Don and Dusted
With a win setting up the possibility of a visit to the top of the table, the Blues Hockey team were looking focused and in no mood to sit back and enjoy the sunshine.
However, the importance of the situation led to an undramatic start which yielded neither shots nor clear cut chances. When the match did threaten to entertain, a surging run from a Wimbledon midfielder resulted in a short corner that could only be scuffed and safely cleared. Forced Oxford passes frequently went astray, great skill on the left wing wasted by poor final delivery. Territorial advantage belonged to Wimbledon and another short corner was repelled by a fantastic save by Blues keeper Duncan Mills. Oxford?s play was disjointed, the midfield failing to link with attack, and at half time a dull game had failed to do justice to a glorious Saturday.
After the break, though, everything changed: with the arrival of the women?s team to watch, the men decided to impress. The game was suddenly being played in the opposition half and Wimbledon were struggling to contain the Blues. The pattern was briefly altered when a cutting ball left a Wimbledon forward face to face with the keeper, but another mesmeric save kept the Blues on level terms. Temporarily buoyed, it took a dominant display from sweeper Richard Brixey to keep Wimbledon at bay, and his confidence spread forward into attack. Exciting play led to a short corner for the Blues. The ball was fired in and deflected deftly into the net by Chris Halfrey. The Blues were now playing with vigour and another short corner was hit high but bravely blocked by the opposition shot stopper.
The weather continued to entwine itself with the match, a rainbow appearing to appreciate a more open and compelling encounter. Wimbledon went close to scoring after a lightning break, but the following short corner was miscued. As the game became more thrilling, the downpour increased. Hail stones greeted its climax, as a sweeping move set up by captain Dan Fox was finished in style by Tom Bullock. The spirits of a drenched journalist had just about been maintained by a game as fickle as the conditions it was played in. For the players it did not matter that they had not taken part in a classic, with the final whistle met by triumphant cheers that reflected the tension felt by all in a vital game.
Photo: Will Wittels
29th Jan 2004