It was an overcast day in Teddington but the hockey today was certainly not dull. The opposition was the only side in the South League that the team had not beaten and Loughts had a point to prove. The game was played at a very fast pace and both sides showed considerable skill and desire.
Loughts forced the first penalty corner after a fine run down the flank by captain Conor Caplan. However, although Mark Loughrey's well disguised flick was struck with power it went agonisingly past the left post. Teddington, on the other hand managed to convert their first corner when Matt Daly flicked with power into the top of the net. The award of the corner was contentious as the Teddington forward was adjudged to have been prevented from being given a clear path to an aerial ball deep into the back of our penalty area even though he seemed to be some distance away.
Loughts went 2 down 5 minutes later when a long ball was hit into the penalty area and we did not quite manage to snub out the threat. Tom Watson then stepped up to score the first of his goals. This followed a snaking determined run from Harvey Edwards who is beginning to show good form as the season progresses. At 2-1 Loughts began to get a foothold in the game and it looked as if we might just begin to gain the ascendency. CIA man Jack Tranter in goal was showing fine form and made some important and impressive saves. As we pressed forward for an equaliser, we failed to tackle effectively and close down the attacker and conceded a third goal.

At half time our strategy was clear: we needed to move the ball with energy and tempo to break through the Teddington 5 man high press. Sadly we were opened up in the first minute of the second half and conceded a fourth goal. Watson scored his second within a minute to throw us a lifeline. However, despite an heroic effort from the whole team, who played with energy and commitment through the second half, we were just not able to score a third goal to bring us closer.
Teddington deserved to win this game as they were more clinical in front of goal. This was however a game that might have been as we created a number of gilt edged chances and felt that one or two decisions did not quite go our way.