Veterans
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03 Oct - Lewes Priors 2 Oxted Moonshiners 3

Oxted's over 40's side started the defence of their Sussex Veterans League title with a valuable win against a hard working Lewes side. The first game of the season is always tough, and every year there is a sneaking suspicion in the Oxted camp that the early morning start is calculated to make things even harder for the visitors. It was a slightly nervous start for Oxted but the first half was frenetic. Lewes probably had more of the game, closing down Oxted quickly and never letting them settle. A great poacher's goals from the ever-present Andy Duncan found the 'Shiners drawing one-each at half time. In the second half the visitors started to put a few more concerted attacks together and looked more threatening. Again a chance fell to Duncan who slotted home, putting the 'Shiners ahead. Further chances fell to Steve Douty and Terry Higgs but both eschewed the opportunities. Higgs then picked up a loose ball and nailed one home with his trademark denting of the backboard and index finger aloft. In the last few minutes Lewes consoled themselves with a second but it was too late to make a difference to the result. It wasn't the prettiest of games but good solid effort paid off for Oxted. These three points will be valuable towards the business end of the season.

Oxted Moonshiners: Howgate, Murch, Sabin, Todd, Trim, Pugh, Wallace, Douty, Duncan , Higgs, Francis, Forster
Umpire: Conquest

14th Oct - National Veterans Cup, Oxted 5 Teddington 5 (2-3 after penalties)

0-4 after 20 minutes, therefore a drubbing on the cards? Not so, with less than 2 minutes to play Oxted were 5-4 up, a spirited performance putting the team into a winning position, 2 goals from Paul Greenwood, 1 each form Steve "I thought it was a 3pm start" Douty, Peter Cooper-Parry, and a net breaker from Murray Novell. Sadly, a cruel deflection from a half-hit shot off captain Mark Sabin's stick allowed Teddington to take the game to penalty flicks, in which they took advantage of 3 misses from the Oxted side to win the game. So near and yet so far, the National Plate competition now beckons for Oxted.

Team: Tory, Conquest, Sabin, Murch, Foggin, Jones, Greenwood, Hopkins, Riley, Douty, Cooper-Parry, Novell  Ump: Higgs

29th Sept - Lewes Priors 1 Oxted Moonshiners 5

The opening Saturday of the season for Oxted’s veterans’ side follows a routine nowadays. Oxted make their way down to Lewes to meet a team who have won the league five times in its eight year history, and just to make things interesting, it’s always an early morning start.

This year, though, there was a subtle difference. Oxted are the current champions and there was an air of confidence about the side, even in the absence of skipper Mark Sabin. It was clear from the very start that Lewes held no fears for them. For the first ten minutes or so, possession was all with the ‘Shiners. Perhaps nobody wanted to over extend themselves whilst they got their eye in. Whatever the reason, Oxted let the ball do the work - passing the ball around and taking their time to seek out weaknesses in the home side’s defence. Oxted probed and pushed, pinning Lewes back into their own half.

The first break came with a short corner. Mike McGhee stepped up for the shot and fired low with trademark accuracy beyond the reach of the keepers left. Jason Weber harried and hassled Lewes in his midfield role, and was rewarded soon after with a run in on goal and shot which wrong footed the Lewes keeper for goal number two. The midfield chalked up another ten minutes or so later with Mark Wallace, a recent welcome addition to the side, scoring in similar vein. Martin Murch was a stalwart in his newly acquired right back role, and his ability to bring the ball forward as a play-maker gave Oxted many chances to advance. Duncan Taylor again covered as much ground as anyone, and Steven Douty had a solid performance down the right.

Another feature to this game was that Oxted didn’t take the foot off the gas – this time last year Lewes were 3-0 down and came out eventual winners. But the ‘Shiners seemed to have learned their lesson. The away side continued with the possession game and although Lewes tried to counter, the ‘Shiners made the pressure tell. An attack down the left resulted in a hit in off the side for Oxted. Tim Forster saw Peter Cooper-Parry had started a run, and finding him with quick ball, Cooper-Parry deflected with a deft touch into goal while the defence were still collecting themselves.

Mike Mcghee then rounded things off with goal number five. This is as good a start as Oxted’s veterans has made in this lead and it bodes well for the season to come.

Oxted Moonshiners - Howgate, Conquest, Todd, Trim, Wallace, Douty, McGhee, Weber, Forster, Cooper-Parry, D. Jones, Murch