The final game of 2024 was finally upon Oundle, bringing a home game with Berkswell & Balsall Common 2s (BB2s) as the opponents. 

This fixture also brought another surprise, as one of Oundle Hockeys founding players and club legend came out of retirement for the game. The self proclaimed ‘Hockey God’ isn’t the nickname his team mates would choose for him but all were happy to see him shake the dust off of his ol’ reliable hockey stick.

Neil Salvi and Alex Scott both made their returns to the side today. Depending on who you ask, thankfully John Pickstone turned up for the game despite believing an away game at Melton was on the cards. Oundle were without top scorer George Martin who was still on international duty and Adrian Millan, thinking he was still the proper captain and didn’t need to play.

To help Pickstone remember where they were playing, instead of shouting Oundle before the game, some of the Oundle players shouted ‘Melton’ one can only assume to show their support to their South African team mate.

The game started and Oundle immediately pushed BB2s back into their own 23. With Oundles resident farmer, Virgil Van Jimmy, or Jimmy Maguire as he prefers to be known, decided that his defensive partner of Ben Edis didn’t need any help, started playing in the midfield.

The early stages of the game were Oundle harrying BB2s at every opportunity and controlling the play. Despite this Oundle were unable to make the breakthrough with BB2s adopting a low block with 1 forward left on the halfway line.

It was not until the first rotation when Alex Scott came on, that he showed how easy it can be. Collecting the ball in the BB2s half he drove at the fullback beating his man with ease, entering the D down the right handside he fired the ball across the face of goal finding the unmarked Brenners who had the simplest of tasks to slot home from a yard out.

It was not long before Oundle thought they had doubled their lead when John Pickstone had the ball in the net, again from a yard out, the goal was originally given, however after some protest from BB2s and a quick discussion between umpires, this was ruled out as Brenners who had crossed the ball to Pickstone, had done so at chest height.

The longer it remained 1-0 the more BB2s started to grow into the game and get higher up the pitch. Despite spending large proportions of the game penned into their own half they had 1 or 2 quick players on the counter attack, one of these nearly paid dividends as they broke down Oundles right hand side to leave the winger 1 on 1 with Youngy, now there was some confusion about what actually happened as the umpire and some of the players believe that Youngy got the ball and others believe that he missed the ball completely, the BB2s winger was on the floor after contact with Youngy and Jimmy was on hand to tidy the ball up.

About midway through the half Oundle struck again, when again some good play down Oundles wings resulted in another cross being met by an Oundle stick, or two in this case and both Pickstone and Bogg went for the same ball, resulting in Bogg getting there first and tapping the ball home to double Oundles advantage. Bogg wanting the absent Dalleys nickname of ‘Goal A Game’

Brenners was unlucky not to add to his tally when he was 1-on-1 with the BB2s keeper however he decided to fall over him instead.

Oundle did manage to add a 3rd shortly before half time when Gareth Watt scored a drag flick from a penalty corner, low to the left hand side of the goal. He was later quoted as saying ‘I’m very proud to have scored this goal for Oundle, I was inspired by Adrian Millans drag flick at Beeston 2 seasons ago.’

The half time whistle went with Oundle 3-0 up.

The 2nd half started with more of the same from Oundle and a 4th goal was quickly added when Pickstone played a 1-2 off the keeper and bounced the ball into the net. Pickstone wasn’t done here however as he added his 2nd of the game, Oundles 5th with a tidy finish leaving the BB2s keeper no chance.

As the 2nd half wore on, Oundle became a bit flat and BB2s were in the ascendancy, they had a couple of half chances but were unable to break down the resolute back line and goalkeeper of Oundle. Through a bit of luck they did manage to get on the score sheet from a rebound off of Youngy which was tapped home. Leaving Youngy fuming at his defence, making his feelings known.

After this goal Oundle sharpened up and were back in cruise control and added a 6th later on when ‘Strong and Stable’ Peter Allett struck home from another penalty corner for his first of the season.

The game was over with another dominant Oundle home win, BB2s had their keeper to thank that Oundle didn’t get double figures, producing a brilliant performance and making many notable saves, including from Old Dan, Phillips who shot with what he thought was an open goal only to be amazed when it was cleared off the line by a heroic dive from the BB2s keeper which started from outside the goal.

Oundle go into the winter break in 5th place, level on points with Khalsa in 4th. Oundle will go again in the new year against Melton 2s who Oundle know well from last year with both clubs suffering relegation. HWTL.