W2 Lose 2-1 At Home To Sevenoaks
By Colin Pike
In ancient times, around 15 BC (Before Colin), with television in its infancy and the internet and streaming not due to exist until a long time in the future, there was a film serial based on the character of Captain America.
Film serials were particularly popular as an element of Saturday Morning Pictures when kids could go to the cinema and eat sweets and drink pop while watching the features which were scheduled for that week.
Serials usually consisted of 12 or 15 weekly chapters, each ending in a cliffhanger, encouraging the kids to return the following week to see how the hero or heroine escaped. Sometimes the escape was logical, other times there was downright cheating as the footage shown the week before was changed to allow the main character to survive.
The first chapter of the Captain America serial was called "The Purple Death" and sadly, the Women's 2s hopes of retaining the Division One South title were effectively killed off by Sevenoaks' first team, who played in a purple kit.
It was also the third and final match in my temporary posting to the Women's 2s as their Press Officer and having started with a win at Slough; drawn at home to Wimbledon 2s and now lost at home to Sevenoaks. I don't think the team will consider that I'm a good luck charm!
Having walked to the club on a thankfully milder and drier day after the recent cold spell, on my way towards the pitch, Captain Lilie sprinted past me and said "Hello". I was very impressed, because she was still behind me when she realised who I was!
As the hut used for streaming commentaries was empty, I decided to watch the game from there. For those people wondering why I'm not directly involved with the commentaries, I have to admit that I failed the audition, because I described a perfectly executed penalty corner routine by the Women's 1s, only to find out that the team were still warming up and the game hadn't started.
During the Women's 2s warm-up, I was slightly concerned that Jemma was continually kicking a hockey ball ferociously against her backboard. Had she finally read my Slough match report and my description of her penalty stroke save, in which I ever so slightly exaggerated her reaction time?
Sevenoaks had relegation concerns, starting the day in eighth place, just three points ahead of ninth-placed Slough. The first quarter was goalless, but only because Jemma made important saves and Sevenoaks contrived to blast the ball over the bar when in an excellent position to score. Cecily dribbled the ball through the visiting defence only to be thwarted by an interception and clearance and the Women's 2s' timing needed to be calibrated after a 1-2 move between Issy Y and Emma ended up over the sideline and a later pass from Emma eluded Josie H.
The second quarter was notable because after one of the Sevenoaks attackers ran towards the Surbiton defence to win a penalty corner, from which the shot went narrowly past the left post, the Women's 2s thought that if Sevenoaks could have a PC, then they should have one as well, so promptly went up the other end of the pitch to win a PC of their own, only for the shot to be blocked.
It was early in the third quarter that I suspected that Monica had musical interests and was learning to play the mouth organ, because I'm sure someone referred to "our Monica". Shortly afterwards, a Sevenoaks defender learned that you messed with Josie H at your peril after Josie shook her off and the defender fell to the ground.
Disaster struck in the 41st minute as for the third time this year, the Women's 2s conceded the first goal of the match (don't say that I'm not consistent!). A long pass down the right into the Surbiton 23 was gathered before the ball was crossed into the circle and met perfectly, the ball ending up in the roof of the net. As at Slough, Jemma needed a bit of attention after the goal was scored, but recovered.
In contrast, Sevenoaks' second goal, six minutes later came from an attacking move down the left. The move started in Sevenoaks' 23, a deft spinning movement to avoid a Surbiton defender followed by a passing movement, culminating in a Sevenoaks attacker running into the Surbiton 23 and then into the circle before finishing from an acute angle.
The Women's 2s had suddenly become damsels in distress. Could they escape from a defeat in the final chapter (quarter)? Katie made an excellent run to win a free hit, Jemma made a great glove save and with four minutes remaining, Tilly pulled a goal back with a superb strike into the top right corner.
The ball was rushed back to the centre line for the restart, but Sevenoaks used traditional time wasting possession tactics to run the clock down and went to Kent with all three points thanks to their 2-1 victory, to extend their advantage over Slough to six points.
Surbiton trail leaders Barnes by seven points with five games remaining and are in fourth place. Barnes are on 28 points after a 3-1 home win over Slough, Exeter University are a point behind after they won 3-1 at third-placed Guildford, who stay on 22 points with Surbiton on 21.
Surbiton now face a must win game at Exeter University next Saturday (push back 1330), and host Barnes and visit Guildford in the last two matches of the season.
The stream of the match versus Sevenoaks can be watched back here.