Match Reports (Current Season)

3rd February 2018

Ladies 1s

Ladies 1s had an early departure to Ashford this morning. After getting friendly with the locals (Katherine Abbie) and playing dodge the potholes for a warm up, we got off to a decent start. An unfortunate foul resulting in a short corner left us 0-1 down in the first half.

Although the game was full of excellent passing and probably the most goal scoring opportunities this half of the season, we didn’t manage to get the equaliser we deserved.

Other events included: Lucy Butcher sharing her stretching habits with us (before dinner and on the train apparently), Kirsten Geekie not being hungover, Lynsey Douglas getting green carded , Laura Ayre not managing to get a sideline ball onto the pitch (twice) and the poor umpire falling over and breaking her arm.

MOM: Izzy

DOD: Laura

Onwards and upwards!

Ladies 2s

L2-1

Ladies 3s

L3 2-2 Witham. Katie scored then Ellie (POM) We had 10 players, Wit 14. Proud of the score!

Ladies 4s

Very proud of the Ladies 4s for playing against two lots of tough opposition this week. Though we lost both games : 0-6 to Braintree yesterday and 0-4 to Southend and Benfleet today, we did play well. It was fantastic to have amazing youth players with us, so yesterday we had Trixie, Priya and Charis who along with Martha were all voted joint players of the match ! Today we had Martha , Charis and Priya who were all brilliant again, player of the match today was Martha who’s tremendous saves were even cheered by Southend ! Big thank you to our friends from the 3s for helping out too.

Men’s 2s

The Men’s 2s kicked off proceedings this morning with an early start at East London.

In the early minutes East London showed what we expected – they were a well drilled side and although it took us a while to get our game together we were repelling everything they threw at us. Shots fired but no casualties. That was until a fortunate deflection went their way and they got the break. Our heads didn’t drop but from there they won an endless amount of short corners and their conversion rates were pretty impressive. The number of short corner routines they had was genuinely mind-boggling and we went into half time 5-0 down.

The second half was a different kettle of fish. Yogi’s half-time team talk and formation tinkering had an immediate impact. We went another goal down but Vivek was not about to let them steal the show – an impressive run followed by a cracking reverse strike got us a goal back. Take a bow son. Not too long after we had another break down the right and Adam Friend converted to get us another. Solid.

Unfortunately in the meantime East London kept converting their short corners and we lost the second half 3-2. Thus making the final result 8-2.

Plenty of positives to take from the second half so bring on next week.

Mom – Vivek Lodhia for his wondergoal and for being a textbook striker.

Pop – myself for taking a midfield tumble without the sort of grace you’d expect from a 2s player. Also multiple serious breaches of post-match clothing etiquette. Precedent has been set that mountainwear now falls under the sportswear category. Be warned.

Extra special shout out to Joe Russo for slotting in at right back and becoming our clubs newest best right back. Bravo

Men’s 3s

No Game

Men’s 4s

D1-1

Men’s 5s

Waltham Forest 5’s vs Brentwood Part 1

The 5’s travelled to Brentwood for the first part of this weekend’s double header. We started brightly but sometimes you just don’t get the luck you deserve. Brentwood struck a shot from outside the D (in our opinion) but the umpires conferred and ruled it was in. Somebody then put an invisible pinball machine in our D and we conceded one of those goals that you just can’t describe. We got out heads up and played some good hockey for the rest of the half but Brentwood got a 3rd. HT 3-0.

We came out second half and it was a pleasure to play alongside that commitment. We grabbed one back through Ben Firth-Salem and the game was truly in the balance for a good 15 mins. We did manage a second goal but it was ruled out for an offending foot.

Brentwood scored a couple more towards the end, leaving the final score 5-1 but to see the improvement within the team from day 1 to how we played today is an absolute joy. 3 under 14s played today and all more than held their own – again. Well done William Farrow, Samuel Owen and Mohad Irfan.

Brentwood Part 2 is tomorrow.

Waltham Forest vs Brentwood – Part 2

Men’s 5’s hosted Brentwood at the Academy today for the second part of our double header – and guess what – we only went and collected our first points of the season with a 4-1 victory.

It was almost the complete reverse of yesterday’s fixture with the 5’s taking a 2-0 early lead after starting the brighter. We stayed on top for most of the first half and scored a 3rd – yes – a 3rd to go into half time with a 3-0 lead.

Bring on first half time team talk when we are leading.

Brentwood pushed hard second half and were rewarded with a few short corners but could only pull one back before we kept the lead to 3 with a break away goal converted by Mohad.

Full of thanks today – so here goes;

– thanks to Brentwood for giving us two very competitive but good spirited games of hockey.

– thanks to the whole team for turning out on Sunday at short notice.

– thanks to Paul and Ben for giving us that little bit of extra quality and experience. It did show today and was much appreciated.

– thanks to the youngsters who gave another fine display and again held there own for the whole 70 mins – Kyrill Borzenko, Jack Feather, Samuel Owen and Mohad Irfan.

– thanks to Gary and Steve for umpiring on a Sunday afternoon.

To confirm – We won 4-1

#firstpointsoftheseason – whoohoo!!!

Otters

Steve Hare