Sevenoaks slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Team Bath Buccaneers on Sunday. Having opened the season with a solid 2-0 away win against Old Cranleighans, Oaks were looking to build on that in their first home game of the season.

Unfortunately a slow start saw Bath dominate the opening exchanges and their pressure was rewarded with an early penalty corner. The initial shot was stopped on the line by Craig Morton but with his body rather than his stick, providing Bath with an opportunity from the penalty spot. The penalty stroke was duly dispatched by the Bath player into the top left corner, leaving Richard Potton in the Oaks goal with no chance. Things went from bad to worse when a midfield turnover led to a foul challenge by Ian Haley in the middle of the pitch, which saw the umpire, rather harshly, pull out a yellow card for Haley. Oaks weathered the storm and ended the first quarter just 1-0 down.

The second quarter continued in much the same vein, with Bath playing some excellent hockey. No sooner had Oaks got back to eleven men, were they back to ten again. This time Nathan Palmer was sent to the sin-bin. A 50:50 challenge saw the Bath forward nip in just ahead of Palmer. Whilst no doubt a foul, once again the umpire by-passed the green card and reached straight for the yellow, much to the bemusement of everyone watching. Oaks dug in and defended extremely well for ten minutes and kept Bath at bay. Frustrations with how the game was progressing almost boiled over when an identical offence to Palmer’s by a Bath player saw only a free hit awarded, with no further punishment.

Once back to their full numbers, Oaks managed to get a foothold in the game and managed to earn a couple of penalty corners just before half time. The first effort from Paul Macleod beat the keeper but was brilliantly saved off the line by the Bath player. The second effort from Macleod also beat the keeper but was again saved by the Bath player on the line. This time the rebound fell to Ben Selby but his goal bound effort was unbelievably repelled again by the same defender. Three goal line clearances in the space of two minutes maintained Bath's lead going into the break with the half time score 1-0 to the visitors.

Oaks started the third quarter how they ended the second - on the front foot. They were starting to enjoy a lot more possession and territory, limiting Bath to the odd counter attack. The Oaks pressure was rewarded with a penalty corner around five minutes into the period. This time Macleod found the back of the net to draw the sides level at 1-1. Oaks could and should have taken the lead - two guilt-edged chances fell to Macleod, first an aerial pass to Allberry down the left was played into Macleod’s path in the D for a free shot on goal but his goal-bound effort was tame and easily saved by the Bath keeper. Second, a ball down the right channel was deflected in the air across goal where Macleod was unmarked at the far post but his volley was touched wide of the post.

The fourth quarter became a bit more end to end as both sides sought a winner. Potton made a couple of smart saves to keep Bath out, but on the whole there were few clear cut chances to win the game. Bath won a penalty corner with around five minutes remaining and from the resulting set piece the goal bound effort was only partially saved by Potton and the ball slowly drifted over the goal line to give Bath a 2-1 lead. Oaks responded well and ended the game camped in the Bath half. With the last play of the game they won a penalty corner and had a golden opportunity to level the game, however the goal bound flick was charged down by a combination of the Bath defender’s stick and shin pad, but no there was no re-award and the full time whistle was blown.

A disappointing defeat for Oaks who will look to bounce back next weekend away to Oxford Hawks on Saturday evening.