OCHC 3s won 3-1 v Reigate priory
Goal scorers
Chris Bents 1
Eds Copleston 2
After 2 solid wins in our friendly games we looked focused and ready for the first league match of this campaign against Reigate Priory. 11am pushbacks don’t occur very often at fortress TD so we took the opportunity to have a good warm up. It was delightful to see almost the entire side there on time as well. But the plan was simple – ball speed, patience and discipline. What a joy it was to toss the coin with Martin Williamson again after my 4 years in American exile.We started strongly – passing the ball well and keeping to the simple hockey we had discussed. But with long spells of possession and waves of attack we began to become frustrated. Grimes and Hugo took control of the midfield but we couldn’t convert. Frustration leads to forced balls and we were lucky not to concede as we gifted the ball away on several occasions in our half. It was against the run of play that we broke down the right with rob J and Knappy who passed to Eds to finish as we took the lead. Despite conceding a few short corners we went into half time 1-0 up.
It was vital we scored the next goal and killed off Reigate who started well in the second half. We didn’t and conceded a soft goal with 25 minutes left. It was after Reigates goal that the OCs showed real passion and character. The ball was moved at pace from side to side and we took total control of the game – Eds scoring from a scrappy corner taking us 2-1 up. Still we tried to force play and gave the ball away with Reigate having a few chances to equalise. However with 10 minutes left the goal of the season thus far was created by chris brewer and quite perfectly finished into the bottom left corner by chris bents. Yes – chris bents. Reigate threw what they had left at us but the defence held firm and a 3-1 win probably a fair reflection. We are off and running with a win but there is plenty to work on – fitness especially. As Winston Churchill once said – “continuous effort is the key to unlocking potential” – he wasn’t often wrong.