GEOFF...NIGEL...HARPS...JARV...ROB H...PEEWEE...JIM B...DOM...2-GUN... FURNO... JACK(2)... STU.... JORDY ...ELLIOT

Last week we struggled to put up a performance against Lightwater, but despite people seemingly being off their game individually and a raft of injuries and unavailability, the collective team spirit ensured that a point was secured. This week we had an opportunity to put things right and furthermore make a statement against Staines Lammas, a win would have guaranteed 1 st place in the league.

The fact that we were able to field the identical starting 11 to that which comfortably beat Mytchett 2 weeks ago was a big plus, but I was slightly cheesed about the way Saturday kicked off. At the AGM we agreed that as a team we would meet at the pub before every game, home and away. Sadly this week there was a pathetic turnout at the pub and we went back to turning up at Abbeylands in dribs and drabs. (It must be noted that it is somewhat hypocritical of me to write this because I turned up 5 minutes into the game because I watched Liverpool v Spurs at the pub, but you get the picture)

This week's team. Geoff in goal. Nige, Furno 2Gun and Jarv at the back. Jack, Djimi, Harps and Peewee in midfield. Stu and Jordy up front. Rob, Dom and Elliot were on the bench.

Unfortunately I missed the start of the match, but it was reported that we lost possession trying to run the ball out of defence and were quickly punished by a team that will obviously do quite well in the league this year.

When I turned up (5 minutes in) I was pleased to see that this was a match that from the side looked like a very good contest. Both teams were gaining possession knocking it about with some quality and composure and looking to build a nicely constructed attack.

I don't think I would be doing Staines an injustice if I said that we were the stronger team in for the majority of the first half. Our back four looked more than capable of dealing with Staines strikers, we were then nicking the ball, moving it to Harps or Peewee and moving forward from there. In defence we looked nicely balanced, again it was Chris Harper and PeeWee protecting the back four and anything over the top was dealt with by Furno or Nigel.

Oatlands were level after 20 minutes via Jack's speedy break and we quickly doubled the score mere minutes later when Jack got in between defence and keeper and lobbed the keeper from 20 yards.

Midway through the first half we looked excellent, every tackle that went in sent a message and inevitably ended with Oatlands in control of the ball, unfortunately the ref did see some the other way after Staines vociferously complained about the eagerness of our challenges. They were clearly rattled, and that certainly showed when their keeper clumsily threw the ball toward an Oatlands player who aggressively went about winning it, scored and then had it ruled out for a foul.

With the first half drawing to a close Staines looked hopeless in front of goal, all their shots coming from distance, missing the target and getting greeted with heckling from another very good show of supporters on the OFC sideline.

Sadly, the good atmosphere on the sideline was soured, when Staines one and only supporter decided to kick off with Steve and Al Sanz about the fact that the OFC supporters were sharing some lagers which had been bought along and that any form of alcohol near a football pitch violated all sorts of FA Rules. Pathetic stuff, I think you'll agree and it soured what was a good atmosphere on the sideline. Unfortunately though, it looks like he's been up to Lightwater Utd as well this season, because the pitch that used to be within spitting distance of the bar has been moved 60 yards away and currently sits on the side of a hill.

We went into half time looking like good value for our lead.

The second half was an interesting affair.

We started off reasonably well and despite not looking like we were controlling the game, it could not be said that we were the lesser or inferior team. We did however allow Staines to push forward into our half more easily and conceded ground to them.

5 or 10 minutes into the second half, it happened. A less than perfect corner from our left hand side was swung in and bounced in the on the left hand side of the 6 yard box, we were like statues, Staines were first to react and 2-1 was very quickly 2-2.

At 2-2 we were still strong and should have gone into the lead. Confusion in the Staines penalty area and a Rob Hunter header resulted in the ball falling at Djimi's feet 4 yards out, but the chance went begging and Djimi injured himself in the process.

In the next 10 minutes we used 2 of 3 available our substitutions Rob came on for Jordy and Elliot came on for the injured Jim Beckram. Dom was also on the pitch for Harps soon after and our team suddenly had a very different look about it.

I don't know why but with the raft of quick changes, we were suddenly second best everywhere and with Stu replacing Harps in centre mid we lost our authority, our shape and balance. Despite retaining possession reasonably well, our soft underbellies were exposed whenever Staines attacked, particularly as there was no Chris Harper to work in tandem with Peewee stifle the build up of Staines attacks.

The mounting pressure on our back four seemed to bring about a lack of confidence, the lack of confidence soon became silence on the pitch, miscommunication and confusion ensued, mistakes were made and we were soon 4-2 down.

In defending from the front our ferocious tackles and determination in the air that were the base for a strong first half, became half hearted and cowardly efforts where you sensed the purpose was more to pass the buck to the back four than actually win the ball. Our attempts to win headers from our own clearances and hold the ball up were not serious attempts to win the ball, if they had been we would have near the Staines player who actually won the ball or at least close enough to force a mistake. Our attempts to win headers consisted of looking over to the bench and then randomly jumping as if to make out that we wanted the ball.

In fairness to us, to watch the game from the side we didn't look like an inferior side technically, and at times in the second half we still looked like a team that, player for player was as good as the opposition. They simply wanted it more than we did. It was obviously a bad day for our defence as well, because I think Staines scored from every attack they had.

With 20 minutes left the game was lost, no question. Jack was the only creative force we had going forward and despite putting in the sort absolutely glorious crosses a premiership striker would lap up, we never looked like scoring. We didn't look like scoring because our forwards were nowhere near the crosses and our midfield was trotting up the pitch hands clasped and praying that 2 strikers against 4 defenders was sufficient to merit a goal.

Staines added 2 more before the end and we simply huffed and puffed our way to the final whistle. Final score 6-2.

Overall it is difficult to assess this one. Apart from the mistake that lead to the goal, the first half was almost perfect. From the side it looked like two good sides playing good football, with Oatlands looking like the dominant and more determined outfit and all said, we were probably unlucky not to be in a better position going into the second half. Second half, we conceded early and it looked from the side like we had decided that despite our efforts, it probably wouldn't be our day and that making that run was a waste of time, someone else would get that loose ball , make that tackle or that vital call. Our opposition were in effect (and with no disrespect intended) not even good enough to get into the reserve team of a club where Al Sanz played for the firsts, but after spending most of the first half blazing the ball just about everywhere apart from near the goal and looking like a pretty demoralized outfit they pulled their socks up, drew a line under the first half gave it their all for 45 minutes in the second half and duly got their reward. Our performance in the second half was nothing short of cowardly and we embarrassed all those that had come down to support us.

Next week we need to draw a line under this result and make sure that give it our all against top of the table Border and Heath End Sports.

A big thank you to the great number of supporters that came down to watch us.