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 05-Mar-04

Issue 20

It's me versus technology and I'm giving up for the night. All apologies to the Men's 5s whose report has disappeared into the mysterious wastelands of my computer, but hopefully Coops still has it to forward. In the meantime, there's news of victories to bring you (Women's 3s/Men's 2s included - I kid you not), a spectacular defeat for the Men's 1s, a looming run-in against relegation for their female counterparts and some misery from Mr. Jones. Why not cheer him up and celebrate with the rest of us at the club this Saturday. After all there's seven home games this weekend to support and we've got the clubhouse all to ourselves for the night. What more could you ask for?

End of season dinner tickets for Lombard Street on 20 March are selling out fast - give cheques to your captains this weekend to book your place or send direct to Mike Clyne - details on the website.

reports by: Justin Collins, Aidan Brock, Guy Hodgson, Vishal Phakey, Mark Jones, Ian Cooper, Kath Sowter, Kate Blumer, Joanna Reynolds, Marie Smith and Jonesy again.

Men's 1s vs. Ashford: lost 1-9

This was a heroic performance of epic proportions against the top of the league team. Stripped down to a bare 11 players, due to several absences the omens were not in our favour. However, we battled hard. James Goldsmith and Alex Kew working tirelessly in the 2nd half, in which we soaked up attack after attack, conceding 2, but getting one back through Andy Balchin. Everybody was a hero. Did I mention that we lost the 1st half 7-0, no?, We did, b*gger!

Team: Justin Collins, Clive Colloff, Ed Stevenson, James Goldsmith, Andy Balchin, Tom Cross, Gareth Weir, Lee Snowden, Matt Groom, Alex Kew, Dave Casement.

Scorer: Andy Balchin

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. London Wayfarers - 12.30 @ DC

Men's 2s vs. Maidenhead: won 3-2

More total hockey from the boys - well, for 60 minutes at any rate. In our now legendary 3-4-3 formation, we struck terror into 'the maids' from the outset, with Rich Candey marauding down the right flanks and a welcome return from Indian exile for Mark Williams who was more elegant but no less effective down the left. Ten minutes in and Paul is running full tilt from right back, ball on stick when a shot rings out from the PE centre roof (no grassy knoll at DC, you see). The bullet hits its target - Paul's hamstring - and ping, we're one down. I look to the bench where Potty's warm up is being hampered by the fact that he can hardly walk. Luckily Si Riley is ever present and chomping at the bit to " 'ave it ". A little tinkering later (centre forward to right back, sub to centre forward, as you do) and we were back on track, Candey scoring a goal of great individual skill after yet another sweeping move down the left, back round to the right, to the left again and back right for good measure (you get the picture....). The second half started in the same vein with Will Atkinson scoring from another scintillating passing move involving 6 or 7 red shirts. We went to sleep and let them back in it with a controversial goal and they then claimed, and were initially given, a second goal which resulted from their centre forward hitting an overhead forehand smash past me. It was disallowed, nevertheless I could see tempers bubbling and it was time for the captain to soothe the situation. Their skipper was convinced it was a goal and was still protesting when I stepped in and very calmly said "Get on with the ******* game, and whilst you're at it why don't you read the ******* rules you ******* ****** !!!". It wouldn't win any prizes for subtlety but seemed to do the trick (who's gonna argue with an apoplectic smurf in full goalie kit brandishing a stick, I ask you?) . We then settled back into playing sexy hockey and Pully scored from a short to give us a little breathing space. Just as well because they sneaked a soft goal past me late on but we held on for our first back-to-back win of the season. Everyone (except the goalie) played fantastically but special mentions go to the front three, especially Clifford, who ran tirelessly all game for no reward and Will who signed off his 2003-2004 season with a performance of great skill and a goal. For those wishing to come and watch total hockey we are at home again this week where the Smurf will be making his outfield debut - bring it on......

Team: Aido, Ferg, Neil Happs, Paul Harvey, Graeme Fotheringham, Will Atkinson, Mark Williams, Clifford Brown, Andy Potapa, Mark Pulford, Rich Candey, Nick Harris, Si Riley.

Scorers: Rich Candey, Will Atkinson, Mark Pulford.

Next Match: Saturday 6th March vs. Wimbledon - 14.30 home

Men's 3s vs. Maidenhead Mystics: lost 2-5

More of a Barbarians side than a third eleven (and frankly the better for it) with selection completed 5 minutes after the official start time as the last car had arrived and introductions had been made. Easy to blame the captain's playboy lifestyle but I'd rather thank those from the 5s and 2s who helped out in our hour of need - special thanks also to Ian for umpiring the game. Against all predictions, we started well with good movement and interplay. The opposition, clearly underestimating the playing force in front of them, sat off their tackles which opened up the middle of the field for Chris to run through from sweeper. A couple of quick passes later and Geoff popped up (if that's possible) at the far post to score with his now customary panache. Maidenhead rallied to score before our second - again good passing created space before a ball in from the right found Duncan in his favoured position by the far post. Luckily Matt, having noted Duncan's effectiveness from such positions, was behind him to slot home as the ball passed through unmolested by Mr McCulloch's stick. But when we traded in our precision hockey of the first half for schoolboy stuff in the first 10 minutes of the second, Maidenhead put the game beyond us. Little to dwell on, other than to say thanks to all who turned out for what in the end was a thoroughly enjoyable game.

Team: Gavin Lawson, Guy Hodgson, Chris Coleman, Simon Wilshire, Wes Cole, Duncan McCulloch, Warren Holme, Hugo, Matt, Richard Taylor, Geoff Pritchard.

Umpire: Ian Cooper Scorers: Geoff Pritchard, Matt

Next match: Sunday 7th March vs. Teddington (rescheduled) - 13.30 @ DC

Men's 4As vs. Wimbledon: lost 0-2

With a three week unbeaten streak, we were brimming with confidence at the opportunity to get 3 more points. We started off well, but they managed to come back into the game and cause us to make some unforced errors which gave them a few short corners. They got lucky on 2 of these which left us 2 down at half time - much against the run of play. To our credit we played some good hockey and our build up play was excellent, but it was one of those days where we could not hit a barn door from five yards. In the second half we had plenty of chances however they just would not go in partly due to some excellent saves by their keeper.

Team: Aidan Brock, Tim Parker Vishal Phakey, Jon Collier, Barney Day, Bruce Haines, Grant Spencer, Rich Fenton, Adrian Meredith, Clifford Brown, Ed Standring, Norman Doyle.

Umpires: Mike Clyne, Anna Barrett

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Wimbledon - 15.00 @ CPB

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

Apart from a couple of players, it was another very poor performance which effectively rules out any hope of a play-off place. The recent drop in form leaves the Tornados playing possibly their worst hockey of the last 5 years! Shockingly poor passing, with everyone trying to beat someone before releasing the ball and the 'old favourite' of "long ball, hit & hope" from the defence. If the team can remember to try short simple passes, move for each other and play as a team then the rest of the season could still be worth turning up for... if not then we'd be better placed to concede the remaining games and stop wasting everyone's time.

Team: Lee Tearle(GK), Mark Jones, Andy Bond, Tom Alexander, Nick Thomson, Conor Macklin, Loz Mockery, Neil Gallagher, Gus Barnard, Mark Beaney & Simon Riley.

Umpire: Mark Pulford

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Maidenhead - away

Men's 5s vs. ??

Report temporarily eaten by my computer....sorry, Ian - I will get it back (Ed.).

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Wimbledon - away

Men's 6s vs. : match postponed due to snowy/frozen pitch

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. HAC Sutlers - 10.30 @ CPB

Women's 1s vs. Woking: lost 1-2

Last week we started well and lost the plot in the second half. This week the reverse was true. For the first 20 minutes we were awful and Woking deservedly took the lead from a penalty corner after switching the ball well and leaving us exposed on our right post. The most bizarre round of injuries then took their toll. Spence (ankle) and Hils (hand) meant we were down to 10 as we only had one sub. At half time we had Pipes to thank that we were only one goal down. In the second half we began to get our game together, although with only 10 of us things were always going to be difficult. We conceded another, although the Woking player did use both feet before she forced the ball over the line. Hils bravely came back on the pitch to help us try and salvage something from the game and our determination in moving forward paid dividends when B stole the ball and Dani slotted home. Amy almost scored the goal of the season with a quickly taken reverse flick, but her effort went inches wide. Martha then fired just over the crossbar and despite a good second half display time ran out on us. There are several lessons that we must learn if we are to stay in this League: 1) take more than one sub, 2) train and play with intensity and 3) if the umpires let teams put their weight around, we need to do the same. Looking on the positive side, we proved that we can dominate teams, we just need to do it for 70 minutes. Oh, and Wardy made herself a new friend called Donna.

Team: Jo Malkin, Emma Ward, Kath Sowter, Hilary Collins, Clare Spencer, Rachel Lander, Ali Rendu, Charley Williams, Martha Harvey-Jones, Dani Every, Bettina Wolff, Amy Gardiner.

Scorer: Dani Every

Next Match: Saturday 6th March vs. Southampton - 11.00 @ Alleyn's

Women's 2s vs. Wimbledon: lost 0-5

On a cold and frosty afternoon, after Alex spent a cold and frosty night finding a team, we arrived at the exotic North Cheam astro turf without any shirts. But don't get too excited, lads - you didn't miss a topless game. It was kaleidoscopic but should have been black and blue which was the theme of the game - what with Selway's toe nail and Sarah's accident. A special mention must go to them for turning out all wrapped up (not in bandages, thankfully), Sarah to look after baby Selway (Josh) even though she'd been knocked off her top of the range street bike on Wednesday night. We missed her on the field but were glad to have her safe and almost well on the sideline. Spirits were high, even though we were aware of Wimbledon's winning ways. After all we had the lovely Louise playing in central midfield, the even lovelier Louise at left midfield and Charley the great turned up for a run around - how could we fail to put up a good fight? Even if we were all wearing different shirts and looked like we had been dragged from somewhere unsavoury. The first goal went in fairly quickly and then we decided to take the game to them after a penalty stroke against us made it two. We stopped waiting for them to come at us and injected a bit of determination into our game. George made some heart stopping saves; balls flying at her from all angles and in the last 15 minutes of the first half were much improved and we had Wimbledon on the back foot a couple of times. We continued in the same vein for the second half, but relenting attacks saw 3 more goals go in, but we could have scored at least 3 times, especially on Selway's short when in revenge she blackened an oppo's toenail as they saved off the line, only to miss the flick by millimetres. (I hope her toenail drops off, not Kate's the other girl's)! Lou missed a final short corner with a cross legged crouch which was impressive to watch. It was not quite our day, but I actually enjoyed myself and think each and everyone of us could not have worked harder. Well done - now does that sound patronising?

Team: George Sykes, Alex Hardy, Kate Blumer, Emma Matebalavu, Jo De Silva, Lou Curry, Karen Milburn, Louise Morgan, Zoey Handforth, Kate Selway, Liz Young, Charley Williams

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Richmond - home

Women's 3s vs. Old Edwardians: won 2-0

What an exciting match - I'd forgotten how much winning helps to make one's day! There were loads of us - and thanks to Lou Curry for agreeing to play for the 2s - but none looking as lovely as Anna and her new haircut. It was a really tough game. Old Edwardians are well coached and play fast, passing, set piece hockey. But we got stuck in and took heart from withstanding a first 15 minute barrage without conceding. It was 0-0 at half time but we were playing well and knew it. Then Frances, in a golden 10 minute spell, scored twice - the first from a great pass from Julie and the second after some hard work by Rosie to put us home and dry. And although, as one of the kind supporters pointed out, on the whole we gave old Edwardians two decades, we managed to keep running until the end. Well played everybody, not least Erica as a storming centre back, George who made some outstanding saves and Roz and Jules as a dynamic duo up front.

Team: George Sykes, Erica Goldsmith, Anna Barrett, Julie O'Hara, Rosanna Carter, Jules Ingham, Janine Nicholls, Charlotte Bowen-Rayner, Frances Bowen-Rayner, Ruth Pratt, Roz Hornsby, Louise Curry, Joanna Reynolds.

Umpire: Julie Ferrett

Scorer: Frances Bowen(2)

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Richmond - away

Women's 4s vs. Bank of England: won 3-1

Not a bad performance from the 4's plus Karen from the 3's who kindly volunteered to play for us (I am sure she will forgive us for not quite letting her know that it was on grass.). Anyway, we were convinced that we would win this week - not just because Bank are rubbish and only have one point in the league so far; not just because we panned them 5-2 last time we played them and not because our new found arrogance will spur us on (because we are great). No, we knew we would win because of the bobble factor. A large proportion of last week was spent emailing about the importance of bobbling. No, not when you over wash a favourite jumper but the fact that on grass a ball will bobble over a stick, a goal line and even a player should the bobbler be bobbly enough. So we decided to go for the bobble option. Any doubts about this tactic were dispelled when we got lost on the way and what should we see on the bright red fence of a Wandsworth school but hundreds upon hundreds of yellow bobbles! I kid you not. What an omen! So we went out there and we won! It should have been lots more than 3-1 but the bobble is a fickle friend and worked for them as well, so we were left kicking ourselves in front of an open goal when the ball bobbled by. Anyway Emma scored first - you guessed it, a bobbler! Then she did it again, this one was less of a bobbler and more sheer skills. Then Marie scored, this bobbled so hard it bashed the backboard. They managed to bobble one back in there somewhere but the bobble gods were on our side and the 3 points were ours - hooray! Everyone played well especially seeing as we are so not a grass side. Esther nearly took their goalie's head off with a demon bobble and Catherine G had a stormer predicting their bobbles at sweeper so Man of the Match went jointly to those two.

Team: Mel Bastin, Catherine Garvey, Linds McLaren, Isabel Drewe, Esther Roberts, Emma Billsdon, Emily Halliday, Karen Dodds, Claire Whitehead, Marie Smith, Andrea Vicari

Scorers: Emma Billsdon 2, Marie Smith

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Addiscombe - 16.30 @ CPB. Hope everyone's grass and bobble related back and knee injuries get better by then - especially Esther's car whose exhaust fell off on the way home.

Women's 5s vs. Croydon: match cancelled

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. Oxted - home

Women's 6s vs. Thames Valley: won 3-0

match conceded by opposition

Next match: Saturday 6th March vs. London Wayfarers 5s - away

THD Dragons vs. UCL: won 4-1

The end of the season is almost upon us and there is still time for the Dragons to take their unbeaten run from November through to April. Three games left and all against opposition that we have already beaten once. An eventful game that saw five goals and a Dragon sent off - in a Sunday game, no less! After a tight first half, the Dragons ran out comfortable winners by full time. A well taken early goal by Will - before he was sent off for a reprehensible professional foul - followed up by a rare (on target) strike from Aido, a roofed screamer from JC and a poacher's goal from newbie Laura ensured that UCL would be sent back to school with no points. As students, they surely must have appreciated the lesson we taught them!

Team: George Sykes (GK), Mark Jones, Aidan Brock, Neil Happs, JC, JT, Will Morgan, Gareth Norris, Martin Drewe, Jules Ingham, Isabel Drewe, Michelle Morgan, Louise Curry, Pippa & Laura

Scorers: Will Morgan, Aido Brock, John Craven and Laura Sorensen

Next match: Sunday 7th March vs. Spencer - 12.30 @ Battersea Park

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