Match report March 6 2010

Rory Alexander scored all four goals in a below-par performance against strugglers Southampton University, but it was enough to secure us a 4-2 victory which keeps us at the top of the table. The Ladies turned in an excellent display to beat second-placed Wimbledon, keeping our outside chance of promotion alive. The 3rd XI won 2-0 at Surrey Old Boys, while the 4th XI put their early-year goal famine behind them by trouncing Addiscombe 7-1, but the 2nd XI were on the receiving end of an 8-2 stuffing by Merton.

Southampton Uni 2-4 1st XI
As well as we performed last week this performance was poor and but for Rory's sharp shooting which bagged him all four and Paul's excellent debut in goal we would have been in trouble.

Southampton Uni may well be wondering how we are top and undefeated, but top and undefeated we are needing four points out of the 12 remaining on offer to confirm promotion. Today was probably as much as expecting to win and being too casual - something we talked about ahead of the game. A number of us were off our game and we were too slow in bringing the ball out of areas. Although we had the lion's share of possession we squandered chances, choosing the wrong option, and only won one short corner.

The half time score was 1-1, Rory deflecting home a cross from Wobble where we had brought the ball out from the right hand side, two touched it to the left with Wobble putting the ball into the D. In the first few minutes Cookiey and Hunts hammered a ball goalwards and Gavin was in good positions on a handful of occasions when wrong options were chosen. Ever dangerous on the break the Uni created some good chances but Paul was on hand to keep the goal intact making three top-drawer saves. There was however nothing he could do to prevent an equaliser 20 seconds from half time when the ball was given away by our defence two yards out.

Early in the second half we made the most of what the Uni thought was a fortuitous decision for our only short with their keeper making a Horlicks of Rory's shot and we were two up. Although we scored two more to go 4-1 up, Rory whipping home two shots from the top of the D, we were never comfortable in our play and gave the Uni a sniff with 8 minutes to go conceding another sloppy goal.

Fair to say that our attendance at training over the last few weeks has been poor and this is reflected in performances like today. We are too one dimensional and lack legs in certain parts of the pitch, both of which can be sorted by a more committed training regime.

Southampton seconds next week so will be interesting to see what team they put out. Do they bolster the 2s at the expense of the 1s to try and turn us over or ensure a strong first XI who are playing Wanderers to keep their promotion rather than title designs alive? David Knapp

Ladies XI 2-1 Wimbledon


2nd XI 2-8 Merton


Surrey Old Boys II 0-2 3rd XI
The 3XI drove down the A3, beyond Thames Ditton to the last game at The Varsity Centre which is due to be knocked down at the end of the season. Playing against a team that we dished out a 11-0 spanking to earlier this season, we had a strong line-up (and Jock) anticipating a challenging game.

The game started with confident play and solid movement of the ball through the team. Surrey old Boys (SOBs) however started picking up the game after 10 minutes and pushed the defence to some innovative play. Stu and Tim held the centre well and although some attacks were more threatening, it was Mr Hawes that kept the team in with a shout. It was however another attack that Tim 'twinkle-toes' Judd felt that using his feet instead of the stick to keep the ball out that Nigel really stepped up. A penalty flick, Nigel, theatrical to the point, deflected the flick away with his stick keeping the OCs in the game. The 1st half evolved with some better play in the last 10 minutes with CD holding the right defence and distributed the ball through to Tissy and the centre midfields, Armo and Bruce. Preston dropped back a little to provide a point man and the OCs started to control the end of the first half. In one of the attacks, a ball crossed in and SOBs defence weren't able to clear and another foot on the line. Preston stepped up and calming put the ball away into the right side. Half time.

The second half started with better play and the midfield started to have better control of the game. Although SOBs weren't giving up, the distribution and team work in the second half was greatly improved. SOBs attack however came with occassional breaks that the defence handled well but it was Mr Hawes that held his own and made several excellent clearances. Ross and Chaz were linking up well upfront and starting to move the ball quickly but a moment that no one likes to see, Stu in a shot at goal, shot from the back of the D and a SOB defended put his head onto the end of Stu's stick and came off the worse. Paramedics arrived, Jock told the injured man to man-up and off to Surrey A&E on a saturday afternoon. We wish the player all the best.

The midfield started to take control of the game in the final 5 minutes and some strong breaks played out and although a goal almost seemed inevitable, some excellent skills from Preston drew the keeper out to the ball, passed to Chaz whos sweep was going slightly off course and it was Ross from 2 inches that closed out the game with a 2-0 win. Man of the match, Nigel Hawes, DOTD was however Tim who turned up without a stick and shin pads! Whatever he thought was going to happen with these minor resources remains a mystery. A good win and well played to the OC defence, another clean sheet. James Armitage


4th XI 7-1 Addiscombe


Wimbledon Vets 0-2 Vets XI
OC Vets arrived in dribs and drabs for the evening fixture against Wimbledon in Motspur Park, somewhere north of Siberia. The footballers on the adjoining pitches had long since packed up and gone home before our game had even started. The setting sun dazzled for one half but gave out no warmth. We were cold before we even started, frost-bitten by half time and by the end had all sensation in our extremities. But nevertheless we left New Malden in good spirits, with the glow of satisfaction of a fine win warming our hearts.
There were eleven of us and about fifteen of them. We were blessed with the presence of Ollie, rock solid at the back and full of class. Shanks had another stormer between the sticks, and the spine of the team was strong; Trinder, Howie and Rowlands running midfield, were, as they always are, very very good. But above all we had Andrew Eve and Andrew, as the song goes, ‘well, he was something else’.

A rather scruffy first half came alive when Rowlands slipped his man, got down the line and knocked a dangerous ball to the top of an empty D. Eve, with a defender in close attendance, raced each other to the ball but the winner of that contest was emphatically our balding super-skipper. Arriving half a yard before his opponent he unleashed a fierce first-time shot from fifteen yards out that bulleted into the top right hand corner. The Wimbledon keeper was good enough to get a hand on it but the shot was too strong and, courtesy of this wonder-strike, we got to half time one up.

Very few of us listen to Andrew’s half time talks any more, but anyone who had would have heard him suggest that we have a ‘big first ten minutes and get a second goal’. Well ten goalless minutes of the second half were nearly up when Andy took it upon himself to implement his own half-time advice. Another dangerous OC attack looked to have been stifled as the ball was shovelled away from goal by a defender. Luckily for us it fell to the mighty Eve who smashed a bouncing ball just inside the far post. Eve 2 Wimbledon nil and for a while it was party-time.

Then with 10 minutes remaining our luck seemed to run out as our hairless hero decided to intercept a fast moving Wimbledon clearance. He charged at the oncoming ball just as a Wimbledon stick lifted it head high. There was a sickening, bony thud as the ball hit Eve square on the forehead opening up a deep, nasty and bloody wound. There then followed a period of intense medical activity (i.e. chaos) as various Vets demonstrated their caring skills. Trinder took charge but was tender, you might say almost maternal. Rowlands was enthusiastic but, with respect, largely incompetent, crowning his eccentric surgical efforts with an attempt to apply a large plaster without first removing it from the packet. The author of this report demonstrated a medieval ignorance of micro-biology and germs by producing and applying a grubby bandage that had been languishing in the bottom of his kit bag since 1997.

Thus was our beloved leader repaired and, bless him, was he was determined to play on Terry Butcher style, bloodied but unbowed. Common sense prevailed however and Wimbledon kindly lent us a player and we battled the last ten minutes, with Eve consigned to helpful remarks from the touchline.

Within seconds however Wimbledon won a flick and we all had that nasty feeling that the game might yet slip through our fingers. But we reckoned without Shanksy who leaped cat-like to his right post to beat out the well-placed stroke. It was a great save from our in-form keeper and much-needed. Our self-belief was thus restored and Wimbledon’s soon faded and we were able to keep them out until the final whistle.

This was a great win between two very evenly matched teams separated only by two moments of brilliance by the ever-young Andrew Eve. David Burles

Match reports - November 1, 2008

The 1st XI made if five out of five with a 4-1 roasting of a tetchy and ill-disciplined Bank of Boks; the 2nd XI squandered a 2-0 lead to be held 2-2 by Reigate Priory; the 3rd XI are still looking for their first win after going down 0-5 to Old Reigatians, while the 4th XI lost 1-4 to the same opposition. Two Stuart Sleeman goals gave the Vets victory over HAC while the Ladies lost a friendly at Epsom.



1st XI 4-1 Bank of England
At last we have recorded a comprehensive win against the team that seems to always present us with problems.

We welcomed Rory Alexander into our midst following his joining the club three weeks ago and working his way via the 3rds and 2nds into the 1st XI. A hugely positive signal to all club members that by playing for one team does not mean that the door is closed to promotion within the ranks and that by turning up to training your face will become known.

The first 10 minutes saw us totally dominate the match without really creating many good chances although some scrambled clearances kept the score level. We probably had too much time and did not box that clever trying to force the wonder pass instead of being patient. The goal eventually came with Ed Breton drag flicking our third corner giving us a deserved lead. Although pressing for the remainder of the half and not taking the advantage of some good half chances Trickster had to be on his game to make an excellent one on one stop to keep the feisty Bank at bay.

A change in formation at half time suddenly opened up the game and with Bank losing their discipline we took advantage, Ed Copleston sliding in to nudge home our second and Paul Acutt finishing the best move of the game to make it 3-0. Bank's indiscipline led to two yellow cards and regrettably we joined in the testy exchanges and came off the boil. Deservedly Bank pulled one back with their taking advantage of a lapse in defence and but for man of the match Ed Breton taking one off the line it could easily have led to a very uncomfortable last 10 minutes. Nevertheless another short corner was converted with Ed Breton again popping the ball home with a sweet reverse stick strike and the points were ours.

There were two real positives from today. Firstly was the performance of the 4 players who have played second eleven hockey this season, Chris Valentine, Paul Acutt, Dodie and Rory which means that unavailability of first eleven players will mean second team hockey on their return - a healthy and correct situation. The seconds with 2 more new players were unlucky not to win and remain undefeated so suddenly training has become a premium. Secondly the average age of the first two XIs has tumbled down and so it must remain.

The best start to a league season since our halcyon years of a decade ago must now be built on with cockiness, arrogance and an expectation of winning (as opposed to a real desire to win) going to be our most likely downfall over the next four weeks. David Knapp



Spencer Saints 2-2 2nd XI
The 2nd's 100% winning streak came to an halt on a cold and damp Saturday afternoon in Earlsfield. In the end we had to settle for a "desmond " (tutu) with Spencer whose performance defied their lowly league position. It was a game we should have won, taking a 2-0 lead deep into the second half. However Spencer scored with 15 minutes to go and agonisingly drew level in stoppage time....2-2 felt like a loss.

In reflection 2-2 was probably the correct result given that Spencer provided a far sterner test than any of our previous opponents: Well organised, athletic and pacy up front they will surely climb the table throughout the course of the season. Home advantage also counted with Spencer more attuned to what was a very quick and bouncy surface.

However it was the OCs who started the stronger and carried more of a threat throughout the first half. Our two new recruits, brothers Nick and James or James and Nick (I can't tell) settling in quickly and providing some of our most promising work. But for some top notch defending we would have been two-up at the interval. Sadly and importantly we lost Bruce after 20 minutes, who damaged his shoulder in a 50/50 with a Spencer central defender. His goals and general nuisance factor were greatly missed, especially in the second half when we were trying to really apply pressure and force Spencer into errors.

Locked at 0-0 at halftime; it was collectively agreed that we could prosper if we changed the point of attack more often and with more urgency. The first goal came as a direct result of that with the ball being sprayed first left and then right before being fired into the D for Tissy to sweep home from close range. 1-0 and some Andy Murray-esque fist pumping. We continued to press without ever really being on top but managed to double our advantage after Jon Heard's viscously struck free hit was astutely deflected in by Neil Grimes. 2-0 time for cool heads and some "keep ball". Well not if you are Chris Tiss; who decided he would have a crack at decapitating and generally maiming Spencer's midfield playmaker straight from the restart. Out came the yellow card; off went the diminutive Sri Lankan. Idiot/plonker/short arse (can I still get a lift next week mate?)

As clichéd as it sounds we actually played pretty well with 10 men, kept our shape, stepped up our intensity and held out for the 10 minutes whilst Tissy was having a rest. Unfortunately with time ticking away Spencer were awarded a short corner from which a topped 6-iron inexplicably found its way into our net. 2-1. There was a general sense of foreboding as Spencer found the kitchen sink and began throwing bits of it at us, and alas; after some great work from their quick front man (who had been generally speaking well shackled by Jon and Andy) he pulled the trigger and the rest is history.

In summary - our first real test, an enjoyable game to have taken part in; but the type of game that if we want to stand any chance of winning this league; we must close out in the future. Discipline and cool heads are required to succeed and we do have enough experience to deal with situations like the one we encountered on Saturday. However we must keep our chins up, we are still undefeated, 2nd in the league with a home game on Saturday to look forward to.

Keep up the good work - those of you who aren't snatched by the 1sts on Wednesday night or have a dislocated shoulder ... Chris Porter

3rd XI 0-4 Old Reigatians
After a number of poor results the aim of the day was to try and turn our fortunes around. The weather it has to be said was not in the mood to help us out on this mission. This week we welcomed Seb and Richard to our side with Chris also making his first league start.

We started very strongly which is something that has not been seen from the 3rd XI for a while. Unfortunately though this was not to last as OR’s started to reverse the pressure onto us. This pressure ended up with OR’s gaining a short corner which they duly converted. Thanks go to Dickie for stepping in in goal for us after the last minute injury to Nige. Dickie was unfortunate not to save the short after getting an arm to the shot but not being able to stop the ball from going in.

The pressure continued to be applied on the defence of CD, Ollie and Adam and even they could not keep ORs out with them getting another couple of somewhat fortunate goals before half time. We felt pretty unlucky to be going into half time 3-0 down. The weather if anything was continuing to get worse it was noted during the second half that the rain was coming down at a pretty much 45-degree angle.

The second half continued in a similar fashion although the midfield did strengthen up with Armo, Ross, Seb, Richard, Chaz and Chris all starting to link up a lot better. There are some link up plays which we can improve on here but this will come as the midfield play together more. Additionally with the midfield linking better this started to bring Preston and Dave into the game a lot more and we managed to make a lot more chances in the 2nd half. Nevertheless despite this better play ORs were still able to catch us on the break another couple of times and the end result was a 5-0 beating.

The results will come once the team start gelling together we just hope that that is sooner rather than later. Nigel Hawes


Old Reigatians 4-1 4th XI
Report to follow.

Veterans 2-1 HAC
A 10.00 am home game so no change to the usual routine for a vets game of most of the guys turning up at 9.55am some claiming that they had done their warm up by turning their car heaters on full. By 10.10 am we we ready to go on this very cold morning with the OCs having 12 players and providng two umpires in the well wrapped up Cook and Eve with HAC with 11 players.

This must have been one of the first games in many a year with no Eve or Pollard on the team sheet, both breaking bits of their bodies in recent weeks in the line of duty without knowing it. Andy Eve taking a tumble and hurting his shoulder three weeks ago and only finding out that he had dislocated his collar bone a few days later at casualty. Wade was heard to remark in the pub that Andy was a bit of a plonker for not going to check it out after the game, after a game that he had hurt his foot but played to the end. It was not until the week just gone that Wade seeing the Doc for his company medical was told that he had broken his metatarsal bone in his foot!...as you can see these vets boys are made of stern stuff!

So to the HAC game, which started without stalwart keeper Pete Shanks who was in the garden when called by Andy at 10.00 am. Amazingly he was on the pitch 25 mins later in full keepers kit to pull of one of his trademark double saves. A scrappy first quarter gave way to some "just like watching The Arsenal on a good day" hockey for the rest of the first half with Speers, Butcher and Loades solid as rocks at the back happy that their old mate Pete was now behind them protecting their rear flank.

Tireless running from Jonny "Dorian" Grey and Nelligan and no little flair from Orsborn and Hothersall soon had the old army boys chasing shadows. All that was lacking was a goal to make the silky stuff count. This was finally provided by that fox in the box , his honour Judge Stuart Sleeman showing all the "its just like riding a bike" skills of old as someone finally got on the end of one of the many crosses that were being fired into the D.

Half time was taken with a sense of relief that the good work put in had resulted in some reward at last. The only regret was that no one had thought to get a jug of the mulled wine now on tap at the bar to warm things up a bit more.....

The second half brought more frustrations as a second goal proved difficult to get. Eventually this led to a few of the lads attempting a bit too much and possession was often given away far to cheeply allowing the army boys to get their dander up and start having a go. This eventually led to an equaliser which actually shocked the OC troops into more positive action. A few calm heads were needed just to work possession into the right areas and get back to playing it simple. We also needed to get on the end of things in the danger area again.

Cue the man of the moment. The goal poacher himself, Judge Sleeman spotting a ball coming over from his fellow court room man of action Councillor Dave Burles QC, gets the most important of deflections to stear the ball into the back of the net for the winner. The defense then decided that was enough of that so shut up shop for the remaining minutes to produce the win that the lads deserved.

The beer never tasted so good after that in the bar............and the chilli for lunch finally warmed the boys up. Tommy Trinder


Epsom 2nd XI 2-1 Ladies
On a miserable Saturday afternoon we found ourselves at Blenheim playing a friendly against Epsom 3s, from Divison 2. At the start of the day we had 12 players which by recent standards is not many of us, and by the time we met we were down to 11 which meant no subs for a change! Following confusion over meeting times, Ems was running late so we started the match with 10 men, a little disorganised and with several players out of usual position. The rain had started to bucket down and the match looked set to be hard work, although we were looking forward to a no pressure match.

We started slow which was to be expected and we were all having to work extra hard, especially the forwards on closing down the ball, and by this time we had news that Ems was in a cab and on her way from Streatham, so we were determined to work hard try and put some pressure on Epsom and use the match as a good fitness session! Epsom dominated the first 10 minutes and we were forced to defend fairly hard. We soon found our stride though and settled down and began moving the ball around the back, creating space and getting around Epsom with some quick passing, skillful play and fast runs. We had several crosses into the Epsom circle and a penalty corner but no finish. We were pressurising well but a break from Epsom and some complacent defending from us say Epsom take the lead against the run of play. We went into half time wet, bedraggled and still waiting on Ems to arrive. The jelly babies - a gift from Epsom - were gratefully received, a very nice gesture from our oppo. We talked tactics whilst we learned Ems and the cabby were still battling the traffic and Tux reminded us as we stood there hair plastered to the sides of our faces, soaked through and getting cold that this match was for 'fun'!

Second half we new we just had to stick to our players, try and keep the pace up and continue to play our hockey and an equaliser would come and sure enough it did after five minutes from a pass into the D to Caz to Dor who 'melted' it into the goal. We were back in the game. Epsom upped the pressure and were obviously a little narked and things started to become a little more feisty, Nikki in the middle battling it out with her opposing playing and nearly getting a stick in the head (and not whilst playing the ball either!) She retaliated in the best way possible, by demonstrating superb skill and dribbling circles around her opponent. Half way through the second half Epsom had a spate of penalty corners and pushed their players high we defended well on the whole with Lucy who had stepped into Stephs pads in goal for the week having to pull off some cracking saves to keep the score level. Eventually, Ems showed up and we were glad to have some fresh legs to keep us going and try to get a grip on the game again. Just as she arrived we conceded another penalty corner which unfortunately after a melee in the circle the ball was slammed into Mrs Hawes foot who was covering the post - causing Hels a fair bit of pain but not as much pain as the penalty flick that was awarded. Epsom converted and took the lead again. We didn't give up and Ems made her mission to the pitch worth while with some silky skills on the right and a fantastic ball hammered into the circle across the goal mouth but unfortunately our tired legs failed to get on the end of it. We won a final penalty corner but failed to convert and then the final whistle blew. Despite the weather and the fact we lost, it was an enjoyable match. Thanks to Tux for getting it organised, to Ems who spent God knows how much on the cab (we shall def buy her a few beers bonfire night to make up for it!) and to the Epsom umpire for umpiring the whole match. Jackie Waite

Match reports - November 3, 2007

London University 4 1st XI 2 We lost our unbeaten record against lowly London University but deserved nothing more after late cry-offs left us with ten players, a situation made worse by the non availability of Knapp, Stevens and Robson. Stuart Ripley gave us the lead but then we conceded two soft goals from short corners and, chasing an equaliser, left ourselves exposed at the back and inevitably shipped more goals. Eds Copleston’s last-minute strike was no more than a consolation effort.

2nd XI 3 Epsom 1 A good performance earned us the points against an Epsom side who started the day in third. Epsom controlled the first quarter without creating any real chances but the half thereafter was even. We came closest to opening the scoring when a cracking shot hit the upright but we went into the break behind when Epsom’s first shot on target went in with the last hit of the half. We equalised two minutes into the second half with scrambled goal from David Knapp and were the stronger side the rest of the game as Epsom defended too deep, their only other shot on target cleared off the line by Abeed Janmohamed. We sealed the win with a crisp strike four minutes from time and rubbed salt in the visitors’ wounds with a third in the last minute

Old Reigatians 2 3rd XI 3 We remedied a poor start to the season with a hard fought 3-2 win over Old Reightan 1XI. With international duties, injury and a complete lack of organisation marring earlier games, we knew that the Old Reightans' would be expected an easy victory. The first 10 minutes commenced with some excellent pressure on their midfield with Preston and Bruce getting involved. Some early pressure lead to short corners however nothing came from them. As the Old Reightans found their feet, our defence was called into action with Stu Steele and Jock being called into action. It was however against the run of play that a cross from their attacking right and a low mid-air slap beat Nigel H to start us 0-1 down. We continued our pressure with Chaz showing some flair up the right flank with Bruce and Dave offering some problems to the OR defence. Our first break through came as Bruce drove through the defence and from a tight right angle, delivered the ball across the keeper into the back of the net.

The OR team, not to rest on its laurels and although one of their midfield decided to catch a somewhat undangerous ball and then got aggravated when being called up on it, scrambled another goal past an unlucky Nigel.
Although some hard play, OR's had the lion's share of the play and only some strong defensive work from Adam, Stu, Jock and Rich keep us in the game. An inspirational half-time talk with renewed strategy from returning captain Armitage was promptly ignored by all under Stu's strategic advise! With the midfield made us stronger attacks came together and some driving runs up both the left and right flanks provided a lone Dave up front with good opportunities exposing a slower OR defence. A break through came from some quick thinking and a good umpire decision of a slow retreating OR defence providing a short corner. What arguably was one of the weakest shots to go under a keeper, it nevertheless did and Jock brought the same level, 2-2.

Renewed pressure applied, attacks up both flanks and Preston and Bruce creating options and the defence keeping the attacks at bay, the winning goal from a slight scramble for Rich L to open his season's account. The remaining 10 minutes gave the defence the opportunity to excel itself and Will on the left covered a lot of ground in this period. With the final whistle going, we took our first win of the season and Jock took man of the match which he credited to his imminent subscriptions to be paid.

Reigate Priory 5th 0 4th XI 1 Report to follow.

Purley Walcountians 2 Ladies 9 In cricket, a batsman can ‘play and miss’, where as in hockey it's usually something to have a good giggle at, with the poor player wishing the ground would open them up and swallow them. Therefore, the shock of the day was seen at the Purley Arena when Gadget took not one but two fresh air shots. Instead of the reassuring clunk of stick on ball, all we heard was the faint swish and a barely audible expletive.

However, by this time though the game was won. We had raced into a 4-0 lead in the first ten minutes and Purley never looked like getting into the game. Goals from Gadget (2), Nina and Caz, had Jax reaching for her notebook as she couldn’t keep count of the goals bonanza. Totally against the run of play Purley had finally got of their half, by-passed the deckchairs of the relaxing defence and plonked one in the back of the net. Before half time, Manny had belted another one past the goalkeeper.

Therefore, 5-1 at half time and Jax continued to ring the changes, using the virtually unknown luxury of having two subs by allowing herself a nice sit down, whilst her charges continued where they left off in the second half. Another goal, this time from Ana, then Jax went on the pitch, scored a goal, and then went for another sit down. Ros managed to play for 20 minutes before going for snooze in the dug out. There was not a great deal of defending to do as Purley managed to pea roll one in to double their tally. We punished Purley immediately by marching straight up the other end to score again. Midfield generals Manny and Gadget added further goals to make the final score 9-2.

A good performance all round, some great passing hockey on show, and it was important to keep battling to the end especially with so many players with a whole host of illnesses and ailments. It was rumoured that Muriel had dropsy and Tucks was so pale it was thought she was suffering from a bad case of scurvy. Fingers crossed they're feeling better for next weeks game on Saturday at sparrow's fart v Tulse Hill and Dulwich. Barrie David

Vets 3 Cheam 2 The comeback of the day was completed when Andy Eve rifled home the winner two minutes from time, and all after we had gone two down in the first half. Andy Loates pulled on back before half time with a short-corner strike and then Viv Pyne levelled the game from close range midway through the second half. Both sides created chances, the Cheam umpire gave some imaginative decisions (Tommy Trinder might use another adjective) before the tireless Eve secured three points.