Women’s 1s 2 – 4 London Academicals
Date: Saturday 4th October
Time: 13:00
Location: Old Cranleighan Hockey Club
Despite a spirited performance, the OCs Ladies 1s fell to a 2–4 defeat against London
Academicals in a lively Saturday afternoon clash.
The first half saw plenty of action—and a bit of drama—with three green cards handed out to
the visiting side and two goals scored by the home team. Alex Richardson was the first on
the scorecard, stepping up to take a penalty stroke (awarded from the efforts of Saskia
Strong) and sending it into the back of the net. OC’s second goal was rebounded past the
keeper’s pads by Serena Owen. Putting OCs in the lead at the end of the first half. London
Academicals reset at half time, capitalising on their chances and edged ahead in the second
half.
Emma Davis was a standout throughout the match, earning a well-deserved Player of the
Match title for her great defensive cover and great ball distribution. Plenty of positives to take
forward, and with a bit more discipline and finishing finesse, the next match is looking promising!
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Spencer 2–1 Old Cranleighans Men’s 1s
England Men’s Conference East – 4th October, Spencer Hockey Club
Old Cranleighans suffered a narrow 2–1 defeat away to Spencer in a fiercely contested England Men’s Conference East fixture on Saturday.
The visitors started brightly, dominating the opening stages with sustained pressure and several early chances. Old Cranleighans’ high tempo and quick ball movement unsettled the hosts, but despite creating multiple openings in the first 12 minutes, they were unable to find the breakthrough their play deserved.
Spencer gradually settled into the game and began to threaten on the counterattack. Their patience paid off just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty stroke, which Kirk Shimmins confidently converted in the 34th minute to give the home side the lead.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Old Cranleighans pressing for an equaliser while Spencer looked dangerous on the break. Midway through the half, Spencer doubled their advantage as Seb Shaw fired home from a well-executed penalty corner in the 55th minute.
Old Cranleighans refused to give up and continued to push forward. Their persistence was finally rewarded when James Cutter converted a penalty stroke in the 69th minute to set up a tense finale. The visitors thought they had levelled the scores moments later, but what appeared to be an equaliser was controversially disallowed by the umpire — the reasons still unclear.
Despite their efforts, Old Cranleighans were left frustrated as Spencer held on for the 2–1 win. It was a battling display from the team, who will take plenty of positives from their performance and look to bounce back in their next outing.
Indian Gymkhana Tigers 0-3 OC Hamstrings
“The captains walked to the pitch for the coin toss. Just as the match was about to begin, the landlord, accompanied by seven strong men, rushed onto the field and declared, “No money, no play.” …. Tempers flared as the landlord ordered his men to force the cricketers off the pitch. The match was over before it had even begun, and the players, along with their celebrity guests, left feeling humiliated.
This incident sparked a strong reaction from the Indian High Commission and the Indian community…. With the backing of [various] powerful and wealthy figures, the Indian Gymkhana Club secured a permanent home at Osterley, where it still stands today.” (From the Indian Gym website).
This was 1920 and the birth of Indian Gymkhana. Today 105 years later tempers continue to flare… 
A bright and breezy afternoon and a 4pm push back with the prospect of the League’s finest teas for the participants. Indian Gym would be no pushover – a team that had dropped from the Premier League above us and doubtless would have several very skilful players. We would not be disappointed. The first 25 minutes we played some excellent hockey stretching the match across the entire surface and creating several good chances until new boy Adrian got on the end of a Grant cross to put us in the lead and we were 1-0 up.
There then followed some kind of implosion as we allowed various incidents and decisions to get the better of us and it started to look like we may throw the game away simply from our own poor self-discipline. Captain Eastie, doing his best impression of Martin Johnson, was quickly on the scene of each issue and offering a calm perspective to the Umpires.
Remarkably we held the line due to some excellent defending from the boys at the back and new goalie Simon and we kept Indian Gym at bay. How they managed to keep the ball out is one of those wonders.
Instead it was Manmeet, like a batsman with his luck in, edged a another Grant cross through the slips beating their keeper to put us two up and we now had a cushion. Would Indian Gym come back? Again no. Our defence held and no wonder that the MOM nominations were for the defenders. To then add insult to injury Grant finished them off with an exocet missile of a shot which was so quick that the goalie must have confused it for a passing comet and the game was all but over 3-0.
We then enjoyed some fine hospitality and a wonderful curry in the clubhouse. “It will be just 10 minutes” now has a new meaning.
Man of the match – Simon Duncan.
Golden Glove – Simon Cooney
Goal scorers – Adrian Grant, Manmeet Poonia and Grant Dormer
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We started brightly, moving the ball well and putting the Sirens under real pressure. The breakthrough camewhen Liz finished neatly after a lovely assist from Jess, giving us a well-deserved lead.
Surbiton hit back with a brilliant goal from a short corner, and as our defence struggled to settle, they managed to sneak in another.
After the break, we came out firing. OC dominated possession and created plenty of chances, but the Sirens’ keeper was in inspired form, pulling off save after save to keep us out. We did get the ball in the back of the net again late on — but frustratingly, the whistle had already gone for a short, and it didn’t count.
It wasn’t the result we wanted, but there was loads to be proud of: confident attacking play, great teamwork, and real fight right to the end. Thanks so much to Gabby for support and wise words from the sideline.
We started brightly and went ahead from a penalty corner, with CB drag-flicking low into the bottom corner, deflected in well by Gerry.Epsom equalised against the run of play bundling in a field goal, but Tongy restored the lead with a well-taken PC hit from the top of the D. 2–1 OCs at half time.Then came the Dazzler double feature. First, a mystifying penalty flick was awarded after his glove save off the line. Sadly, no VAR in South Masters Men’s O50 Premier! Moments later, another penalty flick awarded — this time fair — after a genuine goal-line stop Allison would have been proud of. 2–3.OCs pushed back hard and, fittingly, it was MoM Gerry who equalised to make it 3–3.
A fair result in the end. Fortress TD remains… mostly intact.
Puricrans 4 – 3 Hampstead & Westminster
Our first visit to the newly laid Oaken Lane pitch was a real bonus after the last few years of the old pitch. The game lived up to the new surroundings with our eventually running out 4 – 3 winners having hasd our backs to the wall for long periods.
Although we should have been well ahead at half time we were 1-0 down as the H & W player of the match scored the first of his 3 quality solo goals. Shortly after the break we went 2 down and then woke up. 3 goals from Andy Macleod and one from Knappy saw us sneak home by the odd goal in 7.
Thanks to Ian K for stepping in as our goalkeeper ensuring that we nailed the win.
Bogey side Amersham on the 11th with our once again in the hunt for a goalie.
Player of the match Ian Kerridge
Goals Macleod 3 and Knapp.
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Women’s 4s 4 – 4 Barnes 5s
We came out firing this week in what proved to be a thrilling end-to-end
encounter against Barnes Ladies 5s!
Making a dream start, we took control early on racing to a 2-0 lead within the
first 15 minutes. The opener came from Amy, perfectly placed on the post to
tap home, before Poppy doubled the lead with a superb deflection from a
short corner!
However, an unfortunate injury mid-game left us down to 12 players, and
Barnes seized their opportunity. They found their rhythm on the
counterattack, scoring twice before half time to make it 2–2.
After a spirited and motivational team talk, we came out determined to regain
control. Despite our best efforts, Barnes struck again to edge in front 3–2. But
our resilience shone through and it paid off when Amy bagged her second of
the day in the 60th minute, levelling the game once more.
Just as we looked to have the momentum, Barnes snatched back the lead to
make it 4–3. With only minutes left on the clock, we refused to give up. Our
persistence earned a short corner in the last few minutes the final chance to
salvage a result.
And what a finish it was! In a nail-biting finale, Manny slotted home a fabulous
goal, assisted by Ella, in the last minute of the match to secure a dramatic 4–4
draw.
It was a match full of determination and passion, and fittingly, poppy was
named player of the match for her outstanding performance and goal that set
the tone. Everyone played superb and we’ve come out with a hard-fought
point, bring on next week!!!
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OC Warriors 4 – 1 Barnes Accidentals
The OC Warriors marched onto the pitch like a team that had read the script, underlined the best bits, and then added a few exclamation marks for flair. The opening whistle hadn’t even cooled down before the right-hand flank turned into a runway for Freddie and Josh, who linked up so fluently you’d think they shared a telepathic Wi-Fi connection.
New recruits Max R and Tom W decided their Warriors debuts were the perfect time to show they’d read the manual too, combining well to help the team surge forward. The result? A first half so commanding that Barnes might as well have been spectators.
Up front, the dynamic duo of Dan and Jack were busy putting on a masterclass in finishing, bagging three goals between them with the kind of precision that would make a Swiss watch blush. Jack also calmly set up James to slot home and suddenly it was 4-0, and the Warriors looked ready to file this one under routine demolition.
But just as Ollie T—another debutant between the posts—was polishing off a first-half clean sheet, Barnes decided to get involved. Ollie made a fine initial save, only for a Barnes forward to thwack one in from just outside the D (yes, outside), cutting the deficit to 4-1 at the break. A small consolation for the Accidentals, who otherwise seemed to be living up to their name.
The second half, however, was less “Warrior poetry” and more “Warrior chaos.” Structure wobbled, passes wandered, and chances were missed like buses on a rainy Monday.
Still, the OCs held firm. Defensive grit and attacking persistence saw them safely through to a convincing 4–1 win, topping the league after three games. A solid day’s work from this new look team looking upwards after a busy transfer window.
The Warriors march on, three wins from three games, thirteen goals scored, three conceded, and a clear message sent to the rest of the league even at this stage of the season….!
Mom – Lewis Choi (Match Report Author)
Goals – Jack Walker
Dan Cross x 2
James Hudson
After a disappointing result last time out, the L3s were determined that the blustery weather wouldn’t get in the way of securing three points against London Edwardians on Saturday.
OCs started the game well and controlled most of the possession in the opening 15 minutes, albeit without breaking the deadlock. That was until Jaqs’ great strike from the edge of the D was enough to beat their keeper (with the help of a *tiny* deflection) and OCs were one up!
They say good things come to those who wait and a few minutes later Jaqs was there once more to hit it home when the keeper failed to clear from Freya’s effort. 2-1!
After a compelling half time team talk – and having decided to rebrand champagne hockey as “shandy hockey” – OCs were back out for the second half. 
But it was the oppo who started stronger, unfortunately scoring just two minutes into the second period.
The 3s kept their heads high though, maintaining the pressure on London Edwardians and moving the ball well. And thanks to some excellent defensive efforts, OCs nullified Edwardians dangerous counter attacks to maintain their one goal advantage.
Now, we’ll never know what it was that had upset Jo that morning, but what we do now know is that apparently you can hit the ball much harder when you’re a bit annoyed.
After the Edwardians keeper saved her first effort from a short corner, Jo was there to collect the rebound and wallop it home to make it 3-1!
It wouldn’t be a 3s game without a bit of late drama, and with about ten minutes to go, the umpire deemed that Helen had prevented a goal-scoring opportunity by diving headfirst in front of the ball in the D and awarded the oppo a flick.
But a magnificent save from our keeper kept the score at 3-1 and OCs were able to see the game out and secure the three points!
Freya was awarded player of the match for her excellent and tireless work up front, with Issy and Holly also receiving multiple nominations.