Match report November 26 2011

A pair of head-to-heads with London Academicals ended with 2-1 wins for the 1st and 2nd XIs in two hard-fought encounters, the Ladies picked up a much-needed point with a 1-1 draw at Spencer, while there were defeats for the 3rd XI and both Veterans sides

1st XI 2-1 London Academicals

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Two weeks ago we set ourselves the target of 10 points from the last 4 games and with 2 down 6 points have been secured from the teams in the promotion mix. Following the victory against Barnes last week it was crucial we took soemthing from today's game albeit without both Woody and Hunts, the latter making his 2s debut.

Ultimately the game was very scrappy with neither side wanting to lose and as a result snuffing out the other side in a dour midfield battle with cards a plenty. We took the lead following a super run from CV who set up Bentsy whose shot was stopped on the line ( possibly just over the line) and Rippers despatched the stroke. CV had a vintage first 15 minutes carving holes in the Academicals defence with deft touches and using the space behind the defence well. The lead did not last long and Academicals drew level with a low dragflick to Coops left but we should have regained the lead twice when great breaks just of the half.

The tight game was dominated in the second half by 3 or 4 more green cards, 5 yellows and a red, our receiving 3 yellows and Academicals 2 yellows and a red. The match was just not that type of game and to an extent ruined the flow. Nevertheless we profited scoring our second through a Rob Merry short corner strike 7 minutes from the end having weathered heavy pressure for the 5 minutes we were down to 9 men. No question that the Dean defensive drills helped us defend with reasonable ease.

With time running out and Academicals down to 10 following the red, we made the cardinal sin of trying to score a third with a minute to go instead of keeping the ball in the opposition half and a break resulted in a stroke being awarded to Academicals with 20 seconds to go. Untypically for Rhys it was fired wide and we held on for a massive win.

We possibly shaded the game and deserved the win but Academicals did have a golden opportunity to level the scores but spurned the chance and how important will that be at the end of March? Rolf Harris

London Academicals 2nd XI 1-2 2nd XI
A clash with the league leaders with both teams on home turf was always going to be hard fought battle. But one that we were up for, no hangovers was detected on the side of the pitch. The day did not start so well, with Peeps pulling his back before even stepping out on the pitch. Luckily though the Nick offered to drop Hunts at Twickenham after the game leaving us with 12 for the game or so we thought.....

The captain had made the decision to play with is bro up front, a risky one but a decision that certainly paid off. The game started with us moving the ball around well, keeping possession but not really penetrating the London Ac’s defence. We used Chris OND and Hugo at the back to distribute the ball.

We did start to get the ball up to the Lewis Bro’s with Hunts, Guessy and JP making the runs and distributing it well. The 1’s arriving for their game offered some good support (and abuse) which really help motivate us, so thanks to them for using their voices.

Lewis and Lewis were starting to create some opportunities, if only Lewi had started to anticipate his Nick’s 3 “perfect” passes into their D. The other injury was to Nick Phillips, his first game of the season for the 2’s and seemed to settling into the team well, until pulling up with a Hamstring problem.

Going in at half time we all level probably a fair score line . The first 20 minutes in the second half would be crucial; we had a take the game to them. In the second half we started to win some short corners. The captain had made another good decision that he should strike the first, then mix it up with Hunts flicking it. Alex stuck the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Lewis brothers were combining well up front and starting to make some great runs down the line. This started to put more pressure on. With another shorty coming, the ball was struck in in front of the keeper and JP getting his stick in front, slotting the ball into the roof of the net. 2-0 up with 10 minutes left, we did have some nervous moments. We switched off at the back, which was rare, I thought Mez, Alan, Hugo and Chris OND kept us pretty secure all game, instead of We had to hold out for one more minute before the final whistle. Did feel like a long minute, especially from the sidelines.

We did hold out and the game finished 2-1. Thanks to London Acs for playing in a very enjoyable well spirited match, we are looking forward to the return fixture. MOM goes to Chris OND, for being extremely influential throughout the match. DOD Peeps, sorry mate I know its harsh! CB

Spencer 1-1 Ladies

3rd XI 3-6 Surbiton
No complaints with the result as we went down to a Surbiton side who oddly were below us in the league at the start. They dominated the first half to go into the break 2-0 up, but a much better second-half performance saw us level at 2-2 before Surbiton again upped a gear and scored three quick goals. Honour in defeat, and relief we only have to take to the pitch with Surbiton's boorish bearded defender once more this season.
Hamstrings 2-3 Maidenhead

East Grinstead 12-0 Barnstormers

Match report November 26 2011

A pair of head-to-heads with London Academicals ended with 2-1 wins for the 1st and 2nd XIs in two hard-fought encounters, the Ladies picked up a much-needed point with a 1-1 draw at Spencer, while there were defeats for the 3rd XI and both Veterans sides

1st XI 2-1 London Academicals

Click here for match photos
Two weeks ago we set ourselves the target of 10 points from the last 4 games and with 2 down 6 points have been secured from the teams in the promotion mix. Following the victory against Barnes last week it was crucial we took soemthing from today's game albeit without both Woody and Hunts, the latter making his 2s debut.

Ultimately the game was very scrappy with neither side wanting to lose and as a result snuffing out the other side in a dour midfield battle with cards a plenty. We took the lead following a super run from CV who set up Bentsy whose shot was stopped on the line ( possibly just over the line) and Rippers despatched the stroke. CV had a vintage first 15 minutes carving holes in the Academicals defence with deft touches and using the space behind the defence well. The lead did not last long and Academicals drew level with a low dragflick to Coops left but we should have regained the lead twice when great breaks just of the half.

The tight game was dominated in the second half by 3 or 4 more green cards, 5 yellows and a red, our receiving 3 yellows and Academicals 2 yellows and a red. The match was just not that type of game and to an extent ruined the flow. Nevertheless we profited scoring our second through a Rob Merry short corner strike 7 minutes from the end having weathered heavy pressure for the 5 minutes we were down to 9 men. No question that the Dean defensive drills helped us defend with reasonable ease.

With time running out and Academicals down to 10 following the red, we made the cardinal sin of trying to score a third with a minute to go instead of keeping the ball in the opposition half and a break resulted in a stroke being awarded to Academicals with 20 seconds to go. Untypically for Rhys it was fired wide and we held on for a massive win.

We possibly shaded the game and deserved the win but Academicals did have a golden opportunity to level the scores but spurned the chance and how important will that be at the end of March? Rolf Harris


London Academicals 2nd XI 1-2 2nd XI

Spencer 1-1 Ladies

3rd XI 3-6 Surbiton

Hamstrings 2-3 Maidenhead

East Grinstead 12-0 Barnstormers

Match report November 19 2011

A tense 3-2 win for the 1st XI lifted us into the top third of an incredibly tight division, and for the second week running the 2nd XI squandered a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3. The Ladies went down 0-2 in a gritty performance against league leaders Surbiton, while the 3rd XI lost 2-4 at Goan. The Barnstormers recorded their third win on the trot with a 4-2 defeat of HAC

Barnes 2-3 1st XI
Bad time keeping, a regular occurrence, and a sloppy warm up overshadowed the welcome return of Cookiey and Pouls as well as the appearance of Goalster who gives us all an air of invincibility. We paid the price as our sluggish start enabled Barnes to dominate and score in the first 10 minutes from a well worked short corner.

Slowly we worked our way back into the game with CV unlucky to see his shot come back off the post before Jimmy B was on hand to tap home from our first corner. 5 minutes later we were 2 -1 up with Knappy picking up a through ball from Hunts and popping the ball home at the second attempt. We could have added a third before the break but as it was, in this crunch game, a lead at half time was perhaps slightly more than we deserved.

The first goal of the second half was always going to be key and following a period of good pressure it was us who scored, Gavin notching his first of the season finishing wonderfully following a slick move from the back and a rapid interchange of passes. But for a remarkable save by the Barnes keeper and the ball just landing on top of the goal from an outrageous piece of skill from Jonny shortly afterwards, the game would have been killed off midway through the second half but as it was, Barnes had a sniff. However when called on to do so, Goalster was in command and Ports was outstanding at left back and the home side were kept at bay.

The wrong options on a couple of breaks saw us waste 2 very good clear cut chances but as it was, the final whistle went as Barnes won a short corner with the last hit of the game seeing the scoreline end up 3-2 to us.

A huge victory at the beginning of the four-game run that could decide our season.
Rex Harrison

2nd XI 3-3 Wanderers
Cliche time but this was really a game of two halves. After a mix-up at the back early on which allowed Wanderers to take the lead, we hit back within a minute and then made the most of the space created as our visitors pushed forward. With a 3-1 lead at the break, we seemed on course but whatever was said at half-time didn't work. We started to get stretched and Wanderers dominated. With 15 minutes left it was 3-3 and hard to see how we would hold on, but we did, with desperate defending and a late short-corner strike that was ruled out for being too high.

Ladies XI 0-2 Surbiton
A grim top v bottom battle ended with us losing but nobody could fault the ladies for the effort they put in, Tux at the back supreme until cramp ended her day. However, we squandered possession numerous times but could have cancelled out an early Surbiton goal with our one real chance of the second half late on. As it was, Surbiton added a scrappy but deserved second with the last hit of the game.

Goan 4-2 3rd XI
It was a shame to lose 4-2 to a fairly slow Goan side with only the big hit in their attacking arsenal. We should take credit for showing some promise through out the game - great runs and energy (as always) from Dom down the right wing. A nice finish for the second goal from Bruce. Some great heriocs between the posts from Nige and strong defensive tackles from Mr Crumby all helping to keep the score line respectable.

Barnstormers 4-2 HAC

Match report November 12 2011

The 1st XI edged a highly entertaining battle with Winchester 4-3, the side running on empty for the final quarter but holding on for all three points, but the 2nd XI were held to a 3-3 draw by Old Reigatians after leading 3-1. The Ladies went down 1-5 at Barnes, and the 3rd Xi were 1-5 losers to Woking.



1st XI 4-3 Winchester
As MoM this week quite why I'm writing this match report isn't clear. Come to think of it I'm not sure how I got MoM this weekend as I spent more time off the field than..oh hang on I get it...thanks guys.

Anyway, on Saturday we welcomed a youthful Winchester to fortress TD and for the opening exchanges they looked the more determined of the two teams as they chased everything down and put tremendous pressure on our "less mobile" defence. Indeed the first couple of chances fell to Winchester and after winning a short corner they thought they'd scored one of them but a clear foot was well spotted by the umpire.

Despite their supremacy in the opening minutes the more experienced OC heads found a way back in to the game and with pretty much our first attack of the game we found the back line and a cross was deflected neatly over the bar to the relief of their keeper. As it turns out the Winchester keeper was in inspired form being called into action probably more than he wanted to but eventually we broke the deadlock after Bentsy was robbed of a clear goal scoring chance having his stick hooked away at the crucial moment. (Great picture Martin!) Thinking that would take the pressure off we settled into some attacking hockey but suddenly Winchester broke quickly against our back 2 while the rest of our team were still congratulating either Gav who thought he'd scored or the Winchester keeper for making a save he had no right to. Some frantic goal line defending ended up with another penalty stroke which Winchester put away.
The wind was quickly taken back out of Winchester's sails when a crashed ball in found Bentsy unmarked on the p-flick spot and he calmly patted the ball into the goal.

2-1 at half time the talk being about how Winchester wouldn't lie down, would keep chasing and there'd be more goals in the game. Next one was crucial and all that...we must stop saying that as it's invariably the oppo that score it. A short corner from memory.

After that slight set back the old heads again started to dominate possession and did not really have much to deal with defensively. Continued pressure on the Winchester defence led to a short corner and Hunts found some extra pace on his flick that hit the net before anyone reacted - if only he could do that every week. Shortly after the restart Woody with his tireless work rate stole the ball off the Winchester midfield shipped it off quickly left where one of the more experienced less mobile defenders had enough time to pick his pass onto the open stick of CV who made no mistake.

We should then really have scored a couple of more but the aforementioned more experienced less mobile defender failed to score ("a point blank opportunity" according to our resident photographer Martin) after some fine work from Gav drew 3 Winchester defenders. The fact that a long corner was correctly awarded would suggest that a defender got a fantastic goal saving touch on the ball - or that's how I saw it.

To Winchester's credit they didn’t stop and in the 69th minute the evergreen Andy Winnett threaded a pinpoint accurate pass to an unmarked attacker in the OC circle who couldn't believe Christmas had come so early and stuck it in the back of the net. Then bizarrely the chap who should be writing this report contrived to get himself a yellow card for "wasting time" or something as he tried to get the ball back to the centre line but given the whistle was blown immediately after the push back it seemed a little harsh. Despite that, it's fair to say both umpires blew the game very well and worked well together something that is happening more regularly this season. Long may it continue.

So a grateful three points but credit to Winchester for a cracking game and look forward to the return fixture. One of the less mobile defenders

2nd XI 3-3 Old Reigatians

Barnes & Hounslow 5-1 Ladies XI

3rd XI 1-5 Woking

Match report November 5 2011

A much better weekend with wins for the 2nd and 3rd XIs and a draw for the 1st XI at Oxted. The Ladies went down 3-6 to Epsom despite twice holding the lead, but the highlight was the highly enjoyable game between the Barnstormers and the Hamstrings which saw several old faces return to action



Oxted 2-2 1st XI
London Edwardians revisited in a game we should have won by a margin but once again not converting more than one out of 15 corners. Ross was hardly troubled by Oxted whose two goals came on the break and a very good short corner, Baggs scoring both goals. At the other end the Oxted keeper was awesome, making five really top class saves from both open play and corners. the card count was also in Oxted's favour, four yellows including a stick throwing that could become an Olympic sport - certainly lucky not to receive a red.

Although dominating play we found ourselves two down after 15 minutes but won a stroke that Hunter popped home, just, had a goal awarded on the stroke of half time only for it to be disallowed and then struggled to break down the home team before a short corner was evetually converted seven minutes from time, Woody latching on to a loose ball and popping it home. We still had time to win but it was not to be. Oxted were grateful for the point and magnanimous enough to make the point to us. Another two points dropped that could cost us at the end of the season. Rex Harrison

Ladies 3-6 Epsom
Another loss which leaves us at the bottom of the table, but a frustrating one in that we twice led, played some really good hockey, but paid for lapses where we gave the ball away under no pressure.

2nd XI 4-1 Woking III
One of our strongest sides we have out all season, with our availability looking good! This week we were facing Woking 3s, we always enjoy close games when we come up against a Woking side. The match was all set up to be a cracker and what a great game to play. From the first minute we were Putting pressure on them and enjoyed the lions share of the possession. All of sudden they caught us napping and went 1-0 up. I thought this wasn't really appropriate or deserved. It was certainly a rare mistake from our back line. Chris OND and Robin working really well together keeping the centre solid. Mez and Allan giving some width to launch our attacks from, all credit to the defence, Woking could not move the ball through the final third of the pitch all game,

From going 1-0 down is was again good to see us keeping our heads and with from peeps keeping calm and some great support from Hugo we slotted one back. We continued to pile on the pressure and earned a short corner. The keeper having save the first shorty kindly gave the ball back and powered it home. 2-1 at half time and we were looking dangerous without getting to confident we wanted more knowing that the next goal would decide the rest of the match. The difference between this week and the last few weeks was certainly the midfield, with Neil Grimes and Henry Maughan keeping composure on the ball and distributing it to the attach.

With some great passing and some lovely interplay I was kindly put through and tucked it through the keepers legs. The question from here in was how many will it be? Harry and Hugo bossing the midfield we were in complete control and Hugo made a great break one one with the keeper, he went round him and with great composure put the ball. Ferrett, with a hell of strike on the half volley very nearly slotting the ball past the keeper, in fact I think we were all a little perplexed with how the Woking keeper managed to keep the ball out! Looking forward to having you back from injury Ferrett!

We then got a bit sloppy and started trying to much to catch them on the break and too many long balls attempted but alas the job was done and everyone was enjoying their hockey! If we play like that each week we will not only be pushing top spot but having a great time whilst doing! Massive smiles this weekend and looking forward to the next hurdle. Alex Lewis

3rd XI 5-1 Sunbury & Weybridge Hawks
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A fourth win in five leaves us fourth in the table and playing with a new-found confidence. Sunbury put themselves at a disadvantage by turning up with ten, and our 14 men (not all on the pitch at once) exploited that to great effect. The scoreline flattered Sunbury who were under the cosh for long periods but defended with determination, and on another day we could have had double figures.

Barnstormers 4-1 Hamstrings
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An all-OC affair between our two veterans sides was marked by the welcome return of several familiar faces and a superb post-match curry. Dodie Khurshid, on the pitch for the first (and last) time, two years to the day since his career-ending injury, got the game underway and then ambled into retirement, and some highly entertaining hockey followed. Will Stephens and Richie Watkins held the line for the Hamstrings as if they had never been away, and against the run of play the Hamstrings took the lead. One-all at the break, Barnstormers, with Howie superb in the middle, went ahead early in the second half and the game remained in the balance until two late goals, the last, with the final action of the match, a diving deflection by Neal Fox.