1 gained, or 2 lost?

COWHC 3s 2-2 Addiscombe 4s

22nd February 2014

The return match against local rivals Addiscombe, our home game, took place at Croydon High, a pitch I'm pretty sure I've only ever played at as an away player.  But given that the away game was played at Oasis, our normal home pitch, I guess it all makes sense!

Sadly I missed last week's rather heavy defeat (hence the lack of match report), which according to Radders was rather frustrating.

Well this week was probably even more frustrating.  The core of standard 3s players were available, but with regular keeper Paul painting himself green (maybe) and spending the afternoon in South West London, before drowning his sorrows in the evening (probably), Martin had to once again deputise in goal.  As a bonus though, he had bought along his brother Keith for his first game in years.

We started the game well and were passing the ball confidently, playing a high line and pushing the opposition back into their half for much of the first 25 minutes or so.  As a result of the pressure though, we somehow only managed to score once, a move down the left ending with a cross from Andrew being converted on the turn by Alex for his first ever goal.  Minutes after that he was inches away from doubling the tally, running in at the back of the D onto another cross, but his lifted shot flashed wide.

Unfortunately it looked like we might be made to pay for our profligacy as towards the end of the half Addiscombe managed to string a couple of passes together through the middle and got into our D.  As Martin tried to change direction, he lost his footing and slipped over, leaving the opposition player with an empty net to slot into.  Worse, shortly after that, in similar fashion, they had another shot, this time one which skipped, bounced and spun like a Shane Warne wrong 'un and beat everyone to cross the line.

From 1-0 up and dominating to 2-1 down at half time was a situation that we would not have expected.  However, we refused to let our heads drop and started the second half in much the same fashion as we had the first.  Again we had the majority of possession, territory and chances, but as before we were only able to convert one.  This time the move was down the right, Qaz dummied the cross and left Trevor with an easy finish.

Back on level terms we pushed hard for the winner, often playing with 9 outfield players in the Addiscombe half.  On another day Qaz could have had a hat-trick, with a couple of chances just going the wrong side of the posts.  Others two had shots that weren't quite on target, or crosses that somehow managed to miss everyone.

So the score remained 2-2.  Given our post-Christmas record it could easily be seen as a point gained, but on the basis of the match it was most definitely two lost.

POM was Alex for breaking is goal-scoring duck and for his all round midfield play.  Although he was pushed close by Keith showing that he's lost nothing in his time away from the team and is more than welcome to turn out for us again.

What a difference a week makes

COWHC 3s 1-3 Reigate Priory Pilgrims

08th February 2013

After one of our best performances for a long time last week, with unfortunately the wrong result at the end, it was back to earth with a bump against Reigate.

We had a bare eleven available, which was apparently the case for all of the men's sides this week, but at least we had an umpire, meaning we could use all available players.  We started with a slightly experimental line-up, with AJ dropping in to left back and Alex playing at right half.  I was playing in the centre of defence with John as Speddo wasn't around.  The rest of the team filled in pretty much as usual, yet for some reason the fluency of last week wasn't there.

Maybe it was the system, maybe the conditions didn't help, maybe it was down to some rather over zealous umpiring at one end, with Andrew being particularly harshly penalised.  Whatever it was, we couldn't seem to string more than two passes together and frustration came into our play.  Credit to Reigate in that they did hassle us well, and didn't allow us to settle particularly, but we were hindering ourselves more than anything.

That said, we did actually manage to take the lead midway through the half.  In keeping with the way we were playing, the goal was't a thing of beauty, with Angus converting at the far post after the ball somehow found its way to him.

Our lead didn't last long though unfortunately.  And again it wasn't the best of goals.  A Reigate move was broken up and the ball cleared out towards the 25.  Unfortunately it went straight to an opposition player, who controlled and played a straight ball back into the D.  It was pretty harmless, although we should have given Paul a shout to leave it.  Sadly he got enough of a touch on it on its way through and the goal was given.

We did manage a couple of shots ourselves after this, and really should have re-taken the lead following either one from Andrew or one from me, both of which the Reigate keeper stopped, although how much he knew about either I'm not sure.

It was a rather disheartened bunch therefore that went into the half time team talk.  Following some motivational words from Radders we lined up for the second half.  And were hit by an immense hail storm, in which I swear the hailstones were actually coming horizontally across the pitch!  Fortunately, given the wind, it blew over pretty quickly, but not before everyone was given a good drenching.

Unfortunately, we still couldn't get any fluency in our play.  We weren't helped by Radders getting a stick to the chest, followed not long afterwards by Mike pulling his calf.  So from 11 players we were down to 9 and a half.  As a result, Reigate began to impose themselves on the game more, and it wasn't a surprise that they eventually took the lead.

One of their forwards managed to get free on towards the left corner of the D and somehow got his shot between Paul and the near post.

We probably threw caution to the wind a bit after that in an effort to get back on level terms.  Sadly that didn't work, and we got caught out again on the break.  The same player who scored the second goal was played through the middle and, although I got to him as he shot, my block only succeeded in lifting the ball into the air and past Paul's outstretched hand.

So a disappointing performance, a very disappointing result, and a post-Christmas slump in results that will hopefully pick up next week (maybe because I'm unavailable!)

POM went to me.

A Match Too Far...

COWHC 3s 1-2 Aldershot & Farnham 4s

01st February 2014

Match Report

An away match so far out we're bordering on needing passports, a pushback so late that anyone sensible is already in the bar, and all on the first weekend of the 6 Nations... Something of the perfect storm really that meant we played this game with only 10 players.  We actually had 11 people there, but unfortunately regular umpire Del wasn't one of them, so Martin had to take up the whistle.

Aldershot & Farnham are a tough team, and although we beat them before Christmas we had to work very hard to get the victory, which was our first against them.  Starting a man short therefore wasn't ideal, and when they won a short corner within the first couple of minutes I wondered if we could be on the end of our 3rd heavy defeat in a row.  However, I stopped the shot from the short on the line and as the first half progressed we started playing some of the best hockey I've seen from us in a long time.

Passing was crisp, quick and for the most part short, 50/50 balls were being won much more often than not and we were arguably the better team.  Just reward for the effort came midway through the half when a move down our right ended with a tempting ball right across the D.  Mike was first to it and finished with aplomb for his first goal of the season,

Unfortunately the lead didn't last too long.  A long ball out of defence found its way somehow to the edge of our D, where the opposition striker, back to goal, took a touch to control and then hit a reverse stick shot that went just inside the post.

Back on level pegging Aldershot's heads came up and what was already a tough game became even tougher.  Our effort never dropped though, and although they won a number of short corners we got to half time still at 1-1.

The second half saw us continue with the hard work and the excellent hockey, and an even, open game ensued.  We created some chances, one in particular for Trevor who was thwarted by ex-Croydon player Chris Kinal.  Aldershot continued to get more short corners and ended up taking the lead through one of them.  The short was played quickly back to the injector, who was able to get a very good shot away, although I could have possibly closed him down a bit quicker, and I think Paul is also a little disappointed that he didn't stop it either.

And that's how it remained.  Although the defeat was hard to take, it was a fantastic effort from the whole team.  That said, one player stood out and clearly merited getting POM - Angus, who stepped in to an unfamiliar right back position and looked like he'd always played there.