Match Reports - September 28, 2013

Match reports for the first full week of the league season

Ladies 2-0 Old Georgians OC ladies had a tough start to the season - it seemed like a battle before we even set foot on the pitch. Despite our best efforts to fanatically recruit last minute players, we ended up with a small but eager team of 11.

The game itself was tough – Old Georgians wanted the win as much as we did and the first half was a battle from one end of the pitch to the other. Our defence put on a strong performance and managed to quickly clear away any threat of them scoring. Liz (our nominated (wo-)man of the match) had a stormer of a game driving down their attack and quickly changing the direction of play.

We started the second half of the game with our heads high and ready to show Old Georgians what we are made of. Through short, sharp and accurate passing, OC’s moved the ball around the Old Georgian players to win our all-important first short corner. Our first attempt at goal was cleared by their goalie, but Heather picked up the re-bound and put away our first goal of the season. This obviously put OC’s in high spirits as shortly after that our second goal was scored by Fletch. The remainder of the game was hard work, but though persistence and team work we managed to finish the game with a 2-0 win – congratulations ladies, great start to the season.

One final mention to Lucy and Manny, Lucy for being so commited to the game that she stopped the ball with her head and Manny for stepping in even though she's technically out for the season with an injured knee

Hamstrings 7-0 Hampstead & Westminster
H & W were short and had to start with 10 but we had somehow managed to get to 12 and Tim Cook was kindly umpiring. A welcome return for Richard Wheatley and some cunning loan deals of Jackson, Fuller and Morgan plus borrowing back Cruthers and Prigmore mean that we had got a team and a sub !We started strongly and the goals flowed although there were a lot of missed chances too and the H&W keeper played particularly well. The final reckoning was 7-0 with goals from Morgan 2, Jackson 1, Fuller 1 + 3 own goals one of which was at least scored by an OC Henrik Kjellin, with another OC Peter Tallboys in their side. Hamstrings top of the league but with tough matches v St Albans and a road trip to Old Loughts up next it may not last !

East Grinstead 5-1 Barnstormers

Many thanks to all who helped out and we hope to see you on the pitch again soon. Jock thanks for recruiting Ed Copleston too. Traffic chaos on the M25 trapped Gav Adair for four hours and delayed the start of the game but Chris Bents had kindly offered to umpire; Andrew Eve was co-opted pending the arrival of their umpire or Gavin neither of whom made it to TD and Gareth was on child minding duties and supporting from the side.

Introductions all round as only half the squad had played together before up against a very strong EG side who took an early lead by sneaking a couple of goals against the run of play. I understand that the team gelled well and exerted a lot of pressure but were unable to turn the chances into goals. Ed Copleston scored from a powerful short corner strike.

So a win required for Barnstormers next week to get back on track.