbury and Walton Hawks Men's Vets
Our opposition were unamused by the failure of most of our side (and a couple of theirs) to drag themselves away from the England-Scotland match, and then by the fact we included two Under-35s in our nine-man team. So much so their toys came out the pram and so the 11 v 7 game took place. They won. Well done them.

St. Albans Praetorians 5-3 Hamstrings