Match Reports - March 23, 2013

The highlight of the weekend was the win for the 2nd XI which secured them promotion into Surrey One with a game remaining, the winner-takes-all game against Spencer Saints a feisty affair.  The 1st XI extended their winning sequence but the wretched form at the bottom end of the club continued

Wanderers 1-4 1st XI
As the famous fisherman’s rhyme goes, “When the wind is in the East, ‘tis no good for man nor beast”. Well, it turns out that a biting easterly breeze played amidst flurries of snow is not great weather for hockey either. However, not for the first time this season the OC 1st XI coasted to a comprehensive victory despite not being at their best and producing a fairly lacklustre performance in the second half.

We actually made an impressive start to the game despite having been hampered by a warm up led by Stu Ripley, whose hamstrings are proving to be about as robust as Michael Owen’s in his advancing years. This meant he was restricted to the bench cupping his skinny latte but Jock once again significantly bolstered the squad to provide some much needed rotation. Fluid hockey that belied the sub-zero temperatures ensued from the first whistle and it was not long before Wisey, in attempting to control a cross, mistrapped the ball into the top corner.

With our tails up we played some excellent hockey and forced Wanderers into conceding a pair of short corners that were both converted by Nick Ripley. The first expertly shanked into the bottom corner and the second skilfully used a deflection of the defenders stick to outwit the ‘keeper. With Jay Harman unavailable due to not fancying the cold very much, Ripley sensed this was his opportunity to close in on the coveted prize of OC top scorer. He was not the only one to close in on young Harman. With a typical persistence that has become a trademark of his this season, Chris Gray bustled his way through a couple of tackles before sliding a diving reverse stick shot under the ‘keeper.

Still not even halfway through the first half, the OCs were producing some fine hockey and Wanderers were having to expend a lot of energy chasing down the ball. When they did get hold of it they were unable to retain possession and it looked like becoming a bit of a procession. However, with the game seemingly already won we just coasted through the remainder of the half. They were also indebted to Dan for doing did what all half decent ‘keepers do and standing in the right place so that a well-aimed deflection hit him and not the goal. Fair play to the lad as he must have been freezing.

Despite saying all the right things at half time, unfortunately we failed to actually put any of it into practice. Credit must go to Wanderers here for pressing higher up the pitch and putting us under a lot more pressure than the first half. They also used their big bald chap in the middle to good effect and it would be remiss of me not to mention his sumptuous forward defensive to a bouncing aerial that drew much appreciation from the cricketing purists out there. Textbook stuff.

The game became very stretched and when we did get possession we were unable to build and retain possession from defence through the midfield to the attack. As a result the match began to resemble a good old game of wiff waff. Wanderers sensed a way back in and when one of their attackers slipped down the right and delivered a tap in to his strike partner, they thought they had a sniff. In truth though we were were never in danger of being pulled back but their inability to go back up through the gears and get a stranglehold on the game in the second half was frustrating.

After the game, the stand-in manager, Stu Ripley, looking resplendent in old-school style jogging bottoms tucked into his socks had this to say about the game, “I’m livid. I sent the lads out all fired up after a great warm-up despite only having two balls. They did everything right to start with but then took their foot off the accelerator. I think tactically I’m slightly culpable for leaving Wisey on too long despite the fact that he couldn’t see or breathe for most of the second half but that’s no excuse. I almost spat out my skinny latte when we conceded that soft goal and I can’t help thinking it wouldn’t have happened with me on the pitch. Livid.”

Some harsh words from old glass-hamstring Ripley there. Another way of looking at it would be job done inside 20 minutes and the quest to become this season’s Invincibles rolls on to Chichester in a fortnight’s time. It would be gutting to fall at the final hurdle so focus required. Let’s get the job done! JLT


2nd XI 2-1 Spencer
So, we have done it and emulated the 1s promotion success with a game to spare.

Fair to say we were a tad fortunate following a fairly inept first half display which could have seen Spencer 2 or 3 ahead instead of being held 1 - 1. Quite simple they wanted it more, were first to the ball whilst we were naively dribbling onto open sticks through the centre. Spencer deservedly took the lead midway through the first half as the ball was squeezed under Goalie's body from a brave Spencer forward's dive but the away side were unable to add to the opener. We did force the odd half chance with CB, yes, CB, on the end of a cross with a full length dive but was thwarted by an excellent save. Down to 10 men we forced the equalizer when, with 2 minutes of the half to go, CB's pin point sharp cross was deflected expertly into the roof at pace leaving the keeper stranded - shame it was their centre back.

The second half was a different affair as we stepped up a couple of gears, played the ball wide and got under Spencer's skin. Some horrible tackles from both sides were correctly punished with yellows but we snuck the lead when a forceful run by Guessy set of Henry whose shot was well saved by the keeper for the rebound to fall kindly that was popped home.

Spencer then lost their sense of humour with the first half goal scorer ( for us ) telling Knappy he would see him in the car park afterwards. Regrettably he had left the Vasoline at home and the agricultural tackles being penalised with short corners. The refrain of "ringers" was heard a couple of times which was a wee bit odd as the 1s beat Wanderers 4-1 at Battersea and arguably the pot was calling the kettle black with an overheard comment of "you have to be more careful at this lower level with the tackles" from the Spencer bench.

Two top class saves from Goalie, the second oldest player on the pitch, at important junctures kept our noses in front. Both were top drawer and very sharp showing glimpses of his former self.

The 2-2 draws in their last two games may be more the reason for their demise. To their credit a number of them did congratulate us on promotion. Now to stay there and move onwards and upwards. The 13th April promises to be a top evening.  Rex B


Goan 5-1 Oxted
A long way to travel for a beating by a side with an average age over more than 50 but with age comes experience and an ability to let the ball do the work. We showed we had not learned from the 1-3 loss at TD in October when we dominated possession but were well beaten.


Barnstormers 2-7 Reading
The end of the season will be a welcome relief for the Barnstormers after a drubbing by Reading handed them their fifth straight defeat.

Match Reports - March 9, 2013

The match of the day saw the 2nd XI beat league leaders Wanderers 4-3 thanks to a last-minute goal by David Knapp, lifting us into second place with three matches to go. The 1st XI made it 18 wins in 19 with a 3-0 win at Fareham while the Ladies finished off their league campaign with a 4-2 win over London Academicals to end up a creditible third. Lower down the club the results were not as good. The 3rd XI were thumped by leaders Reigate Priory 8-2, the Barnstormers lost 4-2 at Sunbury while the Hamstrings contrived to go down 1-9 at home to bottom side Wimbledon.

David Knapp celebrates the last-gasp winner for the 2nd XI

Fareham 0-3 1st XI
Fresh from the unlikeliest call-up in years, Jock Vickers' weekend was completed when he was asked to write the match report.

7.15 AM - Daughter up and fed, camera gear checked and ready for a day of pics watching the 1s down at Fareham
8.09 AM - Phone pings with as text from rippers arrives……..’start stretching- you are starting-George is ill’
8.10AM - Visions of searing runs, diving goals, terrorizing defences……..
8.11 AM - cold sweat of age and fitness related realization sets in!

The team is assembled in a changing room that can only be described as compact. Coach Garry surveys his limited options-realising the mess Rippers has organised—‘ when I asked for a like for like replacement for George I meant another ex international –not another bloke in his mid 30’s carrying too many pies’ he mutters to himself in disgust.

There is more hope for him further round the changing room- wisey bathed in focus, ear phones on, hood up –Belinda Carlisle goading him into a trace like state of readiness, the bearded Rippers eyes closed lovingly stroking his stick through the air in a mr miagi motion….

He starts……’We can do what we have been doing all season and and continue to play as we are but with slightly differing personnel… or we can change things round and try playing ourselves in differing positions and learn something for next season’. Sam inwardly grins and dreams of a day in goal with less running and hiding his hangover under a helmet, Jock breaks into a further bout of heavy sweating at the thought of a trip to the mid field,

On the walk to the pitch, Garry continues to rouse his troops—having realised that Fareham have a squad of 15 with an average age of 22 against his bare 11 averaging 10 yrs more….not helped by his nearing his 40th!

The game starts at a furious pace, Justin and Sam being marshalled at the back by the returning heavily tanned skipper, glowing from his mid season spa break. Sam looked especially lively after putting in extra training miles late at night round south east London(sat nav not required….)

Grunts of effort and frustration as the Ripley brother toil in the midfield, desperately trying to judge passes to the forward line that bore a slight tortoise and hare resemblance. Half timed arrived with us 1-0 up - much less than the score should have been after several missed chances-but none the less Garry seemed happy after some good hockey.

Instructions issued, changes made, liquids gasped down the second half continued in much the same vein until the value of well worked and practiced short corner routines started to make their mark. Garry had his finger smashed by a Neil from the Inbetweeners masquerading as a Fareham forward with a deafness for a whistle.

Coated in blood he scampered off to patch himself up On his return a repeated clash between the pair saw coach with blood dripping from above his eye-still clearly not enough to warrant an apology on the south coast. By this time various members of the team were starting to look in need of a mixture of jaeger bombs and/or oxygen if they were to survive the weekend and so the final whistl
as greeted with a collective knackered intake of breath.

The days drama was not over as an evacuation of the clubhouse followed mid beer due to smoke rising from around the gas bottles behind the bar. Later in the Thames Ditton bar Knappy, Andrew Eve and Simon Marshall were seen handing over phone numbers to the coach and expressing their readiness for one more forage at the top table of OC hockey-‘If that pie eating trundler can……..’ was heard muttered.

Ps Thanks for the return pass ceige……..


2nd XI 4-3 Wanderers IV
The dream lives on following a dramatic last gasp win over league leaders Wandereres. Spencer drew again and so we are now 1 point clear in second place with 3 games to go.
An efficient short corner drill saw us score three times with Wanderers scoring their three from their drag flicker. Never behind we could not draw 2 goals clear and were pegged back each time with the last occasion looking fatal with 4 minutes to go, conceding a stupid short and going down to 10 as a result with Wanderers slotting to make it 3 - 2. there was just time to win one more corner that founds its way home to sneak the win. With 7 of last year's first XI on show we certainly had the experience and did play well with Watson not too troubled in the OC goal.
Nick Lewis's strike at our first corner put us one up only to be clawed back mid way through the half but 2 from Knapp and one from Brewer enables us to claim the points.


Ladies 4-2 London Academicals
A straighforward final match of the season against a side already relegated which for the first 50 minutes went very much as expected.  Academicals showed attacking intent without possessing any cutting edge but their defence showed why they struggled all year as we went into the break 3-0 up.  That became four early in the second half but then we turned off, dropped deeper and allowed the Academicals to take control and score twice.  The result never looked in doubt but it allowed Goalie a few final rants of the season on the sideline.

Reigate Priory 8-2 3rd XI
A visit to the league leaders was always going to he hard, all the more so when Nigel Hawes had the organisation handed to him 48 hours before the match with only four players committed. He pulled off a miracle and got a full side to Reigate and claimed to have thoroughly enjoyed himself.  They say time mellows everyone.

Match Reports - March 2, 2013

The 1st XI clinched promotion with four matches remaining with a 6-1 win at Epsom, the only side to have taken a point off them all season. The Ladies' lingering hopes of promotion ended when they went down 0-2 to likely champions Tulse Hill but the 2nd XI's 6-0 drubbing of London Edwardians put them on the edge of a promotion slot. The 3rd XI beat Wanderers 2-1 but the Barnstormers lost 1-2 to Maidenhead.

Epsom 1-6 1st XI
Last Saturday we headed to Epsom for a top of the table clash where victory would guarantee winning the division with four matches to spare. Preparation could have been better, and although we only had eleven men we were quietly confident it was strong enough to get the crucial win.

The match started edgily with OCs getting the best chances, but the Epsom goalkeeper made a few strong saves to keep the score at 0-0. However, it was the home side that managed to take the lead much to the shock of the OC players. Sam Carne, jitterish after a traumatic week at the doctor’s, had the ball taken off of him in the 25 and Epsom duly took the resulting opportunity with a tidy reverse stick finish over Goalie. It was a rare blip in what proved to be a solid defensive performance from the OC’s.

We then piled on the pressure, Chris Wiseman having a deflected shot well saved by the Epsom keeper. Then an effective counter attack started by Wisey fell short at the final hurdle after Jay Harman gave Chris Gray an open goal which normally the forward would bundle in. However, the defenders rushing back and the impossibly tight angle meant the OCs forward smashed his shot against the post and the ball agonizingly rebounded away.

It began to increasingly look like it might not have been the our day, as minutes later team top scorer Jay Harman was bundled over in the D and had to limp off to be replaced by team wild card Jock. However, the OC’s fortunes changed for the better after Wisey put Chris Gray in with a one on one with the keeper. The struggling forward made a hash again of the guilt edged chance as the Epsom keeper made a brave tackle at his feet to clear the ball away. However, the OC forward’s persistence paid off as he immediately regained possession of the Epsom defender and slotted his reverse stick shot into the far corner. Jay sensing further goals came back on after a rapid recovery, and the momentum had fully swung in our favour.

Half-time came and we  knew we were 35 minutes away from having promotion settled. Gary gave a rousing speech and the players went into the second half eager to put the match to bed.

The breakthrough came about five minutes after the re-start, as the match had already been marred by stoppages from a combination of pedantic officiating and clumsy stick tackles. An Epsom player was sinbinned and moments later Jay Harman made a run along the base line and won a short corner. Despite another delay on the short corner due to Ceige encroaching into the D too early, an infraction he strenuously denied. Despite this unwarranted delay, the OC’s season-long habit of scoring from short corners continued as Wisey bundled one in from the team’s trademark move.

We added to the lead soon after as Epsom failed to recover. Chris Gray got a second goal as he was left unmarked at the far post from a cross which he bundled in. We then found a fourth as Jay deflected a short corner strike from Nick Ripley into the far corner. Epsom then found themselves down to nine men from another yellow and George Cover earned himself a break in the sin bin for a clumsy tackle on the half way line.

The game was well and truly out of Epsom’s grasp by this point, and their disputes with the officials only compounded the misery of this increasingly damaging defeat. They made forays into the OC half but they barely troubled the full back pairing of Sammy Carne and Cato.

We added two more with Wisey doing well to find space in the D to crash in a low shot against the backboard. Whilst Chris Gray completed his first hat-trick of the season thanks to a cross from Jay Harman which he swept in. We came close to a final flourish as Ceige played in Nick Ripley, but he opted to charitably toy with the scrambling defenders and allowed the keeper to get back and make a save.

Moments later the final whistle went and our position as winners of Hampshire / Surrey Division 1 was finally confirmed. It had also proved to be a triumphant success for debut captain Justin LT who stood in for our holidaying captain Dan.

The victorious team ventured back to TD were they were welcomed by their adoring fans with scenes of pure jubilation. Rumours are rife of an open top bus parade travelling between TD and Cranleigh, but first the remaining four matches of the season must be taken care of to preserve the impressive unbeaten record.

Ladies XI 0-2 Tulse Hill & Dulwich
The penultimate game of the season and all points mattered in the bid for promotion for both teams. We came out strong with high hopes and we seemed to have good communication and support as a team however we landed ourselves in trouble by giving away possession and this turned out to be our downfall. We had several attempts on goal and it was passed under the nose of their goalkeeper a bunch of times however none managed to find their way to the back of the net. Even when one of their players was given a yellow taking them down to 10 men for a period the goals were elusive. Michele made some great saves including one with her stick however the oppo slipped two past us. Final score 2-0 to Tulse Hill. This saw them leaping for joy and forgetting our outstretched hands of congratulations…apologies were made later I’ll add… Lucy had a stormer and was voted man of the match with other nominations also going to Helen Hawes, Jax, Toshky and Tux.

2nd XI 6-0 London Edwardians

No report


3rd XI 2-1 Wanderers VI
No report


Barnstormers 1-2 Maidenhead
No report