Cheam Men's third team stretched their winning run to eight games at the weekend, writes Dom Beales
The opposition fielded a stronger looking XI than the side who suffered a defeat at the Fortress in November, and were keen to give a good account of themselves.
The team jdominated the second half, with Lawrence capping a fine 3s debut with a goal. The game looked won at 3-1, but a moment of madness gave Addiscombe's striker a sniff of the ball 25 yards from goal. Thankfully the chance was spurned.
Cheam Hockey Club 2 2 Epsom 6s
It was a very tough match and possibly our most rewarding point of the season, writes Scott Ferguson.
Epsom brought a very strong and fit team who stretched us from the opening whistle. The Hunters returned to a more settled line-up after the debacle against Spencer, but were under the pump very quickly as the visitors sought revenge over the reverse fixture.
It wasn't long before sustained pressure created chances and a short corner was successfully converted, a bullet of a shot to Frosty's right took the base of the stick and deflected past "I had it covered" Sharpy on the post. 0-1.
Both keepers had plenty of work as the game opened up but at the break, only once had the net been breached.
A quick breather and a reinforcement of team values inspired a quick response from Cheam - so quick in fact I'm struggling to remember which goal was which.
Swift ball movement freed up Derry in the circle, and the charging keeper was avoided with a deft duff shot popping over the moving obstacle and into the back of the net.
Epsom turned the ball over shortly after the resumption, quick outlet from the backline to Charlie, Jamie G and then finally to Goldie who hammered it into the backboard.
Two goals within 60 seconds and Cheam had the lead, 2-1.
Epsom regained control of possession and kept pushing forward relentlessly, but wasted a lot of short corners with sloppy insertions. Finally the pressure bore dividends and sloppy marking down the left allowed a pass to the centre forward, who made the most of very tight space to rifle one high into the net. 2-2 with fifteen minutes or so to go.
More corners for Epsom, while chances for the Hunters were now few and far between; the signs were looking ominous. A second shot off the corner went closest, over the keeper, deflected off Sharpy's stick then forced high into the air as Scott managed to get the full face of the stick to it, at shoulder height, just inches from the goal line.
The pressure continued beyond the final whistle with another short corner, but the points ended up shared. A very rewarding result for the Hunters.
Cheam M3s 6 - 1 Bank of England M3s
The 3s got their revenge and moved them to the brink of promotion, writes Dom Beales
We started the game incredibly quickly and were 2-0 up within 5 minutes. Bank pulled a goal back with a short corner, their first and last shot of the match. Sadly Krish never quite got round to logging as planned, and the ball squirmed through his legs. We added a third goal before half time, but were determined to step up another gear in the second half.
Three more goals came before the finish. A comfortable victory against a Bank team who battled gamely until the end; but in reality, we should have had more. There were a few moans from the Bank players towards the umpire, as though she was somehow the reason they were 5 goals down. However, those bankers don't like regulation do they?