CLUB DAY

Club Day Sat 17th - a chance for the club to come together, have fun and play some hockey! - Ladies Game 13:30 at Newlands, Mens game at 15:00 at Newlands - open to anyone in the club to play. We have quite a few players already but plenty of spaces left for people. If you want to play text/call/email me 07971 682218 emma.hewitt@hotmail.com or Justin on justin.bootland@bcuc.ac.uk or on 07968 418060. If you want to play you have to wear tinsel/santa hat or something Christmassy! Meet time is 12:45 for ladies and 14:15 for men at Newlands and everyone needs to bring both blue kit and white kit. There aren't teas after but food will be available to buy at the club house - so reduced match fees of £6/£4.

TRAINING

Training has finished for the year and will begin again early January - please watch future newsletters for details.

Thank you to the following that umpired for us last weekend:

Guy Ross (M2), Sam Machin (M3), Mike Snell (M4), Kate Campbell (M5), Dave Emery (MV), Paul Dunning (L2), Adam Laubser (L3), Peter Colwill (L4), Alastair Wertheim (L5) and Paul Haythornthwaite (GU15).

Also, a big thank you to Beanie who spotted that this section was missing from last weeks edition. Here are the umpires that deserved the credit:

TESCOS VOUCHERS

We have 3700 at the moment! I need people to get them to me by next Saturday (Club Day 17th) so that I can sort out the order before Christmas.

Team: Marsden; Galpin; Brothwell, Parker, Ferguson; Shaw, Ruxton, Coates; Cartledge, Patterson, Durkin; Sub. Lloyd, Watson.

Second place took on third in the Trysports Three Counties top division, as A&C battled out a hard-fought goalless draw with Bracknell on Saturday.

The first half was very even and both sides had their chances. Helen Marsden was the first of the two keepers to be tested before, at the other end, Caroline Coates showed a super piece of skill to create an opening and quick shot which was expertly saved. Marsden then produced another couple of smart saves including a diving stop.

Good movement ahead of the ball by the A&C forwards meant that the Bracknell defence always had to be alert and Helen Lloyd had a snap shot deflected over the bar.

The second half started like the first with Marsden being forced to make another couple of saves. The tempo of the game increased and A&C pushed Bracknell back more and more but in the face of some strong tackling struggled to create many clear openings. One of the best was Erin Ruxton's fierce strike from a penalty corner which whistled just past the post.

Bracknell looked dangerous on the break but Sarah Galpin put in an impressive performance at sweeper to help repel these attacks with her fellow defenders.

A&C kept going forward as they went in search of the winner and in the last minute Catherine Watson nearly found it as her quick strike in the area hit the post and flew to safety.

A&C 5's had a fairly strong team to play a Bicester side that had only won one game this season. We got off to a good start, moving the ball swiftly and using the width of the pitch to good effect. Thomas Boettcher put Bhavik through and he slotted the ball into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0. It was two shortly after when Daryl struck a powerful shot, leaving the keeper with no chance. Mark Webster, coming in from the left drew two good saves from the keeper, before Bhavik knocked in the rebound to make it 3-0. Colin then got on the score sheet twice in quick succession, both goals coming from his classic reverse stick shot from short corners. John Spicer made an excellent run from right back and when left with a three on one situation he calmly picked his spot, giving A&C a 6-0 lead at half time.

In the second half Thomas powerfully struck a shot from the top left of the D following good work from James Ball. Dave Howells was provider for the eighth goal, putting in a dream of a cross for Bhavik to tap in. It was 9-0 soon after when Bhavik struck a low shot from the top of the D which went through the keeper's legs. We reached double figures when Avtar Singh showed tremendous strength to beat two men and cross for Bhavik, who calmly finished sealing his fifth goal. Dave Peters rounded off the scoring with another superb run and finish from the right, making it 11-0 to A&C. This was an extremely good performance from us with solid performances from all players. We were rarely troubled at the back due to fine work from Butch, Colin and Bob. It could have been more than eleven though, Bhavik, James Ball and Dave Howells all missing decent chances as well as several outstanding saves from their keeper, but we can't really complain. We hope to continue this good run of form against Aylesbury this weekend.

Diary of a Donkey

Team: Andy F (GK), Simon (RB), Jamie (CB), Daryll (Sweeper), Wardy (LB), Jacko (RM), Woolfy (CM), Captain Davey (LM), Richard (CM), Martin (CF) aka Mr Crouch, Warren (CF), Andy C (M), Alan C (F) aka Mr Manicure

A&C got the perfect start when they took the lead after just 2 minutes, from a short corner slip to "our top goal scorer" Martin on the left, who lobbed their GK. 1-0 A&C. He is our own Peter Crouch.

First 5 minutes in they were attacking close to our "D" I called to intercept it and then decided to leave it for Jacko, - but he wasn't ready - he decided to leave it for me! The Marlow CF got it instead! Luckily for me nothing came of it - apart from getting stick from my stepfather! - he even voted for me to get donkey :-(

Soon after, with some good attacking play down the right hand side - mainly by yours truly, owner of the 'donkey' this week - with some good passing between Jacko and myself, I played a superb early ball to Martin I mean Peter Crouch at the top of the 'D' who scored an absolutely superb goal - the crowd went wild I could hear them shouting my name!! - I then realised it was Andy calling my name - telling me to concentrate and get back into position! 2-0 A&C.

We had some more chances to go further ahead, when right in front of the umpire's eyes, the last Marlow defender kicked the ball, which was heading goal bound! That is a reason for getting 'donkey'! the umpire waved play on - he could have got 'donkey' as well - but the donkey didn't feel he had the time to accompany him to Specs Savers! Not long after this decision Marlow broke away, earned themselves a short corner and scored!

Blast pressure on 2-1 A&C.

As we have the best defensive record in the league 'donkey' and the rest of the defence including our superb GK (there we go step-dad I told you I would give you a mention) were confident Marlow would not win.

Then soon after, with some good attacking play we scored our second short corner goal from our captain Davey who got the rebound. Bearing in mind before the game people were saying that we haven't scored many goals from this year's short corner routines. So far in this match it's 2 in 2. 3-1 A&C

I felt we out played Marlow in the first half. We had a couple more short corners before the end of the first half but didn't capitalise on them, I smashed a half volley over the bar from a rebound (I got a couple of votes for doing this). But wait a minute, Warren did the same at the next short corner, he didn't get a vote for 'donkey?'. Half time whistle went. Everyone sat down and the first thing spoken - by Alan C - "sh*t, I've broken my nail" - spoken like a real poof! This should surely have been a trip to the Nail Bar accompanied by DONKEY - but then would the match report have been as truthful as this?

Second half

The start of the second half saw Marlow attack a lot more than they did in the first half. But they were not getting through our defence today. Donkey and the rest of the defence made sure of that. The sun was directly in our eyes this half so it was quite difficult to see the ball at times but we managed to put our bodies in the way of the ball and attackers. I also got some votes for being elbowed in the side of my face but everybody else thought it was my ear (where my lovely earring is situated).

So much for not letting them through our defence - Mid way in the second half Marlow got a lucky short corner - which they scored from - although Daryll blocked it at the top, a Marlow player managed to get a 'shot' in albeit a miss-hit it - it flew out to the right hand side where another Marlow player tapped it in.

3-2 A&C

Shortly after the restart Martin scored his third goal of the game. Well-done hat trick hero, "Mr Crouch". 4-2 A&C.

This local derby match was full of crunching tackles, donkey got totally stuck in along with the rest of the squad, great passing - especially from donkey, good interlinking from the midfield, great runs from the forwards with some superb goals and finally solid defending as always A&C won 4-2, great performance lads!

MOM: Martin Peter Crouch

Author: Simon Archer - awarded 'Donkey' - although having spoken at length to donkey he felt he should not be spending Christmas at our house - he is very happy to do so as he has found out he is going skiing to Bulgaria! Donkey really felt he should be in the household of Mr Alan C - Mr Manicure himself - if it hadn't been for the umpires who had to make the final decision - they even got that one wrong!