Sevenoaks 2 v 2 Oxted

Sevenoaks got their first point on the board on Sunday with a 2-2 home draw with Oxted.

Sevenoaks made a lightning fast start to the game and could have taken the lead after a matter of seconds when they won the ball off Oxted and fed the ball through to Ian Haley on the top of the D but his reverse stick effort was well saved by the Oxted keeper. They had another opportunity shortly after but again couldn’t capitalise. In their enthusiasm to make a positive start, Oaks left themselves open at the back and with Oxted’s first foray forwards they scored a scrappy goal to go 1-0 up after only 3 minutes. Sevenoaks responded positively to the goal and earned themselves three penalty corners to give them a shot to get back into the game, but they were unable to breach the Oxted defence. That was until the 24th minute when an attack down the right-hand side ended with the ball being pulled back for Andrew Ross whose ball across goal was tapped in by man of the match James Thomas to draw the sides level at 1-1. Oxted were still causing Oaks a few issues at the back and had a couple of penalty corners and a disallowed goal prior to half-time. As the interval approached another attack down the right saw Ross feed Ed Matts who cut in onto his reverse a rifled a low shot past the keeper into the near post to make it 2-1 to Oaks, and that was how it remained at half-time.

Sevenoaks made an horrendous start to the second half; straight from the pushback they turned the ball over, gifting Oxted possession deep in their half, and they were able to work the ball into the D where it was scrambled into the back of the net to make it 2-2. Chances were few and far between after this, with both sides being wasteful in attack. Oaks forced a good save from the goalkeeper when Sam George fired across goal on the reverse, whilst Oxted had a penalty corner well defended by the Oaks defensive unit. The game got scrappy and frenetic, with lots of turnover of possession, as neither side was able to fully dominate the game. Oaks had more possession and territory but were unable to turn this into good goal scoring opportunities, and the game ended with the two sides locked at 2-2.

It was a good response from Sevenoaks to bounce back from a disappointing defeat on the opening game week, but they will rue missed opportunities in the first half which could have set them up for three points rather than one. Next week they are at home again, this time against Canterbury on Sunday at 2pm. Once again, all support is welcome as Oaks search for their first three points of the season.