Hockey Time
Hockey
Oxford 0
Eastcote 1
IT WAS ALWAYS going to be a tough weekend for the Blues. This was this the second of two back to back fixtures.
Unsurprisingly, the match was not a classic. Oxford were superior, more skillful, faster and of course younger and better-looking. They started strongly. Most of the first fifteen minutes were played in Eastcote's half and chances resulted. Cullis was unable to get on the end of some penetrative passes and a tidy pick-up and dance-floor pirouette resulted in a shot past the left post for Mayer.
Eastcote came back later on, but there was good physical presence from Oxford. Several more chances were created by Mayer, Austen and Cope, the latter making a series of incisive passes. Unfortunately even the histrionics of Andy Kojima, could not convert chances to goals.
At the start of the second half, Eastcote pressured. Andrews, solid in goal, kept out the shot. Oxford, too, varied their short corner routine but the best chance, resulting from a deflection by the impressive James Cullis, was saved by the keeper.
As the game went on, players started to tire, and holes appeared at the back. Adams was called into action at the top of the D twice, and Tim Palmer managed to save a shot on the line. This kind of dedication was, unfortunately, not enough. Eight minutes before the end a short corner was awarded against Oxford and the ball crept into the bottom right-hand corner.
Oxford felt robbed. Disappointment would be an understatement. However the season is still young and they look forward to more success next week.
7th Oct 1999