Mens 1st XI Captain: Matt "Lenny" Bennett
1st XI Regional League - Hampshire/Surrey
Reigate Priory 1st v Fareham 2nds - (2-0)- Saturday 6th March 2010
Saturday saw the meeting of two of the leagues form sides with Reigate hosting Fareham 2nds. Reigate have been on a fine run of form, with away wins at Trojans and Winchester meaning that the team has only dropped 2 points in 2010.
For the first time in weeks Reigate were at full strength, with Ben Van Pelt and Dan Byfield returning to the Reigate bench, a testimony to the form the current side are in. Their inclusion showed a statement of intent from Reigate that they would look to attack and continue the form that has seen them climb the league table in recent weeks.
Reigate dominated the early possession, although they did not have the territorial advantage, with the defensive line passing the ball accurately around the back, attempting to move Fareham out of position before attacking with some pace. The fact that Reigate did start so well set the mood for the match was also key, as in previous weeks the side have allowed the opposition to score cheap goals early on, making the match tougher to get the result.
Stephen Cobb, fresh from breaking his goal-scoring duck against Winchester that since he joined the club on a free transfer from Purley in the summer, broke the deadlock to give Reigate the advantage by throwing himself at the through-ball to deflect past a committed keeper. It was a smart finish and typical of the experience centre forward.
Reigate continued to push hard, and the superior fitness of midfield combination Simon Owen and Andrew Porter showed as Fareham tired. They were supported by a strong defensive performance from man-of-the-match Matt Thompson and his assistant Chad Hunter, who rarely put a pass astray. The pair dominated at the back meaning that keeper Henry Williams had very little to do.
Reigate then added to their lead through Owen, when he flicked the ball low to beat the keeper. This gave Reigate the breathing space required to allow them to take control of the match. Reigate could have been leading by more at half time, and when James Chesterton was set through one-on-one against the keeper you would have backed him to score, however the Fareham keeper did well to ensure that Chesterton had to take the ball wide around him to create too narrow an angle to get a shot away.
2-0 to Priory at half time, with the team talk based around ensuring that a clean sheet was kept. Reigate continued to press, with the ball rarely entering their half. Any through balls that were sent long were mopped up by Hunter and Thompson and then distributed around to the full backs Mark Childs and captain Matt Bennett.
Chances were few a far between during the second half and Reigate should have had more, with great chances being squandered by David Short missing an open goal and Cobb falling backwards in the area when trying to get a shot away. The best of the Fareham chances came from a well worked short corner routine, however this was easily saved by Williams to ensure that the clean sheet was kept. Fareham lost their tempers as fitness failed them in the final 10 minutes, with 2 players being sent for a cool off period in the sin-bin.
The 2-0 win meant that Reigate leapfrogged Fareham to 4th in the league, and now makes for a very interesting run-in to the end of the season, with other teams around them dropping points. The aim has to be now to push for 3rd to take momentum into the close season.
Reigate Priory 1st v Winchester 2nd - (4-1) - Saturday 27th March
Reigate Priory 1st v Trojans 1st - (4-3) - Saturday 20th February
Reigate Priory 1st v Oxted 2nd - (5-2) - Saturday 13th February 2010
Priory aimed to continue their fine form against a young Oxted side at Reigate Grammar School. Reigate suffered from a lack of availibilty wit playmaker Dan Byfield and youngsters Jon Smith and Mark Childs out, with Will Goulding, making his 1st team debut, and Jonathan Lewis-Oliver coming up from the Seconds.
Both teams started the game with a high tempo, moving the ball well between the midfield. It did not take long for the first goal to come, with Reigate breaking quickly to allow Dave Short to finish smartly after only 5 minutes. Reigate continued in much a similar fashion playing flowing hockey, although it was evident that Oxted were a team that are happy to play quick counter attacking hockey. Priory then scored a second from open play with Simon Owen, after Stephen Cobb intercepted the ball, selflessly squaring the ball for a tap in finish.
It was then Oxted that scored next, with a well struck reverse stick shot beating the helpless keeper Henry Williams. Reigate responded immediately with a well taken goal by Ben Van Pelt. This gave Reigate a lead of 3-1 and the needed breathing space to settle into the match, after a manic start to the game.
Oxted didn't let their performance dip and continued to press across the park, resulting in them scoring another reverse stick shot. 3-2. Again though Reigate responded almost immediately when a shot corner routine didn't come off as anticipated, meaning that Andy Porter had to adjust to get a shot off, which was deflected past the logged keeper. 4-2 with Reigate back in control of the game. With the half coming an end, Reigate's top scorer James Chesterton added to his tally with a well taken goal, giving Reigate a lead of 5-2.
The half time team talk was based around there being more goals in the match and that we had to ensure that it was scored by Reigate to ensure that the game was closed out.
The second half was completely different though, with man of the match Matt Puddephat giving Reigate a great outlet down the left hand side. Oxted had the better of the possession with the Reigate defence remaining strong, despite going down to 10 men twice, when defenders Goulding and Hunter were sin-binned
The final score of 5-2 was a great result for Reigate who are now 7th in the league, and remain undefeated in 2010.
The coming fixture against Trojans away will prove to be a difficult match. On Sunday the team play Epsom in the Surrey Cup at Reigate Grammar School in what promises to be an edgy match
Team:
Williams, Hunter, Thompson, Goulding, Bennett, Porter, Owen, Puddephat, Lewis-Oliver, Chesterton, Van Pelt, Cobb
Reigate Priory I v Epsom I - (2-2) - Saturday 6th February 2010
On Saturday Reigate Priory had a difficult away trip Epsom who sat second in the league. Both teams were expectant of a result, with Epsom having beaten Oxted 4-2 the previous week and Reigate beating third UCL 1-0.
The game kicked off to a high tempo, with Epsom catching Reigate napping with an early ariel ball over the top of the Reigate defence for the Epsom striker to latch onto. Fortunately the striker took the ball wide around the Reigate keeper, and missed from a tight angle. This set the tone for the match, with both teams fielding strong, experienced midfield line ups, with Reigate's Simon Owen and Dan Byfield exchanging well under pressure.
Epsom had the better of the opening exchange, but it was Reigate who scored first when a penalty stroke was awarded for an Epsom foot on the line. James Chesterton stepped up to dispatch his 15th league goal of the season. The game continued to remain tight, with both teams transferring the ball well. Epsom continued to have the better of the territorial play; however Reigate looked dangerous on the break with the pace of Ben Van Pelt and Stephen Cobb causing Epsom problems up front. Epsom then levelled when they found a rare bit of space at the top of the Reigate area and played a pass into the far post for a well executed tap in goal. The half finished 1-1 with both teams looking to press home an advantage in the second half.
The second half continued in much the same manner, with Epsom having the better of the territory resulting in them winning a short corner which they did not convert thanks to the strong running of Andy Porter.
Reigate then scored in somewhat fortunate circumstances; a simple pass from the Epsom right back to the centre of the pitch was closed down well by Dave Short, with the defender having little choice but to clear the back off the back. However, the Epsom goalkeeper made a reflex save off the clearance with the rebound bouncing straight back into the lap of Short who calmly finished to give Reigate the lead. Reigate 2 Epsom 1.
Epsom remained undeterred and pressed on, believing that they would be able to get something out of the tight game. The Reigate defensive back line had coped well throughout, with Chad Hunter and Matt Thompson working well together at the back. Epsom the won another short corner, which this time they made the most of, with a well executed routine to deflect the ball past Reigate keeper Henry Williams.
The match then changed on 62 minutes when Reigate captain Matt Bennett accidently caught the Epsom striker in the mouth with his stick when tracking back. Tempers flared, and when the umpires saw the blood on the Epsom striker they had little option but to sin-bin the skipper for the remainder of the match. Epsom cleverly pressed the advantage of the extra man and won a number of short corners, with the best opportunity coming when Williams was required to make a triple save to keep the Epsom strikers at bay.
The match finished 2-2, which was a fair result for both teams, and meant that Reigate remain unbeaten since the Christmas break.
Reigate captain Matt Bennett said afterwards, "Although this is the best result the club has ever had against Epsom, we feel we could have got more out of the match. We eventually did well to hold onto the point under difficult circumstances. Henry kept us in it towards the end, although it's wrong to single him out, as it was a great team performance; the forwards worked tirelessly throughout, and the midfield put in a strong performance. We need to continue to build on this an gain momentum to push up the league."
Reigate play Oxted II at the Hertswood pitch at 2.00pm push back, in what will be a difficult match.
Team:
Williams, Bennett (c), Hunter, Thompson, Porter, Puddephat, Byfield, Owen, Smith, Short, Chesterton, Cobb, Van Pelt