January 16, 2024

Match Report:
Oundle 7-3 Long Buckby

Greetings avid readers and welcome to 2024 and the second half of our season. Before we get down to business, I have a public service announcement to make.  Former  Ladies 1s Captain Hannah Postlethwaite (and Queen of the right wing) is getting married this year to the lovely Jack. I mention this because before the game today she had a meeting with their vicar who must have a put a good word in for us. I’m not a religious person but the Gods were shining down on us today and saw a whopping ‘S Club’ 7-3 victory for our Ladies 1s. We will have to add a quick Hail Mary to our warm up routine from now on!  Prayer time over, let’s ‘Bring it all back’ to Hockey and cheesy pop songs. Our second innings are now well underway and today Oundle Ladies 1s and 2s returned to their home turf for the first time this year with mince pies and turkey now a distant memory. Oundle 1s faced Long Buckby 1s for the second time this season. We narrowly got the win back in September so we were eager to demonstrate what we can do on our home pitch.  It would seem that a few of our Oundle Ladies have got their eye on the ‘Top goal scorer’ award for the season as they came out fighting this week.  We saw a hat-trick from Oundle Legend Tasha Darrington as well as Striker extroadinaire Kerry-Ann Graham, and the final goal going to the one and ‘Holy’ Hannah Postlethwaite.  The game was a masterclass in goal scoring. We showed off brilliant assists from Charli Elphinstone down the left wing before handing off to Tasha. Hannah as always strong down the right wing. There were reverse stick flicks and the pièce de résistance from Kerry was a textbook short corner strike just before half time. This undoubtedly contributed to her getting player of the match this week. Charli and Emma Aubury had a superb game, almost certainly covering the most ground of all players this week. And H.Smith x 2 continue to be a dependable duo on the pitch, always where they should be and hardly let play pass them.  Let’s hope this win boosts our confidence for the remainder of the season. A very Happy New Year from Oundle Ladies, here’s hoping 2024 brings all our players, supporters and families a year of health, wealth and happiness.

Match Report:
Oundle 7-3 Long Buckby
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Match Report:
Beeston 2-2 Oundle

Oundle kicked off the new year with a double header on the road to Nottingham. Today’s opponents were Beeston 5s. Oundle had a perfect record against today’s opponent winning all 3 of the previous fixtures. Both teams began the year in the relegation zone and were hoping for a positive start. Oundle were able to welcome back long absentee Allan Simpson whose presence on the hockey pitch has been sorely missed as he has been nursing a broken toenail for the past few months. Oundle did however have to make do however without regulars, George Martin, the current top scorer and Peter Allett who plays when he wants. Looking around the Oundle team it was clear that a number of shirts had shrunk in the wash. Lining up for pushback Beeston looked to have included more of their regular players, which was a far cry from the patchwork side which was brought to Oundle earlier in the season. This was evident right from the off as Beeston quickly won the ball back and went straight on the attack down Oundles right hand side. The Beeston forward getting in behind the right back and forcing Youngy into an early save. A let off and an early warning for Oundle which was not heeded when not 2 minutes later from the same position, the Beeston forward again found himself with the ball, this time being able to take the ball around Youngy and score the opening goal. Despite a disastrous start to the year and game, Oundle were not dismayed and stuck to their tasks, enduring waves of Beeston pressure including short corners. Jimmy ‘Bobby’ Moore making a fantastic block from one short corner using his foot.  Beeston were unable to find another breakthrough and Oundle started growing into the game, despite this, the pressure from Beeston remained strong, but could not mount any attacks of their own. Oundles attacking problem when Flying Rhino enthusiast John ‘Worst Chat’ Pickstone won a foul but was not happy about it. Mouthing off to the umpire earning him a green card, this was upgraded to a yellow due to dissent. 1-0 down and down to 10 men, things looked bleak for Oundle… BUT… cometh the hour, cometh the man. With what can only be described as 3 minutes of absolute chaos, P.Wilson (Phil) stood up and grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck. First of all with a sublime finish, getting past his man and firing into the middle of the goal. A strike that left both sides stunned as Oundle had not looked like scoring up until that point. Phil Wilson was not done there, from an Oundle 16 a fabulous James Moore pass split Beeston apart, like a hot knife through butter. The pass finding none other than Phil Wilson, who ran at the Beeston defence, managing to get to the back line, he managed to fire in a cross, finding a free Dalley who gleefully poked the ball home from a yard out. Dalley has now earned the nickname of ‘Goal A Game in 2024’. It was a superb period of play for Oundle scoring 2 shorthanded goals. With Beeston taken completely unawares. With Beeston refinding their feet, they again applied the pressure on Oundle, and it was only a matter of time before the Beeston forward found himself in the D with his back towards goal. He managed to turn his man and strike towards goal, the Oundle defender was able to get a touch on the ball but with a back stick. The strike nestled in the bottom corner however Oundle were saved by the whistle that the umpire had blown moments before. Oundle did not waste their lifeline seeing off the resulting short corner, with half time coming soon after. The 2nd half started and followed the pattern of most of the 1st half, with Oundle soaking up Beeston pressure. Our current Vice Captain for so many years has been Mr reliable and consistent, never slipping up, it was unfortunate that he decided to replicate Steven Gerrard slipping around the midfield gifting the ball to Beeston who were able to take advantage of the situation and score after a goalmouth scramble.  Beeston nearly did an Oundle following another goalmouth scramble, this time Youngy was there to make the save. Apart from these 2 early chances, The rest of the 2nd half was largely uneventful with Beeston the dominant team in terms of possession and play, with significant pressure being put on Oundles full backs despite this they were unable to break through. Beestons final ball was unable to find the intended targets. Oundles back line was supported by some hard work from the midfield and forwards. Oundle were able to mount some pressure of their own on the Beeston defence but were unable to capitalise. With the distribution from the centre back partnership of Ellis and Moore providing some excellent, and some not so excellent passing with a few passes to the Beeston centre forwards. The final whistle blew signalling a 2-2 draw where Beeston could have nicked it on another day. Oundle rode their luck at times and not losing a very important game. Despite this and not training on Tuesday due to a frozen pitch Oundle have every right to be proud of their performance digging in when needed. Next Saturday is a big 6 pointer. Oundle at Home vs Loughborough Town 3s, the team directly above them in the table. A win would see Oundle climb out of the relegation zone for the first time in many months. We go again. HWTL

Match Report:
Beeston 2-2 Oundle
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