Match reports - January 31, 2009

The 1st XI continued their promotion bid with a 7-0 drubbing of Walton & Weybridge Hawks, while the 2nd XI battled to a 0-0 draw with UCL Academicals and the 4th XI drew with Barnes Beavers 2-2. The Ladies remained bottom of the league after another 0-1 loss, this time at Old Kingstonians, the 3rd XI crashed to a 1-8 rout at Leatherhead while the Veterans were well beaten 0-4 by Southgate

Walton & Weybridge 0-7 1st XI
One thing may cost us this season, lack of personal discipline. I do not only mean the bad tackles leading to a short corner and an equalising goal a few minutes from the end but the whole concept of our approach to the task in hand. This starts on a Wednesday night and turning up to training, to being sensible on a Friday night, respecting those in the team who are sensible and on match days to ensure we all meet on time as requested by the skipper. As soon as these things go wrong or are lacking the 70 minute game goes wrong.

Not only does it affect the rest of the team who are then affected by an unnecessary distraction but it winds up those who put in so much effort to pull together the team. There is then discord on the bench, wrong substitutions are made and the structure falls down with disharmony the product.

Fortunately this weekend's game was against a poor Walton and Weybridge side who put up little resistance with us scoring three in the first 15 minutes and four in the last 20. In between there was a sterile 35-minute patch with us taking the wrong decisions in crucial areas. The defence held firm as a unit with the back five including Trickster and the bulk of the midfield barely allowing the host side a sight on goal. The two Woods were especially effective and Cookiey could not be faulted for the amount of leg work he put in.

Gavin scored our first hat-trick of the season finishing his goals extremely well, Ed B scored two corners, Eds swept home a loose ball in the D and Chris Brewer notched his first for many years when picking up the pieces from our final corner. Up front we have to perhaps be a bit more selfish on occasions in the sense of having an early shot on occasions rather than teeing up a tap in.

This season will go down to the wire and ultimately the most disciplined side who gives no margin of error will win the league. There is no room for sloppy preparation "just because it is a side at the bottom" as we have to approach every game as if it is a cup final. Each team in our league has something to play for with the next season's change in the league structure and we will be kidding ourselves if we think we can just identify three or four games as key games that we have to win. Remember London University two seasons ago ... David Knapp

2nd XI 0-0 UCL Academicals
Given that we have have by far the best defence in the league but only two teams have scored fewer goals than us, you do not expect goalfests when we play. Allied to a defence that a couple of years ago would have been gracing the 1st XI - Robson, Heard, Stephens, Duff and Khurshid - then getting Stephens to buy a drink would be an easy steal. As it was, a draw was just about a fair result. We created only one half-chance and what some might claim was a shot in the entire game, while UCL managed a few shots but surprisingly decided on four three-on-ones that dribbling through Duff was the easy option. He made sweetly timed tackles on each occasion. UCL did have the ball in the goal only for the short-corner strike to be harshly disallowed. The decision did not justify the "f***ing cheat" comment aimed at the umpire by one of the UCL players and the refusal of most to shake hands. UCL, who share our ground, are a club we feel close to and who we spent the evening eating curry with.

Leatherhead 8-1 3rd XI
Not much to say. The consensus of the survivors drinking in the bar and downing some utterly vile Austrian Butterscotch paintstripper provided by Jock was that we deserved to lose but not by four goals. Preston netted our one goal although we gave up in the second half, Jock insisting that one of the Leatherhead goals was via a foot. That only left seven to account for ...

4th XI 2-2 Barnes Beavers
A great game all round with some well worked passing and strong team work - 2-2 probably being a fair result in the end. The highlights were Bertie Bance's two wonder dribble goals ... two slower-paced shots have never before crossed the line in one match - nice one Bertie.

Old Kingstonians 1-0 Ladies XI
We played Old Kingstonian’s this week and with OK’s also being towards the bottom end of the league we had hoped to take some points off them.

With a slightly depleted squad, as many people were away for the weekend, we started strong even though a number were playing out of position and Rossy P was still trying to navigate her way through traffic mayhem! However we were caught on the break in the first couple of minutes and a goal mouth scrabble led to OK’s taking an early lead – bugger, bugger and bugger! Sorry for the swearing but we didn’t deserve it!

With this we didn’t get downhearted but took the game to them. Our attacking play and determination to make the fifty-fifties meant we were controlling the game and getting opportunities on goal. Whilst this sometimes left us open to OK’s catching us on the break again, as most of us were up in their half, the defence of Tux, Lucy, Ros, Mez and Jax were able to cope and if not then Steph cleared any loose balls hard out to the sidelines. As we came into half time an OK’s forward decided tackling with a shoulder barge was the way forward (we were beginning to get under their skin) and promptly got a green card from their umps … only to be followed 2 minutes later by a yellow as Goalie (“I have never given a yellow before”) simply had no choice! Okay so now we had the advantage … but then someone blew the damn half time whistle, not helpful!

The player advantage didn’t last for long in the second half as she was back on in four minutes – I ask you! That said we continued our attacking play with good drives up the midfield by Viks, May, Anna and Niks which meant we had opportunities on goal but just couldn’t find the final touch. Snoops, Ems and Lucy continued to hassle the OKs forward line but as the ball glided across the goal mouth attempts to drive it home were dashed as the OKs keeper put in a last ditch save. Injuries meant that for a while Snoops had to play in defence but ‘Psycho’ and the rest of the defence were able to clear the shots on goal with Steph covering behind.

As the last two minutes came we kept pushing but it just wasn’t happening and the score line remained 1-0 to the end. A good game and certainly our determination to get ourselves out of the relegation battle is coming through – we just need to get some goals!!! Well played guys. Next game 10am @ home this Saturday – club support would be good if anyone has a spare morning! And lastly thanks to Goalster who has helped us out a lot this season – cheers. Helen Hawes

Veterans 0-5 Southgate
Report to follow.

Match reports - November 8, 2008

The 1st XI remained top and retained their 100% record with a 4-3 win at Camberley, but nobody is quite sure how we came away with all three points. The 2nd XI remained second with a thrilling 0-0 draw with Wanderers. The 3rd XI were left still looking for their first win after a 0-4 loss at Kenley, while the 4th XI went down 1-3 to leaders Horley. The Vets, despite the rare fielding of a brace of Shanks, lost 0-5 at Southgate but were boosted by a cultural match report (see below) while a double-booked pitch meant the Ladies had a wasted trip to Richmond

Camberley 3-4 1st XI
Holy jamolee - not only was the biscuit taken but the whole factory's supply taken. The factory has shut down.

We knew that Camberley were going to be a tough nut from their results. Giving them space in the midfield and conceding short corners was what they wanted. We had the bulk of the ball in the first five minutes but then went to sleep, lost our pattern and changed our style so it was no surprise when from their first corner the home side went one up with a wicked dipping strike.

The first of the howlers then let us back into the game when Eds’ dying swan won us a penalty stroke and fortuitously we were level when David Knapp popped it home. Neither side managed to create much for the next 10 minutes or so but instead traded passes in the midfield. Cookiey was instrumental in clearing up a lot of loose ball at the back and a change in our tactics saw us beginning to dominate the game and thwart the danger of the two wide-midfield players. Following a strong run and sublime skill from Rory Gavin was set up for our second with Cookiey winning a free hit in our half, making a forward run and picking up the resultant aerial. Back line was again hit and this time Cookiey set up Gavin for our third.

The same style was used in the second half and on winning a short a well-rehearsed move enabled Knapp to pop the ball home. From this point it seemed that it was a matter of how many. Rory had a stinging reverse-stick shot saved but we then lost our shape completely. The injury to Cato hurt us and was evidence of his importance. At this point the fun started. Both sides received two yellows for what were in essence innocuous tackles. Gavin’s was for "being frustrated because I did not blow the two fouls on you before you stick tackled the player"...!! Rippers was for a tackle being of such a high standard that its kind has probably not been seen at this level before. The reverse stick clean nick of the ball was OK but apparently Rippers had the opponent's shirt in his hand. Isaac Newtons theory of relativity would have been oh-so-different had he seen this tackle before the apple fell on his head.

Two quick goals from Camberley, another powerful short corner drive and a cracking shot from the oppo's man of the match gave us a tense last few minutes. CB then went off and we were down to a fit 10.

Nick was penalised and a stroke given for what appeared a clean tackle as the ball went directly off his stick into touch, but this decision did even out the earlier howler. Step up Trickster who worked out the flick taker to save easily. However, not so simple. Feet off the line for Trickster, much questioning and a retake. Ball fired wide so still 4 – 3, and so it remained.

Both sides suffered in equal measures. Camberley were unlucky not to blemish our 100% record and so we were lucky to win but win we did. Twenty-four players baffled in the bar afterwards but still top tonight. David Knapp


2nd XI 0-0 Wanderers
If last week's result opened up some early-season OC wounds, then this week's had the effect of rubbing salt firmly into them. Another game we really should have won but in the end had to settle with a hugely frustrating draw. On a miserable, wet morning at TD we dominated for long periods but could not convert our territory and possession into a goal. Wanderers, who defended stoutly throughout; were clearly the happier of the two teams as the final whistle echoed around our ears like the school bell sounding the end of break - we didn't want it to end...

Once again keeper Mike decided to turn up two minutes before push back which meant that Captain Mez had to get into his fancy dress gear - My constant jibes about his ill fitting gloves did nothing to lift our skipper's rather glum mood. In terms of the line-up we looked really strong, not only did we welcome back Neil and Dodie from their successful exploits with the 1st XI, but were also supplied with Will Stephens and Bruce Davies. We started confidently as you would expect from our league position and the personnel we had on board and consequently spent much of the first period camped in the Wanderers half. The passing and movement was good but as the half progressed it was becoming evident that we were lacking a cutting edge, with our strikers limited to a hand full of "half chances". Wanderers, to their credit; defended well, displaying high levels of determination and concentration. Their game plan was clearly to hit us on the break and we had to be on our toes on one or two occasions in the first half when they surged forward - but these were very much isolated incidents.

The second half was, in reality; a bit of a mess. We became disjointed, our movement lacked real purpose and mentally we became edgy - the thought of not winning playing on our minds. The combination of these factors actually helped Wanderers get more of a foothold in the game which, given their overall lack of skill was hard to accept. However the second half did grant us a few real chances, a series of short corners from which Paul came close at least twice, and another heroic goal line clearance from a defender who "knew nothing about it" after great work from Woody (Woody is now my name for either of Nick and James as I am never going to be able to tell them apart.) and Andy Selby. And much like the fireworks this weekend, the game disappointingly fizzled out.

We are still undefeated but a few alarm bells are sounding in my ears - We have a lot of good players in the 2s this season but there are genuine concerns about the balance of the squad. It became increasingly clear that neither Bruce nor Will are strikers, Will on reflection; probably would have preferred to stay in bed than suffer the ignominy of playing for the 2nd XI but there you go. It is easy to be down on ourselves but it could have been another three points and overall we deserved to win. We do need to work on our shape, movement and structure, especially when working the ball into space in wide areas, but our cause is not helped when faced with five new team-mates every week. A settled team, who are used to how each other plays is crucial - so is finding a real out and out goal-scorer ... Chris Porter


Kenley 4-0 3rd XI
The 3rd XI travelled to the far depths of southern England to play Kenley. Coming off the back of a well-fought and played game last week, a strong team with Duncan Mottram returning to the fray after two years in the lofty heights of the 2XI, we had promise, guile and a fair amount of rain beating down to make for an interesting game.

Kenley started the game moving the ball fluidly and using their flanks. Our defence quickly realised that their game was not going to be quiet and Stu and Tim coordinated affairs with strategic cunning that neutralised Kenley's attacks. As we found our feet, excellent marking at the back and coordination in midfield started to provide opportunities for our own attacks. Two early short corners proved threatening and some luck on Kenley's part prevented us taking the lead. Rich Lawrence was making a nuisance of himself on the right flank with balls being played through to Dave, Chris and as Andy came on to provide new legs, the game was becoming a fast flowing and competitive. Duncan was proving instrumental in midfield with competition for every 50/50 and distribution up both flanks keeping us well in the game.

Our beloved captain, Nigel, felt that there were perhaps a few decisions that were being affected by Kenley's appealing made this opinion felt. After an eternity of discussion with the umpire, an exchange of phone numbers, bit of a hug and a pat on the bum, he returned to the goal mouth without a card.

The first-half continued with end-to-end play and a solid approach. The only criticism would be that the ball was been given away a little cheaply in midfield but 0-0 at half time. After the break both teams appeared to lose their structure and Kenley's attackers started to become niggly … however, the defence held their own. Our midfield couldn't find itself and with some solid play in places, seemed to lose the ball too easily and cheaply that kept the defence busy. Ollie and Stefano were kept busy on both wings however it was Kenley that opened the accounts first with a scrappy play that resulted in a close slap past an already committed keeper. Unfortunately, the second came quickly after from a short corner routine that broke down leaving three Kenley players on the right side facing a man on the line, it was inevitable, 2-0.

The game settled for five minutes before some nice passing from the Kenley midfield cut through too easily to expose our fitness issues we were now facing to score another goal. To our credit, attacks still came forward and Rich and Andy were both unlucky not to put a goal in the back of the net. Midfield had found its structure again and the game started to swing back our way only for a bemusing attack, where the ball went off the back line in front of the umpire, five OC defenders stopped, but the umpire “didn't see it”, 4-0. With five minutes remaining, Armo was called over to be reprimanded for appealing for the ball. Being asked what was he going to do, blow a whistle as he wasn't the umpire, asked the umpire if this was a rhetorical question, diplomacy not a forte obviously.

A very creditable game for us, the score line unflattering and unfair but nonetheless, the score line. A younger Kenley team showed their fitness when it mattered but a well grafted game by Duncan, Stu and Tim with good performances all round. The season is far from over based on the OC's last fortnights play. James Armitage

Southgate 5-0 Veterans XI

And so to Southgate, OC hearts beating with hope on the back of the cliff-hanger that was last week’s win against HAC. But, as Robert Louis Stevenson so aptly observed “to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive, and the true success is to labour”. We travelled hopefully and we laboured hard and long but five goals later (none ours sadly) we trooped off, heads held high(ish) but, in truth, soundly beaten.
This could almost have been a game of two halves, save that we lost both. We drew inspiration from the heady cocktail that was (a) the re-appearance of Shanks (younger) – in borrowed kit and claiming an improbable Vets goal-scoring average of 2.6 goals per match – (Statto over to you for due diligence on that one please!) (b) the welcome addition of the classy Richard Womack finding a moment before his baby arrives to play beautifully in support of our lonely strikers until eventually limping off mid-way through the second half and (c) the return of the surgically enhanced ‘flying’ Pyne. We battled manfully against a powerful Southgate side and might easily have gone into the break level. Loates and Speers stood firm at the back in front of Shanks (elder), Trinder as ever authoritatively organising the middle and Jon Gray and Tim Neligan tireless in attack. We made chances, we came close, but fatally were unable to convert.. And then the inevitable, a Southgate short corner awarded, a five minute break for 21 players as Trinder debated and re-debated the minutiae of the decision with the astonishingly patient Southgate umpire and then the corner itself, the ball rolling to an unmarked striker in space, with time to line it up and smash it through Shanks (elder), who until then had defended his goal with characteristic determination.

At half time there was still all to play for. An early goal and we would be right back in it. Alas there was indeed an early goal - theirs!

The writer pauses the action at this point to remark on the colourful reaction of Shanks (elder) to this particular Southgate score and indeed to the others that followed. Perhaps it had been a tough week flogging Cruise Liners but big Pete’s response(s) to the goal(s) can perhaps euphemistically be described as ‘colourful’. The only printable part being his command to each delighted Southgate goal-scorer “Don’t say anything!!!” bellowed at point blank range into the nearest ear. As a deterrent against further opposition goal-scoring it proved entirely unsuccessful (although in fairness this was true of much that we attempted in the second half) but I am surely not alone in noticing that the enemy celebrations thereafter were distinctly muted. On a more serious note anyone who was actually at the game will have appreciated that Peter’s therapy-needs are now urgent and all contributions should please be made (as usual) via the website www.ourgoalkeepersisbonkers.com.

Thus the second half passed in a blizzard of Southgate attacks (largely successful) and a handful of OC forays into the enemy territory (all unsuccessful). Eve battled gamely down the left, looking close to fully recovered from his shoulder damage, Bermon came on and tied up their inside right and Butch bottled up their right winger – but all to no avail. In many way we were all winners - we had fun, the sun shone as we played, the post-match chilli hit the spot and some of us even cycled home (sort of). But on the pitch we definitely came second. David Burles

Summer baby boom

The OCHC summer baby-boom continues with Will and Katie Stephens producing Abigail Olivia on June 16, followed two days later by Tomas Jay to Paul and Tanya Barr. On May 22, Louis and Julie Strover had a second son, Justin Jon.

Females now outnumbering males following the arrival of Alice Rosie Tabor at 4.44pm on Wednesday August 6 (5lbs 13 ozs). Proud father Ian reports that she took the the stick like a natural. "She certainly likes to practice her dribbling though her ball (or should that be bowel?) control still needs some work. It's hoped that she will be available for the start of the 2004/05 season." Her mum, Tikki, hopes to join the ladies squad soon having completed her move from Barnes before the transfer window closed.

David Knapp announces his retirement

Former Welsh international David Knapp has announced his retirement from hockey, some 26 years after he first appeared for the OCHC.

"I can confirm that I am not playing this season, merely coaching," he said. "No cheap goals for lower sides as I do not intend to play at all!"

Knapp rejoined the OCHC in 1995 after a glittering (?) career which saw him play for Guildford and Hounslow as well as Wales and as a player and coach was instrumental in the expansion of the club. His commitment and enthusiasm were legendary and he expected, and usually got, the same dedication from his side.

Off the pitch he was one of the old school who believed that you played hard and then partied even harder. His egg-eating snake routine is revered throughout the land, and his impression of a moth isn't far behind.

1st XI captain Will Stephens, who with Knapp has been an ever-present in the side since 1995, paid tribute to his colleague. "I think he can still offer something to the side, even if it is only oranges at half time."

But Knapp was upbeat about the side's prospects this year. "This coming season will be a tough one. Not only is the league far stronger than in recent years but the loss of key players is an added problem.

"In essence the 3 players who have left for various reasons (Andy Howell, Andy Duff and James Relph) had made their position clear by Christmas last year. James Myers who has played for Guildford, Beeston and Indian Gymkhana will replace Howell and is a goalkeeper of vast experience and comes to us having played in the National League since inception. The squad however has the required determination and character to make the season enjoyable notwithstanding it being hard."