Match Reports For Week 31 Saturday 5th April Season 2002 - 2003

Mens 1st XI

Mens 2nd XI

Mens 3rd XI

Mens 4th XI

Mens 5th XI

So here we were on a lovely sunny morning needing just one win from our last two games to guarantee winning the League Championship and what a fantastic achievement that would be in the 5th XI's debut season.

Unfortunately the omens were not good. Diego was out after his knee operation and was joined on the injured list by Shrek. With Ronaldinho and Simon also missing this week and Sean still not back from his travels we were looking a bit short. Added to this several players were attending the end of season Dinner Dance on the Friday night and the game was scheduled for 10:30, and we were suffering a little from dehydration ... none more so than "H" who was persuaded to play on pitch without his kit on ... no, not like that he is a keeper you know! A 9 o'clock meet time and we were greeted with a locked clubhouse, no keys and the goalie kit inside. Panic. Frank shot out of the car park on a mercy mission to Linda's to get the keys, but no sooner had the dust settled that Sohail announced that he'd just spoken to Alex and he had the kit at his house after all !!! Sohail tried to call Frank but guess what ... he had no credits left for his phone ... aggghhhhh! At least new boy Ollie had been drafted in on Friday night as cover.

Eventually the convoy left and fortunately there was no traffic and we arrived well in time for the game complete with kit and everything. The downside was that the beach, sorry pitch, was a suntrap and it felt like we were playing on a Greek island. Martin finished his water before the game started. "H" was now only grey-faced rather than puce green. Jim his fellow port drinker didn't seem too bad. Thankfully Frank appeared bright-eyed and bushy tailed having only had the one pint at the do.

Looking around we could see that Old Reigatians were actually fielding something more like their Young Reigatians side ... with what appeared to be several players returning from University for the Easter holidays. The game got underway and soon it was evident that this side was going to be much harder to overcome than the side we beat 12-1 at home a few weeks ago. With Martin the only midfielder available this week the base of the diamond was filled by Keith (not renowned for his pace), Sohail on the right (not renowned for his tackling back), and Ollie on the left (really plays at the back and wasn't too keen on the idea of running around a lot).

The game was fairly even for the opening exchanges but Staines were looking the more penetrative and only a few last ditch tackles prevented us from having some shots on goal. When the home side put their mind to it they put some neat moves together and only the defensive solidity of the back three of Richard, Frank and Jim kept them out. At the other end Roly had the beating of his full back and several times had the home defence in panic mode. Then OR's broke forward and Martin cleanly won the ball and played it onto the attackers foot just inside our half, play went on and another attacker kicked it in the circle before being stick tackled ... short sodding corner. They take a strike and mis-hit the ball which bobbled past Frank and then had a second shot which went through Dave's legs and it was 0-1. Ooops! Not championship form this.

Never mind after a bit of a kick up the backside we powered forward and with "H" coming on for Sohail we came to life. After a couple of quick passes the ball was swept to the back post where Roly just managed to poke it under the keeper and over the line at about 2 mph. It's not how it's how many and that's 1-1.
A few minutes later and a goalmouth scramble saw the keeper make a block only for L'il Phil to scoop up the loose ball at the back post for 2-1. Now we were on top for the 1st time, and Martin powered a cross from the left 25 into Neil who failed to get a stick on it, and the ball sped through to Phil on the back post again ... 3-1 !!!!! No !! Phil's stick is off the ground and he can't stab it down quick enough chance gone 2-1.

Half-time: Surprisingly we were not good enough. This oppo hasn't come to lie down and be beaten. They know we are top and they want to beat us. Come on guys let's put some more work rate in.

We upped our game from the off and Sohail sprung to life after his rest and set off on some penetrating runs down the right wing, but with the forward line being a bit different from normal the link up play just wasn't working. With Ollie dropping back more, Frank and Jim were able to intercept and drive through to the midfield allowing us to demonstrate our fast breaking attacking style. Several short corners were won. Keith wasn't quite on form and pulled a couple left, then flicked one but dragged it wide left also. Roly then stole in from another classy attack but for some unknown reason appeared to spend five minutes trying to score through the prone keeper ... and this despite the screams of "flick it over him !!!!!!" from the midfield.

Against the run of play the oppo won a couple of shorties but these were easily snuffed out by the sober man Frank. This game was too close to call but fortunately within a few seconds of each other both Martin and Ollie told Keith to slip the ball left on the next short corner as they were only running out straight. A few minutes later and we won that shorty ... and three seconds later the ball was in the goal and it was 3-1, a perfect stop, pause, slip left, and first time strike.

With the scent of victory in our nostrils we rarely give it up and shortly after we won the ball in our own half and Martin slipped it out to Ollie at left half who drove on to just outside the 25 before releasing "H" (now looking a little pinker) down the inside left channel. H remained composed and drew the keeper out and slipped a perfect inside reverse stick pass just behind the line of square, where Martin applied the finishing touch from near the penalty spot to make it 4-1. He bellowed a loud roar of "Have it !!!!!!" ... rather apt considering the copious quantity of John Smith's he'd consumed the night before.

We forced several more chances .. one particular highlight being "H"'s goal which was disallowed when he hooked it off his nose from a yard out just like Brian Lara ... just a little high maybe. Martin touched a cracking ball from Jim just past the far post with a subtle reverse stick deflection. A couple of crosses were fired in when really they should have been pulled back to the unmarked Keith, now hoarse from screaming "top of D ... top of the D"

At the other end a fine run into the D saw their left winger selfishly try to beat Dave at the near post with a wee little colt stood all on his own at the backpost a yard out.

Final score : Won 4-1. Our 13th consecutive win in the league which means ... WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS !!!

Last week's man of the match was a close run thing, a tie between Martin and Dave possibly .. its all a bit vague. The e-mail vote confirmed what we all expected though ... a DOD for Neil's imperious demonstration of how to play on a bumpy grass pitch.

This week's voting is also being done by e-mail but I hazard a gues that Sohail may take the DOD vote for the goalie kit fiasco .. and he doesn't even have the excuse of drinking !! MOM could be interesting.

So next week's club day encounter with Leatherhead becomes a showcase game. Will we play with complete freedom now that the pressure is off, or will we lose that competitive edge that drives you on when you need to win.

Mens Centurions

Ladies 1st XI

Ladies 2nd XI

Ladies 3rd XI

Ladies 4th XI