Match report February 18 2012

With half the sides resting over the half-term break, it was down to the 1st XI to keep the flag flying with a 4-0 win over Oxted and the 2nd XI with a 2-0 victory at Woking. The 3rd XI went down 1-5 at Sunbury

1st XI 4-0 Oxted
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Ultimately an emphatic win although a 0-0 scoreline after 30 minutes suggested we were in for a frustrating afternoon.

Our opener, Gavin's first, was a touch fortunate to sneak home but on the balance of play a deserved goal with our last pass letting us down on a number of occasions.
Changing our tactics slightly made a difference with Gavin scoring two more and Sniffer Bents rolling the ball home after Rippers precision shot came off the inside of the post into Sniffer's path. We were guilty of by passing our central midfield on too many occasions but a slow Oxted defence made the use of the flanks by us a productive move.

The main positive was the presence of two teenagers in Sam and Giles with our first clean sheet of the season. From this point in the first half of the season we went on a 5 match winning run and if we can do so again we should finish 3rd and so give uis the platform from which to push next season. Rex Harrison

Woking 0-2 2nd XI

Sunbury & Walton 5-1 3rd XI

Match report February 11 2012

For the second weekend running bitter cold and lying snow put paid to almost all matches, with only the 1st XI enjoying a trip to the freezing south coast for a jolly afternoon

Havant 4-2 1st XI
On this showing Havant are comfortably the best side in the league with their professional approach and their hockey ability. For the first 3/4 of the game we were in with a chance but the home side's diminance paid off and they deservedly ran out winners.

The first half saw Havant win a number of short corners with their converting one but we should have equalised shortly afterwards when Knapp tried to set up Brewser but cocked up when a goal looked the easiest option. Ross made a couple of good saves to keep the scoreline down but fair to say Havant were not at their best at this stage.

As expected the home side upped their game in the second half and started playing the type of hockey that has seen them go undefeated for 11 games and ove to second place in the league. Their second game duly came from another short corner and our feint hopes of claiming second place began to fade.

We snuck one back with CB setting up Hunts but within 2 minutes conceded a third, losing the ball when in control and the Havant forward finished well to give them more breating space. A few edges from us flashing by the post, another goal from Havant to close out the game before a consolation from Knappy, well set up by Gav.

No question we played some decent hockey but our final ball in the last quarter of the pitch was lacking but Havant have the professional approach that we lack but let's remember, they are a National League club and have been since the inception of the league being in the top 2 or 3 in the country for a number of the first 15 years or so of the National League. No disgrace in being taught a lesson in approach, provided we learn from the lesson.

Top game at the back from the back five with Sam once again showing his quality and probably our man of the match for the second game running. Rex Harrison

Match report February 4 2012

The bitter cold took toll on most matches with heavy overnight frost leaving only the 1st and 2nd Xis in action - and the 2nd XI returned from Camberley wishing they hadn't bothered

1st XI 1-1 Yatley
The most enjoyable games of the season over the last few years have been those against Yateley and this one was no exception. Surprised to be playing due to the severe cold, we played like it.

To keep in touch with the leaders following our defeat last week we had to win as did Yateley who are surprisingly languishing at the foot of the table. The old adage is that the league position does not lie but it sure does from where I stand. Of the 6 points on offer from the 2 games we have taken 4 and Yateley 1 with a reversal in the distribution so nearly the case and probably deserved.

We snuck a win at their place with a last gasp winner and on Saturday equalised with two minutes to go having been thoroughly outplayed in the first half and, as with Bournemouth, should have been buried by half time.Quite simply our oppo wanted it more than us but not only squandered chances but fell prey to their own doubts and desire to hear the final whistle. We expected to win rather than wanted to win. Oddly we had 14 players which for us is too many. Changes were made for the sake of change when disrupting the flow. In certain quarters our fitness was lacking meaning we could not keep up the intensity and allowed to much space when defending breaks.
Ross was our saviour in the first half with a string of good saves and profligate finishing our saviour in the second but Rob Rowe did give Yateley the lead with an improvised reverse stick shot when a short corner broke down only for Patrick to deflect home our last corner with his having a handy knack to turn up at the right time in the right place.

I for one hope Yateley stay up. Our games are always competitive, played hard but in the right spirit and very enjoyable, unlike some of the rubbish we play against. Respect still exists from when they beat us in the play offs some five or so years ago.

Fair to say that we are needing a number of results to go our way to sneak into second place which is highly unlikely. I bet my bottom dollar that the top three in the league are the three sides who have a better turn out to training than us. About this time last season we hit the buffers and with Havant and Oxted as our next two opponents from whom we gleaned one point in the corresponding pre Christmas fixtures a repeat of 2010-11 is a fear. We thought we had addressed the problems but ... Rex Harrison

Camberley 0-6 2nd XI
Right. Best left alone.