Match Reports For Saturday 10th September Season 2005 - 2006

Mens 1st XI

Mens 2nd XI

Will we ever learn? If the weather forecast is for ‘showers’, we are guaranteed blistering sunshine and 100% humidity, as we found upon arriving at Woking for the annual pre-season tournament, fully prepared for a nice stroll in the rain. It was hot. And with Epsom pulling out, it left us with just 3 teams. So it was decided that we play each other twice. That’s 4 games in a day. Did I mention it was hot?

Coach Duncan took the opportunity to try out our new Uber System of play. It’s great. Nobody defends, everyone plays in midfield, and we attack whenever we feel like it. Lovely. It also means we have to be the fittest team in the league to pull if off. Some work needed there.

Our first game was against Guildford, and for the first 20 minutes the system worked beautifully. The oppo could barely get the ball out of the 25, and PTOTY were unlucky not to put this game out of reach after great chances for JD, Lee and Bazza. But ultimately it was a break away goal in the last minute that won the game for Guildford. But it was more about testing the system than getting results, so a pleasing game.

Next up were Woking, who had the luxury of sitting out the first game whilst we had just 5 mins to prepare for the next game. The heat remained, as did our resolve to test out the system. And for much of the game it worked well. But as the heat took it’s toll and our fitness dwindled, Woking were allowed back into the game. PTOTY took the lead through a fine goal orchestrated by Bazza but finished by JD. But as we faded, we lost our shape and Woking wrapped up the game late on with 2 goals. But like the first, this game was more about practicing Coach Duncan’s ‘New Way’, so we’ll live with the loss.

30 mins break before the next round of games, and players were dropping like flies. Lee ‘Sick note’ Atkinson had to drop out with a sore back and Bolty tried his best to escape to a family party, but Coach convinced him to stay for one last game. Guildford were on their 2nd game when we took the pitch so it was our turn to reap the rewards. But the heat and previous 2 games had taken their toll and PTOTY looked jaded. We snuck the game 1-0 with a nicely taken goal by winger Humphreyseys. But we didn’t take much from the game as the system fell apart the more tired we got. Definitely work to be done there, but when we’re fresh it shows real promise.

Woking convinced us to play a 4th game with the promise of a gentle 20 minute run-out, and then promptly put out their first team. PTOTY were shattered and could barely walk, so did well to keep it down to 3-0. Could have scored a couple too with a shot against the post and Griggsy almost decapitating the keeper with a shot. But a pointless exercise eventually came to an end and PTOTY retired to the bar to reflect on Coach’s new system. Thumbs up all round, except from JD who would argue Black is White the mood he was in. But a great workout for all and we look forward to a full 70 minutes to put into practice Coach Duncan’s ideas.

Player of the Tournament went to Matty Humphreys, following a dictatorial decision by Skipper Watson. Well played son.

Mens 3rd XI

Mens 4th XI

Mens 5th XI

Mens 6th XI

Mens 7th XI

Mens Centurions

Ladies 1st XI

The Surreal Start of the Season

Northern Ireland beating England !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Snatch of the Match Hat-trick Bambi bust her ankle by tripping on a front door step, holding on to the porch wall, the porch collapsing, the owner completely bewildered as Bambi had gone to the wrong house!

Doris of the Day Silky Sue stood in dog poo and then proceeded to be nearly knee-capped by Cheltenham

Kaviar nearly having a heart attack

Captain Katie Kate won a bag off Siemens

Coach Shay was only 3 minutes behind Stannard in the 10k run

Twinkle Toes near death experience with a bottle of water

Andy "He kissed our cheeks and thinks we're honeys" Strauss getting a century

The Return of South African Craig (who managed to avoid arrest in Edinburgh)

Aunty Audrey's cataract issue

smEllie in Nepal sober

And finally, just to remind you, Northern Ireland beating England

Ladies 2nd XI

Ladies 3rd XI

Staines 4 – Ashford 0

It was a hot, humid and therefore potentially smelly afternoon which saw the start of the 2005-06 hockey season. The ladies arrived confidentially (or in Ju’s case crashed into the changing rooms knocking over the bin) ready to start the season as they begin to go on, by winning!! Although when we learnt we were playing Ashford 2’s who beat us twice last year, the confidence wasn’t so brimming.

Ready to just enjoy the match it and use it as a good warm up game the match started well, with Ashford struggling to keep the ball out of their half. The team last year known as the 39’ers needed an injection of youth, no not botox in this instance, but in the form of Lauren Fear. She flew down the left wing and started the scoring after Julie P slipped the ball to her to smack in the back of the goal. The second goal came from a short corner strike from Burkie. With most of the usual short corner team absent, Burkie stepped up to the mark and made it 2 - 0. The third goal was text book hockey. Ingrid passed to Burkie, who swept it out left to Smithy, who passed the ball to Lauren who in turn passed to Ju who fired the ball home into the D for Lizzy to get a touch on and make it 3! Quality, more of that please!

A quietish game for the backs and Chantelle in goal, but the defence of Ingrid, Lou, Clare, Burkie and Smithy all worked hard to assist the attack. Chantelle made a cracking save in the first half to keep a clean sheet.

The second half was just as good, albeit a few tired legs, (but it was blooming hot and the first full game of the season), but we were able to increase the score line increase to 4 – 0. The fourth goal started from the mother and daughter formation, when Lauren calling Ingrid to pass her the ball, (with the words of “its mum to you” from Burkie) drove the ball down the left to pass to Ju who pulled it back to Michelle to complete the passing to Jeanette who cracked the ball home from the top of the D to cries of “shoot Jeanette!”. Funnily enough if you read the match report from the first game last season, Jeanette scored in the same way, but alas didn’t score again all season, lets just hope it was just a touch of dejavu and not history repeating itself!!

All in all a great win to start the season!! The top of the league table is already calling!!!!

Ladies 4th XI