Match Reports For Week 10 Sat. 4th Nov. Season 2000 - 2001
Mens 1st XI
Staines 4 Old Kingstonians 3
At last, it was along time coming, but we finally managed our first win of the season. Many words could be used to describe our performance, none that relate to attractive flowing hockey, but more to a hard fought gritty performance that saw blood sweat and tears from both sides. Goals from Adam, Robbie, Shane and Liam helped ensure victory despite some strange umpiring decisions, and a sudden urge by the Staines X1 to finish the game with as few people on the pitch as possible. Duncan subtly hit his opposite man, and despite claiming it was another accident, was promptly dismissed. Johnny fresh from two weeks of temper control management forgot to think happy thoughts and was dismissed to seek Karma from behind the goal. Liam, well I am not to sure why Liam got sent off, but it has happened so frequently this season that seating arrangements have now been put into place at both ends of the Osterly pitch. All in all this was a well deserved win that should provide us with enough confidence to take three points from Anchorians next week, another match we should be looking to win. Well done the boys!!!
Mens 2nd XI
Staines 2 Milton Keynes 2
First of all, well done to the Men’s first team last Saturday - keep up those winning ways!
Also, well done to the Ladies 3rd team in submitting a match report even after they lost 10-0!
Now to the Men’s Second Eleven who partook in a bit of a lottery at Bisham Abbey. I say lottery because of the sad state of the pitch. The wet leaves and moss provided a dangerously slippery surface. It basically gifted us our first goal after 2 minutes when two Marlow players literally ended up on their rear ends while trying to clear the ball from the D. The ball fell to Mikael Quinlan who showed excellent composure in calmly slotting home his first of the season.
Marlow pressed forward and were rewarded with good fortune when the ball ricocheted and spun from our keeper’s pads into the path of the Marlow Centre-Half. who finished well.
Both teams slipped and slid through the middle part of the game with Staines also struggling against some rather "agricultural" Marlow tackling. A turning point came when "The Mouth of Marlow" complained to the Umpires one time too many and was deservedly banished to the sin-bin. Staines pushed forward and won a short corner which Andy Oliver stylishly converted to also record his first goal of the season.
With 5 minutes to go and Marlow restored to eleven men, Staines for the second time this season conceded a costly late goal. There was confusion between Captain Clive and James Gilchrist allowing a break through. Despite a heroic last-gasp tackle from Clive, the ball again fell kindly for Marlow and their Right-Winger capitalised, slotting home inside the near post.
Finally, with 2 minutes to go, James Hall was very harshly given yellow marching orders - after reacting to another Marlow axing challenge - but we hung on for the draw.
As half of our team had shown discourtesy and poor form by departing prior to the post match tea & drinks at Marlow’s Club House, there was no formal voting for the day’s honours. However, for what it was worth, the few troops gathered decided that Andy Nelhams had had a bit of a "mare" and that James Gilchrist had generally done a very good job in nullifying their star Right Winger.
Andrew Oliver
Mens 3rd XI
Staines Men’s 3’s - Match Report 4 November 2000. V. Richmond 3.
Another tough fixture and again not a wheely-bin to be seen. Staines had one severely damaged captain who had to watch from the side lines and we fielded several slightly shop soiled players carrying a variety of aches and strains ! We were in fear of our eardrums but under the circumstances Whispering Sid was remarkably calm.
The game started with Staines at a slight disadvantage, Phil Lazlo being late and missing the first 10 minutes. Apparently he had difficulty levering his finely honed athletic frame into his lycra shorts, Wimpy’s came to the rescue and soon craned him onto the pitch.
It became evident that Richmond were slowly gaining an advantage as the half wore on, the pressure on our defence was almost constant and eventually Richmond scored. Staines endeavoured to get back on terms and regularly managed to break out to threaten the Richmond D. Shortly before half time Staines were rewarded with a short corner which Martin Rengger skilfully flicked over their flailing keeper.
The second half saw Staines almost under constant siege. Rob ‘the cat’ Godfrey was inspired, making numerous saves and clearances. He prowled his goal mouth like a large Ginger Tom surveying its territory. Staines were under intense pressure and only occasionally could break out - we thought Sid was unusually quiet then realised we couldn’t hear him above the perpetual motion that was Phil’s mouth.
If work rate and shear effort was all that was required then Staines might have gained some reward today. Unfortunately it was not enough, Richmond managing to score twice more to make the final score 3-1 in their favour. The Housewives Favourite was well deserved Hero today for a class goalkeeping performance. Donkey’s Arse for being late and wearing frighteningly tight lycra shorts was Phil ‘you would never guess who I’ve had in the back of me cab’ Lazlo.
Vince Rowley.
Mens 4th XI
Banbury 3's v Staines 4's at Drayton Park Astro
Result : Lost 0-1
Heroes: Gordon Scott (some great goalkeeping), and zeros ... Aidan Horner (someone buy him an alarm clock and a Red Bull drip ...)
As the skies cleared for the first time in living memory the brave 4's set off in trepidation to Banbury. A look at the league table gave us some hope as their impressive record of averaging 2.5 goals a game was cancelled out somewhat by the fact they had conceded only one goal less.
This was the first game with yours truly installed as captain, and the occassion was celebrated by the withdrawal of three players in less than 24 hours on Thursday and Friday night. Undaunted the new whiteboard was quickly wiped clean and a completely new set of tactics devised.
Most people have heard of the Xmas tree or diamond formation - but I bet you haven't seen the tangled web of spaghetti formation. Not surprisingly Banbury soon noticed that playing against three forwards, one defender and one midfielder in the centre of the pitch was not going to cause them too many problems. However, with Sohail and Ada showing some fine stick work going forward, and Lofty rampaging through three tackles in a run from full back Banbury did not produce the fireworks that the occasion warranted.
Then disaster struck - Jonathan pulled out of a collision course with a Banbury player and tweaked his hamstring. The spider threw up and collapsed. Aidan "easy as it goes" Horner had to adopt to the bemusing role of left back and Jonathan went and stood up high in their half. Banbury now flowed forward with vigour bypassing the midfield regularly with skilled aerials and diagonal runs from their forwards. We held strong for another 20 mins - then calamity. Keith shelled a 16 straight up Mike's posterior - he twisted but couldn't move fast enough and Banbury took advantage of our misfortune to score in the corner.
Several near misses and a blinding stick save from Gordon kept them out until half time. The second half saw Matthew struggling with his ankle and several more chances go begging from Banbury. Then someone lit the blue touch paper and several Banbury players seemed to lose their heads and suddenly we started using the space and generating some forward momentum. An unlikey draw seemed a possibility, but a combination of resolute defending and over elaboration by our forwards saw Banbury home to a deserved victory.
Martin Jackson
Mens 5th XI
No report submitted.
Mens Centurions
No report submitted.
Ladies 1st XI
On Saturday 4th November Staines played their 3rd league game against Hounslow & Ealing III. A good team performance sealed another league win with Jo Ive keeping up her scoring record with another 2, and 1 from Sarah Baldock providing the 3-0 result.
Ladies 2nd XI
Staines 1 - Hayes 1
We knew from the outset that it wouldn't be the easiest of games against a team who had been relegated from the league above us last year. However, we worked hard and Juliet scored half way through the first half to put us in the lead. Sarah Chandler awarded mare of the day for turning up at half time, slotted into CF, allowing Claire Holloway to revert back to her sturdy defence position after doing a cracking job at CF in the first half. Unfortunately shortly after the second half started, Hayes were awarded a controversial flick for apparently hitting Jeanette's foot in the D, which they scored from. However, Anya did make some good saves during the game, so for the second week running was given a reprieve as mare of the day. The game went on and the 1-1 score line remained, even having one of the Hayes players yellow carded didn't allow us the chance to score again. It was a shame we didn't win, but we're still unbeaten in the league and intend to keep it that way. Jude was named player of the match, she certainly has settled into that LB position! Oh er!
Ladies 3rd XI
Staines 0 - Ashford 10
No, this is not a typing error and we did have 11 players! At half time we were only 3 nil down and we could see a way off pulling back In the second half a strong Ashford continued to put on the pressure, and their fitness and training together paid off. The only slight consolation was that they told us the previous week they were 16 nil up at half time and the opposition asked that the second half be abandoned. Despite the result Sharon Marwick played a blinder in goal and Sarah Pix made a couple of a saves off the line. Lets hope we are fully prepared when we play them in the league in March and can put out our strongest side.
On a lighter note perhaps if we had been as enthusiastic on the pitch as we were on the dance floor on Saturday night then the score could have been different!
Ladies 4th XI
No report submitted.