Match report December 10 2011
The final weekend of league action before the Christmas break saw the 1st XI slip up against Fareham, the 2nd XI frozen off, and the 3rd XI romp to victory against Sanderstead
1st XI 3-5 Fareham
As games go this was as about entertaining as they come. 2 top of the league teams wishing to play attacking hockey.
We welcomed back Trickster with his new team Fareham and it took one minute for him to make his presence felt when thwarting Rippers in our first attack follwoing great work from CV. Fair to say we controlled the first 15 minutes with CV smacking the post, a loose ball just evading Gaving and crosses coming in with the final touch lacking. to go one down follwoing a swift counter that ended up in a short was a downer, especially as it was a soft goal fromour angle.
Nevertheless we were on equal terms shortly afterwards with Patrick notching our first corner only for Richard Jenkin to score the first of his 4 from Fareham's next corner. at this stahe we were still on top but just could not score. Jenkin was a thorn in our right side looking dangerous every time he picked up the ball but it was not a one man show from Fareham as they soaked up pressure and cuaght uis on the break with swift counters. Two goals in the last 3 minutes of the half hurt but we still felt we were in with a shout.
Will Langmead poached one on his debut to make it 4-2 and we sniffed a way back. Corners came and went, along with a number of Fareham players with yellows but crucially we could not score the third. the post was hit again and whilst down to 10 men Fareham won a short and Jenkin did the rest. Knappy made it 5-3 and push though we did but not have the luck to pull back the deficit.
Fareham were magnanimous in victory and said that on another day we would have won 6-5 but it was not to be.
Hats off to Fareham who came to play hockey and benefitted from their organisation and pace. Never a game that warranted 5 yellow cards and a smattering of greens.
All to play for in the second half and looking forward to the return fixture in March and who knows what will be riding on it? Merry Christmas to one and all. Rex Harrison
3rd XI 5-0 Sanderstead
OC’s finally took to the pitch on a sunny Saturday morning with 14 players, which we were particularly pleased to see included a proper goal-keeper, in the form of Matt Olley. If Matt had been following the 3’s results in recent week’s, he must have been thinking that he would see plenty of action........how wrong......for most of the match he was able to sit on the back-board and polish his stick......no pun intended!
After a 30 minute delay to push-back due to icy patches on the pitch, the early exchanges were pretty competitive, but gradually OC’s started to move into the ascendancy and fluent moves gathered in momentum. An early niggle to Giles saw Nick J introduced to action much earlier than planned.......after several good openings, the ball was slipped back across the D and Nick J converted. Not long after another strong and slick attack end with Giles finshing-off Smeer style on the left post.
From this point on OC’s pretty much dominated for the rest of the game. The constant ebb and flow of subs, did not seem to knock our rhythm, Louis hit the post (twice?), with 2 further goals coming before the break.....Rob finished off off strongly from close in and Nick J later did like-wise.
The second-half continued in the same vein, but OC’s just could net get the ball over the line. Dom had countless great runs and golden opportunities, but it was just not going to be his day ......shooting practice on the menu mee thinks?? Evenutally late-on Nick J came back off the bench to sniff out a hat-trick and seal the 5-0 result. In dying embers of the game, Louis did however manage to hit the right post yet again.....absolute precision shooting always has been his brand!
Robin had brought his full fan club and probably did enough.....when not sitting in his deck-chair at the back......to convince them that he knew which way up to hold the stick. Overall a very strong team performance, which should have delivered more goals, but even more pleasing, it was the first clean-sheet of the season! Worth noting that one of a key defensive rock’s (or blob’s?) was missing! Nick Jocelyn
1st XI 3-5 Fareham
As games go this was as about entertaining as they come. 2 top of the league teams wishing to play attacking hockey.
We welcomed back Trickster with his new team Fareham and it took one minute for him to make his presence felt when thwarting Rippers in our first attack follwoing great work from CV. Fair to say we controlled the first 15 minutes with CV smacking the post, a loose ball just evading Gaving and crosses coming in with the final touch lacking. to go one down follwoing a swift counter that ended up in a short was a downer, especially as it was a soft goal fromour angle.
Nevertheless we were on equal terms shortly afterwards with Patrick notching our first corner only for Richard Jenkin to score the first of his 4 from Fareham's next corner. at this stahe we were still on top but just could not score. Jenkin was a thorn in our right side looking dangerous every time he picked up the ball but it was not a one man show from Fareham as they soaked up pressure and cuaght uis on the break with swift counters. Two goals in the last 3 minutes of the half hurt but we still felt we were in with a shout.
Will Langmead poached one on his debut to make it 4-2 and we sniffed a way back. Corners came and went, along with a number of Fareham players with yellows but crucially we could not score the third. the post was hit again and whilst down to 10 men Fareham won a short and Jenkin did the rest. Knappy made it 5-3 and push though we did but not have the luck to pull back the deficit.
Fareham were magnanimous in victory and said that on another day we would have won 6-5 but it was not to be.
Hats off to Fareham who came to play hockey and benefitted from their organisation and pace. Never a game that warranted 5 yellow cards and a smattering of greens.
All to play for in the second half and looking forward to the return fixture in March and who knows what will be riding on it? Merry Christmas to one and all. Rex Harrison
3rd XI 5-0 Sanderstead
OC’s finally took to the pitch on a sunny Saturday morning with 14 players, which we were particularly pleased to see included a proper goal-keeper, in the form of Matt Olley. If Matt had been following the 3’s results in recent week’s, he must have been thinking that he would see plenty of action........how wrong......for most of the match he was able to sit on the back-board and polish his stick......no pun intended!
After a 30 minute delay to push-back due to icy patches on the pitch, the early exchanges were pretty competitive, but gradually OC’s started to move into the ascendancy and fluent moves gathered in momentum. An early niggle to Giles saw Nick J introduced to action much earlier than planned.......after several good openings, the ball was slipped back across the D and Nick J converted. Not long after another strong and slick attack end with Giles finshing-off Smeer style on the left post.
From this point on OC’s pretty much dominated for the rest of the game. The constant ebb and flow of subs, did not seem to knock our rhythm, Louis hit the post (twice?), with 2 further goals coming before the break.....Rob finished off off strongly from close in and Nick J later did like-wise.
The second-half continued in the same vein, but OC’s just could net get the ball over the line. Dom had countless great runs and golden opportunities, but it was just not going to be his day ......shooting practice on the menu mee thinks?? Evenutally late-on Nick J came back off the bench to sniff out a hat-trick and seal the 5-0 result. In dying embers of the game, Louis did however manage to hit the right post yet again.....absolute precision shooting always has been his brand!
Robin had brought his full fan club and probably did enough.....when not sitting in his deck-chair at the back......to convince them that he knew which way up to hold the stick. Overall a very strong team performance, which should have delivered more goals, but even more pleasing, it was the first clean-sheet of the season! Worth noting that one of a key defensive rock’s (or blob’s?) was missing! Nick Jocelyn
posted by Admin at
15:09
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home