Match Reports 2003/04

Since 2003/04 the club has produced a weekly newsletter, during the season, containing match reports from each of the games played that weekend.

Fri 21-Nov-03

Issue 08

Go, Jonny ....

reports by: Justin Collins, Aidan Brock, James Terrett, Will Morgan, Graeme Evans, Richard Taylor, Kath Sowter, Kate Selway, Karen Dodds, Marie Smith and Gigi Ho.

Men's 1s vs. Ashford: lost 1-2

Ashford are top of the league (with a won 5, drawn 1 record) and so always promised a stiff challenge. They are a good, well-drilled side, with some quality players, but we should have done more in the match, especially as one of their number was red carded in the first 10 minutes for tripping Tom Cross. Unfortunately, we didn't take advantage, as a number of yellow cards to us more or less maintained parity through the game. Ashford went 2 goals up in the first half, and in the second simply sat back in a half court press waiting for us to attack. We made some openings but not enough to cause them any real worries and our goal came too late to set up a nail-biting finish.

Team: Justin Collins, Clive Colloff, Ed Stevenson, Andy Eames, Tom Matthews, Tom Cross, Joel Burrows, Gareth Weir, Alex Kew, Bill Pellett, Andy Balchin, Felix Nurse, Chris Coleman, Dave Casement, James Goldsmith.

Scorer: Andy Balchin

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. London Wayfarers - away

Men's 2s vs. Richmond: lost 1-4

With our on pitch banter 'warmed up' from supporting the rather physical 1's game before us, and with the inarticulate scribblings on the skipper's whiteboard fresh in our minds, the team came out of the blocks with hockey brains engaged (hurrah!). Despite finding ourselves on a half-lit pitch, we were solid in the first half when we were attacking the dark end. That the three goals conceded were not from open play (1xPF, 2 slick short corner moves) was testament to this. Our new look central partnership of Pully and Potty worked and Hong Kong Phooey (aka Will Atkinson) played a blinder on debut for the 2s, ably supported by everyone else. Once again our inability to find the net from open play was letting us down (the forwards were muttering something about Orcs lurking in the shadows near the goalmouth...). The second half saw us defending a virtually pitch black D, but it seemed to work as we drew 1-1, scoring a brilliant goal from open play. I couldn't see what happened from my vantage point on the dark side of the moon, though I'm told it came from a scintillating one touch passing movement involving at least five of our players (at least I think they were all ours) and was finished by Nick Jacob. We played like a team, never gave up and if we can release the ball a second earlier, we'll start scoring more goals too. My lines this week are "I must wear shades when playing" (not being able to see the ball seems to suit me) with Wes chipping in 100 "I must not chuck my hockey stick out of the pram".

Team: Aidan Brock, Mark Pulford, Chris Coleman, Matt Fletcher, Wesley Cole, Alex McDonald, Will Atkinson, Andy Potapa, Dave Casement, Fergus Jagger, Nick Jacob, Nick Harris.

Scorer: Nick J (?)

Next match: Saturday 22nd November vs. Maidenhead - 12:30 away (trying to make us miss the rugby eh?, we'll see about that...)

Men's 3s vs. Teddington 3s: lost 0-6

My return to the 3s resulted in an organisational nightmare. We had 12 players on Wednesday, but 10 minutes before the start I realised that 2 of them were in the Lake District. Luckily the 5s were playing an hour later next to us so we managed cynically to hold the game up to borrow three from them (thanks, guys). We then played brilliantly. In one of my most enjoyable halves of hockey, we played a simple, controlled game and passed the ball really well. Teddington were chasing everywhere, arguing and frustrated at our willingness to keep the ball and resistance to needless dribbling and panic passing. A Herculean performance from Graeme Fotheringham, who clearly enjoys marking three players, meant Teddington were going nowhere. But they scored against the run of play from a short corner - my half stop on the line angling the shot away from Gavin's pads. After half-time the 5s players went to their match and the opposition's extra numbers led to five goals. I can tell my grandchildren that I was there when a run from the half-way line by Duncan McCulloch, on his own against four Teddington players, nearly resulted in an amazing goal. The rest of the team (who were all still in our own half demonstrating our fitness prowess) applauded - this is what the fans want to see. To add injury-to-injury, Simon Wilshire limped off and Lee Snowden damaged his neck, leaving us with six worn out players and an invalid - coincidentally exactly what I saw when I got back to the clubhouse and met Lou Morgan and friends.

Team: Gavin, JT, Guy Hodgson, Graeme Fotheringham, Lee Snowden, Phil Hines, Duncan McCulloch, Simon Wilshire, Stuart Craig, Rob Levine, Richard Batty.

Umpire: Toby Wheadon

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. Maidenhead - 15.00 @ CPB

Men's 4As vs. Teddington: lost 0-4

The game started at pace and we had the best of the chances to begin with aided by the whippet-like Matt Groom up front! We should have gone a goal up when Clifford's flick glanced off the boot of the keeper (who knew nothing about it). Instead, our sleepy defence ('coz they hadn't been doing much) gave one of their men a little too long in the D and, wham, we were 1 down. Sadly, we showed the resilience of the Scots in the Amsterdam arena - in the second half all we could do was fail to convert our possession into goals while we watched them show us how to do it. They did get an unusual amount of shorts and took advantage where we didn't. They finally finished us off with a neat one two after we lost possession at the back. Thursday is now official short corner routine day so no protesting in Trafalgar Square.

Team: Aidan Brock, Tim Parker, Bruce Haines, Vishal Phakey, Dave Eacott, Grant Spencer, Will Morgan, Adrian Meredith, Ben Lones, Steve Rivers, Clifford Brown, Matt Groom, Paul Kirkland.

Umpire: Mark Pulford

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. Maidenhead - away

Tornados (Men's 4Bs) vs. Richmond: lost 0-1

Think of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Clark Kent and Superman, Bruce Banner and the Hulk...and add the 4bs to this list of amazing transformations. Two weeks ago, we couldn't have fought our way out of a wet paper bag with some big [hockey] sticks. This week, a superb team performance, rapier-like attacks and solid defence - an excellent all-round effort. Sadly, the result doesn't show that - the opposition were gracious enough to concede that they weren't worthy of the win. Someone should have told their umpire - a bizarre reversal of a decision for a free hit to the boys in white (us!) led to much consternation amongst the ranks, confusion for the other umpire and a goal for them. A pity really, as he'd not had a bad game up to that point. Added to that, their goalie was superb, foiling many of our attacks - it just wasn't our day. MOTM - the whole team. All stars. A special word must go to Mike Wright who, after running his heart out earlier in the day for the 6s, proceeded to repeat the performance for us, chasing everything and playing a blinder. Just like the rest of the guys. This weekend: Bromley, 12:30. Watch England stuff the Aussies, then come to Dulwich College and watch the real match of the day.

Team: Lee Tearle, Nick Thomson, Tom Alexander, Gus Barnard, Neil Gallagher, Dougal Davis, Mark Beaney, Paul Burrows, Conor Macklin, Geoff Pritchard, Mike Wright.

Umpire: Simon Riley

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. Bromley - 12.30 @ DC

Men's 5s vs. Teddington Saplings: drew 4-4

For 20 minutes THD5s couldn't put a foot wrong as an incredible goal spree either side of the break turned a two goal deficit into a 4-2 lead. Teddington's Dutch playmaker - clearly out of his depth at this level - had threatened to win the game single handed, but even he was outshone by THD's Rupert Grass. The evergreen right winger embarked on a series of marauding runs, first setting up Graeme Evans and then Ian Cooper to raise the decibel levels among the fine 3rd team support and a decidedly vocal opposition. Teddington's mood deteriorated after the break when Mark Smith brilliantly finished a "make-it-up-as-you-go-along" short-corner routine before Coops added his second following more good work from Rupert. The silver fox could have had his second hat-trick of the season but by then THD's were happy to hang on for a point after Teddington had set up a tense final ten minutes. An excellent all-round performance against one of the league's better teams.

Team: Paul Reid, Thom Ruane, Rich Batty, Stuart Craig, Graeme Evans, Rob Levine, Matt Ruane, Rob Thomas, Mark Smith, Ian Cooper, Rupert Grass, Si Riley.

Umpire: Billy. Scorers: Coops (2), Graeme Evans, Mark Smith

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. Reading - 11.00 @ DC

Men's 6s vs. Surbiton Dragons: drew 2-2

Our play gets better and better and with a forward partnership of Gin and Mehraab we can score goals too. With a full side plus a sub, we started flat out and controlled the ball well. In attack we used the width of the pitch to get in behind their defence and were able to put shots on goal. It was a matter of time before the Surbiton defence made a mistake and when they did Mehraab was on hand to put us one up. Our second came 5 minutes later through Mehraab again while two more chances went begging, RT putting one wide and Mike W causing the keeper to save a great strike. Surbiton however were beginning to get back in to the half and when Mike Mc went off with a pulled calf muscle, they seized their chance to score from a short. For the first 10 minutes after the break, we got bogged down in our own half and some rather dubious umpiring kept the momentum with Surbiton. Frustration got the better of us with backchat not winning us any favours. Surbiton scored to draw level before we regained some composure and started to play better attacking hockey. We spent the last 10 minutes in and around their D and only good fortune on Surbiton's behalf kept the ball out. Well played everybody, it was a good performance all round, a better result too. A big thank you to Si Riley for umpiring.

Team: Peter Adams, Andy Bond, Mike McKinnon, Richard Mead, Matt Crane, Mike Wright, Mike Clyne, Richard Taylor, Nick Phipps, Mehraab Nazir, Gin Lee, Colin Leeman.

Umpire: Simon Riley

Scorer: Mehraab Nazir (2)

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. St Albans Citizens - 15.30 @ DC

Women's 1s vs. Epsom: lost 0-1

It would be fair to say that we were pretty bad. Epsom have been struggling this season and were in need of some points. They played with more determination than we did and went ahead to a sloppy goal early in the first half. Even on a bad day we still dominated the majority of the game, although Pipes should be applauded for a couple of awesome saves when Epsom caught us on the break. Had the whistle not gone a split second before we tucked the ball in the back of the net, we would have at least came a way with a deserved point, but then there were several strange decisions throughout the game. Nothing was quite right for us on the day - Charley had the wrong Lucozade, Kath's bandana had to be delivered to the pitch seconds before the start, and what had happened to EJ's skirt and boots..? On the positive side, we are still 3rd in the league, but we need to re-group and put in a couple of decent performances before the Christmas break. Last but by no means least, it was good to welcome back Dani.

Team: Jo Malkin, Clare Spencer, Kath Sowter, Alex Crawford, Emma Ward, Lou Morgan, Rachel Lander, Martha Harvey-Jones, Jacqs Broers, Charley Williams, Amy Gardiner, EJ Barry, Dani Every.

Next match: Saturday 22nd November vs. Wimbledon - 12.00 away

Women's 2s vs. Surbiton: no match

Venue: my imagination (Surbiton 2s have pulled out of the league)

Result: a stunning victory

Scorers: me, loads of times

Who played well? we all did Who didn't play well? the oppo - we crushed them We can build on this excellent win

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. Woking - 13.00 @ Goldsworth Park, I think

Women's 3s vs. London Wayfarers 1s: lost 0-1

Usual chaos to start, Jo turns up to umpire, they are providing two. We drip around making frantic phone calls to get another player while the oppo do amazing warm ups and pose around looking fit and young (I just hate that). George however has turned up with a fairly amazing special weapon - leaving your wet GK kit in the car all week - I just can't tell you how bad it smelt, and certainly after an initial foray into our D the oppo thought better of it for the rest of the game. Sadly, they scored in that moment. Actually, that's not quite true, well it is certainly true that George's kit smelt and that Wayfarers scored quite early on, but it wasn't their only attempt. What was especially fantastic was our response to going one down when it had looked briefly like being a rout. We staged a dogged fight back. Roz got tripped going into their D and had to go off to be replace by Jo, 1st team keeper extraordinaire, who starred at right back. If only we could have converted one or two of those corner attempts! We could then have either drawn or won and that would have been just rewards for our efforts. However, nil points, Roz twisted knee and me broken toe to add to the injury list. Ho hum.

Team: George Sykes, Anna Barrett, Erica Goldsmith, Joanna Reynolds, Karen Dodds, Lou Curry, Rosanna Carter, Roz Hornsby, Ruth Pratt, Janine Nicholls, Jules Ingham and special guest appearance by Jo Malkin.

Next match: Saturday 22 Nov vs. Phoenix - tbc @ Trinity School, Croydon. WE MUST WIN.

Women's 4s vs. Richmond: won 2-1

This game was proof that a full team, a goalie, a sub and some supporters can really buoy on a team. We should have had 10 but thanks to the uncanny knack of all of their outfield players to bunch around whichever one of us had the ball, we couldn't get much free flowing hockey going to make the chances. Claire bagged both of our goals: the first coming from hard work by Isabel and Emily down the left and a cheeky nutmeg of one of their defenders by Marie; the second thanks to Claire's sheer perseverance to battle through the crowd of Richmonders surrounding her. The game got more and more niggly - one of their players was warned for using her stick to find out if there was a bit of Mel B that wasn't covered with pads, while we were accused of trying to influence the umpires by knowing the rules. Towards the end they had a million short corners. LPS wasn't able to capitalise this week but made up for it with Man of the Match defending and Mel R saved one off the line again, though this time not using any rude parts of her body. Thanks to all our supporters (even if Lindsey's olds did spend it in the bar). And special thanks to our new friend, Gold Lamé lady, for "inviting" me and Mel and the hard core of the women's 1s to her 50th birthday in the clubhouse that night.

Team: Mel Bastin (GK), Mel Rees, Lindsey McLaren, Anna Stuttard, Amy Auton, Isabel Drewe, Emma Billsdon, Emily Halliday, Kate Fuller, Andrea Vicari, Marie Smith, Claire Whitehead.

Scorer: Claire Whitehead 2

Next match: Saturday 29 November vs. Byfleet Ramblers - 13.30 @ Alleyn's

Women's 5s vs. Woking 3s: won 7-2

Hoping report will follow next week

Next match: Saturday 22 November vs. Thames Valley 2 - away

Women's 6s vs. Walton & Weybridge Hawks: won 3-0

A late afternoon start somewhere down the M3 resulted in a convincing win (predicted by Hazel "I can feel it in my bones") taking us into mid-table. We started dubiously with an unfamiliar team and no goalie but eventually dominated the first half with 70% possession. We kept the ball in our attacking half for much of the time and the first goal came from my cross, neatly tucked away into the right hand corner by Vicky. With Hazel on the left wing and newcomer Claire on the right, we worked the ball well down the pitch. Solid defending ensured the Hawks only had one shot which was gloriously swiped away by Sam, our kicking back. The second half saw us play our best hockey all season. In defence, Kate and Martina made some solid tackles and cleared the ball well, Hilary swept everything away and got in some great hit outs, while Jocelyn, at centre back, intercepted many opposition passes. At centre forward, Vicky chased a ball we thought she'd never get and crossed to Emma who, in the right place at the right time, slammed in our second. Michelle and Hazel played a blinder down the left, with Michelle close to scoring several times. Our third goal came from a series of passes between Hazel and Claire who secured our win. Man of the Match goes to Sam not only for agreeing to play as the dreaded kicking back but for saving a spectacular shot on goal in mid-air, as well as 2 further shots. Had she missed them, we would have drawn. I could not have asked for a better effort - more of the same please next week.

Team: Sam Soquar, Hilary Fielding, Kate, Martina Van der Leij, Jocelyn Maximé, Emma Gilchrist, Vicky B, Gigi Ho, Hazel Dawson, Michelle Morgan, Claire Francis,

Scorers: Vicky B, Emma Gilchrist, Claire Francis

Next match: Saturday 22nd November vs. Old Georgians - 14.30 @ Alleyn's

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