OFC Match Report

Following last weeks last minute exit from the County Cup Oatlands were back on League duty this week against University of Surrey . The Surrey Athletic result and Phil's midweek “a few home truths” discussion were still very fresh in the mind. However given the circumstances going into the game; a string of poor results, injuries and unavailability and a match against a side that play some of the best football in the Division, this game might have had thrashing written all over it. But on the plus side it was good to see the return of a real “enforcer” type player as Furno returned to the team after nearly a year out with a knee injury. Djimi also returned to the squad following rectal surgery.

This weeks team; T-Bone in goal, Harps, Furno and Newlook at the back. Jack and PeeWee out wide. Psycho, Sus and Goulash in midfield. Djimi and Ozzy up top. Rob was sub and we had the paperwork to hand if the manager also needed to sign as a player.

We arrived at the ground and were beaten to the changing room by the Uni which was annoying. After the last of our players arrived with 15 minutes to go we warmed up and got ourselves well and truly riled up for the game.

We kicked into the wind and sun in the first half and it was us who got the game started. From the start it looked like the Uni were probably playing 3-5-2 from the off which suited us as we only had three recognized defenders in the team due to the unavailability of Dom (Ill), Nigel (Golf), Phil (Broken ankle), Chris Ewan (Calf), Foxy (Arsenal).

We made a good start to the game and in the opening 5 minutes Surrey barely got a touch on the ball before being pressurized by Oatlands. UniS as expected were extremely good at moving the ball around when given time and it was critical that stropped them passing.

The OFC pressure forced UniS into a number of mistakes early on and we clearly had the upper hand. With three six footers at the back UniS got nothing over the top of us. We were quick to get numbers behind the ball when necessary and the pace of our attack provided by Ozzy, Jack and PeeWee looked as though it would cause UniS problems all afternoon.

Oatlands took the lead; Goulash, who carved through the UniS midfield every time he got the ball cut through the midfield and released Ozzy, Ozzy broke into the Surrey penalty area and roofed the ball past the despairing keeper.

UniS were clearly shell-shocked and Oatlands then dominated the match until half time. Djimi was far too strong for the UniS back line and held the ball up allowing us to use our pace to good effect. Dave, Goulash and Sus all looked on top form in midfield and forced UniS into passing sideways or backwards.

We were soon 2 goals up when more mistakes in the UniS back line allowed Ozzy to break through, he easily rounded the keeper and rolled it in to double the lead. 2-0 Oatlands.

We should have been three up minutes later. Steve Goulash jinked through the UniS penalty box and was clumsily bought down. Chris Harper, angrily trudged up the pitch to take it. It was difficult to tell whether the resulting penalty was further wide or further over. That's another name to tick off the “don't give penalties to” list.

UniS did have a good chance to draw one back, but the striker with the long Nike shorts had his shot saved by T-Bone after riding a number of tackles in the OFC penalty area.

Again, as we approached half time we looked the stronger team, physically dominating UniS and cutting through the defence with relative ease. Steve Goulash increased the lead to 3-0 after going on a mazy run that beat everyone including the keeper. Great goal 3-0 OFC.

With our enforcers at the back both picking up an attacker, it was Newlook who was left to be both the spare man and the outlet for the defence. He carried out the role excellently and was probably on the ball as much as anyone in our midfield. He generally made very good use of the ball and picked out PeeWee and Jack throughout the first half.

Ozzy, who has been consistently Oatlands best player, not only in terms of performance on the pitch but also in terms of attitude got his reward shortly before half time with another goal, securing his first hatrick for the club and Oatlands went into half time 4-0 up and buzzing.

At half time, we knew what would be coming in the second half and more than anything we had to ensure that UniS did not get off to a good start after the break. No changes were made.

Going into and starting the second half we looked more like the team that lost once after Christmas last year. We were absolutely fired up and ready for everything that would be thrown at us.

As expected UniS came out the blocks quickly and immediately put us under pressure but we were both resilient and disciplined and made no silly errors at the back. As with the first half UniS only opportunities came from dead balls or long throw ins, which our 6 foot plus back four dealt with well.

We resisted UniS pressure well for the first 10 minutes of the second half and slowly began to push the game back into the midfield area. Despite some obviously tiring legs from some of those who haven't played regularly this season, we looked determined and continued to fight for every ball. Once of the most impressive individual performances came from Jack who was out wide. At 16 years old, he played with a very cool head and caused no end of trouble going forward and was superb in the air and when making challenges all afternoon.

It was Jack who set up Djimi for Oatlands fifth of the afternoon, winning the ball yet again down the left, he got the ball to Djimi who was between 2 defenders he controlled just out side the box and quickly released a shot that found the bottom corner of the net. 5-0 Oatlands.

At 5-0 it was game over and we could start to think about giving a rest to those that needed it. It was PeeWee who made way and Rob Hunter came on and Ozzy went to the right wing. Rob introduced himself to the game in precisely the right way. His first touch, a crashing tackle into a UniS player who spent to long on the ball by the touch line.

Despite being 5-0 down UniS never gave up and they were heavily encouraged by the supporters that they bought with them and as the game drew towards a close it was all UniS. Again we never gave up a lost cause and continued to commit 100 percent. But as tiredness set in we did make a few mistakes, some tired passes crept in and we gave the ball away in dangerous areas when a clearance would have been best.

UniS came close with a bullet of a free kick that shaved the bar, they then hit the post and the ball was clawed (or flapped) out and off the line from the rebound. With only 12 men available for the day Oatlands had to play the last 10 minutes with only 10 men and Rob dropped into midfield.

Oatlands gave away a corner with 5 minutes left after conceding possession just outside the area. A UniS player scored from 6 yards out.

Sus was then very lucky not to get sent off after kicking the ball away from a UniS free kick. We then carelessly conceded from a corner after a player at the back post was left unmarked and his downward header found the net.

The final act of the game came from one of our best attacking moves of the game, we had quickly moved the ball around in midfield we got the ball out to Ozzy who put in an outstanding cross, Jack had cut in from the left and met the ball with a flying header. The keeper saved outstandingly at full stretch.

The whistle blew and we were delighted, probably more so for Steve and Phil than ourselves. Final score 5-2.

Overall it was an excellent performance by us and we looked to be more like the team that played so well for so long last year. We were dogged across the pitch and lethal going forward and we beat a very strong team who probably turned up with the intention collecting three points and increasing their goal difference. In the end it was us who could have been increasing our goal difference and UniS will know that except for a penalty miss and an outstanding save the score should have been 7-2.

Despite the result UniS will know that they can play better than they did on Saturday and despite a slump in recent results, I have no doubt they will bounce back and make things extremely difficult in the return fixture at the varsity centre.

The season now has to start here. Next week we play Holmbury St Mary away. Holmbury are a team that we beat 5-0 three seasons ago in the Premiership, but I have no doubt that they will want revenge and their position in the table suggests that they will be a very strong outfit. It will be critical to approach this game in the same way we did on Saturday.

Thanks to all those that came down to support, I am still to come across another team that can match our support even in our away games. A big thanks to Beater and Phil for their patience over the last 7 weeks.