Match Reports For Saturday 18th September Season 2004 - 2005

Mens 1st XI

Mens 2nd XI

Mens 3rd XI

Mens 4th XI

Mens 5th XI

Mens 6th XI

Now that the summer sun has set in the sky it was time to dust the cobwebs off the old stick bag. The 6's opened their new campaign with a tough away match against Eastcote 8's - a side promoted out of the league that we were promoted into - so a good indication of how our season might unfold.

A new season and straight into the fray came three debutants Chris and Tom, at the tender ages of 15 and 16, and the positively ancient James at 20. Impressively the only older players in the squad of 14 were Martin and Gordon - and our combined ages were not more than the sum of the rest!

Ronaldinho was called up for his last game before travelling to University - the question was - "for his hockey skills but because he was old enough to actually drive a car".

For the game Martin came up with a 3-5-2 formation so that we could practice the shadowing and channelling we worked on at Thursday night coaching (ouch my legs still hurt!). The idea was to spring forward quickly through the centre using Gordon and Dougie whilst keeping a solid defensive formation.

The opening forays were pretty even and fairly cagey. The Eascote forwards looked a bit pacy and the midfield energetic. With several new faces we took a while to settle but then we started to take a grip on the game. Martin, Gordon, Matt and new Tom were exerting good pressure in midfield and forcing the oppo to try quicker and longer passes forcing several turnovers. Dougie broke through one on one with the keeper only to see his shot saved. Several promising attacks came to nothing when shots were fired in from tighter than 45 degrees to the touchline. Dougie spurned another one on one, and Gordon lashed a piledriver high and wide. We won a couple of shorties but their number one runner was very quick and blocked both efforts.

At the back new James, formed a solid partnership with Phil and Andy (out of goal for a runaround). When the oppo did get through Matt in goal made some excellent clearances, but wasn't called upon to do anything too special.

Half-Time : 0-0
Very good start against a good side. We must use the triangles more. In attack let's look for the inside pass to the P spot or top D.

Eastcote started the 2nd half brightly but after 10 mins we settled into a purple passage of play. First up after some solid defensive work Martin released Andy on the half way line, he dribbled forward beat a couple of defenders, and then with Gordon dragging the remaining defenders left, Andy took the ball into the D and lashed a screamer into the top corner. 1-0 great stuff.

More great play and a big scramble in the Eastcote D - but somehow they scrape it away. More good play saw the team transgress between the halfway line and their 25. Tom (mini-Diego) took a quick pass to Matt on the charge who drove into the D and expertly flipped it over the sliding keeper and into the far corner. Lovvly jubbly 2-0.

All was not won however, as the home broke up an attack from the edge of their own D and after a tremendous break down the right wing the ball was laid back for their centre forward to sweep home from near the P spot. 2-1.

Despite a few minor alarms we defended well and were well and truly cream crackered by the end.

Full-Time: WON 2-1

What an excellent result, but more importantly a stunning performance against a team from a higher league. All the new guys played exceptionally well, and hopefully with our fitness improving game by game we should be looking for a cracking start when the league starts on 9-Oct.

Mens 7th XI

Mens Centurions

Ladies 1st XI

Ladies 2nd XI

Ladies 3rd XI

Within minutes of play starting it was quite clear that Staines were going to dominate. Kerry Wainwright, appearing as right forward from her usual position of resting at the back was causing the Windsor keeper problems with her deliverance of crosses and insurmountable shots on goal, all of which were denied. This did not deter Staines from their mission, though several short corners were awarded, we failed to convert, along with half a dozen or more chances to score. Windsor were constantly under pressure from Claire Moscrop and Julie Purbrick who were unlucky not to find the back of the net.

Staines did not get it all their own way with Windsor capitalising on breaks when they came, but with the sturdy defence in place and the never ending energy of Daisy Crawley, who again won Woman of the match, if nothing it was
entertaining.

There was a moment of controversy, when late into the second half Wendy Valentine-Penney collected the ball from the attacking Windsor forward, took it skilfully out to the left, only to make a poor pass to midfielder, Jeanette Tucker who floundered to receive the ball. What followed next should have been a card for stick abuse; instead W V-P got Dick of the day.

In summary, there was some good hockey and nice to watch, if you were a spectator. We worked hard throughout the game closing players down, and the workrate of the team was tremendous, top draw stuff. A good game to take part in, in preparation for the commencement of the League campaign against Hampstead and Westminster, 4 o’clock on home turf, all are welcome.

Ladies 4th XI