Match Reports For Saturday 10th December Season 2005 - 2006

Mens 1st XI

Staines faced a tough away fixture against Fareham on Saturday and so it proved to be as they ran out 2-1 winners.

Staines started the game strongly pushing Fareham back deep into their own half and retaining good possesion, but couldn't find a way past the strong Fareham goalkeeper. Some direct running by Rich Cardigan and lovely movement by Andy Evans created space for the rest of the Staines attackers but for twenty minutes Staines could not find a way through. Finally though, Staines scored and it came from a breakaway. Fareham had won a penalty corner which was saved by Andy Green in the Staines goal. The ball fell to Paul Arnott who quickly transferred the ball to Geraint Hughes who played in Rich Cardigan. His square pass saw Stuart Hall arriving in the circle to smash the ball at goal and Andy Evans cleverly chipped the ball over the prostrate 'keeper.
Staines played out the remainder of the half with the score staying at 1-0 and Fareham under considerable pressure.

The second half was a tougher affair for Staines. Fareham pushed forward in numbers and the pressure was put on the Staines rearguard. However, after about ten minutes, Staines won a penalty corner. John Stannard had a good strike at goal saved by the goalie only for the rebound to fall to Geraint Hughes who swept the ball into the corner for Staines' second. This gave Staines a cushion that was needed as Fareham proceeded to up their game and dominate possesion and territory. They were aided when Stuart Hall was sinbinned for a poor tackle and while he was off Fareham pulled a scrappy goal back. With Fareham now piling forward Staines defended deep and looked to hang on to their lead. This wasn't helped when just after Stuart Hall had returned to the fray John Stannard got himself sent off for a professional foul. With every man back behind the ball and Fareham pushing hard it took a great effort to hold on for the three points but Staines managed it and were delighted to hear the final whistle.

Although hanging on desperately for the last few minutes Staines deserved the three points and it puts them right back in the promotion hunt for the second half of the season.

Mens 2nd XI

The future's bright, the future's ORANGE.

It was the perfect response to last week's drubbing by Woking, as PTOTY bounced back with a 10-goal assault of Milton Keynes. Much was spoken about how PTOTY looked to have given up the season following the Woking game, but back to full strength with our all-Ginger midfield, PTOTY took out their frustrations on a below-par MK team.

I can't remember who scored and when, but PTOTY left the blocks at full pelt and were 5-0 up by the break. LeeRoy got us going within 3 minutes with an exocet uber-flick, and grabbed another from a PF, and Barry grabbed a couple by the break.Think JD got the other. Typical far post spank I seem to recall. 5 up at the break and the message from Coach Duncan was clear - let's put Woking behind us by netting 10. And a clean sheet would be nice too.

The second half started off slower but PTOTY kicked into gear once again thanks to an orange assault. The midfield were on fire and Jimmy Hall grabbed a second-half 5-minute hat trick that put PTOTY on track for a the 10 goal target. He scored an excellent short-corner deflection off Lee's far post drag, scored a belting open play strike following a couple of heavy tackles that wound him up, and squeezed in a third following neat play from Truman and Bazza.

That takes us to 8 right? Barry completed his hat trick with the best goal of the game, following a flowing move from midfield, seeing Mark H and Bazza swap passes into the D, and Bazza slipping the ball neatly under the keeper for his hat trick. In typical style PTOTY then gave away a couple of goals, but pushing forward for the 10th this was disappointing rather than life threatening. But the 10th finally came via Matty Truman, who rounded a couple from the top of the D and struck a bullet past the keeper from distance. 10 goals and mission accomplished.

So a welcome return to form from PTOTY, and a reminder of what we can do when we apply ourselves - which in a way is even more frustrating following our recent Jekyll & Hyde performances. But a great win and a great performance and the perfect platform to push on in the second half of the season.

The PTOTY double-header didn't quite materialise. BBHC turned up on Sunday for our cup game but obviously weren't up for it. Could have been the frozen pitch, but was more likely the sight of 12 PTOTY players sitting in the bar chomping at the bit to get out and stick another 10 in the onion bag. Robbie negotiated hard (he claims) but BBHC were back on the M25 quicker than you could say Sherpa Van Tampax League Eleven. No matter, we'll get them next time.

No votes. No fines. Think we're getting a bit boring?

MOM would have been between Barry & Jimmy, so it goes to Jimmy. Haha.

DOD. Both goals were Robbie's fault, so it goes to Roy.

Merry Christmas. And good luck Sid & Ju.

Mens 3rd XI

Mens 4th XI

Mens 5th XI

Mens 6th XI

Mens 7th XI

Mens Centurions

Ladies 1st XI

Ladies 2nd XI

Ladies 3rd XI

Ladies 4th XI

With a small number of hired mercenaries on our team this week from the ladies 3’s we met on the chilly Faulkners battle ground for the lets-hope-the-game-ends-before-the-pitch-freezes 4pm push back slot for a friendly against Sonning. Pitch cleared of casualties from the previous skirmish, we washed the blood from the men’s game off the ground (there really was a lot of it!) and blue flashy lights appeared through the mist, so Nurse Karen could get kitted up in goal keeping attire leaving the injured man in the capable hands of those nice paramedic people.

In Kath’s absence the pre-match team talk was from Burkie and required some translating from the strange language of Ladies3s into the more familiar dialect of Ladies4s. ‘Do you do “The Press”?’, she asked. ‘The what?’, queried a confused Captain Caro. The answer, we decided, was that we do but didn't know the name. Tactics sorted and positions allocated it was time to play.

The first half saw an early goal from a short corner. JulieP hit out to CJ who directed the ball to the backboard without JP poaching it this time! One nil to us. Our defence were tested toward the end of the first half, standing up to a few short corners and, at one stage, a how-did-she-do-that goal line mid-air save from Kath.

The second half saw two more goals, this time from open play and from our visiting 3’s. Lauren with one, picking up a rebound from the keepers’ pads after Lizzie’s strike, and the next from Lizzie herself. By this time we were playing on about half the width of the pitch, the other half having turned into an ice-skating rink.

Then it happened. A Sonning short corner stopped on the line by Kath’s foot. Penalty flick. JulieP gave Karen some words of advice. The Sonning player took the shot. Karen headed for the ground…saved! SHE DIVED SHE DIVED!!!!! Absolutely stunning. Julie P was ecstatic… ‘I TOLD her to do that’! We still hadn’t finished congratulating Karen by the time the final whistle went which couldn’t have come soon enough – we were cold, the pitch was iced up and the mist which had been creeping its way over the grass throughout the game finally engulfed the astro.

Guided by the lights of the bar we headed to the warmth of the clubhouse. Thanks to Kerry, Lauren, Lou, Lizzie and Claire for helping us out this week and to those 4’s who couldn’t be there - it was Saturday!