Old Cranleighan M2 5 – 3 King’s & Alleyn’s M1
Great to be at home! The team got off to a slow start, and as a result gave away two short corners which lead to us conceding 2 early goals.
This was not the best start and the team bounced back with some great passing and movement to build some counter attacks and put the opposition under some sustained pressure. Jamie gave a solid performance in midfield and provided a great link between the defence and attack. This led to OC’s scoring two goals in quick succession through Ben Wilson and OD. .
With the half time score now at 2-2, the team were growing in confidence and found a way to take the lead and make it 3-2, through Jamie.
We then scored again thanks to Ben Wilson to take a commanding 4-2 lead into the last quarter of the match. Kings then upped their game and turned us over a few times with their press, creating a chance to score and taking the score to 4-3. This left a nervy final period to negotiate. Jack then pulled off the save of the day at a crucial moment to protect our lead. This then followed with an OC’s counter, with some slick passes through the field which found Lawson in some space at the top of the D, giving him a shooting chance which he converted to take the score to 5-3 and all the points to OC’s!
Well done to all the team!
OCs L4 2 – 1 Teddington L5
Teddington L5 were holding 2nd in the league Clearly the game meant a lot to Teddington as their dugout was reminiscent of the Cromwell Road bus station with the number of substitutes. It was a home pitch game and a day without rain, so our spirits were not going to be dented!
Teddington came out strong, we maintained our composure but gave the ball away on several occasions using reverse stick stopping and passing and made very few transfers.
It was a fast paced game moving quickly from D to D. 15 minutes in , Ella had a run down the right, crossed it to Colleen in the D who found the backboard. We continued to apply pressure, half time score 1-0.
2nd half, our structure improved and our transfers paid off. A sideline ball taken by Bella on the right, who passed back to Paula, who crossed to Zoe on the left. Zoe passed down the line to Colleen who cut to centre into the D, passing left across the goal keeper to Zoe who sealed the deal. 2-0
Teddington were clearly not happy and the noise on the pitch started to rise with several umpire decisions being queried. With 6 minutes to go, Teddington took their goalie off pitch to play 11 on the field. Their tactic paid off with a goal from a short corner. We gave away a few more short corners but our defence held strong with some lovely saves from Naysa who was player of the match.
A really great team effort, well done Ladies.
Report written by Colleen Bohm
Samurai 2 – 0 Teddington 6s
We started the first half strong with lots of action both ends, great defensive play and saves by Nici, a few short corners but an unlucky goal against us took us to 0-1 down at half time. The second half we went out fighting, again lots of chances in the D and short corners, great runs and connections up the field but another goal was conceded against us, we kept fighting all the way to the end, great team effort. POM to Phoebe for a solid performance as Centre Mid.
Puritans 4 – 3 Hampstead
See sawing in Spring weather
Inspired by the 2s who went two down to win 4-3 we decided “why not do the same”.
Playing like a bunch of muppets for the first 25 minutes ensured that we were on the back foot, conceded two and were as threatening as a miniature Dachshund registering zero shots and being overrun in the midfield. But for two goal line saves from Millsy we could have been 4 down. As it was their first came from a penalty stroke following a foot on the line and the second from a similar move with CJ playing excellent advantage after another foot on the line enabling Hampstead to score the open play goal.
At half time Greg turned us into aggressive and pumped up German Shepherds with the Sir Alec Ferguson hairdryer treatment and we reaped the reward.
Two goals from the returning Si Duncan from well worked short corners, sweat glistening off his bald pate, put us back on equal terms and a Paul Mitchell defection put us ahead and deservedly so. A rare foray into our half and D enabled Hampstead to draw level with 10 minutes to go after a very good move and quick strike that wrong footed our defence. Our character continued to shine through as we pressed for the remainder of the game and a wonderful flowing move from the back resulted in our 4th and the winner with Knappy on hand to guide the ball home.
The second 35 minute period was comfortably our best half of hockey of the season and in dire contrast to the pile of manure of the first half and gave us our 7th successive win.
Spencer next week which is another must win game if we wish to try and grab second place in the league.
Player of the match Si Duncan
Goals, Duncan 2, Paul Mitchell and Knappy
OC Ladies 6 4 – 1 Surbiton Sirens
The Ladies 6 team came away with a convincing 4:1 win today against the Surbiton Sirens. Surbiton found it difficult to respond to our constant pressing and the team played great from defence to attack. The fact that Freya in goal had a very quiet afternoon tells its own story. Except for the Surbiton goal when heads were still in half time mode.
OC Goals came courtesy of George with two excellent goals while Klara and POM Lovisa scored one goal each. An all around great performance and we are ready for the next challenge!
Solveig Muthreich
Hamstrings 1 – 4 Guildford Gladiators
Those who say that there’s nothing new under the sun and believe they have seen all there is to see weren’t at TD on Saturday to watch the Hammies (5th place) match vs top of the table Guildford…
After one of the more protracted negotiations of his legal career to-date in the aftermath of the away match last December, HC (Hammies’ Counsellor) Jon East extracted the promise of a 1-0 head start for this return leg. For an OCs team that has played well 23 to 23 all season but struggled to convert opportunities and possession into goals, this felt an auspicious start.
Sadly, the goal we didn’t score was the only goal we managed in a 1-4 defeat to the team that now seems to have sewn up a promotion spot to O50s Prem next season. This was despite the hard work and unflagging efforts of the squad – bolstered for this match by the inclusion of Poen (aka “Poem” apparently) and Seearsy from the Barnies, but hindered by the fact that we had lent 2 players to the Puritans for their preceding match (which they won, in thrilling fashion with a Knappy wonder goal). Tissy’s motto of “anything for the club” proving once again to be very much the ethos of the Hammies management and squad too.
The slightly Jekyll and Hyde nature of the Hammies play this season – from the sublime in some instances to the comedic at times – was perhaps best exemplified by Rob Crumby…who was awarded MOM for his performance on the pitch…ever watchful, alert and full of running. He was, however, also awarded DOD for being far more interested in seeking to pass on words of wisdom/ his phone number to members of the Ladies 1s squad than joining his team mates in the post-match photo.
We have the delights of an away trip to Dulwich next weekend to look forward to, with a further 3 matches after that …including a double header on 13/ 14 April (both hoe matches fortunately). Hopefully some of our walking wounded will have returned to bolster numbers by then as the squad targets another top 4 finish.
Final score – a 1-4 loss
Goal “Scorer” – Jon East
MOM – Rob Crumby
A perfect sunny spring day for hockey. After Thursday and Friday scrabbling to find an extra player to give everyone a bit of a break (get better soon, Fi – we are missing you), Elsie rose to the occasion. A suitable position for someone of her height!
So we took to the pitch with 12 and Jackie Waite coaching, Crumpet leading the supporters club and a a good feeling in the air.
Last time we beat Ashford 8-1. With a little help from players who were not there today. But we had Darcie, who has improved so much this year and so we decided to go aggressive with four backs in a diamond, three across the middle and three at the top.
Ashford were not the same team we played (and neither were the umpires the same which is the only comment I can make as my mum always told me to say nothing if you can’t say anything good).
They were attacking. As were we. It became quite clear quite quickly that they had some pretty good players. However, they were not a match for Inge, who had a storming match at the back, playing in a familiar sweeping position that she often doesn’t play anymore. Intercepting and blocking again and again, she didn’t get Player of the Match but deserves a Captain’s Honourable Mention.
Sarah dug in and although a forward, with her usual good humour she came back and also played very well on the left. She pushed forward when we needed her to, and she did some sterling work getting back.
Leigh played very well in front of Inge, forcing Ashford back and taking control of the middle. However towards the end of the second half, her foot unfortunately deflected the ball away from me and into the goal for the only goal of the match. That time it really did hit your foot Leigh, unlike the first shirt given against us!
On the right, Belle, fresh from her swimming gala triumphs in Brussels (well done for your gold and bronze, Belle) linked up with Rachel and Darcie in front and showed us how she has progressed and sent them both up the right line again and again. Those three could be a credible threat up the right as they showed when it went right.
Nadia fought hard at left midfield. Running forward with the ball and putting herself in a good position again and again to receive, and making it back to help the defence. Clearly frustrated at times, she didn’t allow this to determine how she played and showed a real maturity during this match.
Jane and Sophia tried to out themselves in a good position again and again. Jane showed why she has continued playing hockey for so long, bringing out the skills to hold up the ball as Sophia got into position. Their defence was very strong, but Sophia made some decisive runs and got into good positions to receive the ball from the midfield several times.
Darcie was making a guest appearance for us and drove the ball up the right again and again (fed by Belle and Rachel who linked up very well – looking forward to seeing that partnership develop). Jane apologises for missing that cross, which was inch perfect, Darcie.
And Annie. She played a competent first half, chasing the ball in the middle and forcing the oppo to play the ball. I don’t know what was in the oranges that she ate at half time, but she came out head up, stick down and got stuck in. Some seriously good tackles and instead of dribbling into trouble like yin the first half, looked up and sent some scorching passes over to Darcie and Rachel on the right. Showing good interplay with Nadia as well, she rocked the second half and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
We played very well as a team – every week we are playing together better and better and more as a team. This is one we should have drawn, and lost to an unlucky deflection. C’est la vie. That’s the way the ball rolls sometimes. Based on where we have come from, it was a great performance.
