Men's 1's Match Reports

12th December 2009

Bicester I 1 vs 2 British Airways II

Bicester I started the no win weekend for the men’s section this week with a poor result against British Airways. Despite dominating large portions of the game and having better scoring opportunities, Bicester was punished by a defensive error and a set piece.

Bicester started the game more brightly than their opponents and in the early exchanges looked the team more likely to score. Bicester obliged with a simple worked goal. Luke Smith’s deep penetrating run and pass set up Wayne Dobbins with a simple conversion. The lead was short lived when a hopeful hit into the D was intercepted and the clearance from John Sullivan went directly to a BA player who duly dribbled into the D and with the Bicester defence off balance slotted home to equalise. Bicester maintained their composure and shortly afterwards were threatening again. A quick break and lightning run from Smith found him in the D with a 1 v 1 situation against the keeper. He took the better option of squaring the ball to Dobbins who was unfortunate not to score a gilt edged opportunity. Despite showing more promise Bicester failed to regain their lead and although BA’s scoring opportunities were few and far between they made the most of a second half penalty corner drilling the ball home from the top of D. Bicester continued to press but despite good build up play from midfield; failed to make any impact to the scoreline and finished the match without any of the points that they richly deserved. Captain Dan Round also commented that the umpires put in a fantastic performance to make the game thoroughly enjoyable despite the result.

Bicester Mens 1st XI 8 - Harrow 1st XI 3

Our first pre season game was against Harrow 1st XI. On the newly re -laid Coopers School pitch and a very hot Saturday afternoon Bicester started very strongly under the watchful eyes of our new club coach Mark Stuart-Thompson. Within the first 2 minutes Bicester were 1 up after a well worked team move ended with Wayne Buxey slotting the ball home.

Wayne then proceeded to finish a further two times in the first 10 minutes of the game the third being a very cheeky reverse stick looping flick, with the Harrow keeper watching helplessly as it drops in the goal behind him. Wayne Dobbins then took his opportunity to make it 4-0 to Bicester with another well worked move. Harrow came back and scored a goal against the run of play with a simple penalty corner routine. This re-energised the Bicester team who then hit 3 further goals before half time scored by Lewis Allen, Jonathan Roger, and a second goal for Wayne Dobbins.