Match Reports – Saturday 8th November 2025

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Chelmsford  2 – 5  Old Cranleighans Men’s1st XI

A long trek to Chelmsford ended with three points and an unplanned partnership with Sports Direct. Beersy briefed white on email and blue on WhatsApp, so we arrived looking like a before-and-after shot. One lad swung past the shop, returned with six shirts and socks, and a receipt for £170. Dick of the Day wrapped up before pushback.

On the pitch we were sharp. 6’: 1–0, James Cutter finished a tidy move. 16’: 1–1, Chelmsford levelled. 20’: 2–1, Cutter again, calm and clinical. 29’: 2–2, they punished a loose ball. The key swing came at 33’: penalty corner, rebound dropped to Tom Roberts, his shot was drifting wide until a defender nicked it into his own net. We are crediting Roberts, history can carry the asterisk.

After half time we tightened up, kept the ball a touch longer, and waited for our moments. 54’: 4–2, Will Phillips stole half a yard and rolled it in. 68’: penalty corner, Ali Clift’s flick was heading wide, Phillips got just enough stick on it to send the ball on at an acute angle and inside the post. No fireworks, just perfect timing.

Final score 5–2. Scorers: Cutter 6’, 20’; Roberts 33’ (PC, via defender); Phillips 54’, 68’ (PC, deflection on Clift’s flick). Man of the Match: Will Phillips for two finishes and a full shift. Thanks to Chelmsford for the game and the hospitality.

The train beers home tasted better than the £170 looked. Lesson noted: we will keep confirming details on email and WhatsApp, and everyone brings both kits every week so we never rely on aisle three again. OC 1s move on with points, momentum, and a receipt for the fines jar.

 

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Women’s 1s  4-0  Spencers 3s

A superb 4 – 0 win for OC’s Women’s 1s this weekend — a result that perfectly reflected the team’s high intensity, grit, and fluid link-up play throughout the match. Every player stepped it up a notch, and the reward was four excellent goals and a dominant performance from start to finish.

Goal scorers:

Alex (x2)

Lolly

Easy

A strong attacking display kept the opposition under pressure all game, with some great movement and combination play in the final third. Defensively, OC’s stayed solid and disciplined, shutting down any threats before they could develop. A real team effort — everyone should be proud.

Shout out go to Lolly for introducing the new awards this week — a great addition that brought even more energy (and laughter) to the post-match celebrations.

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Awards

Players of the Match: Lolly and Sam – Awarded jointly for their tenacity, fluidity, and some seriously silky skills all over the pitch.

Donkey of the Day: Lolly – For losing her stick mid-game and not knowing what to do next… followed by accidentally head-butting Sam in the short corner huddle. A true multitasker.

Spirit Stick: Lolly – Some say she only created this award to win it herself  – but credit where it’s due! For introducing the new “spirit awards” and bringing all the good vibes.

Oscar Award: Lauren – For her dramatic “disability bench” moment — an instant classic. When informed of her prestigious honour, she replied: “Good chat from you lot.”

Special mention to Molly Warner for her midweek theatrics — pure performance art.

The team also learned something new this week — “RNT” — though that secret will stay within the squad for now…

Overall, an outstanding team performance full of determination, creativity, and spirit. Bring on the next one, gals! 

Hamstrings  1 – 0  Sunbury & Walton
Pre-match expectations were high — though less about the hockey itself and more about the new drive into TD. Would it prove to be skateboarder heaven or the highway to hell? Sadly, it turned out to be the day’s biggest disappointment, firmly filed under WIP.
To any casual observer — and there were a few bemused KGS students and parents watching on — the pre-match warm-up resembled a sketch from Monty Python’s Ministry of Silly Walks. A troupe of middle-aged men prancing, skipping, and squatting around a ten-metre circle would have made Mr Cleese himself proud.
Then to the match: our familiar frenemies, Sunbury & Walton. With half their side also representing the OC Over-55 Cup team the next day, the instruction was clear — play like gentlemen and enjoy the game. The opening exchanges were more chess than hockey: plenty of midfield manoeuvring and strategic positioning, but few genuine chances at either end.
For once, there was no early goal, but the decisive moment arrived right on the stroke of half-time. Ross and Ado cunningly switched flanks to lose their markers, Si fired a rocket into the D, Ado met it with a deft reverse stick pass, and Mike calmly buried it in the bottom-left corner. One-nil to the Hammies — and the whistle blew.
The second half shifted gears from chess to table tennis, with end-to-end action keeping both sets of supporters on edge. Baz produced some spectacular dives, Mamneet took some enthusiastic swings, and Rich’s shorts nearly sealed the win — but it was the defence that held firm to secure it. In the dying seconds, Si C and then Justin pulled off heroic saves, the latter clearing a goal-bound effort off the line before the team saw out a nervy short corner on the whistle.
A hard-fought and deserved 1–0 win against a competitive side lifts the Hammies to fourth in the table.
Final Score: Hammies 1 – 0 Sunbury & Walton
Goal: Mike Newton
Man of the Match: Justin Crabtree
Dick of the Day: Barry Jones
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Ladies 5s 2 – 2  Wimbledon L7s

Great team effort today, in the first half OC’s had several shots at goal but Wimbledon scored first. Jenny brought us equal in the first half with a straight

 strike. Great play continued into the second half where Hildegard secured another equaliser with a  deflection from a short corner. Strong performances were seen across the field,with Megan earning Player of the Match for her tireless work rate and control in defence.

Written by Lola Cesari

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Puricrans 3 – 1  Indian Gym 

Our second trip of the season to Oaken Lane saw IG as the visitors even though their skipper had given his payers the wrong post code which explained why the skipper was the only opposition on the pitch with 5 minutes to go ahead of the start time.

A scrappy first half saw us dominate but unable to convert more than one chance when a Lee Marnitz through ball was deflected home by Knappy. The other highlight of the first half was the red card given correctly by Jess for some very offensive language directed at her by one of the OG forwards.

We played far better in the second period and went 3 – 0 up via a Lee Marnitz and another for Knappy albeit a host of other chances going begging. One day we will all convert our chances and post a cricket score.

Disappointingly we conceded late on when a poor turn over in the right hand corner saw us caught on the break with a good finish providing a consolation goal for IG.

Many thanks to Jess for umpiring a tricky game very well.

Huge game next week v Reading at TD

MOM Lee Marnitz

Goals Knapp 2 and Lee Marnitz

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Warriors  6 – 2  Old Kingstonians
Things got off to a rocky start when Harry lost the toss, gifting OKs the sun advantage and leaving us squinting like moles for the first half. Both teams kicked off with a solid dose of mediocrity, resulting in a scrappy, evenly matched first 20 minutes. Tensions were high, passes were loose, and the only thing sharper than the tackles were Brendan’s reflexes, his massive left mitt somehow denying OKs a top-corner screamer. Looks like the shot box will be part of the warm up for many weeks to come.
Out of nowhere, OCs remembered how to string more than two passes together. A slick move from left to right ended with Ambrose receiving the ball on the P spot. His shot was expertly parried by the OKs keeper, but Jack was lurking like a hockey ninja and coolly lifted the rebound over the sprawled goalie. 1-0 OCs.
Unfortunately, our joy was short-lived. A rare brain fade from our fearless leader gifted OKs the ball at the top of our D, and they made us pay with a tidy finish. 1-1 at halftime and for the first time this season, we weren’t ahead at the break. Cue the emergency second “On 3, OCs!” chant (always after 3, of course) and a fresh batch of suspiciously tangy sweets.
We came out flying in the second half (what was in those sweets?). OKs were flagging, and we smelled blood. A furious attack led to a short corner. Danny stepped up, full of confidence from last week’s heroics, declaring “I’m hitting this one.” Jack, ever the voice of reason, vetoed it. Good call. Jack danced through defenders like it was Strictly Come Hockey and slotted home our second. 2-1.
Momentum was ours, but OKs weren’t done yet. A solid interception deep into their half meant they could catch us napping, equalising with a well-worked goal. Fair play to them although we’ll be doing some defensive drills next week.
Unfazed, OCs hit back. Harry returned from his breather, slotted a delicious pass to Josh who tore down the line and found Danny in the D. Right place, right time, and Danny made no mistake. 3-2.
Then came the brotherly telepathy. Harry somehow reading exactly where Jack would be giving acres of space down the left hand side. Jack took his time and found Chris (King) in the D. Chris smoothly turned and produced a thunderous finish. 4-2, the floodgates open. Moments later, a similar move and the ball finds it way to Tomahawk-McKay, who unleashed a rocket into the top corner. 5-2.
With OKs now running on fumes, we kept the pressure on. Jack, clearly not done yet, intercepted a lazy pass across the D, got strong side, and slipped it under the keeper for the final goal of the game. A Warrior-like cry for yet another hat-trick. 6-2.
A gritty, determined performance from the OCs, with standout shifts from Ambrose and Freddie bossing the midfield. That’s 7 wins from 7, and a frankly ridiculous +30 goal difference. At this point, we’re not asking if we’ll win the league, we’re asking when.
MOM – Jack Walker
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Women’s 3s  1 – 3  Teddington HC 

Last game of the day at OC’s and wanting to continue as the 2’s finished with a flurry of goals, we did start with a much improved energy level as compared
to the previous weeks game. We still allowed the oppo to dominate much of the first half, having to defend a number of short corners. Finally their persistence paid off

with a goal. By half time it was 2-0 but with help on the bench and a good team talk we played a much better second half, keeping better possession of the ball and making more accurate and stronger passes we were able to make Teddington work much harder at defending their D, that is until Freya sprinted down the right and blasted the ball for a stunning goal, even the oppo were congratulating her. Having renewed belief that we could get another we pushed up but Teddington managed a break and worked the ball well to score a third goal and with little time left it finished a disappointing 1 – 3.

As always a huge thank you to Gus and Miggs for umpiring, especially as
Miggs was only asked that morning.