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
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
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