JARV...FURNO...NEWLOOK(1)...HARPS...PEEWEE(1)...STEVEN...SUS...DAVE E...JACK...OZZIE...JIM...INSPECTOR LUDO...2-GUN...ROB H

Oatlands entered this one in buoyant fashion, not only had we hammered UniS the week before we had also managed to keep all 10 outfield players from the game, the only change being Jarv replacing T-Bone in goal. This week we also bought with us 4 subs and a load of supporters to cheer us on.

The day nearly got off to a bad start when the A3 was closed and we were forced to find an alternative means of getting to Holmbury, but Beater successfully led a chain of cars and supporters to the ground and we got there with plenty of time to spare. As per usual Holmbury's ground was looking like a really good place to play a game and the pitch was well prepared and wide.

This week's team: Jarv, Gargamel, Furno, Newlook, Ozzy, PeeWee, Jack, Dave Sus, Djimi and Steve. Ludo, 2-Gun and Rob Hunter on the Bench.

The game got going at the new winter kick off time of 2pm and both teams looked as though they were feeling each other out in the very early stages. Holmbury looked like a young team but they did have a couple of old and familiar faces in the line up. It took about 10 minutes for the game to settle into any form of pattern and it is was OFC who had the first chance via Djimi, when the referee missed an offside. Despite gaining the advantage Djimi blasted high and wide from close range.

Oatlands probably looked the stronger of the 2 teams and were quick to press Holmbury at the back forcing the full backs to clear the ball out of play on a number of occasions. But against the run of play It should have been 1-0 to HSM 15 minutes in after someone got a flick on to an indirect free kick and the ball nestled in the net . We cheekily questioned whether the ball had gone straight in and got the decision.

The disallowed goal seem to stir us into action and we had 3 or 4 good chances via Jack and Jim but it was PeeWee who opened the scoring with a superb footballing goal that involved Ozzy, Jack, Jim and a low cross that was well converted by PeeWee.

Following the goal we again continued to look strong. Dave and Sus in the centre fought for everything and chewed up the pitch, Steve glided through the midfield as soon as he got any space or time and Jack and PeeWee bombed up and down the wings like Carlos and Cafu.

Our hard work was further rewarded when Ozzy was bought down 10 yards outside the box. Newlook went up to take it and scored a free kick that Beckham would have been proud of, getting the ball up and over the wall and despite a desperate effort the keeper couldn't stop it going in. 2-0.

At 2-0 and before half time the game was probably at its most open. Both teams had chances to score and some good keeping from Jarv made sure that we went into the break at 2-0 up.

All in all a great half and reward for our hard work, commitment and a bit of individual brilliance from a free kick. Deservedly 2-0 up and against one of the top teams on current form.

At half time no need to make any changes as we looked in control, the team was buoyant and we were 2-0 up. Carry on the way were and surely we would be taking the first big scalp of the year.

The second half kicked off and HSM came out of the blocks pretty quickly and immediately seemed to raise their game a notch. As per usual we looked somewhat sluggish and had an early let off when a goal for HSM was ruled out for offside. Despite what looked like an obvious reminder that the game was not finished by any stretch we began to back off as if protecting our lead, passes started to go astray and it looked like a bit of uncertainty might kick in.

Our back line looked as though it was being stretched and as a result of the pressure we conceded a corner. From the subsequent dead ball, the ball it looked like it was in a pinball machine in our box and the result was an untidy goal from close range. 2-1.

We seemed to run out of ideas directly from the kick off and a last ditch tackle prevented an almost immediate second. We rode the storm for the next ten minutes but basic errors came into play. We were guilty of holding onto the ball for too long in midfield when attacking and were subsequently caught short at the back on the counter attack after having put numbers up front. Out wide we seemed to lose our direction, neither attacking nor defending. Soon the ultimate crime started to occur on a regular basis when our central midfield stopped winning the ball. Far too many times from their own goal kick a HSM player was actually given time to trap the ball and play it and headers weren't even contested. Holmbury were soon level.

Despite being pegged back to 2-2, our decline continued, the pitch fell silent but for the occasional shout of “it's over me” from clearances from the keeper. Our attacks consisted of running away from the ball and then watching while HSM went up the other end as a team to try and win the game.

2-2 very quickly became 3-2 to the home team. At this point the game still looked as though it could still be saved. Holmbury were still very much in the ascendancy but with the likes of 2-Gun, Rob Hunter and Ludo on the bench there were opportunities to change our formation and approach. As it was 2-Gun and Rob Hunter replaced the left hand side of our midfield and defence but it was to no avail as the slump continued.

Despite the best efforts of Jordy and Ben Schubrook on the side, OFC simply looked like a team that couldn't be motivated. Sadly for Jordy they were left to eat their words as Holmbury scored 2 more from close range to make it 5-2. On reflection it could have been even worse but Jarv who was the stand in keeper made some very good stops to keep the score marginally respectable.

Toward the end of the match we offered little going forward, our best chances finding their way high over or wide of the goal and deep in to the woods of Holmbury Hill.

The referee mercifully ended the match at 5-2 to Holmbury and overall it was an opportunity thrown away by OFC. We started the game superbly and dominated the 1 st half and at the break we were deservedly 2-0 up. In the second half we were piss poor. I don't know whether it was a lack of self belief, fitness or motivation or a combination of all three, but either way it wasn't good enough against a team that we hammered 5-0 a few years back.