Match Reports
08/11/08
Oxford Rovers 1-4 Men's 2nd XI
After a soaking last week in Kent it looked like we were in for more of the same this week, but thankfully the rain threatened but didn't amount to much.
The team took another new shape this week, Al McGuiness finally resting his ankles and sitting it out but he was still there to provide much needed organisation from the side. Si “Ginger Ninja” Acott returned to add some stability to the back and Sam “I'm look like Bram but I don't have the skills” Forster to do something on the pitch but we're not quite sure. Sadly our keeper Cock was not available this week so in stepped Phil Orriss for a rare appearance between the sticks, he was thankful for not having to go to Canterbury to play for the 3s as the usual suspects decided not to travel that far so it meant we had to loose young Alex to the 3s.
The ladies 1s were on before hand so we watched some of their game. They played some really nice hockey, but Al said we had to go chat about chevrons or something in the changing rooms. Our opposition had a long drive from Oxford and arrived very early, they looked well prepared. They have scored 15 but also let in 15 this season so we thought they'd come looking for goals but equally there would be chances for us.
So what happened in our game, well being the oldest by quite a way these days I think I'm suffering from hockey alzheimer's . Next time can you tell me before the game so I can take some notes. We started brightly created a number of chances, I think our first two goals came from short corners that were neatly finished off by Lloyd”y” at the post. 2-0 Brighton. We pressed quite hard denying Oxford any outlet from the back, the only option on was a “Will Champness” from the centre back. Oxford managed to score but it's a bit of a mystery, they drove into the right of the D and slipped the ball gently across, it looked more difficult to miss the ball than stop it but Luke duly obliged which threw everyone off balance, it fell to an Oxford player who turned and tapped the ball past Phil and across the line. Cue Phil's first touch of the game. 2-1. There were more chances for Brighton, most notably Bram managing to put the ball over from about ½ a yard when it was easier to score into an open net, reports from NASA that it about to re-enter the earth's atmosphere sometime next week. Jon2 did some great work down the left and drove into the D ghosting past Oxford players, the ball fell to Jamie Hendrix in front of goal who had his stick chopped and a clear flick turned down by the umpire.
So we turned around for the second half, from the start Oxford were under pressure again. A number of short corners were forced and from one a really neat slip to the right and back into the middle for an unmarked Hore to slap it into the net. 3-1. A quick break from the back ended up with Bram being allowed to amble to the top of the Oxford D, the keeper saw Ollie loitering with his usual intent at the back post so covered that, allowing Bram to simply slide the ball into the other side of the goal, goal given but cue protests from Oxford, umpires consulted who gave an Oxford hit judging that Bram was outside the D. Another attack and again Ollie was found at the back post but the first shot was saved , he gathered the ball again and quite how, he managed to reverse swipe the ball into the top corner from an impossible angle! Ross “I can wobble but should pass sometimes” Hardwick caused the Oxford right side problems all day, one wobble resulted in a fantastic reverse strike that fizzed over the bar.
The only trouble caused by Oxford in the second half was a long flick over the top that left Ninja looking at Phil and neither of them going for the ball, thankfully Phil finally cleared up.
A good more disciplined performance from the team this week. A big thanks and well done to Zoe who umpired our game. Both teams showed her great respect - a yellow card might have sorted out the mouthy centre back though ;) Keep it up and hope to see you doing a game again soon!