1st XI
The day started messy and, other than the result was pretty messy too. Not sure the context of the game was taken into account by the officials as the game was never nasty, just 2 teams desperate for the points for different reasons.
Oddly the team in each of the 2 games who went down to 8 ran out winners.
11 points out of 18 to guarantee promotion with our first post Christmas target of 10 points in the first 5 games exceeded with 12 secured. The top 3 all play each other in the next 3 weeks with West Hampstead playing Horsham next week and so another big 3 weeks ahead.
One thing that cannot be faulted about the OCs 2013/14 is the commitment to the cause. Bodies on the line from start to finish and a never say die approach.
Both sides had goals chalked off before we took the lead which, on other days could both have been allowed. Woking were unlucky first and us second. Harry then had a shot stopped by another body on the line, one of Woking’s, with a short corner being awarded as the umpires suggested the ball was missing the goal. The photos clearly indicate otherwise.
Paddy nudged us ahead before half time and the score stayed at 1 – 0 at half time. Being unable to find a second kept Woking interested and as we reached the 10 minute mark the cards started flying. In quick succession we lost Rippers, Gilo and Tommy and in between these Dan saved a stroke. Our 3 subs on the bench were all forwards so adaptation required. Woking equalised as Pikey tapped home to atone for the missed stroke.
We upped our game and put the game to bed when back to 11 with Wiso linking up with Rippers and thumping the ball home from the top of the D. Woking had to press as they tried to snatch a valuable point but as the game opened up we had more chances to put the game to bed but did not add to the scoreline.
Dan was again immense in goal, Carney scrapped for everything as did Paddy and Louis played a game well above his years just to name a few.
Cut, bruised and battered we secured the points.
Now for Eds…
3rd XI
It’s a funny thing, being captain of the 3rd team. On Friday evening I had 11 players on the team sheet. The next morning, I woke up to find I had 9, then 15 by the time I got to the pitch, and somehow back on 11 when the game started.
But what an 11! Facing off against top of the table Chertsey was a daunting prospect, and spectators were keen to point out the differences in pre-match preparation between the two teams, my rather ‘hands off’ approach and Chertsey’s more rigid ‘whiteboard and magnets’ making an interesting contrast.
The OCs had a shaky start, with several rushed passes giving the ball away too easily and piling the pressure on ourselves. Some determined defending meant that Chertsey were unable to capitalise on their early possession and the arrival of Kevin Smith allowed us to rotate players and keep the energy up the whole game. The Marshall brothers, Dan and Toby, in the centre put together some great passes and Jody consistently made key jab tackles, cutting down on Chertsey’s movement. The OCs started to make positive moves up the field, including some great runs of 10 or more passes. I was reminded of “Mario football” on the Nintendo Wii, where the ball accumulates more power the more passes you make. If we had indeed been playing Mario football then the ball would have been positively glowing with energy by the time it came to yours truly in the opponent’s D. Thankfully I knew exactly what to do; cop out and put the ball on a defender’s foot. Hey presto, it’s someone else’s responsibility to score! And score Knappy did, taking us a goal up into the second half.
In the second half it was more of the same, with the OCs playing a composed, simple game of hockey. We strung together some great, easy passes round the back and early on found Knappy in the D for him to put away his second goal. Faced with losing, Chertsey increasingly lost their cool with the OCs, who did well not to react to some of the wild tackles and barges which were increasingly dealt out. I overheard Martin (who was umpiring) telling one player that he was on his “very last, final warning”. It’s so much nicer when he’s saying that to an opponent rather than Nige…
The OC’s passing game continued, and returnees Ed Brown and James Seymour swiftly closed down any attacks which came our way. To round it all off, on our third short corner of the game, Knappy’s shot rebounded to Bish, who popped the most timid flick I have ever seen, straight over their keeper.
As if beating the top team wasn’t enough, I even managed to add insult to injury by getting the oppo’s name wrong at the end. They said after the game that we had been one of the toughest teams they have played all season, and as we were only their third defeat, the numbers certainly confirm that statement. Man of the match was voted for and shared equally by Knappy, Dan and Jody.
This fifth win of the season puts us within reach of the middle of the table with five games to play.
