Despite exaggerated and allegedly premature stories of promotion, Chalfont laughed in the face of embarrassment and kicked rumours of "bottling it" in the nether regions by registering an emphatic victory in their final League match of this lengthy campaign. Smarting from the 2-2 draw with ETESSA last week, and looking to teach Birkbeck a lesson or two in the finer arts of tactical acumen, Saints slapped themselves in the chops by allowing Birkbeck to totally dominate the first ten minutes. Ash was unlucky not to score with a rumbustuous piledriver of a shot which left Maccoll floundering and probably a dent 5 feet up the post. They soon made amends with a polished short corner routine.
Not a team to give away goals lightly, Chalfont stepped up a gear and from Giles Payne's 16, Martin Cartledge latched on to the ball and sprinted fully fifty yards, dinked it through the defender's legs and slotted it the ball into the bottom corner to equalise the scores. Goal of the season? Up until now, maybe ... read on.
After half time, captain Neil Turner selflessly rolled himself off for the experienced Peacock, and Drew's first pass found Meredith casually sprinting down the wing and having passed one defender and drawn another, said Northerner slipped a lovely ball into the D for Wooler. Fortunately, Wooler's weak shot bounced off the 'keeper's toes and straight to the prolific Cartledge who dispatched it into the goal. Champagne hockey, and had Wooler roofed it, it could have been the Team Goal of the Season.
It was about now that the home team thought that enough was enough and moved into third gear. Searing runs down the left and right found the Birkbeck boys under considerable pressure, and it it was only a matter of time before another goal was forthcoming. Peacock, advancing up the pitch at a relatively fast pace found Paul Meredith yards ahead of his marker and so generously passed to him. Advancing into the D at speed, passing was the easy option. However, Chalfont were 2-1 up and clearly not about to relinquish the match. With a defender blocking the cross, the best option was to shoot. The keeper was on his near post, awaiting the cross shot and Meredith did indeed shoot. 
This was the sort of shot that midfielders dream of and that forwards attempt in vain during practices. Catching the ball perfectly, it flew off his stick with impossible (and improbable) speed and precision, striking the near post at head height and zipping across the goal behind the 'keeper and hitting the far side-netting a matter of inches inside the post. Meredith, being a midfielder and not accustomed to being in the opposition's D, let alone shooting and scoring, didn't have clue how to celebrate and merely put his hands up in the air. Still, the crowd of four were impressed.
That goal set Chalfont alight and they lay siege to the Birkbeck goal, with opportunities aplenty. Birkbeck became increasingly frustrated by this approach and their discipline began to go walkabout. In one particularly nasty incident, Meredith's stick was hit nearly twenty yards out of his grasp by a Birkbeck stick tackle. If that wasn't bad enough, during the ensuing discussions about the merit of the "tackle", Adrian Halliday's manhood was rather rudely and deliberately rearranged by the end of a Birkbeck stick. Not surprisingly, he was incensed by this and inquired of the offender's reasons behind the intrusion using hand signals. Unfortunately, the animated gestures came into contact with the offender's chest and Halliday was told to have an early bath. The Birkbeck fondler was lucky to be alive and to stay on the pitch, because had the umpires seen the incident which precipitated the whole thing, there could well have been a bit of red-card paperwork to do. Bad luck, Adrian - you were hard done by.
Eventually, the match resumed and Chalfont continued to dominate. Wooler finished off the proceedings by latching on to Turner's cross and mis-hitting a shot which bounced three times before somehow going past the keeper. Payne also came close with two PC strikes. The first was saved by an amazing stretch by the keeper and the second by a brilliant stop on the line by the Birkbeck skipper.
A good, solid win and a nice way for old man Chris Blamey to end his last full League season with Chalfont. After 62 years, he retires from top flight hockey to do some work on a Saturday instead. The growl of your TVR will be missed. 

Team: Maccoll, Blamey, Dunford, Payne, Byrne, Meredith, Peacock, Turner, Wooler, Cartledge, Watts. Subs: Heath, Halliday

Champagne Moment: There can be only one (league goal a season for Paul Meredith). Yes, the spectacular strike certainly raised a few suspicions (like why doesn't he do it more often? and annoyed the hell out of Martin Cartledge because his own Michael Owen-style goal was actually quite good, too. The bubbly is Paul's, however, because if you're only going to score one a year, it might as well be a bloody good one.

PS Can you tell that Paul Meredith wrote all of the above? (and the below - Andy)

For all you cultured types out there, I've done a slightly abridged but strangely suitable rewording of Neil's pre-match team talk (apologies to Will):

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our Chalfont dead. In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Let pry through the portage of the head Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base, Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean. Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide, Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit To his full height. On, on, you noblest Chalfont men. Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof! Fathers that, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts from morn till even fought And sheathed their swords for lack of argument: Dishonour not your mothers; now attest That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. Be copy now to men of grosser blood, And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture; let us swear That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, That hath not noble lustre in your eyes. I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot: Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry 'God for Harry, Chalfont, England, and Saint George!' " How could the match live up to such a billing? 

To begin with, ETESSA did not do us any favours by unusually turning out with a full side of players, and Chalfont were a little shell shocked by that, conceding an early goal with a swept shot past MacColl. Chalfont, to their credit, fought back well and gained the leveler when Chris Blamey and Andy Watts combined for James Heath to score. The second half started at a furious pace with the result important to both teams: for Chalfont, a win or draw would mean promotion; for ETESSA a win would mean a welcome turnaround of their 7-1 defeat at the hands of Chalfont earlier in the season. Saints went ahead when Martin Cartledge tipped Giles Payne's precise free hit past the 'keeper. However, ETESSA did not let up and with ten minutes to go, they leveled from a short corner, and Saints became edgy. Their opponents capitalised on this, winning several short corners and even a penalty flick two minutes from time, when Peacock was controversially adjudged to have hacked an attacker. Fortunately for Chalfont and their promotion hopes, the flick was one of the worst ever taken. Had it gone further than about a yard, it may have hit the corner flag. Another short corner was conceded for the buzz just as the final whistle went, but it was kept out and CHALFONT ARE PROMOTED!!!!! 

Team: Maccoll, Blamey, Peacock, Wooler, Payne, Dunford, Meredith, Turner, Heath, Watts, Cartledge Subs: Halliday, Wilson 

Champagne Moment: Once again, not a tricky one for the judges, but there were the usual suspects on the shortlist. James Heath could have got it when he accidentally stood on the ball in order thwart an ETESSA attack. His moaning, groaning and writhing on the floor were not enough to prevent him being yellow carded. Giles Payne could have got it when he wondered (very loudly) whether the umpires would consider reversing their penalty flick decision. I think he used the words "Disk grace" and "Foo King" to describe their umpiring abilities (might have heard that slightly wrongly, though). He got a yellow as well and had to stand in a corner like all naughty boys should. In a break from tradition, the runaway winner of the bubbly came from the opposition. No, not the mazy running number 6, nor the tireless number 11. This week's champagne goes to Johnny 5 whose composure under pressure was so evidently lacking when it came to the important, late penalty flick. Remarkably, he even had the grace (or lack of embarrassment) to give us a four minute thank-you speech when he received it. Hard competitors on the pitch and top chaps off it, we salute you, one and all. Best of luck next year, chaps - and practice those flicks.

Chalfont continued their march towards promotion (can't let the girls have it all their own way, can we?) on Saturday with yet another win, this time against Ramgarhia Slough. Playing the game on a pitch with less grip than a particularly slippery banana skin, it soon became evident that Chalfont were going to struggle to play their usual style of champagne hockey. However, in spite of this, they managed to pull off a hard worked victory.

Cartledge opened the scoring for Chalfont early in the game to settle their nerves, placing a well drilled shot low to the 'keeper's left.  hen Giles Payne scored a goal with a rasping short corner shot, ETESSA somehow not realising that the primary striker at the short corner might actually strike the ball. Watts finished the game off (or so we thought at the time) with a cross-keeper shot from wide on the right, which just missed the side netting. However, the importance of the game then seemed to dawn on Chalfont and they began to panic a bit. Numerous short corners were given away (one of which was scored from) and with precious few minutes left on the clock, the goalkeeper Doug Maccoll illegally swatted away a flicked shot and gave away a penalty flick. Perhaps he was bored from the lack of activity, perhaps he was just testing our nerves - whatever the reason, he did manage to save it quite spectacularly and that was the way the game ended.

Team: Maccoll, Meredith, Blamey, Dunford, Byrne, Watts, Cartledge, Turner, Payne, Heath, Peacock, Wooler. Subs: Wilson

Champagne Moment: As far as I can remember, the only worthy candidate this week was Doug Maccoll. His precocious swat of the ball to give away a penalty flick in the most tense part of the game was enough to turn Neil's normally orange barnet a rather more greyer hue. Thankfully, he saved it and Neil's locks returned to their normal, garish, ginger hirsuteness.

Chalfont men's hockey 1st XI enjoyed a very productive day, beating promotion rivals Reading Eagles on Saturday. Saints came under a lot of early pressure, but in one of their more impressive performances of the season, the defence prevented Reading from testing 'keeper Maccoll to any real extent. Chalfont got more into the game, beginning to dominate the middle of the pitch, and they had Reading on the back foot as Martin Cartledge and Andy Watts forced penalty corners, but the goal would just not come. Both sides redoubled their efforts after a goalless first half and finally Saints broke through with 10 minutes left. John Spicer's free hit from just outside the D found Watts who swept the ball cleanly into the net. Reading continued to press, forcing several short corners, but Chalfont held firm to take the spoils.

Team: Maccoll, Dunford, Turner, Byrne, Blamey, Peacock, Payne, Meredith, Heath, Cartledge, Watts Subs: Wilson, Halliday, Spicer

Champagne Moment: Everyone played supremely well. The only blip in an otherwise splendid team performance came from Neil Turner, who broke an amazing run of 43 consecutive losses of the pre-match toss. Thus, the "champagne" is his. 

Chalfont continued their weekend of success with a comfortable win over Creightonians on Sunday. Saints played impressively well in the first half and could have led by four or five at half time. However, dogged defending and an unwillingness to attack by Creightonians meant that somehow it was goalless at half time. Three minutes after the break, Saints finally broke through with a powerful Giles Payne short corner strike. Creightonians then began to panic and indiscipline forced the umpires to sin bin three of their players at the same time for elbowing, stick tackling and verbal umpire abuse. Chalfont took full advantage of this and scored a further two goals: another short corner strike from Payne and a neat mopping-up flick from James Heath.

Team: Maccoll, Wooler, Turner, Byrne, Blamey, Peacock, Payne, Meredith, Halliday, Cartledge, Watts Subs: Wilson, Heath

Champagne Moment: This was a match in which most of the team could have received the champagne. James Heath's first touch of the game earned him a yellow card. Adrian Halliday saw red and got a yellow. Amongst the five yellows and one green card, Giles Payne did not any of them, despite the umpires being Andy Pearce and Simon Seabrook. Paul Meredith had about three minutes of top D possession but failed to get a shot off. Doug Maccoll (keeper) began doing warm down exercises half way through the second half, half way up the pitch. Chris Blamey had an amazing sweep miss at a short corner. Andrew Watts was beaten for pace to a 50:50 ball by a 68 year old, and then feigning being fouled by said pensioner before kneeing the nearest goal post and taking himself out the game for 15 minutes. Neil Turner (for the second time in the weekend) was the worthy winner, though. His stick tackle in the first ten minutes would have broken any stick that was not kevlar reinforced and set the umpiring tone for the rest of the match. Six cards, Neil, and all your fault. Enjoy the bubbly!

Chalfont slipped up in a friendly match against Leatherhead on Saturday, although they did began the game well, working the ball quickly around the pitch and creating a number of chances. With less than ten minutes on the clock, Saints won a penalty corner and from within the confused masses of defenders, Meredith managed to slip the ball to Watts who flicked it into the net. However, Chalfont became a touch complacent and allowed Leatherhead to gradually creep into the game. Midway through the half, the home team won a penalty corner of their own and fired off a well-placed shot past the unsighted MacColl to level the scores. Chalfont thought they had scored again just before the break, Giles Payne rifling the ball into the backboard at a short corner, but the "goal" was controversially disallowed on a technicality. Payne's yellow card, due to a particularly vivid euphemism for directionally impaired intercourse which the umpire overheard, resulted in a lengthy stay in the sin bin. With the yellow card, Chalfont were a man down for ten minutes either side of half time, and Leatherhead took full advantage of this. Soon after the break, the home team scored again on the break as they found a man free in the Chalfont D.  The second half was a more tense affair, characterised by end to end attacking, and a number of short corners went begging at both ends. However, Chalfont continued to attack and a textbook attack from Watts and Meredith found the latter unmarked at the top of the D. Watts' pass was inch perfect, Meredith's first touch was good and this gave him just enough time to place his shot just out of the 'keeper's reach and just inside the post to level the scores. Leatherhead refused to give up though, and with less than ten minutes remaining, they scored what turned out to be the final goal of an entertaining match. 

Although they lost, Chalfont can rest assured that next week will be an altogether more serious affair. They play Reading Eagles at Cressex at 10.30 on Saturday in a match which could well decide which of the teams is promoted.

Team: MacColl, Dunford, Turner, Blamey, Peacock, Payne, Meredith, Heath, Halliday, Wilson, Watts Sub: Gooch

Champagne Moment: Despite an atrocious hospital pass from Meredith to Peacock, and some development required on James Heath's short corner stopping skills, this week the bubbly goes to Giles Payne - his tussle with our umpire got him a 15-minute yellow, at which point he held the attention of the two-man crowd for as long as it took him to return to his car and sit out the rest of the game (about 40 minutes or so).

After a rather uncertain start, Chalfont beat Creightonians with something to spare to keep up their promotion campaign on Saturday. Lowly Creightonians started brightly and Chalfont had to defend in numbers for the first 10 minutes before breaking through with a goal from Martin Cartledge after good play from Paul Meredith. After half-time, Chalfont looked better and they soon doubled their advantage through Cartledge once more, this time the finish being a flick into the top corner from a well-worked corner move. Wooler made it three following more good work from Meredith and that just about ended the game as a contest. Chalfont started to play with more confidence, the play really flowing, and Watts shot into the side netting after a really memorable passage of play. Cartledge completed the scoring and his hat-trick, his second in as many weeks. The overall performance was not the best against lowly opposition, but it was good enough.

Team: Maccoll, Payne, Downing, Blamey, Byrne, Heath, Meredith, Turner,Wooler, Watts, Cartledge Sub: Finch

Champagne Moment - James Heath's "Cross" which was no where near being a cross, instead a rather selfish reverse stick attempt at goal practically along the base line. - besides he had a party to go to and needed the bottle

Team: Maccoll, Payne, Heath, Meredith, Turner, Cartledge, Wilson, Halliday, Sorby, Gooch, Watts Sub: Finch

Injury-ravished Chalfont maintained their ambitions for promotion with an away win at Aldermaston on Saturday. In the first ten minutes, their defensive capabilities were tested by a series of penalty corners, but were not found lacking as Aldermaston were unable to score. It was Saints who broke the deadlock, breaking well from the back. After some neat interplay up the wing from Wilson, Cartledge was able to finish the move by swatting the ball into the corner of the goal. Slightly against the run of play, Chalfont soon added another to their tally. Halliday's cross from the left was only half-cleared by the defence and Cartledge

was on hand to lash the into the bottom corner. Chalfont then raised the tempo of the game and began to dominate the match. The resultant attacking pressure lead to a penalty corner which Martin Cartledge finished off with a powerful flick into the top corner. The second half started at much the same pace as the first, and Saints increased their lead to 4-0 with another successful penalty corner routine, Giles Payne converting this time with a flick past the stranded 'keeper. Soon afterwards, an injury flared up and Payne left the field. This change upset the balance of the team and despite positional changes, Saints allowed Aldermaston back into the game. As they began to challenge again in attack, the home team did manage to scramble one goal back and were then further rewarded for their efforts with a well-worked second. Fortunately, Chalfont defended well enough to stem the attacking tide and no more goals were forthcoming in the match. With several key players returning next week, Chalfont's recent performances auger well for the rest of the season.

Champagne Moment: Andy Pearce (Umpire): For yellow carding Aldermaston's best player. Ten minutes off the pitch at a crucial part of the game.  Nice one.

Team: Maccoll, Byrne, Dunford, Blamey, Sorby, Spicer, Meredith, Turner, Heath, Watts, Cartledge  Subs: Wilson, Halliday.

After losing last week, Chalfont returned to winning ways at Cressex on Saturday with a good 1-0 win over the students of Reading. Saints started well with their midfield finding and utilising space on both  flanks. Making an impressive 1st XI comeback, defender James Sorby settled quickly into his role and was able to provide the rest of the midfield with a solid platform upon which to attack. As the first half drew to a close, Chalfont won several penalty corners, and despite the usual specialists being temporarily on the sidelines, Heath was able to provide an excellent pass wide to Wilson, who fired the ball into the goal.

This turned out to be the decisive moment of the match, and although Chalfont were comfortably able to thwart Reading's attacks, a second goal was not forthcoming. Reading threatened to score late in the second period after Maccoll mistakenly passed to the opposition, but Blamey's last ditch tackle removed any chance of the students' forward getting a shot on goal. In all, a very good win for Chalfont who maintain their presence in the league's top three.  

Champagne Moment: Doug Maccoll (For kicking a ball very hard into John Spicer's head from a distance of about three yards [John, whilst doubled up in pain: "I hate keepers who don't get their weight forward"] and also for a perfect 30 yard kick to the opposition centre forward, who was the only one of their team in our half).

Chalfont missed a golden opportunity to close the gap on league-leaders Harrow as both teams failed to beat opposition from lower down in the table. With several key players missing this week, Chalfont were forced to change their stable team formation and ultimately paid the penalty. In a scrappy first half, neither team seemed to be able to take control of the game and there were no chances of note. The only goal of the half came from a Southgate penalty corner and despite Saints' calls for a technical infringement, the goal stood.  In the second period, Saints at last began to play to their potential and put together some attractive hockey. Unfortunately, Adelaide were protective of their lead and defended well and in numbers. Indeed, their second goal came from a counter attack when Chalfont were pressing for a goal of their own. With next week's game sure to be a tough test against Reading University, promotion seeking Chalfont cannot allow themselves to slip up again.

Champagne Moment: Maccoll (opting to save a rising shot not with his gloves, but by headbutting it with his helmet (Ooer, missus). It did get him chatted up by one of the opposition's female spectators, though.

Team: MacColl, Payne, Dunford, Peacock, Spicer, Byrne, Heath, Turner, Meredith, Watts, Cartledge Subs: Finch, Wilson

Chalfont St. Peter's men's hockey team shrugged off the excesses of the Christmas period to draw 0-0 with Harrow. With Dunford and Peacock controlling the defence, Saints attacked with ease and completely dominated the first half. A series of penalty corners were not converted by the visitors and for all Chalfont's pressure, they were not rewarded with the goal they deserved. Harrow altered their formation in the second period, but were unable to get past the influential Spicer and excellent Byrne. Chalfont continued to press forward from the solid defensive platform, but no goals were forthcoming. League-leaders Harrow can count themselves lucky no to have lost to a rampant Chalfont side: a good start to 2000.

Champagne moment: Neil Turner (for amusingly squaring up to the bigger, stronger and harder man of Harrow who wanted to continue his argument with James Heath).

Team: Maccoll, Dunford, Byrne, Blamey, Peacock, Payne, Turner, Heath, Meredith, Cartledge, Watts Subs: Finch, Wilson

Champagne Moment: [can't remember, but it could have been] Payne - for passing to the opposing centre forward and then holding his head in shame as the game continued past him.

Chalfont returned to winning ways in the league on Saturday when just one goal enabled them to defeat their near neighbours from Slough. The home side took time to gain their best form, but their composure grew and benefited from attacking pressure when James Heath's shot hit the post and prolific striker Martin Cartledge reacted quickest to shoot home. Chalfont had plenty of the play after half time, but could not add to the score.

Team: Maccoll, Spicer, Byrne, Blamey, Peacock, Payne, Turner, Heath, Meredith, Cartledge, Watts Subs: Finch, Gooch, Wertheim

Champagne Moment: [was there one?] Perhaps John Spicer - avoiding divorce despite arriving home three hours late, completely sloshed, andthen bringing his toddler to the pub to drink and commiserate with the rest of us and finally turning up to a late night curry to continue drinking.

On Sunday, Chalfont bowed out of the Bucks Hockey Cup when Amersham beat them 2-1 in extra time. Amersham started the stronger of the two sides, but Chalfont's confidence began to grow towards the end of a tense, but goalless first half.  Amersham took the lead from a well worked penalty corner, but Chalfont hit back and Cartledge flicked home a rasping shot from a short corner to take the game into extra time.

The golden goal rule meant that one further goal was going to finish it all and Amersham got it froma penalty corner in the second period of extra time.

Arse - that's what we say.

Chalfont's Men's 1st XI produced another impressive display in their league game at Willesden on Saturday. They started brightly and opened their account when Giles Payne shot home from Paul Meredith's accurate pass.

An intense period of pressure led to further goals from Martin Cartledge and Andrew Watts and only stubborn defence from Etessa prevented more. Just after half-time, Etessa grabbed a goal, but this served only to inspire Chalfont to better things. Spaces began to appear and goals from Charlie Wooler and Neil Turner reflected the growing domination. In the last quarter, the home side rather folded and Cartledge and Watts added to the scoreline. But for some brave home 'keeping, it could have been many more.

Team: Maccoll, Dunford, Peacock, Byrne, Blamey, Meredith,Turner, Payne, Wooler, Watts, Cartledge Sub: Heath.

Champagne Moment: Martin Cartledge -  blasting the ball over the keeper, the bar and the fence and for having a fag when he was substituted.  As we said, honed athletes at the peak of physical condition.

Team: Maccoll, Byrne, Blamey, Dunford, Meredith, Heath, Turner, Watts, Cartledge, Payne, Wooler Sub: Finch

Champagne Moment: Byrne (when 1-0 up with ten minutes to go, his 16-hit went (at most) three inches, and it lead to a series of rather hairy short corners that, but for some good 'keeping from Maccoll, very nearly turned the match Aldermaston's way)

A workmanlike performance from Chalfont brought them a fourth consecutive win on Saturday against Aldermaston at Cressex. The home team very nearly took the lead in the first minute when some tight play on the right from Heath allowed Watts some space in the D. His reverse-flicked shot beat the keeper but went just over the crossbar. Chalfont continued to apply pressure to the visitors and dominated proceedings, but a well-drilled Aldermaston defence just managed to keep Saints out for the entire first half.

In the second period, Chalfont upped the tempo and continued to frustrate Aldermaston's advances, and with fifteen minutes to go, they were awarded the first PC of the match (testament to the excellent defensive performances of both teams). As planned, Wooler drew the defence and slipped the ball to the unmarked Cartledge who was able to swat the ball home.

Aldermaston then swept forward in numbers for the remainder of the match, and although they had a succession of PCs, they were unable to force the ball past Maccoll and Chalfont rode out comfortable winners. Again.

Team: Maccoll, Heath, Dunford, Byrne, Wertheim, Blamey, Meredith, Payne, Turner, Cartledge, Cooper Sub: Gooch

Champagne Moment: James Heath (for his superb acting to win a short corner and a penalty flick)

Chalfont consolidated their position at the top end of the league with their third win in four starts against the students at Reading University on Saturday. In a highly competitive game, the students started well, and pinned Chalfont in their own half for the opening ten minutes. Saints' defence stood firm, but were unable to prevent Reading opening the scoring with a controversial goal. Chalfont replied with a goal of their own soon afterwards. A cross from Meredith found Heath unmarked in the D and from the confusion ensuing after his shot, Cartledge was able to flick the ball home. The second half saw an increase in effort from both sides, but it was Chalfont's superior teamwork that ultimately won them the match. From a penalty corner, Heath won a penalty stroke which Cartledge duly converted. Despite the students' continued efforts, they were unable to score again and Chalfont emerged the worthy winners.

Imperial College 6 - 1

Team: Maccoll, Dunford, Heath, Byrne, Wooler, Meredith, Turner, Watts, Cooper, Cartledge, Payne Sub: Finch

Smarting from a defeat in their first league match, Chalfont roared back to form with an impressive 6-1 victory over the students of Imperial College.  Martin Cartledge soon opened his league account for the season by placing his shot just out of the 'keeper's reach into the corner of the goal. Wooler was not far behind and scored the second goal of the match with a well-struck shot low to the keeper's right. He then doubled his tally shortly afterwards after some fine approach play from Cooper. A lapse in concentration in defence saw the students sneak a goal back when a wicked deflection flew high in to the top corner of Maccoll's goal. However, this merely served to strengthen Chalfont's resolve and having stepped up a gear, they began to dominate in all areas of the game.

It was not long before Cartledge scored his second of the game, deflecting in a cross from the right. As the pressure on the students grew, they gave away several penalty corners and it was from these that Cartledge scored a further two goals. His fourth was a straightforward flicked shot and the second an impressive first-time strike, which took the final score to 6-1.

Champagne Moment: Hadn't been invented at this point.

Chalfont slipped to an disappointing 4-0 defeat in the first league game of the season on Saturday. Having started brightly, dominating the first fifteen minutes, Chalfont did not make the most of their opportunities on goal and Harrow slowly came back into the game. Although the first half ended goalless, the second half was a different story. Harrow started much the brighter and snatched two soft goals before Chalfont had had time to settle back down. The home side battled hard and despite pressing hard for goals of their own, they were unable to convert any of the chances they created. Chalfont rallied well throughout the whole second half, but Harrow's new goalkeeper was able to thwart anything that Chalfont threw at him. In the meantime, Harrow punished Chalfont for two mistakes and did not waste their efforts, scoring two further goals.