With the memory of Saturday’s defeat fresh in Oundle hearts and minds, some sore legs and heads made their way to Melton for the 2nd game of the double header. Melton were relegated alongside Oundle last season where Oundle managed to do the double over today’s hosts.

With most of Oundles team playing yesterday there were some fresher faces at least, including the return of Alex Scott, skipper Ben Edis and former coach Peter Ellis. There were also some not so fresh faces, including Harvey Ratcliffe and Phil Rowbotham. Shout out to Phil for a solid weekend of hockey, especially turning up on Sunday when needed.

Melton is a game with an added incentive for Oundle as they come up against one of their former players in Everton fan Macca. Despite this incentive, Oundle had a rather subdued warm up, with Youngy notably dreaming he was in a L’Oreal advert with a couple of timed hair flicks.

The game began and it was almost an instant disaster for Oundle as Melton were through 1 on 1 with Youngy within the first minute of the game, with his hair modelling career in tatters, Youngy was equal to the shot forcing the ball out for a long corner. With members of the team saying Youngy was worth it after another flick of the hair.

Despite some Melton breakaway chances and dangerous passes into the Oundle D, Oundle remained relatively untroubled throughout the 1st half. With the Oundle backline holding when needed, Virgil Van Jimmy sitting deep in the sweeper role collecting anything and everything, despite leaving most of his blood on the pitch at Rugby yesterday.

Despite Oundle dominance for most of the first half, Oundle struggled to create anything clear cut. Dalley notably did well to win a short corner on a counter attack, but any short corners came to naught. With the greatest reward for Oundle being a couple of half chances and a goalmouth scramble.  

Melton started the 2nd half as they started the 1st, on the front foot, pressuring Oundle, it was not long before they won their first short corner of the game, a decision which Ellis was not happy about, letting the umpire now exactly how he felt, guessing the umpire didn’t know who he was? Despite Brenners being on the post he was able to deflect the drag flick out for a long corner, making a good save on the line.

Throughout the game Virgil Van Jimmy was still collecting everything, including a Melton player, resulting in a green card for the outspoken Oundle centre back. But throughout the weekend it was a common theme for Jimmy to pick the ball up from deep and drive at the opposition, beating numerous players. Oundles performance analyst confirmed that he beat as many players as Brenners had had beers on his birthday on Saturday, an impressive feat!

With fatigue playing a huge part, Oundle struggled to string 2 passes together for most of the 2nd half and left the Melton goal relatively untroubled. At parts of the half there was a lot of pressure on the Melton backline and goal but Oundle were unable to make the breakthrough. Oundle battled hard in defence, weary but determined to keep only their 2nd clean sheet of the season.

Alex Scott made some good runs down the right, but was stopped in a manner similar to how Jimmy earned his green card earlier in the half, taking a couple of knocks but always getting back up and not afraid to take his man on. 

Melton were threatening throughout the 2nd half, winning a couple of short corners, a drag flick was surprisingly well saved by Brenners on the left hand post. However despite Oundle resilience, it finally happened in the latter stages of the game when from a short corner, an unnamed Oundle player in their 30s very kindly stopped the ball for them a couple of yards from goal. With the Melton forward gratefully putting the ball into the Oundle net.

With the game entering the final few minutes, Oundle looked completely spent and out of ideas with Melton content to see out the clock.

The game finished 1-0 to Melton, who recorded both their first win and first clean sheet of the season. Oundle left the field, feeling frustrated and disappointed at the result with no one to blame but themselves. Oundle will finally have a home game on Saturday against Rugby and East Warwickshire 4s. HWTL.