Match report October 2 2010

Woking 0-3 1st XI
A great performance that led to a good win to kick off the league season against a Woking team who had an excellent set of pre season results, winning all and only conceding one goal in the bargain. We set out our game plan and were rewarded for playing efficient and crisp hockey after a first five minutes in which Woking had the balance of play. Plenty of positive talking from the back and the best performance from Rippers since joining the OCs saw us dominate the midfield and snuff out any danger from Woking.

Soaking up the Woking pressure enabled us to draw out their defence and exploit the space created which in turn enabled Nick Lewis to score two superb goals to put us two-up at half time. The first was a training ground move our transferring the ball from the back into the right hand corner where Gavin set up Nick who slapped the ball home. The second was more of an individual effort with Nick smashing home the ball just inside the far post from the top of the D. Gavin nearly added a third when a bit of outrageous skill set up Gavin whose shot was taken off the line.

Cato marshalled the defence superbly, ably assisted by Goalie making his first appearance for nearly 10 years, with our midfield four also excellent. Jonny H was a colossus in the middle with Rippers and caused all sorts of problems when moving forward.

Not to be outdone Woking forced a short corner with the last move of the half and in what proved to be an important passage of play the corner and the four following corners were all kept out.

The third goal was always going to be crucial and again, although Woking pressed hard they created little and played into our hands by over using their playing coach Dooley burrowing further and further into one area rather than changing direction. Andy Pike found a number of excellent positions but never received the pass that he required. Our third goal was again a swift counter and a top draw reverse stick cross by Jonny found Gavin who dived and deflected home with 17 minutes to go. Woking still pressed forward but were still unable to break down our defence and we should have added at least one more with the final pass when the home side were stretched going begging.

Woking are a young side and will have their day but this Saturday experience counted and we ran out the winners. Goalie had the last say with two remarkable saves at the death to ensure we kept a clean sheet.

A good display from Rob and Tony as well who umpired a hard game that they let flow throughout. Reigate Priory next week in what will be a tight league. David Knapp

Ladies XI 2-0 Tulse Hill & Dulwich
The OC ladies made a great start this weekend against Tulse Hill and Dulwich with a 2–0 win at home.
With a squad of 13 and several new players this season, the ladies were out to prove themselves after just missing out on promotion last year.

The first 15 minutes were shaky but once we settled, the passes began to flow and in the final minutes of the first half our play was rewarded with our first goal from Jax.

In the second half the ladies remained strong giving the opposition no chance of scoring. Although our lack of fitness began to show with the extra players and a brilliant team effort the second goal was slotted sweetly home by Michelle securing the win for the ladies. Sarah Mann


Reigate Priory 1-1 4th XI
After a shock wake up call to the new league during the first match last week the 4’s were determined to play to their potential in the 2nd match.

Still missing several key players due to injury, paternity leave and other commitments the team assembled at Reigate school. No substitutes were available and for many this would be the first match of the season. It was clear that the incentive of Mrs Archer’s post match home made Rocky Road was required for us to stand any hope of seeing points.

Kindly Chris Bents spared some valuable time away from the Ronseal sponsored tanning booth, where he had clearly spent the morning brushing up his fake mahogany “David Dickinson-esque” glow to umpire the game.

At push back the team nervously found their formation and slowly the passes started to come together. The opposition were on the whole younger and faster but we started strongly. Captain for the day (Grant Archer) continued to moan about his lack of fitness and remnants of a lost voice and blocked nose, but his forced 11 man formation started to click.

Some reassuringly solid defending was required and the back 3 of Bishop, Crumby and Smith did not disappoint, halting wave after wave of Reigate assault. A few long balls were used to counter with Jamal and Dom surging forward a causing a few issues for the Reigate defence.

Debutant Richard got stuck in with some perfectly timed jab tackles, competently filling the still absent new father Harmer’s boots. Eventually Reigate managed to make headway and convert a shot past the buoyant and rejuvenated Nigel Smith – who made some splendid clearances with his kickers right through the game.

So 1-0 to Reigate at half-time. The team re-grouped and Grant tried his best to rally the troops – Harmer would have been proud. The second half started at a high pace and soon we were causing a few more questions to be asked from the opposition defence. Rob Jonker commanded the midfield at times, supported by Nathan with some unusual but strangely effective twisting and turning runs. After a few short corners that frustratingly just wouldn’t make their way in to the goal – Nick Jocelyn struck! It was a shot straight out of the Louis Strover “how to score goals” handbook, that sadly has been missing from the 4th team resources cupboard for a season now. (Rumour has it that it has got lost in Robin Crumby’s trophy room).

1-1 and several more chances at both ends in the dying minutes led to a closely fought battle that could have gone either way. A great point secured for the 4th team - who are looking forward to a good season. The post match the Rocky Road was consumed with relish at the side of the rain lashed pitch. Bring on next week’s match. Grant Archer


Cheam Clarets 2-5 Veterans XI
Another early start for the OC Vets as they travelled to Cheam to take on the team who had beaten St Albans with a resounding 1-5 away victory the week before, making them league leaders.

OCs found the 10am start to their liking-not- and this resulted in a stuttering start, with missed passes, poor stopping and generally unattractive hockey. Eventually however things started to come together and even the fact that some players were playing in unfamiliar positions e.g. Andy Eve at centre forward, didn’t seem to cause too many difficulties, even if some of the more ‘unaware’ players were still trying to sort out in their own minds exactly what 4-4-2, or whatever formation was being played, actually meant.

Gradually the OCs' pressure told on Cheam, who gave away a deliberate foul in the D
just before Tommy eased the ball into the goal. Unfortunately the umpire had blown
his whistle for a penalty flick before the ‘goal’ so a pf it was to be. Frustrating but there you are. Tommy stepped up to take the pf knowing that this was a deciding
moment: if he converted it would be the confidence booster that the team needed-
if he failed the team would be left feeling frustrated at what was so nearly a goal.
Without hesitation Tommy sent the ball in to the lower left corner and the OCs were
1-0 up. This seemed to be a defining moment as the OCs took a collective breath and
decided to play simple hockey, with short balls and working the ball from side to side through the midfield. Before the half time whistle went they were another goal up, thanks to Tony pouncing on a loose ball in the circle to send it past the keeper for a fine opportunistic goal. Things were not to go all the OCs way however, with Cheam scoring a well taken goal before half time to make things 2-1 to the OCs.

The OCs continued to play simple hockey after the resumption of play patiently
working the ball into the Cheam 25 and circle and it was then that Andy Eve decided
to go for a reverse stick laydown shot at such an acute angle that he was probably
more surprised than the keeper when it went in. This is not to detract though- it really was a superb goal.

By now the OCs realised that they could win the match if they played to the KISS
principle and they continued to try to do so. More OCs attacking resulted in the ball
coming across the circle to David Burles who calmly gathered it up, stepped inside
the D and then drilled it in to the far corner, giving the keeper no chance. 4-1 to the OCs- heady stuff, and so it was to prove as Cheam galvanised themselves for a quick break, leaving the OCs chasing to keep up. A despairing lunge in the D resulted in a short corner against the OCs, which the Cheam centre forward cleanly drilled past El Presidente. 4-2 and there was still time for a Cheam comeback. However, the OCs didn’t revert to form but kept their heads and continued to work the ball around using short passes. An incisive pass from Mike meant that the OCs were once again in the Cheam circle. There appeared to be nothing on but Andy Eve chose that moment to
come through to the top of the D, called for the ball and without hesitation cracked it past the keeper with a fine shot to make it 5- 2 at full time and with the OC Vets as a result heading the league.

Thanks must go to the Cheam umpire who had a superb game, and to Andrew, Wade,
Tony and Rex who all umpired. Myles Hothersall

Nick Lewis falls out of a window

Nick Lewis will miss the rest of the season after falling out of a window. As you do. He might have sustained more serious injuries had he not been drunk as well.

"Following an alleged 12-pint drinking binge, Nick was unfortunate enough to lose balance and fall through a window in his Esher mansion," explained the ever-helpful Eds Copleston. "He has suffered severe cuts to his arm and after 20 hours in A&E on Saturday he goes in for an operation to place a cast on his arm and begin rehabilitation.

"This is not the first incident of injury under the influence this season and it is hoped club members will drink more sensibly from now on. As a club we wish him a speedy recovery.”

Match reports - January 19, 2008

The 1st XI overcame a limited Addiscombe side 6-3 to maintain their outside chances of promotion, but the performance of the day came from the 2nd XI who finally clicked as we knew they would and beat league leaders Woking 4-1 away from home. The 3rd XI secured a good 3-3 draw at the delight that is Kennington, the 4th XI played well in losing 1-2 to Staines, and the Vets secured only their third win of the season with a 1-0 victory at HAC.

1st XI 6-3 Addiscombe
This was a potential banana skin against an Addiscombe team who have had a good season up to this point. The game saw Cooky play by far and away the best he has played all season and it was his intervention in the second minute that won a long corner that became a short and then a goal with Rippers coolly slotting home the loose bal. Nick Lewis doubled the lead with the shot of the season, Cook again making a nuisance of himself in front of the keeper , the ball breaking to Nick at the top of the D who put the ball into the top corner with a blistering shot. The remainder of the half saw us dominate without creating any chances and we lost our shape when Ed Breton went of with a knock on his hand.

Addiscombe were back in the game in the early stages of the second half but straight away we regained the two-goal cushion. Sven increased the margin with a drag flicked short, the first of two with, in between times, Addiscombe scoring a soft short corner. Rippers scored his second after a great move down the right and there was just time for the opposition to score a consolation with another short corner in stoppage time.

The two big pluses were the performances of Nick Lewis and Cooky with the downside the concession of three soft goals. Unquestionably we had the rub of the umpiring especially early on and we made it count. Surry Old Boys next week and then UCL and Merton after which we will know whether we have a long wait until September or have a chance to be in the mix. Rex Bermon

Woking 1-4 2nd XI
On paper this game was a formality. We had taken on point away from home all season whereas Woking, the league leaders, were unbeaten at home and had not lost anywhere since early October. On a pitch which made our old one look slick and sandless, the early exchanges were tight and the pace quick. But whereas we made inroads, Woking’s attacks foundered against the rocks of Dodie Khurshid and Jon Heard. We took the lead on 15 minutes from a short corner, fiercely disputed by the defence who claimed to their own umpire that they were not ready. Neither side created many openings in the reminder of the half, but Woking’s concern was evident from the length of their half-time chat. “We’re top, they’re crap but that doesn’t matter if we carry on playing like this,” were the last words shouted to them at the break.

The second half was equally pacey but the better attacks came from us with a hole in Woking’s midfield being repeatedly ripped open. We had some nervous moments and Woking were enjoying their best period when we broke and struck the second. We could have extended the lead but Bruce hit the post and then a short corner was cleared off the line; at the other end Nigel made some good saves and the defence remained solid. Five minutes from time we again broke and made it 3-0, only for Woking to run right through a dozing midfield and pull one back within 20 seconds. The ball was in our half for the next few minutes as Woking threw the kitchen sink at us, but from another break we sealed a convincing win with the last strike of the match.

Match reports - December 8, 2007

HAC 1 1st XI 1 Any faint hopes we had of promotion have well and truly disappeared and justly so. In fact, to be anywhere near the top of the table is remarkable having regard to our preparation and approach to our games.

For the third year running we had 7 players at the ground 15 minutes from the scheduled start which is exceptionally poor as we know that the ground is difficult to find and reach – perhaps next season we will make a better fist of it. At least we had 11 so bettering our last trip to the wonders of the Crystal Palace area. We should have had 12 but where Andy Duff was up to was anybody’s guess although the writing was on the wall of his appearing when his mobile phone was switched off at 13.30 and also at 14.00. Thanks for letting us all down.

Anyway, a distinct lack of training and lack of ability to make meet times in general – we have not had one match where we have all been at any ground on time – has come home to roost and we now have a mid table position as a just reward.

All said and done after we had settled down against an efficient but not outstanding HAC team we dominated play but were always vulnerable on the break and fair to say it was Robbo who was the busier of the keepers dealing with everything thrown at him. Matt Cook had his best game of the season but does need to slow down at the crucial time of executing what he intends to execute and Nick Lewis was outstanding at right midfield but marking his card with an unnecessary yellow card towards the end. We missed a hatful of chances but took the lead somewhat fortuitously when Eds’ short corner drive was saved by the HAC’s very much in form keeper only for the ball to bounce in off a defender’s knee. At that point with 15 minutes to go we should have wrapped it up and gone home with 3 points as HAC were down to 10 and struggling. However they equalized when we have the oppo far too much time in the circle and a shot from the top squeezed past Robbo who will be disappointed at letting the shot in – the only disappointment he will have had all season thus far.

Suddenly we were fighting to save the game with both Ed Breton and Nick off the pitch but hang on we did.

Reckoning on promotion this year is a delusion and if we are serious at trying to climb up the leagues we need to have a good look at ourselves and decide if we wish to change our approach and attitude or be content with being able to beat every team in our league on our day but knowing that our day may only come along once in 3 weeks. David Knapp

Woking 1 3rd XI 2We took three points in a dominating game over Woking by beating the bottom side 2-1 after dropping to 10 men after 10 minutes. With the rain pouring down turning a cold December afternoon into a miserable afternoon veterans Jon Gray and Wade Pollard had gallantly stepped in to bring our numbers to 11 following another week of player shortages.

Taking a rain head-on, an open game followed with no real structure being established in the first five minutes. Wade and Chris however started to make some presence felt on the left flank and providing some opportunities to Bruce and Jon upfront. The defence began to find their structure with Tim J holding court admirably and picking up the occasional loose ball. Wade however took a nasty injury on his thumb and had to take himself off to Woking A&E to join the legions of amateur sports players already there. As the game developed, the absence of Wade made Chris’s job slightly more energetic as he controlled the left flank.

A breakthrough for Woking against the run of play where a flick was awarded (a fair decision) which Woking capitalised on and took the lead. The game started to find rhythm and some solid passing between Jon and Rich up the right flank showed strong promise. Jock's insistence of trying to single handed dribble out of the defence had mixed successes and after trying to flick the ball which resulted in a dribble to their striker forced Kelson to cover the team's collective arses. The defence held firm and Tim and Tom Pollard made some strong tackles with Jock picking some great tackles to occasionally distribute the ball forward. Attacks started to come and off a short corner, the Woking keeper did well to keep the ball out with a dramatic dive however it wasn't until a hit up pitch from Adam, picked up by Armitage and a running 1-2 with Rich led to a Armitage chipping the ball over the sliding keeper to take the game to 1-1 and half-time one minute later.

The second half started with vigour and although Adam at Left back was kept busy with an awkward right midfielder, Tim and Chris controlled their attacks down our left. Strong passing and teamwork flowed with Jon, Rich and Bruce linking up very well to attack fluidly on several occasions. Although the keeper was beaten twice with some cute skills, the Woking defence did well to keep the score lever. It wasn't until an attack followed where the Woking keeper lay on the ball and gave away a penalty flick that Bruce stepped up and put the ball ridiculously close to the keeper but still managed to take us in front for the first time in the day.

With 10 minutes remaining, the game opened up and the ball speed was good with good team work never really gave Woking the opportunity to get the game back. The game concluded with the rain once again still pouring, a complaining Woking player that the flick was unfair (it was your umpire Woking!) and Tim Judd being man-of-the-match. As always, we would like to dedicate the win to Diagio for their continued supply of Guinness. James Armitage

Match reports - December 1, 2007

1st XI 6 OMWs 2 (Click here for match photos) We needed to start enjoying our hockey again after an indifferent last month or so and on certain areas of the pitch make the correct choice of ball and pass. OMWs sadly have suffered the same lack of loyalty that we suffered when starting our descent from the Southern Premier league with a mass exodus of players who felt that the standard of the league below the one relegated from was above them. Funny thought really as the players were not good enough to keep them ( us a few years ago ) and so why not stick around and help them bounce back?

David Knapp on the ballWe took the game to OMWs from the start and threw the ball around and Smudger started his season’s goal scoring popping home a loose ball – at the third attempt… The next 10 minutes saw us trying to play a different style and this combined with the sudden loss of structure allowed the opposition back into the game, and one of our too regular for comfort moments saw a strong defensive situation converted into an easy equaliser for OMWs who at stage deserved the equalizer. Once Smudger took over the role of the high midfield player our lead was restored when Smudger finished off a move with a rising shot over the diving keeper. Robbo at the other end was not however a spectator and had to make a number of fine interventions and laid the platform for his man of the match performance. At the end of the first period the lead was extended to three as pressure on the away side’s defence enabled us to break from just over the half line and some incisive movement of the ball saw Gavin Adair score our third and Knapp the fourth.

The game was killed off with Knapp slotting the fifth at a time when OMWs were in the ascendancy but again we robbed the defence as they brought the ball out and took advantage. Cookey nicked the sixth which was an excellent team goal, but the highlight of the half was a top drawer save from Robbo who some how elongated an arm to push the ball away when moving the wrong way and on the ground. Our bedrock today was the hard work put in by the midfield with Rippers playing better and having more influence as each game goes by and Nick Lewis and Eds running tirelessly all afternoon. Nick had his best game of the season, linking well with the ever dependable Brewer.

One more to go before the break and the way the fixtures have fallen one win could put us third or fourth a mere two points behind the second-placed team, remarkable bearing in mind our appalling November. David Knapp

Wanderers 4thXI 2 2nd XI 0
Firstly our thanks go to Wanderers who kindly provided both umpires at short notice and also played the game in great spirit – both sides correcting a number of indifferent umpiring decisions. We were once again the wrong side of a result which could easily have gone the other way. Short, slick passing saw us string together some excellent passages of play, to which the Wanderers defence had no answers. However with Wanderers defending deep we struggled to convert them into clear cut scoring opportunities. Wanderers also looked dangerous in attack - with speed upfront matched with a patience that we probably lacked. However some good defending at the back and a couple of excellent saves by Smithy prevented them from converting.

They looked to have taken the lead having hit the backboard at a short corner only for it to be correctly disallowed as it had clearly crossed the line above the back board. New recruit Paul Accutt was excellent in the middle of the park, giving us control, and linking very well with the other players – especially considering this was his first outing for us. The end of the second half saw a concerted period of OC pressure and we managed to create a few short corners. We failed to convert three and the forth (as blatant a foot as you will see) was missed by the umpire just before half time.

We started where we had left of in the second half. However we managed to concede two soft goals less than 10 minutes into the half. The first dribbled into the left corner when it had looked like we were easily in control. The second a ridiculous stick tackle when our man had full control of the ball saw the ball pop over the line again. Although in the cold light of day the prudence of casually dribbling it along our goal line might be questioned! After the second goal we struggled to get back into it as fitness and the fact that they had 15 men to our 12 (thanks to Armo for volunteering after his game was cancelled) started to tell. We did however create our first really clear cut chance – 2 on 1 with the keeper, only for the pass to just slide behind the last player.

Nick LewisOnce again a frustrating day. Again we conceded soft goals, when we had defended well for the majority of the day. Again we failed to convert some excellent passages of play into goals. But the most frustrating thing is that we are a decent side playing some good hockey and we can and should be doing better than we are. Rob Merry

Richmond Ladies 2 Ladies 0 The match was always going to be hard from the start as Katy the GK was away this weekend along with 50% of the rest of our defence! Muriel was injured so took Katy's place in goal and myself and Nikki had to drop back from the midfield to play defence, which we didn't mind but defence isn't what either of us are used too! We also had no subs!

Nikki had a blinder in defence, playing more as a wing back and had some excellent attacking play as well as legging it back to defend, whilst I was left trotting around marking my playing who was playing very high to keep Ros' nerve at rest! Tux as always dependable as ever in the central defence. Dispite the unusual defence we still had an excellent midfield of May, Ana, Vikki and Dora who played well moving the ball around the pitch and having some good attacking play, some close calls, as well as several shorts - but no goals.


A goal for KnappThe forwards of Caz and Nina, feisty as ever, were also putting the leg work in as always, closing the Richmond defence down, but without the respite of having a sub to give them a breather. Although we had a large amount of the possession and probably looked the better team putting the Richmond defence under pressure, the story was a familiar one as of late as we just couldn't seem to score. Two Richmond attempts on goal and we found ourselves 2-0 down at half time. Richmond also had some penalty corners which with the stand in defenders we managed to defended successfully!

The second half ended up a stalemate with neither team scoring leaving the final score 2-0 to Richmond. A big thanks to Hels who braved the goal even with an injury and also for missing out on half of a hen party to play for us (having fibbed to the bride to be about her whereabouts, although the hen may have figured it out being a team member and in on the email list!) We will need to improve on our fire power for next week as we take on top of the league Merton - sure to be a tough match.

4th XI 1 Teddington 3 There’s no disgrace in losing to the league leaders, but there was still a feeling of what might have been. The Teddington side, very much a development XI, contained several players in their early teens and their skill was evident from the off. But instead of using experience and size to impose our authority, for too long we allowed them to run rings round us. We actually took the lead off a short-corner strike from Steve Harmer, and in the first third of the game probably created more chances. But we allowed Teddington to equalise from a set piece on 25 minutes, and although we continued to press, forcing some good saves, we went behind to a soft goal after squandering possession and the game was decided by a well-taken direct hit off a short corner ten minutes from time. We failed to force one short corner of our own in the second half and in the end our lack of penetration was the difference.

Marathon Men

Eds Copleston will be running his eighth marathon this weekend when he takes part in the London event. This time Eds is running with two work colleagues and has foolishly offered to pace them round – he reckons it could be five-and-a-half hours as opposed to his best of three hours 15. The trio have raised more than £8000 for Asthma UK but contact Eds at EC@credaris.com if you would like to pledge. In all, over the eight runs, Eds will have raised £40,000 for various charities. Nick Lewis completed the Paris Marathon last weekend in a time of three hours 50 minutes.