Match report March 24 2012

The Ladies ended their season with a 2-0 win, not enough to avoid relegation but which showed we may well be able to bounce straight back, and the 2nd XI ensured their own safety with a 2-0 win against Cheam. The 1st XI went down 3-7 at Fareham, the 3rd XI lost against Reigate by the odd goal in nine, and the Barnstormers lost at Sunbury

Ladies XI 2-0 Spencer
We had nothing to play for but pride, relegation already a done deal, but it was Sarah's last match as captain and everyone wanted to bow out with a win. Spencer needed victory to make 100% sure of their own safety, so both sides turned up with 16 players and no end of enthusiasm. The first half was nip and tuck, both teams creating chances without ever looking really threatening, Spencer coming closest when Rosie Marriott flung herself to scoop a ball off the line and then almost managed to drag it back into the goal as lying flat on the ground she aimed to clear it!

We opened the scoring three minutes after the break when, fittingly, Sarah rifled home a short corner and two minutes later we went two up with a more scrambled effort. After that the game became more open and Spencer could have come back with a string of breaks which split our defence but Julia was in excellent form. We too had several openings, and it was a really entertaining game to watch and one which suggested we had more than enough skill to press for immediate promotion next year.

Thanks to Sarah for all her hard work.. She is being succeeded by Tux who will hopefully have the old backline back after a series of pregnancies and moves to far- flung places.

2nd XI 2-0 Cheam
The absurdities of rules where players cannot double up on a weekend unless they are playing for a national league side were in evidence again. Last week Fareham drew with lowly Reigate when there was a Saturday National League match. This week there was no clash and they beat us 7-3.

2nd XI 2-0 Cheam
We did not expect to be fighting off relegation coming into the weekend with 25 points but in a tight and well-contested the league that was the scenario after we managed only two points in our previous four games.

Cheam, sitting just above us, had won the reverse game at their place 2-0 so we expected and got a tight match. Unlike most games this season we started really well, keeping possession in their half and creating chances. Frank had some great flicks on goals from short corners but he was up against a keeper in excellent form.

The deadlock was broken when David slotted a rebound off the keeper but then we started to dribble to much and lost the ball too regularly. Fortunately, Cheam were not having one of their best days, otherwise the score would have been different. Our back line were also doing a great job at mopping up anything that came through with Cato, Alan and Mini Mez all putting in their fair share of work.

We dominated the second half came up to the point 15 minutes from time when
Frank slotted the ball with a reverse stick into the bottom left. We then decided to make life harder for ourselves but in the end Cheam could not break down the defence despite some close shaves and we held on to ensure mid-table respectability and a final weekend with nothing to play for.

3rd XI 4-5 Reigate Priory
An entertaining ding-dong battle which went down to the final whistle and in which both sides missed a hatful of chances. The game did not start until close to 5pm after an injury in an early match, but in beautiful spring sunshine it was soon clear from our defence why we had shipped 24 goals in the previous three matches. Fortunately for us, Howie and Neil were in superb form and constantly troubles an experienced Reigate back line. 3-5 down with two minutes to go, we ensured a tense finale with a fourth and then won a short corner on the stroke of time which we could not convert.