Intra-mural results 2008-2009

Lazy Like Sunday Morning vs. NUSSC Hockey

The first game for months did not begin promisingly - everyone turned up at the pitch in the bitter cold, and it started snowing. Also, the opposition came begging for more players as they were short (of players, they weren't midgets).

Of course, Murphy's Law dictated that the players we lent the other team would score, and so of course Oscar and Tom duly obliged. Stu Boneham added another, despite turning up to the game in a NUSSC hoody. We were struggling to get working as a team, and that we hadn't much practise all together was showing. Sam Topham pulled a well worked goal back however, ably assisted by new recruit Adam.

However, in the end it was the one and only Ollie Tunnicliffe who kept us in the game with two fantastic strikes to keep us on level pegging and avoid defeat. Despite only holding on by the skin of our teeth, it felt like we had missed an opportunity and should have come away with more.

Final Score: Lazy Like Sunday Morning 3, NUSSC Hockey 3

Player of the match: For her outstanding work in midfield, Sophie Horsburgh is this weeks player of the match.

After the disruption to the intra-mural schedule, this match felt like a start of season game in September, hopefully as we play togeter more the team wil start to gel and get the results we are capable of.

well done soph!

La Vie Est Belle vs. NUSSC Hockey

With the disruptions to this season due to weather, the match was looking in doubt, but eventually word came through that the match was going ahead as planned, so people in various states of hangover dragged themselves out of bed to come and play. Or they didn't (umpire included)

A strong start saw NUSSC dominating the early play, but the opposition sweeper was difficult to get past and kept us at bay. In the end, Jonathan broke the deadlock, putting the ball through a seemingly impossible gap to score the opening goal. Sam Topham added another (standard!), Phil then worked his way past nearly everyone on the pitch, only for his shot to come back off the keeper, before Sophie slotted the rebound home. Another of Phil's shots ricocheted back of the post, a theme for the day as we could have scored plenty more!

With a comfortable lead at half time spirits were high, and bolstered by some abuse directed at stand-in ref Bryn the game restarted. Our defense were rarely troubled, and in the end it was not a question of who would win, but us by how many? We created plenty of chances, but strong goalkeeping kept the scoreline down. Jonathan skittered though the defense to add another, but it was to be the only goal of the half.

Final score: La Vie Est Belle 0, NUSSC Hockey 4

Player of the match: for an outstanding game and work rate all over the pitch, this weeks player of the match is Phil Bayford.

A sparkling return to form, this week we once again looked like our team at its best last season, long may it continue!

NUSSC Hockey vs. Biosci Hockey Legends

Much of our team were away (at the same 21st!), we were doing better than the oppostion for numbers though, until they just recruited more players from the uni team waiting to play the next match. Hmph.

In the first half we were playing well, generally getting the best of play and putting the oppostion under pressure, but were struggling to break down the (university) players at the back. Still, a string of excellent saves by the other keeper kept the ball out. In the end, the oppositions single shot of the half crept in, after bouncing around in the D off several players.

The second half saw continued pressure but the oppostion defence could not be broken, despite the excellent work rate and commitment of our players. However, we were tiring, and when a deflected short corner bounced into the roof of the net it seemed as if the game had slid beyond our grasp.

Final score: NUSSC Hockey 0, Biosci Hockey Legends 2

Player of the match: it is a tie this week, although many players deserve a mention, Pia Cumine and Katie Mai-Kong were outstanding in defense.

On other days, we could have scored many goals, but in the end their excellent goalkeeeping and several university team defenders (have I mentioned how many of the players were university team yet?) kept us out and they got 2 goals from a handful of chances to take the game and remain top of the league.

Lawyers Hockey vs. NUSSC Hockey

With a bright and early (one out of two, anyway) start we were in the unusual position of actually having an umpire...but no goalkeeper kit. It was decided to put 11 players on the pitch, and we were good to go. Initially in the first half we seemed to be on the back foot, struggling to win or keep possession, and were under pressure. Pete Bennett, Bryn, Pia and Katy keept the opposition at bay and away from the goal. We were starting to string some good breaks together, and Oli Neasham broke the deadlock and put a goal away, followed by another to go two up. However, the Lawyers fought back to bring the scores level at 2-2, until Jonathan added another to take the lead into half time.

In the second half we were more confident and started to dominate more of the play, Oli completing his hat-trick in fine style, Sam Lunn moving in to bolster the defence further. The game looked more and more like we would take it, Jonathan adding a fifth goal on the break. However, a second hat-trick was not to be as both a clear penalty and goal were disallowed, and the game finished 5-2.

Final Score: Lawyers 2, NUSSC Hockey 5

Player of the match: is of course hat-trick hero Oli Neasham

An excellent result, after a tough start we stuick it out and grew to dominate by the end, well done to everyone for their work-rate. With the remaining league game potentially not happening due to the weather disruption earlier in the year, this could have been the last game. The result put us into contention for a place in the play-offs, but other games over the day could mean we don't make the cut. Fingers crossed...

NUSSC Hockey vs. Combined Bio

Given the disruption to the season, all teams were put through to the play-offs, with an extra first round to play. We were drawn against Combined Bio from the other league, a team with a similar record to us in their league. Once again, we were acting as a feeder team for everyone else, and supplied the opposition with no less than 3 players to make up the numbers. The game started well for us and we quickly began to dominate the play, setting up a myriad of chances but unable to convert them. A tactical substitution of all the strikers to the naughty bench to think about what they'd done (or not done) had an immidiate impact, with Fred putting away a fine goal with hid first few touches of the ball. He kept up the pressure on the opposition defense, working hard before unselfishly teeing up Mike W to fire our second goal home just before half-time.

The other team were bolstered by the arrival of the university team to play the match afterwards and a string of slightly suspect subsitutions, and the tempo was raised further. However, our defense was rock solid, making the opportunities for the other team few and far between. About midway through the second half, and an unlucky deflection found its way into our net. This only served to spur our team on to play probably the best hockey of the season to date, and Ollie T stepped up to fire two more goals home to put the game well beyond the oppositions reach. Adam was unlucky to have a fifth goal disallowed, after an excellent run to control a boucing through ball. Despite pushing to the end, the opposition could not get back into the game.

Final Score: NUSSC Hockey 4, Combined Bio 1

Player of the match: many players deserved recognition, but today it could only be Pia Cumine for her outstanding defensive work.

What can I say; without a doubt our best game to date, everyone played fantastically well and put in a performance to be proud of.

Top Guns vs. NUSSC Hockey

In the quarter finals, we faced Top Guns, in good form after their record win in the previous match. Worse still, we effectively were only allowed to play with 10 men due to the number of boys/girls (reports that the opposition had too many university players were commonplace but unverified). It quickly became obvious that they were a very strong team, and we were soon 2 goals down. However, we didn't give in and fought back with some good spells of our own, Pete G-F was solid in goal, without him the scoreline would certainly have been higher. Mike W fought well in defense, and Oli N attacked well but we just couldn't break the deadlock.

Another goal at the start of the second half seemed to set the tone, but we were playing well, just struggling to get hold of the game and two more goals followed. However, one man army Ollie Tunnicliffe led a late fightback, netting two excellent finishes. In the end though, the defecit against such a good team was too much and it finished 5-2.

Final Score: Top Guns 5, NUSSC Hockey 2

Player of the match: this week, Anna Feldman was impressive in midfield, stopping the opposition's attacks and setting up our own.

A real shame our season had to end like this, if we had 11 players on the pitch it would have been an excellent game that probably could have gone either way. Still credit where it is due to the opposition, they were simply harder, better, faster, stronger on the day. Well done again to everyone who has played this season, it's been epic!