Hamstrings 0 – 1 Sevenoaks O50s
10am away fixtures are always a bit of a challenge but to be away at Sevenoaks did leave us questioning if we were in the right league. None of us (even as experienced as we are) had ever played against a Sevenoaks side let alone before our blood alcohol limits had returned to normal.
The match was played in good spirits and the two sides were well matched and whilst it was an even contest in the first half we felt we were under par and had a lot more to offer in the second half. We got a dressing down at half time from both our Skipper Eastie and Keeper Nige which I think Sir Alex would have been proud of. At one point we were told we were even missing Crumby at the back, that’s how bad the “hairdryer treatment” was. Like last week we found ourselves not converting our chances, slower to the 50/50 ball and just in general leaving ourselves with loads of room for improvement.
We were slightly better in the second half, at least we were making a bit more of a fight of it and thanks to a pretty dodgy decision conceded a short corner awarded by the (weaker) umpire in the other umpires box. After a very short consultation of which must have comprised of…
Stronger umpire – “Why you blowing in my box?”
Stronger umpire – “Cause I saw something, I know I indicated 3rd party obstruction but actually I think it was a stick tackle”
Stronger umpire – “Oh, ok. Loud blow of whistle confirming short corner”
…sadly this dubious decision led to a goal from that short corner against the run of play, leading to much frustration, a few curse words for both the decision and the outcome. After composing ourselves again we knew we still had plenty of time to go on and win it and surely we would score at least one.
The game carried on in much the same vein, where our defense seemed to be in control and not under too much threat apart from a few breakaway attempts. Upfront however we had plenty of possession and a lot of D action but just couldn’t get a definitive shot away. All getting pretty frustrating at this point only to rub the proverbial salt into the now gaping wound where one of there players stopped a promising attack with ‘Jude Bellingham style’ deliberate footwork escaped with a verbal warning from our favourite umpire and a minute later a green card issued to Si for not retreating 5 from the other umpire who did acknowledge the consistency left a lot to be desired.
We had countless (either 11 or 12) short corners which we just couldn’t convert. The last one, very well cleared off the line after the keeper had been beaten. It was just not meant to be! Losing to a side we should have beaten and then driving back to OC’s gave us a lot of time to reflect on a disappointing game and bewilderment as to why we can’t score goals.
DotD – Joint award to Manmeet and Matt who nearly went to Radnor House (Twickenham) although our group chat clearly said we were playing Sevenoaks.
MoM – Chris James (Done the ankle so may be out next week so hopefully the much missed Crumby will return)
A late pushback for ladies 5’s away at Surbiton. We arrived to a deluge and the knowledge that we were up against a very strong team.
As the whistle blue, the clouds parted, and the sun came out. Immediately we were strong on the attack with some amazing runs down the right from Freya, who magically weaved her way around the defence, causing danger to the D: huge hits on goal (which those on the p-spot or post could not convert).
However, our first half goals were a testament of our team’s strength, from the defence crossing the ball to either side, creating movement down both wings.
Our first goal came for Jacqs, following some feisty midfield runs – which set the tone.
The second, was from a short corner, that went slightly wrong as was planned to go to Jacqs on the left slip, but went to Freya, at the top, who smashed it in! Perfect.
Half time talk we recognised just how on fire Freya was, and Michele asked us to get to her level, please.
Within the first minute of the second half, Chloe scored our third, by this time, you could feel the shoulders of Surbiton drop.
They had matched our pace and had good strong defence, who managed to get the ball long to their forwards, only to be met by our strong, rock solid defence, and Michele in goal.
Our last goal came from another hard attack with Jacqs running down the base line, push to p-spot, where Bernie tried to get on the end to push to goal, but deflect at an angle to left post, where Nicola was able to get more control – Jacqs was there in the goal mouth to ensure the ball went in.
Some shout outs to Sarah and Lucy on the right who worked really well together, for Tash finding Bernie running down the far back left (confusing the opo), to Chloe scoring despite a broken finger, to Jacqs and her persistent ‘doggie’ runs in the middle, and to Freya for her magical work down the right.
Basically the WHOLE team deserved POM, as we all worked hard moving the ball and creating chances, brilliant example of team effort.
POM went to a deserving Paula, with a close second from Zoe, who was everywhere on the pitch.
Quote of the match, from Surbitons defence, when Jacqs doing another run “oh no, not again!!!
Written by Bernie Bassett
Women’s 7s 1 – 0 Surbiton Sirens
Saturday, 12th October 2024, Oaken Lane
On a bright Saturday afternoon, the Ladies 7s took on the Surbiton Sirens at Oaken Lane. With a full squad of 15 players, we were eager to take control of the match. One of our captains, Frankie, took charge of the substitutions, ensuring that everyone had ample time on the field and that rotations were smooth throughout.
The first half was an exciting display of teamwork and determination. OCs dominated possession, using the width of the pitch to our advantage and recycling the ball with confidence. The midfield, featuring Jasmine, Claire, Rachael, Frankie, and Isa, worked tirelessly to maintain control, consistently driving the ball into the opposition’s half and keeping Surbiton on the back foot.
Our teamwork and discipline shone through, with the midfield ensuring the ball stayed well away from our defensive D. It was clear that our focus and preparation were paying off, as we controlled much of the first half.
We entered the second half with the belief that we were on the verge of scoring and just needed to keep driving forward. Surbiton came out stronger, but Inge and Pam, along with Leigh, Kim, India, and Sarah, were ready for them. Working as a solid defensive unit, they used the wings effectively to drive the ball away from our D, ensuring we stayed on the offensive. Pam stood out, confidently stopping the ball and taking it past the halfway line before delivering a precise pass to our forwards.
Up front, Nadia, Annie, and Jeanette worked tirelessly to break into the D. Though they made it into dangerous positions on multiple occasions, the Sirens’ defense held firm, preventing us from converting our efforts into a goal—until the last 15 minutes.
Nadia took a powerful shot toward the goal, and as the ball was heading in, Annie made sure to get the final touch, securing it in the back of the net. The entire team erupted with excitement and pride as we celebrated our well-deserved goal.
Buoyed by this success, we pushed forward, eager for a second goal. Our defense, strong and steady, was ready to keep the Sirens at bay, ensuring the ball stayed in their half as we continued to press for another opportunity.
Alas, the second goal didn’t come, but as the final whistle blew, we were elated—we had secured our first win of the season! The entire team played a crucial part in our success, and every player contributed to the victory.
A special mention goes to our Player’s of the Match, Annie Lee and Francesca Gray, for their outstanding performance throughout the game.
Well done, ladies!
Women’s 6s 1 – 1 Old Kingstonian 2s
Will we spend all season reliving the last 10 seconds of this match when Cheam, after a hard 5
minutes of frenzied attack, managed to score an equaliser? I think we will!
The Ladies 6’s got off to a strong start. We were (almost) all in the correct mis-matching kit. Getting
15 players to pair white tops with blue socks is always more challenging that it sounds. The first
half was frenetic end-to-end hockey. We boomeranged from our D to theirs and back again at an
alarming rate. It must have been absolutely exhausting for our non-stop midfielders, but to their
credit not one of them stopped running all match. But when we had possession, we made the most
of it, and took our chances at goal, rewarded Jenny Summers scoring off a beautiful cross from Liv
Dilworth just before the half-time whistle.
The second half was definitely a more defensive affair, and our defensive line, most definitely
stepped up to the plate. But OK’s had come out of the break fired up, and seemed ruthlessly
determined to score. We did well to hold them for so long, but eventually OK’s managed to sneak
one through. There was no time to retaliate, the umpires blew the whistle the moment we took the
restart. Our congratulations to the oppo may have been uttered through mildly gritted teeth….
POM: Joint honours this week – outstanding performances from midfielder Liv Dilworth and Naysa
Poonia in goal.
Women’s 3s 5 – 0 Teddington 5s
In a commanding performance, our Ladies’ 3s secured a resounding 5-0 victory against Teddington L5s, showcasing impressive teamwork and resilience.
On a chilly Saturday morning, the team arrived at the pitch by 10:15, bundled up against the cold. Despite the frigid temperatures, the atmosphere was electric as Migs led a tactical press talk for the ‘W’ press, emphasizing our focus on maintaining a strong counterattack. Before heading onto the pitch with excellent tunes from Eva and Ailsa which kept the spirits high during warm-up. We knew we needed to secure as many goals as possible, as we were falling just short of the top of the league due to goal difference—and the girls delivered on our objective!
Our counterattacking strategy shone through as we executed the ‘W’ press with precision. Each goal was hard-fought, with our 5 field goals from Josie, Jenny, Alice and Migs, our well-deserved Player of the Match, scoring two goals and demonstrated exceptional motivation and teamwork throughout the match. With recognition for Holly’s continuous determination and strong efforts to get the goal in, where she was sooo close so many times but their goalie proved to be a brick wall, but I can feel her goal coming!
Panic briefly set in at times especially when Teddington threatened us with two attacking short corners. However, our defence stood firm, supported by all our midfielders making sure they were tracking back to maintain the clean sheet we desired.
The team’s effort and determination was evident in the final score, setting a positive tone for the remainder of our season.
OC Ladies 1s vs. Barnes Ladies 2s
Final Score: OCs Ladies 1s 0 – 4 Barnes Ladies 2s
Summary:
In a challenging match, OCs Ladies 1s faced a strong defeat against Barnes Ladies 1s, who
showcased impressive skill and teamwork throughout the game. Although the match was
fairly evenly matched, Barnes capitalized on their opportunities, scoring three goals in the
first half and one in the second to secure their victory.
First Half:
The match began with high intensity, as both teams fought hard for control. Barnes opened
the scoring in the first 10 minutes, catching the OCs defence off guard. Just ten minutes
later, Barnes struck again to make it 2 nil. Barnes continued to apply pressure, and in the
30th minute, Barnes added a third goal, leaving OCs trailing 3-0 at halftime. Despite the
setback, OCs maintained their spirit and didn’t get their heads down, determined to fight
back in the second half.
Second Half:
Despite regrouping during the break, OCs struggled to find their rhythm in the second half.
The teams were fairly even in play, but Barnes maintained their composure and took
advantage of a swift counter-attack in the 60th minute, resulting in a goal that sealed their 4-
0 lead. Even with the challenging scoreline, OCs continued to press forward and created
several opportunities, showcasing their determination and refusing to give in to frustration.
Conclusion:
OCs Ladies 1s faced a tough defeat against Barnes Ladies 2s team. Despite the scoreline,
OCs displayed resilience and determination, refusing to let their spirits drop. They will look
to regroup and bounce back in their next fixtures.
Women’s 4s 1 – 3 Cheam 2s
The Ladies 4s faced a tough challenge this weekend in their latest match, ultimately losing
the game 3-1 despite great effort. The team showed determination and intensity
throughout the match, but their opponents were quick to capitalise the opportunities,
putting the defence line under pressure.
The team battled hard throughout, with the midfield putting in a strong performance
consistently pushing the team forward.
The breakthrough for the team came in the final 15 minutes with a brilliant goal from
Charlie. This late spark gave them extra motivation, however, unfortunately time ran out
before they could score another!
Despite the result, they played very well showing determination and resilience. A special
mention to Sophie young who won player of the match with her excellent work in the
midfield.