Missing a few match reports this week but the 1s reports are below! Next Saturday – The Ladies 1s face their home turf rivals, London Academicals at 1300 – please come down to the club to support!
1st XI 4-3 Milton Keynes
Saturday 26th began with a show of unexpected generosity from stand-in captain Davies. After Milton Keynes arrived with four players, including their keeper, stuck somewhere on the M1, Davies agreed to delay the pushback to allow the opposition to start with a full complement of players. Questions about whether P Harman would have made such a gesture were quickly stifled.
Fortunately, Milton Keynes couldn’t convert the resulting short corner.
After this inauspicious start, the OCs eased their way into the game and began to take the upper hand. The pressure told after CZ was fouled in the circle as he wound up a vicious reverse. Murphy slotted the stroke in the bottom left corner. 1-0.
The lead did not last long. Milton Keynes stole an equaliser as the ball ricocheted off the post, crossbar and Davies’ head before the ball was squeezed through a crowded D and past an unsighted Kingsnorth. Protests from a dazed Davies were dubiously dismissed. 1-1.
Davies shrugged off this blow to continue driving forward, and found Smith unmarked in the circle. Speaking after the game, Smith summed up his thoughts at that moment: “I saw H on the back post, but thought if I passed it to him he might miss, so I just put my stick through it.” By the time the Milton Keynes keeper could react, Smith had already turned away in celebration. 2-1
The start of the second half saw the OCs take more control of the game. Despite the flow of the game, Milton Keynes made use of the open space to take the lead with two goals on the break. 2-3
It wasn’t long before the OCs restored parity with an unstoppable move through the middle of the pitch. After a deft touch from Thomas, Pettitt showed a cool head to slot the ball under the advancing keeper, and more surprising judgement when peeling away from the assembled fans to celebrate. 3-3.
It was clear that the OCs weren’t willing to settle for a point, and the pressure resulted in a corner three minutes from time. Murphy had hit the post earlier in the game, but found the target with his final attempt. As the ball nestled in the bottom corner, the relief was clear. 4-3.
Dick of the day: Way
Woking 0-2 2nd XI
3rd XI 4-1 Leatherhead
This was always likely to be our hardest game to date but in the end we picked this week to really play to our potential and ran out comfortable winners against a strong Leatherhead side. They were not helped by coming with the basic XI while we had enough to keep making regular changes, and that told in the last ten minutes as we scored our third and fourth goals, the latter a stunning strike from the top of the D by David Knapp. We took an early lead and created enough chances to have sealed the game before the break. We briefly led 2-0 before Leatherhead pulled a goal back from a short corner and then had us on the ropes for five minutes. The defence held firm and while the final scoreline perhaps flattered the result did not.
4th XI v Purley Walcountians
Frozen off.
Ladies XI 2-0 Old Kingstonians 1s
This Saturday the Ladies played Spencer. Big game as we needed the 3 points after last week’s disappointment but then again every Saturday is now turning into a big game … there are certainly no guaranteed 3 points in this league.
Dan gave us our usual motivational talk … simple task … “don’t play like last week and raise your game ladies”. Understood and even with numerous position changes the squad were up it. He even reminded us to sort out our under garments … I didn’t and now I am writing the match report … it’s a weekly problem in our team… knickers that are too sexy, snapping bra straps, too many layers!!!
From the off we started the game at the pace which is what we wanted. We may not all be young but we’re fit and determined. The first half is where we did the damage, controlling the game with great linkage play from defence, across the midfield and down the wing to feed Richie and Fletch. It wasn’t long before the nerves were settled with a goal from a short. Quick release from Emily, slick stop from Liz, great straight strike from Richie … keeper saved … Richie then made a quick rebound shot! 1-0!!! Calmer we carried on pressing Spencer’s goal with a number of opportunities missed and only occasionally letting Spencer in our half. Our second goal came from a free hit outside the D which was played back past the 23 to Beth who crossed it wide to Ali on the right, with the ball played into the D Richie picked it up and lifted the ball high up into the right hand corner. 2-0!!!
The second half started much as the first ended with us getting the run of the game but alas no goals. With about 15 minutes to go we seemed to come under increasing pressure from Spencer. Their hunger for a goal was increasing and we needed to pull out all the stops to halt any opportunity for them to get 1 or even 2 back. Our back line has only conceded 4 from 8 games this season and they showed why as the game concluded. Fantastic saves from Michelle (GK) combined with solid tackles and clearances from Tash, Emily, Beth and Sophie meant the game finished 2-0!
Hoorah and well played everyone. The tempo was amazing. So much so Liz and Georgia managed to clash in their determination and leave Georgia with potential concussion… I just thought she was really hungover and it had all caught up with her!!! And even Dan raised a smile.
Role on next week when we need YOUR SUPPORT! We play London Accies at home in a top of the table clash, so all the support we can have would be appreciated.
Squad: Fletch, Richie, Liz, Ali, Amy, Georgia, Heather, Beth, Tash, Emily, Sophie D-H, Helen and Michelle. MOM Michelle.