Eastcote 1 Banbury 3
Eastcote fell at the first fence in the England Hockey Cup after player-coach Adam Mulholland gave some younger second team players a chance against Banbury, who play two divisions higher.
They did impress in the Sunday clash as they held the visitors 1-1 for a long time following a goal by Mark Defanis from a Mulholland aerial flick.
Dutch schoolboy Bart Bedet shone and Peter Thomas was calm in defence but scoring chances were not taken and a fractious period in the second half saw the teams temporarily reduced to eight versus nine, Banbury with the man advantage. Calm was finally restored but it was the visitors who went ahead from a needlessly conceded short corner and a last minute strike gave Banbury a rather flattering result.
That came a day after Eastcote withstood a two-goal fightback to edge past Yateley 4-3 and claim a closer than expected victory in their penultimate friendly. The Boars were always generally in control but were never able to truly dominate. An early goal by Bedet was cancelled out to leave it level at the break before a superb start to the second half saw Eastcote go 3-1 up with goals from Defanis and new signing Ben Green.
The Hampshire side levelled at 3-3 but with only minutes left the Boars won a short corner and Mulholland sent in a drag flick hard and low that skipper David Copper deflected home.
The men's section fielded all 11 of their sides with many new players making their debuts. The second team drew 3-3 with Mill Hill firsts and the Simbas, the fifth team, gained a 3-2 win against Rick-mansworth first XI. This Saturday the firsts complete their pre-season programme at home to City of Portsmouth at 1.30pm.
The ladies drew 0-0 with Southampton and beat Clifton 2-0 in a triangular tournament on the south coast ahead of the first team's opening league game at old rivals Teddington on Saturday.
Iren Hall starred in defence in the goalless draw and goals from Liz Walker and Claire Devereaux gave them a comprehensive 2-0 win over Clifton.
Colts coaching on Sunday mornings is in full swing with many new players joining and more welcome.
The U14 girls came from behind to pip Reading 2-1 in their first Home Counties Development League game. Olivia Simmons and Lucy Allen turned the game on its head after half-time. [25a0] Old Uxonians Ladies went down 5-3 to neighbours Hayes in a pre-season friendly despite goals from Jo Harper (2) and Lisa Kinder.
The man of the match vote was split by newcomer Laurie Tostevin and Amanda Smy.
