BICESTER HOCKEY CLUB

Bicester M4's 2-2 Sonning M8's

 

Bicester came from behind twice to secure a point against visitors Sonning but would consider themselves disappointed that they did not take all three points.

 

The early exchanges were fairly even as both defences held strong and it took a relapse in concentration for the first goal to be scored. A powerful cross struck the foot of a Bicester midfielder and looped over the defence who expected a free hit to be awarded but the umpire quite rightly played an advantage as an unmarked Sonning forward latched onto the free ball and fired home. Sonning’s lead was shortlived; Bicester were soon back on level terms Paul Winks getting his first goal of the season with a reverse stick on the far post. Biceester continued to apply the pressure and could have doubled their score if Jonny WInspear’s deceptive shot was blocked on the line by the co forward’s James Mutton’s leg.

 

The second half saw renewed pressure from Bicester but again Sonning took the lead when Bicester failed to clear a perspective shot which was neatly followed up. As time progressed the Bicester substitutes began to tire the visitors with the constant refresh of the line up. Bicester once more regained parity with Mark Stuart Thompson converting a savage cross from Winks after some great passing play. Bicester pressed for the winner and with a minute to go Mutton had a gilt edged opportunity after Alan Edwards cross took a slight deflection but mistimed his sweep.

 

Oxford M9's 3-4 Bicester M4s

 

This game looked to be a very high scoring affair after all seven goals were scored in the first 25 minutes. Bicester’s pre game talk was to play the first half like they normally play the second and this clearly worked as Bicester dominated the early exchanges. Cross goal passes formed the greater threat and James Mutton came closest to scoring as his first effort hit the post and his second; an open goal went wide. However he soon made amends latching onto a Paul Winks cross to sweep in on the far post.

 

Bicester were quickly two up Steve McKenna’s shot was deflected past the keeper. Oxford pulled a goal back catching Bicester on the break stranding keeper Nick Harding before finishing from close range. McKenna then added his second from the first Bicester penalty corner; his shot from the top of the D was illegally blocked with a defensive backstick but no penalty stroke needed to be awarded as the ball was tipped over the startled Oxford keeper into the net.

 

Oxford reduced the deficit again converting a goal mouth scramble before Bicester maintained their 100% penalty corner conversion rate as McKenna’s narrow angle shot was deflected to injector Chris Birch whose powerful flick was unstoppable by the keeper’s diving stick save. Oxford once again reduced the deficit to one goal just before half time despite Simon Ellison’s last desperate sliding save on the line.

 

Oxford reorganised in the second half and became a much tougher opposition and the only goal scored in the second half was ruled out for a foot infringement before the goal was scored.

 

Abingdon M3's 3-2 Bicester M4's

 

Failing to settle as a team in the first 10 minutes of this game was ultimately going to cost Bicester the game. With last week’s game postponed due to a frozen pitch Bicester took too long to find their rythmn and this time Abingdon scored two. First from a quickly taken free hit whilst the Bicester defence was slow to prepare. A simple pass to the unmarked Abingdon centre forward who simply stepped into the D and fired home got the home side off the mark. This was shortly followed by a penalty corner strike which although considered going wide was turned into the net by defender Simon Jeffrey. This second goal seemed to spurn Bicester into action who quickly reduced the deficit under similar circumstances. Jonny Winspear fired in a cross from inside the D to the far post; the Abingdon defence attempted an intercept on the reverse stick but only succeeded in tipping the ball high into the net.

 

IN the second half Bicester drew level when Steve McKenna muscled his way through the D, passed the ball to the waiting Ollie Hartley who had a simple tap in with the keeper stranded. Bicester continued to press and looked the more likely to score however they got caught on the break and gary Brock pulled off a great save only to see the rebound pass between his legs. Bicester then sought the equaliser and despite coming close on a number of occasions failed to find the equaliser.

 

SONNING M7's 0-6 Bicester M4's

 

Despite the windchill Bicester 4s put in another great performance in two weeks to comfortably beat Sonning 7. From the start Bicester put the home side under pressure. At the back the Sonning defence struggled to find their own side with their 15 metre hits. They tried a number of cross pitch switches and a mishit presented the ball to Chris Birch who gratefully slipped the ball to Harry Whates who made no mistake with a crisp finish. Bicester doubled their lead shortly after; Sonning failed to connect with a Bicester cross which fell to Aidan Lenihan to tap in on the far post.

Cameron Fox then finished the move of the game lobbing the Sonning keeper only to see his shot cleared off the line.

 

Not to be outdone Pete Winspear intercepted a pass on the halfway line rounded three players and passed the ball to Birch who swept the ball into the corner of the goal giving the keeper little chance to react. Alan Edwards made it four in the first half with a powerful shot from the top of the D which nutmegged the keeper.

 

Although the substitution system was now working better Bicester failed to make more use of their continued dominance until halfway through the second half when Fox finally got his well deserved goal after running in on the far post. Whates then added the final goal as a tired Sonning side once more failed to clear a bobbling shot from Winspear which Whates did control and fired home from point blank range. Despite protests of dangerous play from the initial shot the goal stood.

 

Bicester M4's 6-1 Oxford M9's

 

Bicester started brightly moving forward as a unit and it was not long before Chris Birch swpet the ball into the right hand corner with his first touch of the game; connecting onto Mark Stuart Thompson’s cross. Within minutes Bicester was two up, Cameron Fox’s initial narrow angle shot was scuffed by the goalkeeper into Birch’s path for a simple reverse stick tap in from a metre out. Bicester continued to press, rotating their squad frequently. The pressure began to tell with the home side being awarded a string of penalty corners. Pete English converted one of these firing in from the top of the D. Further roation saw Riley Chester added to the scoresheet giving the keeper no chance after latching onto a pass back from the byline leaving the Oxford defence wrong footed.

Bicester dominated possession but poor communication by the defence resulted in an Oxford free hit pass through four defenders to the high Oxford forward whose first shot beat goalkeeper Ian Quinton but a last ditch single handed save by James Mutton saved the initial shot only for the ball to fall to another Oxford forward who slammed the ball home.

In the second half Bicester continued to dominate English and Pete Winspear controlling the centre of midfield but failed to extend their lead until late on when Harry Waites had a simple tap in after a pass under the Oxford keeper. Jonny Winspear finished the rout with minutes to spare after posting up and tipping the ball home.

 

Bicester M4's 2-1 Abingdon M3's

 

Bicester notched up their first win of the season after a close fought battle with Abingdon. Due to an oversight by last minute captain Chris Birch Bicester played the entrie 1st half with 10 players despite having 3 subsistutes on the sideline. Bicester came the closest to scoring first as they applied early pressure but it was a defensive relapse that allowed Abingdon to take the lead through a well taken shot into the right hand corner. Bicester then began to look more threatening an the equailiser came from Jonny Winspear turning in the D around his marker and slotting home.

 

In the second half playing with 11 Bicester looked the more threatening Adrain Thomas, Nick Thomas and Max Southam put in a sterling performance at the back when Abingdon did threaten abaly supported by Pete Bennett. Late on Jonny Winspear secured the win for Bicester with a lopping shot that went in under the armpit of the diving keeper.

 

Local derby next week with Bicester away at Banbury.

 

Bicester Development 2-4 Sonning M7's (MBBO Division 10) 31 January 2015

 

Bicester development squad were taking on Sonning at home this weekend. When the teams last met Sonning won the game with 10seconds left on the play clock making the return fixture a thriller not to be missed.

 

Sonning opened the scoring very early on from open play but bicester responded 5 minutes later through their captain Stuart Morton firing the ball pasted the keeper. The match continued with both teams eating away at each other but no one team being able to capitalise. The second half begun with Sonning scoring from a penalty corner. Bicester once again drew level with Stuart Morton setting up young gun Ollie Hartley.

 

But it was short lived with Sonning managing to score twice more before the end. Final result Bicester development 2 Sonning 4.

 

Newbury & Thatcham M4’s  5-0 Bicester M4’s (MBBO Division 10) 24 January 2015

 

 Bicester were eventually outclassed by a stronger Newbury side. With a make shift defence comprising of few regular defenders Bicester were under pressure from the start but resilient defending by Paul Wicks and some outstanding saves from Rob Morton kept the home side out. The deadlock was broken in the second half after an injury to a Newbury player in the D, the resulting penalty corner at the restart was duly converted and Newbury then went on to add a further four. Bicester had chances to reduce the deficit but poor finishing resulted in no shots actually being on target.