Oh Jeez… Cheam lose out to OGs

This Saturday saw Cheam’s 3rd XI travel to Weybridge and enter the privileged and pristine grounds of St George’s College. Perhaps we were overcome with shock and awe at our surroundings, which left us unable to fully focus on the game at hand, because we departed this capitalist utopia with no points following a 5-1 loss at the hands of Old Georgians. Rumours quickly spread that tears were seen on my face after the match, but alas it was just a natural reaction to hearing that the termly fees for such facilities are an eye-watering £6000… Honest. *sniffle*

Reflecting on the match itself, it would be fair to say that it was a tale of two halves. In the first half we conceded through individual mistakes, whilst in the second half we conceded as more of a team. Surely that counts as progress…

OGs first goal came from a short-corner, which was drilled towards Cheam’s resident Ginny Weasley at the far post. Managing to get my stick on it, my control was about as firm and assertive as a Stephen Hawking handshake, and we all watched as the ball listlessly roll over the goal-line. Many apologies to Blossom followed… But I was not alone in my efforts to help OGs score, as new recruit Taylor decided to do his best Gary Cahill impression and pass the ball straight to the opposition’s centre-forward for a one-on-one (For what it’s worth, I thought it was the spitting-image. Halloween costume sorted mate). In the second half Cheam were overrun time and time again by OGs breaking forward in numbers with pace and precision. At times it was hard to believe that some of these players were in the same league as us. Very hard. But three more goals sealed Cheam’s fate, and our hunt for points continues for another week.

However, despite our frustrations, I can’t walk away from this weekend without taking some positives from this fixture. Resident hero (and full-time legend) Steve proved once again why he should pack-in that goalkeeping nonsense and start playing up-front all of the time. With another first-half goal to his name, Steve is making the bookies slash their odds on him grabbing this season’s Golden Stick. Furthermore, the cogs of this new team are starting to ease up, helped by the metaphorical oil of hard-work and communication. At times going forward, Cheam played some naughty triangles that would make even Pythagoras blush, with some nice inter-linking play down the flanks. Improvement is there for all to see, and I have no doubt that this team will follow in the footsteps of Disney’s greatest llama, and find its new groove.

If anything though, this weekend will always remind me of the Titanic. Not for any silly analogies or metaphors about sinking ships, because that would be wholly untrue. But those clubhouse showers were so cold that I am sure I heard someone muttering “I’ll never let go” whilst Celine Dion played in the background.