Match reports 2017/18 Season
29th April - Oxford Isis 1 - Basingstoke Bulls 1 (3-16)
Goals: Ellie, DanT, Paul
The first half didn't look the way we wanted and we spent it mostly on the back foot, making mistakes in defence and making lots of mis-passes in the attack. These originated largely from our lack of movement, where players didn't move after the pass, whether to create a new shooting position for a return pass, or into a dynamic feed position. Often we were stagnant and watching the rest of the division struggle in despair rather than contributing by sharp movement and asking for the ball. Lack of passing options then resulted in passing to players who weren't free or were out of position. When we eventually did get free for some shot, we took it regardless of how good the position was and what the rest of the was division doing, often from far out, so our collect didn't work either.#
To our slight surprise, the half ended with the score being 'only' 3:9 down, and we set ourselves to improve the movement and passing and focus on choosing shots. We did improve on the first two points as well as in defence, but the shots we took didn't want to go in, and we missed even the easiest chances including penalties due to the frustration and lack of confidence. In korfball, many things have to click in together - whether it is movement with passing, shooting with collecting, collecting with after-shot movement, shooting with confidence, and these things didn't really click in for us on the day. On the other hand, the team we were against was largely made of players with many years of regional league experience - and our ability to improve throughout the match and togetherness when everything played against us were great to see.
Apart from Matt Moore who got MVP from the opposition for making good decisions and adding physicality and height, and Venetia getting my MVP for hugely contributing with her movement and efficient marking of the best girl on the pitch, I'd like to praise our newer players Ellie and DanT for getting on the score sheet and all the fantastic progress they've made this season.
Coach's MVP: Venetia
Opposition nominated MVP: Matt Moore
22nd April - Oxford Isis 2 vs Abingdon 3 (16-8)
Goals: DanT (6), DanF (4), DanC (2), Catherine, Debbie, Joe, Frances
A great win to end the season! We were comfortably in the lead throughout which is always a nice feeling, with only a short moment in the second half where Abingdon picked up the pace a bit. Great dynamic attacks, and (Frances is so pleased!) much better colleting, meaning that when we did miss a shot we were still continuing the attack and getting more chances. Defence wise, there were lots of stopped feeds meaning they had very few running in shots, no doubt to their frustration. Coach's MVP goes to DanF for his strong patient defence against a very physical, angry player and still scoring 4 goals. Although DanT of course deserves a special mention for his fantastic 6 goals!
Thank you so much to everyone who has played for Isis 2 this year, it's been a really enjoyable season where you've grown from strength to strength - roll on next year!
Coach's MVP: DanF
15th April - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 2 (7-12)
This game was a bit up and down. We quite quickly were down by 5 goals, but managed to bring this level just before half time and finished the first half just 1 goal down. We performed well in the beginning of the second half but then stopped scoring, meaning despite strong defence from us they ended up 5 goals ahead. To improve for next time we need to keep working on our shooting accuracy by regularly training, and focus on good collecting so that we recycle the ball when we do miss. Still, some fantastic dynamic movement from us and stunning defence so a good performance other than the scoring! Coach's MVP is DanC who did a fantastic job defending their most experienced player, Darren, who can run in and also score long shots, too.
Coach's MVP: DanC
8th April - Oxford Isis 1 vs Didcot Dragons 1 (11-11)
Goals: DanT (3), Ellie (2), DanF (2), Venetia, Kate, Frances, MattC
With the majority of first team players unavailable, it was the opportunity for the second/third team players to shine and so they did! Didcot have very athletic and agile players and we needed to demonstrate our ability to both defend and attack as a team and bring the benefits of the club drills and tactics. Considering the shortness of first team players and the fact that the opposition came pretty much in at full strength, it was not an easy task by any means. But each player put a huge shift in and the efforts were amazing. It's hard to pick only a few players to mention as everyone did so well, but defensive switching between Frances and Venetia was superb on every occasion. DanT played great considering he was poorly and couldn't breathe or run very well, It was a first team debut for David, and all our girls should be proud for allowing only 3 goals from their very strong girls. Overall extreme happiness as despite odds our team got 2 points for a draw and showed great character throughout.
Opposition MVP: Ellie
Coach's MVP: DanT
25th March - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford City 3 (9-6)
Goals: MattM (3), Ellie (2), DanF (2), Kate, Venetia
Yay we won! The first half was tough, we were down 3-1 at one point. We were winning by one at half time and knew we needed to come out believing in ourselves that we could win. We showed fantastic defensive work, really limiting their shots and calling feeds nice and early allowing us to stop any running in shots. We also had some great shots ourselves - well done Matt for your hat trick! A time-out a few minutes before the end allowed us to refocus and hold our nerve to a comfortable win - so well done everyone. Coach's MVP goes to Ellie for an absolute textbook free pass she scored, all round energy and great play.
Opposition MVP: MattM
Coach's MVP: Ellie
25th March - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Isis 3 (21-6)
Isis 2 goals: Kate (5), MattM (4), Ellie (3), DanF (3), Debbie (2), Joe (2), Venetia, MattC
Isis 3 goals: Lewis (2), Hiroe, David, Catherine, Carlos
It's always tough playing an inter-club game, we all know each other's moves so winning's never a given, even if on paper Isis 2 should win. But we put on a great show of dynamic korfball that was lovely to see. We should continue to focus on how we use all the space around the post, but we were definitely doing this better as the game went on. In the second team, it was lovely to see everyone score and the team thinking about sharing the ball around to give everyone opportunities - this makes better korfball all round. Isis 2 coach's MVP has to be Kate with a fantastic 5 goals, scoring all but one of her penalties very confidently. Isis 3 coach's MVP was Catherine for keeping her cool despite some very frustrating attacks, finding great space and movement and topping it off with a well deserved goal!
Isis 2 coach's MVP: Kate
Isis 3 coach's MVP: Catherine
18th March - Oxford Isis 2 vs Didcot 2 (9-14)
Goals: DanF (3), Kate (2), Frances (2), DanC (2)
What a game. Fiercely fought on our behalf, bringing us to a 5:4 lead at half time. Sadly in the second half they got a few quick goals, and whilst we stepped up our defence we couldn't match it with enough goals to regain the lead. Still, it's a game we can be proud of, lots of shooting and some good defence. Things to continue to work on are stopping feeds, being vocal about calling feed/tight, and collecting the ball in attack and defence - so that we get as many shots as possible, and reducing the attacks for our opponents. Coach's MVP is Hiroe for excellent play against a girl twice her height, who was fouling her a lot un-noticed by the ref. Hiroe also managed to defend lots of her opponent's shots which was fantastic!
Opposition MVP: Frances
Coach's MVP: Hiroe
18th March - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 3 (12-10)
Goals: DanT (7), Joe (2), Hiroe, Andrew, Graham
Another fantastic win for the third team! It took us a while to get going but then the goals started flowing, we were ahead for the whole of the first half but Abingdon remained close behind. They really ramped up the pressure in the second half and were able to draw level. It was 9 goals a piece as we entered the last quarter which made for a very exciting (if not a little stressful) end to the game. We regrouped, held our nerve and developed some really great attacks which resulted in 3 goals in quick succession and our defence held its own until the end!
Another strong performance from everyone! A great team effort, too many highlights to mention, so to name just a few...DanT delivered another faultless performance and scored a whopping 7 goals winning him MVP from our opponents. A superb match debut from Graham (who also bagged a goal right when we needed it the most!). A great defensive effort from Mary and Catherine who were marking very strong, established Abingdon players. Coach's MVP goes to Malin for another consistent performance, working tirelessly in both attack and defence and assisted in creating many of our goals. A win to remember and a fantastic game to watch!
Opposition MVP: DanT
Coach's MVP: Malin
4th March - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford City 4 (9-10)
Goals: DanC (3), DanT (3), Ellie (2), Venetia
This was a hard fought game against City 4 who always field a really strong team, many of whom regularly play for higher teams. It was close throughout thanks to our super-strong defence that really limited their shooting opportunities, as you can see from the low score-line. At half time we were 2 down and did well to come back out fighting in the second half. Frances was impressed to see lot of shots go up from everyone and 2 fantastic hat-tricks from the Dans! With 1 goal in it in the last few minutes it could have been a different story, but sadly this time a loss. Coach's MVP is Debbie who played really well throughout, helping direct her division and ensuring a strong defence, and was also so helpful as a second coach.
Opposition MVP: Ellie
Coach MVP: Debbie
25th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 3 (8-4)
Goals: DanT (2), Joe (2), David (2), MattC, John
A fantastic match which saw us win convincingly over our rivals Abingdon! We were ahead from the start and never let our opponents pose much of a threat. We attacked well, defended flawlessly and our passing was on point! A really great performance from every single player; Diana and Susie defended amazingly...presenting what can only be described as a defensive firewall! Malin and Naomi did brilliantly and continue to improve week on week. Another assured performance from Hiroe and David whose persistence in attack eventually paid off with 2 second half goals! Coach's MVP this week goes to Chloe who did so well against her opponent, created space and opportunities and was very unlucky not to score after putting up some great shots! Thanks to everyone who played in the second team game who stayed to watch/sub on and offer support/experience both on and off the field, it was great to have so much support from the sidelines and definitely helped spur us on to victory! Can't wait to play the same team in a couple of weeks time and hopefully win by an even bigger margin!
Opposition MVP: Andrew
Coach's MVP: Chloe
25th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Didcot 2 (9-6)
Goals: DanT (5), MattC (3), CatherineB
Wow, great game 2nd team! We were very evenly matched with Didcot 2 and didn't that show in the first half! Despite a sterling effort from the attack, we just couldn't break through their defence and they had exactly the same problem with our defence. We entered half time with the score 1-0 to Didcot and then came out fighting. With a few tweaks here and there, we broke the deadlock and our shots started falling right. It was great teamwork and the divisions really gelled. Incredible shooting from MattC with a hat trick and DanT with 5 goals in half an hour, which earned him a well deserved opposition MVP. Coach's MVP goes to Catherine B for coming in to attack after 5 mins and scoring a fantastic goal straightaway.
Opposition MVP: DanT
Coach's MVP: CatherineB
18th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 2 (8-15)
Goals: Kate (2), MattC (2), DanT (2), Chiya, Debbie
We started the game with energy and determination to challenge the second best team in the table. Despite conceding the first four goals of the game, we kept our heads help up, tightened the defence and became more daring in attack which got us nearly level on goals. At half time we were still trailing by two goals but there was very little between us and them in terms of quality in attack and defence. However, with the time ticking and many of our players having played another match earlier, we started to lose energy and that was the reason why we didn't defend as closely, while in attack we didn't do the right things; instead of waiting patiently for the right chance by lots of passes all around the post (which of course require a lot of movement and energy), we rushed shots after only a pass or two, which then allowed the opposition to collect these shots. When we have the energy we can play really well and are a force to challenge even the best in the division, but we need to work on our stamina to maintain such tempo for 60 minutes. Everyone tried really hard in this game, but the MVP goes to Carlos for an assured display winning dozens of successful collects and picking free players immediately, despite carrying a leg injury.
Coach's MVP: Carlos
18th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Oxford City 4 (6-10)
Goals: David (2), Joe (2), DanT, Debbie
Another compelling performance form the third team against City's 'fourth' team who, as always, included a wealth of experienced players. We got off to a flying start taking an early lead, matching (if not outplaying) City's strong attacks and fast tempo. We went into half time level at 6 goals a piece. During the second half we continued to fight fiercely, but City just had the edge and went ahead. We panicked and started to rush our attacks and often lost the ball. It ended 10-6 to City but to keep a goal difference of only four goals against a team as strong and experienced as this City team is very impressive. A great performance from everyone, notably DanT and Hiroe who excelled against two very strong players. Well done team!!
Opposition's MVP: Joe for 2 great goals and all round strong performance.
11th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Uni 2 (16-9)
Goals: MattM (6), Ellie (4), Kate (3), Catherine, Joe, DanT
Our team gave everything to this match and took a very deserved victory after a focused and hearty performance. Our front defence was good and communication caused the opposition problems and our attacks presented a lot of creativity with a wide range of shots from all types of angles. Although we were down a couple of goals halfway through the first half, the focus and determination gave us the lead again. As the goal advantage was getting bigger, so was our ability to improvise and create in attack. When we lost the ball after a shot and went for a full-on-8-player tight defence to get it back, this was often achieved within seconds. The opposition excelled in converting chances, but we definitely matched their renowned athleticism despite having only 5 boys and 4 girls.
Kate scored a hat-trick, Ellie a personal record of 4 goals, and MattM got opposition's MVP for an assured display around the post, leadership and scoring 6 goals. John got Martin's MVP for a concentrated effort against a strong boy and ever-growing confidence in both attack and defence.
Opposition named MVP: MattM
Coach's MVP: John
11th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Buckingham Royals 1 (8-35)
Goals: DanT (2), Joe (2), Catherine, Chiya, Naveen, David
Yet another tough match against the unbeatable top of the league Bucks side. We got off to an amazing start, scoring 2 goals in the opening 2 minutes. We were playing so well and perhaps for the first time this season Bucks were on the back foot and were certainly caught off guard by our strong attacks! They managed to draw level and then sneak ahead but we remained close behind, going into half time just a few goals down and with 7 goals to our name. Stern words must have been had at half time as they came into the second half back to their old selves with their trademark effortless goals and gained an unreachable lead. We struggled to get through their tough defence and just couldn't put up the shots we were able to in the first half. It ended 35-8 to Bucks but to put this in perspective this was 2 more goals than when we played them last time and 4 more than City (who played them just before we did). No MVP this week as a truly fantastic performance from everyone against the strongest team not just in the OKA league 2 but perhaps the korfing world (I ain't kidding...they are machines!).
Opposition named MVP: DanT
4th February - Oxford Isis 1 vs Didcot Dragons 1 (13-11)
Goals: MattC (5), Paul (3), Chiya (2), MattM (2), Pete
We didn't start well - they seem to have been more lively from the start and scored 4 quick goals before we started responding with goals too. It was a nerve-biting match from start 'til end, with lots of chances created and often missed on both sides, and with the ref giving lots of free passes and penalties. The opponents are a rejuvenated, athletic and skilful side made largely from experienced players coming in from other clubs, and they made our lives very difficult. At half-time as we were trailing 4:8 we pushed ourselves to remain positive, believe in our shooting and gave it a real go, copying our recent efforts against Abingdon 1. And this is what we precisely did - our shots dropped in more frequently, and our defence hardened even more, with girls especially topping the opponents with energy and decisiveness. The second half was won by an incredible result of 9:3 and that was enough to see us get another 4 points for a well-deserved win. Matt C got MVP from the opposition for exemplary play in both defence and attack and for scoring 5 goals, which is superb for a player who primarily prefers helping others to score by his movement, feeds and collects. Chiya got MVP from me (Martin) for the passionate display throughout, and for the very important goal scored in the last minutes where she converted the chance under lots of pressure from underneath the basket. A win to remember - well done to all!
Opposition named MVP: MattC
Coach's MVP: Chiya
4th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Bucks Royals 2 (19-4)
This was always going to be a tough game, but for me (Frances), the 3rd team games are all about getting out there, playing the best korfball we can and enjoying it. We certainly did that. Bucks clearly scored a lot of goals, which is to be expected, but we did not give up! At half-time we were 10:1 down so reset with the aim of scoring two more goals in the second half -which we did! Overall it was a well fought game that I hope everyone enjoyed, it was a pleasure to see such good play from the sidelines. A special well done to Naomi who played her first game but did amazingly, you wouldn't know it was her first time by the way she played with strong defence and a few shots at goal. Coach's MVP goes to Hiroe for great play and an awesome goal!
Coach's MVP: Hiroe
4th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford City (8-8)
Goals: DanC (3), DanT (2), Catherine, John, Joe
This was a tense game against a strong City 4 side who fielded a number of very experienced players we are more used to seeing in their second team. We put on a good show in general with some lovely attacks at times. Defence-wise we were focussing on calling the feeds, preventing them where possible and watching for runners. We did well here, as only 8 goals conceded shows. We do need to work on keeping our composure, particularly around passing. We had many rushed attacks with little possession, making it hard to increase our score. We need to work on this going forwards, keeping our confidence and our heads held high. The last 5 minutes were a true testament to the strong team - it was 8:8 for the whole time and we managed not to concede any goals and hold them to a draw. Coach's MVP goes to Pascale who was a late addition to the team and came out fighting (as always) and was really strong against her good girl opposition.
Coach's MVP: Pascale
28th January - Oxford Isis 1 vs Abingdon Atoms 1 (8-11)
Goals: Pete (3), Frances (2), MattC, DanF, DanT
We started well especially in defence and the good work in attack wasn't rewarded with goals as our shots were constantly bouncing off the basket. At half-time (score 2:5) we must have had at least 50 shots, and scoring 2 wasn't anything to be happy about, but the work rate was very high and limiting a strong Abingdon team to only 5 goals in 30 minutes was great. We knew that if we kept on defending in the same way, we may still come back into the match if we converted our chances better. However, after the half-time break we made a few individual errors in passing and in concentration in defence which resulted in us trailing by 6-7 goals. But we picked ourselves up, kept on working even harder in both defence and attack and scored quite a few goals on the trot, bringing the score to 3 goals down at the end, which gave us an important point in the league table. If the match had been a bit longer, we would have had a good chance of getting even more as we became more confident in our shooting and we got the opponent worried. We tried lots of variations in divisions and some of them worked better than others; the only thing we were really missing was the ability to convert chances to goals. Anni played very well against an extremely tough opponent, DanF and DanT proved they can be relied on when playing up in tough first divisions, but my MVP goes to Frances who had a painful fall but came out even stronger and scored 2 important goals.
Coach's MVP: Frances
Opposition nominated MVP: Anni
21st January - Oxford Isis 3 vs Didcot 2 (6-16)
Goals: David (2), Edd, Hiroe, Andrew, Joe
We started strongly against a team currently ranked 2nd in the league. We went ahead and really worked well together as a team, working the ball around the post beautifully, in text book 4 zero style. However Didcot's experience enabled them to keep their nerve and they soon drew level and then the goals just kept coming. Every shot they had went in. During the second half we upped our game, developed some strong attacks but these were often cut short, intercepted by our opposition before we had chance to shoot at goal. The last 10 minutes of the match, Didcot began to make some mistakes allowing us to score 3 goals in quick succession, but sadly this wasn't enough to really impact the scoreline. Special mention this week goes to Anabelle and Mary who were both playing their first league game (finally), doing superbly against 2 very strong girls. Next match we really need to work on our passing as we were never really able to keep the ball in our possession for long. Partly due to Didcot's defence but equally attributed to our lazy passes. But all in all another exciting game where individuals continue to improve week on week. Well done!
Coach's MVP: Hiroe
Opposition MVP: David
21st January - Oxford Isis 2 vs Abingdon 3 (10-3)
What a fantastic game! We came out strong and dominated from the start. I was really impressed with our dedication in defence and the power of our attack. It was great to see quality passing and very few silly mistakes, which all led to our well-deserved win. My MVP has to go to DanC for a hat trick in his first game back after being away for a while.
Coach's MVP: DanC
21st January - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford City 3 (17-7)
Goals: Anni (6), Pete (5), Ellie (2), Paul (2), Frances, MattM
We started brilliantly, with the intent to leave no hope to the opposition of any points taking. We were lively and agile, moving quickly, the ball was whizzing about, changing angles and involving every player in a division and that helped us to score a lot of goals in succession. Our defence was greatly improved, with much more control over the post area, with improved communication and team spirit in both defence and attack. The first half result (12:1) was there to leave no doubts about our qualities and improvements over the season. The second half took some of our edge away as both mental and physical tiredness kicked in and the sharpness needed to beat players as well as shooting accuracy were somewhat reduced, but we still dominated in every single way and led the contest to a victorious end. Pete was brilliant in converting chances and penalties and Anni scored an amazing 6. Everyone deserves a praise for their energy and flair - let's bring on Abingdon!
Coach's MVP: Anni
14th January - Oxford Isis 1 vs Farnborough Jets 1 (13-19)
Goals: MattC (3), MattM (3), Frances (2), DanF (2), Anni, Ellie, Paul
A tough match against a very strong opposition playing also regional league exposed a few of our weaknesses but also showed the strength of character and team spirit. We went 4 goals down quickly mainly due to individual mistakes in defence and not converting our chances. We had to strengthen our communication and physical presence in defence, worked really hard on preventing the feeds and did our best to improve collects in both defence and attack. We scored two and traded goals after that, at times remaining within point-scoring distance. Our shooting improved and we started to play with more ease, getting stronger in the areas we needed to improve on. The quality of the opposition was very high to play against, but our ability to match their standards was fantastic. At the end we didn't earn a point for a close loss, but we proved to ourselves we can match even the best. It is good to see goals spread amongst many players, and the MVP goes to Matt Moore for his great decision-making and work around the post as well as three open-game goals.
Coach's MVP: MattM
3rd December - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 2 (4-7)
Goals: Marcus (2), David, Susie
We went into this game knowing it was going to be tough, having played the same team just a few weeks ago and losing 16-4, it was not going to be an easy game. However, little did our opponents realise how hard they were going to have to work for victory! They went ahead early on, but never managed to gain a strong lead. Goals from Marcus and David ensured we kept ourselves in the game, going into half time trailing by just 2 goals.
The second half saw Abingdon come out with a determination to score but they were met by a determined, unwavering Isis defence. The next 25 minutes remained frustratingly goal-less with our attack unable to find a way though the tough Abingdon defence, try as we might we could not get the ball in the net despite some great shots from the attacking division. We did eventually break the deadlock in the last few minutes only for Abingdon to sneak a couple more in before the final whistle.
Another really well played game against an experienced team, another point gained for another very narrow defeat. It's impossible to name every single player who did well ie. everyone, but coach's MVP goes to Susie who came along after a cross country run to be our fourth girl and scored her first league goal! Also special mention to Debbie and Catherine B who were defending solidly for much of the game, keeping the opposition goal tally to a minimum and did some great switching under the post. Opposition MVP went to David for an all round strong performance. Well done team!
Coach's MVP: Susie
Opposition MVP: David
26th November - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford Uni 1 (10-13)
Goals: Anni (3), Paul (3), MattM (2), Ellie MattC
We started in a much better tempo and focus than in the previous match against Uni 1, and combined with the fact that they missed a boy at the start of the game, we gained a good lead of 5 goals. However, when Uni got their remaining boy, they got much stronger, and as a team they upped their game. We did all we could, but the goal advantage was getting smaller with time and the quality was too high especially of the two boys who scored impossible goals at crucial times in the match (one of them plays for Czech Republic U21 and the other one for Hungary U21 - potentially the two best boys in the entire league). These goals came at a time when we thought we could hang on to a tiny lead, and at that time their enthusiasm and athleticism prevailed, however, we still got a point for a narrow loss. If there were areas we need to focus on more, these are converting chances and choosing when to shoot. Often, especially at the beginning of the match, we weren't patient enough to wait for good opportunities and we took shots from far away with other players being out of position. We need to keep our heads cool when the pressure is on and wait until one of us gets an easy chance; the abundance of movement, creating chances and offering options (which we have been focusing on for a long time) doesn't mean we have to take every single of such shooting options - instead it means that we have to work on creating lots of shooting options so that then we can create one that is worth taking in realistic time scope. We tried really hard and we must be proud of the efforts we made. Both Nicola and MattC who played against their strong boys did a great job and not many players in the division could defend so well; Ellie scored her first competitive goal and Anni with Paul deserve MVPs for their attacking prowess and scoring hat-tricks - congratulations!
Coach's MVPs: Anni and Paul
26th November - Oxford Isis 2 vs Abingdon Atoms 2 (10-12)
Goals: DanT (4), Kate (2), Andrew (2), Marcus, Carlos
We started very strongly and took a good lead, owing to (maybe) the fact that we warmed up really well and came to the match much better prepared than sleepy-looking-late-coming players of Abingdon. Our attacks could do with a bit more movement as many times after we passed we didn't offer movement and we didn't offer many dynamic feeds either, apart from Joe who has done it pretty much after every one of his passes. However the agility and willingness to look for scoring options with tenacity in collects meant we created lots of chances. DanT played his usual best, offering diagonal passes and lots of runs, which together with speed of thinking (and of legs) summed up what a wonderful player we have in him. Debbie and Kate offered a strong and stable partnership in both attack and defence, making the lives of the opponents very hard. Pascale's arrival later in the match brought us a lot of control and power, where she had to selflessly play to support others in a division where we went on to play 4on3 after an opponent's girl got injured. I can't name every player who did very well, but the coach's MVP goes to Andrew who scored two goals and didn't put a foot wrong in defence the entire match. Well done team, we nearly took a scalp of the opponents who only recently played in the division above ours!
Opposition MVP: DanT
Coach's MVP: Andrew
19th November - Oxford Isis 3 vs Buckingham Royals 2 (9-11)
Goals: Carlos (4), DanT (2), Hiroe, Andrew, Chiya
An epic match for the third team on Sunday against a very youthful Buckingham Royals 2. We were equally matched pretty much in every sense; speed, stamina, agility and athleticism, which led to a very exciting game with only 1 or 2 goals separating us throughout! Bucks just had the edge and despite a valiant effort they won by a very small margin!
A great contribution from each player with everyone fighting for every ball until the very last second of the game! So many highlights to mention...Carlos played superbly, scoring 4 goals including 2 penalties! Hiroe scored her first korf and continues to be a real threat in attack. Diana was great collecting and again proved solid in defence. Dan T did a great job against Bucks 1's best boy (who's also the second highest scorer in the league), limiting his scoring opportunities and bagging 2 goals himself! It really was a great game and whilst we didn't win we can only build on this amazing performance next time! Well done all!!
19th November - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton Uni 1 (13-16)
Goals: Nicola (4), Anni (2), MattC (2), Pete (2), Venetia, Frances, MattM
We came to the match with a great deal of focus and determination, and took the opposition (league champions from last season) by surprise. They stood on the back foot in both divisions, and it was times of great pride when our division of 3 (Anni, MattC and Nicola) produced some outstanding korf against a division of 4. Movement after passing, running behind their backs, passes turning into feeds and feeds into shots - it all clicked really well for us, and the division short of a girl scored an amazing 8 goals. The other division played superbly too, in an inspired fashion, producing a very agile korf hungry for goals, with players all wanting to help each other score a goal. Frances in particular defended their very strong girl (England U19) amazingly well, while Nicola in the other division outshone their quick and jumpy player and provided not only 4 goals but also plenty of assists and collects. If we play with this flame, we will beat pretty much every team in the league.
Opposition MVP: Frances
Coach's MVP: Nicola
12th November - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Uni 2 (9-6)
Goals: Kate (3), Debbie, Joe, Marcus, Diana, Carlos, Venetia
A convincing win against an inexperienced Uni side. We felt confident throughout, had some good scoring opportunities and nearly everyone scored which was great to see. We could afford to take a bit more time with our shots, particularly running in shots as they were often contacting from behind, giving us penalty shots which Kate was scoring with ease (another great hat-trick from her!). But, my MVP is Venetia, for an energetic attack, especially after playing a full game for Isis 1 just before.
Coach's MVP: Venetia
12th November - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford Uni 1 (6-9)
Goals: Chiya (2), Paul (2), MattC, MattM
We started slowly and gave the other team a huge advantage and plenty of hope for the rest of the match. It was an uphill struggle but we managed to equalise and take the lead, however in later stages the movement was lacking on our side and when our energy started to diminish and easy shots started to miss the target, the opposition's energy and enthusiasm prevailed. Lots of improvements are needed, starting with increased level of mental and physical preparation before the match and continuing with not making mistakes in simple tasks of passing, movement and in choosing positions, shots and passes. The good parts of our game include a very strong defence; Chiya's defence of their strongest girl and MattC's defence of their strongest boy were brilliant plus both chipped in with goals for which they deserve MVPs.
Coach's MVPs: MattC and Chiya
12th November - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 2 (4-16)
Goals: Joe (2), Andrew, Pascale
It was another tough match for the third team who were once again up against a very experienced opponent. We got off to a great start - taking the lead early following an Andrew longshot and the scoreline remained close for much of the first half. It was during the second half we began to make mistakes, giving away countless penalties and free passes which Abingdon were able to take full advantage of and gain a strong hold of the match. We did however manage to put up lots of shots, 4 of which went in which was great, and despite what the scoreline suggests we defended brilliantly for much of the game. This weekend we really need to work on fighting for the collect in order to recycle the ball within the attacking division in order to create more scoring opportunities. But all round another great effort, well done team!
Opposition MVP: Carlos
Coach's MVP: Pascale (it's like she's never been away! Played superbly for the whole 60 minutes and topped it off with a great goal!)
5th November - Oxford Isis 3 vs Oxford Uni 2 (6-7)
Our second time playing Uni 2 was going to be trickier than our first a few weeks ago when we scored a decisive victory. We only had 7 players and that put us at an immediate disadvantage, but thanks to the tenacity and team work of our division of 3, we gave Uni a run for their money. Or defending was very strong throughout and our attack became more confident as the game went along, with some great play from both divisions. There were lots of shots going up which is great to see, the more we put up the more will go in. Two things to focus on for the next game - shooting higher and everyone fighting for collect after shots go up. But, all round, a great, gutsy performance from Isis 3. The whole team is my MVP as it was a great effort from everybody!
Opposition MVP: Catherine
Coach's MVP: Everyone!
29th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton City 2 (10-12)
Goals: Peter (4), DanF (2), Kate, MattM, Joe, Nicola
This was a real killer for our entire bodies as we had barely recovered from the previous match. Us having beaten them not long ago, but with tiredness and limited squad we knew this would be a tight match at best. The energy and enthusiasm from every single player in our team was more than we could hope for, but on the day we were just unable to score those extra few goals to win it, although we did make the score level at one stage in the second half. Another pair of legs was all that was needed, but it wasn't to be. It was amazing what we could still do in this match given the tiredness, and I want to really thank everyone for a brilliant performance. To name a few players, Pete had a great goal streak, and it's Venetia who provided tons of energy throughout and a very reliable defence getting her MVP. DanF deservedly got opponents' MVP for yet another spirited display. Well done team!
Opposition nominated MVP: DanF
Coach's MVP: Venetia
29th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton City 1 (6-20)
Goals: DanF (5), MattM
We went to Southampton knowing these were going to be two very difficult matches made harder by many first teamers unavailable. But we made ourselves proud by a brilliant display full of energy and dedication to give all we could. The opponents occupy the first place in the first division and it was impossible to bring home points, but the way we played start till end, with full concentration and will to win every feed and collect, block every pass and shoot whenever given a chance was a great example for any team. Knowing we had another match to play afterwards, we didn't save our legs but went full pace. Everyone on the bench was itching to play. DanF, having only just recovered from an illness, brought a real intention to change the course of the game by scoring amazing 5 goals, a personal maximum. Ellie was awarded for her brilliant defence and movement and efforts on goal which came from brilliant evading moves.
Opposition MVP: Ellie
Coach's MVP: DanF
22nd October - Oxford Isis 3 v Oxford University 2 (5-2)
Goals: DanT (2), Edd, Venetia, Diana
Sunday saw the third team claim their first victory against a very strong uni side. Whilst they may lack experience, they certainly had enough energy, enthusiasm and support from the sidelines to make this quite a tough game. As usual, it took us a while to get our attack going but we defended superbly against a relentless Uni attack. It was stalemate for the opening 20 minutes and it was Uni who eventually broke the deadlock scoring first. This seemed to kick start us into gear and we scored 3 before half time which took us into a comfortable lead.
The second half we continued to defend magnificently, however our shots just weren't going in. We did manage to score another 2 before the final whistle...but this doesn't reflect how many shots we were able to put up. Once again there were so many stand out performances...Edd won opposition MVP for being an all round strong player. Dan T and Hiroe, who had both played for an hour for the first team earlier, showed boundless energy on the pitch, proving to be a strong threat to their opponents. Diana and Venetia, defended amazingly well, counteracting every shot their opponents put up. Carlos, who soldiered on, without complaint, despite a vicious nail attack from his opponent. Andrew defended well and continues to prove vital in collect. But coach's MVP goes to Malin as despite it being only her second game she was able to mark a very strong girl splendidly and shows great promise for the rest of the season. We play the same team in 2 weeks so I'm hopeful we can win them even more convincingly next time!
Opposition MVP: Edd
Coach's MVP: Malin
22nd October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton City 2 (17-14)
Goals: Anni (5), Paul (4), DanT (3), MattC (3), MattM (2)
This was going to be a very difficult match due to the fact lots of players were unavailable due to illness or injury. Luckily for us, players from lower teams stepped up and played fantastically well: Hiroe was amazing and with her movement and agility she settled in very quickly. For DanT it was the first-ever match in the first team and he celebrated that with a hat-trick.
We fought with a great spirit and belief which is why we came back from two conceded goals early on and continued to increase the goal difference as the match progressed, very much like in the first two matches of the season. We strive under pressure and we don’t get fazed when things don’t go our way all the time. Our play is very much based on everyone having the ability to make attacking decisions quickly, contribute to the team play and take on opportunities, and it’s fantastic that this squad of players right across the teams did just that. It would be too long to praise every player, but the MVPs are Anni for yet another shock of 5 goals (Anni is the top league’s second best goal scorer and best girl scorer at the moment) and to MattC for great contributions to the attack and very solid defence.
Opposition MVP: MattC
Coach’s MVP: Anni
15th October - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Isis 3 (8-2)
This felt like a close game throughout, with Isis 3 really putting Isis 2 through their paces. We struggled often in attack to take control, we often rushed our movements in attack and lost the ball regularly. For future games we need to focus on keeping that control in attack - starting with some 4-0, bringing the ball closer to the post, then start feeding and shooting. On the positive side, it was good to win and we did score 8 so that's good!
MVP for Katherine M who scored a whopping 4 goals and was an all round terrific player. And shout out to Catherine B for persistence and continuing to shoot steadily throughout, even though they were frustratingly not going in! Now for a well earned rest for a couple of weeks before we get playing again.
15th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford City 2 (19-12)
Goals: Paul (4), Anni (3), Peter (3), Matt C (3), Chiya (2), Matt M (2), Frances, Dan F
A fascinating match lifted the levels we can play at once again and it was a joy to watch, as I’m sure many second/third team players on the bench can confirm. We played at high tempo, everyone was trying to beat their opponent for a shot / feed / collect and we were very agile but not aggressive. As the time progressed, we took charge of the rhythm of the game, able to slow it down and prepare for attacks when bringing the ball out. From 3:4 down we took it to 10:7 lead at half-time, and increased the lead to 7 goals quickly in the second half, which we then just needed to control, trying to improve the attacks further by offering more half-way line attack passes, long passes to the back, diagonal passes, using wide angles etc. It was great to see the confidence grow and the dominance particularly in collect. Lots of subs meant we could keep on bringing fresh legs, while the opponent was running out of ideas, faith and energy. The combination of front and rebound defence worked wonders, and it was fantastic to see the goals spread out so nicely among players. Confidence, team-play and clarity in how we attack and defend are becoming our strength and they help each player progress even faster. Too many players deserve to be named here, but Matt Moore deserves MVP from the opposition for many things including his awareness, decision-making and last not least the defensive blam of a shot near the line. Chiya is my MVP for the tons of energy, ideas and creativity as well as the impact she provides whenever she plays. Well done, team!
Opposition MVP: Matt M
Coach’s MVP: Chiya
8th October - Buckingham Royals 1 vs Oxford Isis 3 (31-6)
Scorers: David (3), Debbie (2), Venetia
It was always going to be a tough game against an unbeaten, top of the league Bucks team. We started a little shaky and Bucks went powering ahead. However, we kept our heads high and were able to develop some threatening attacks, scoring 3 before half time. It was during the second half where we really up'd our game, only conceding 1 goal in 15 minutes (a record for any opponents of Bucks!). However as the match neared the end, we began to tire (understandable considering half the team had either ran a marathon or played a full game of korf for the second team earlier in the day!) and Bucks were able to extend their lead further.
I think this is one of those games where the scoreline is irrelevant, as we were playing a team featuring regional/former England players, that would have been a match for even the most experienced of teams. Scoring 6 goals is a huge achievment, we had some great attacks and set plays...including a 'text book' free pass from Debbie, a hat trick from David and a brilliant match debut from Malin. A great game to watch!
Opposition MVP: Debbie
Coach's MVP: Venetia and David. Both ran the Oxford half marathon in the morning in super quick time, then came to play a whole 60 minutes of korf and scored some great goals!
8th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Abingdon 1 (13-13)
Scorers: Anni (5), Matt C (2), Matt M (2), Frances, Paul, Peter, Nicola
Matches against Abingdon 1 are always nail-biting experience and as tight as they can be. One of their strengths used to be long shooting and they didn't show much of that on the day thanks to a very committed defence on our part. They have become even more pushy and aggressive trying to get running-in shots and fouls at the post, and it took us a bit of time to adjust to that - stop the feeds, hinder passes from the feeds, cover for each other and sometimes step into the path of a runner (if there is time). We matched their physicality which was great, and played a much more nicer, inventive, creative and playful korfball in our attacks and for this we should be proud. It was fantastic that we kept a good coverage of all the angles around the post, varied the passes and did what we have been training for. We can still improve a few things - emptying area around the post, set plays from half-way line, stopping the feeds more. Our fitness was second to none. MattC played the best match ever in my view, helping the attacks, scoring goals and limiting their highest scorer to a beautiful zero. Anni defended superbly and scored 5 goals, one of them being the equaliser in the final seconds. And for Ellie it was the first ever match in the first team, and she played absolutely brilliantly. Well done team!
Opposition MVP: Anni
Coach's MVP: Matt C
8th October - Isis 2 vs Abingdon 2 (13-9)
Scorers: Matt M (4), Dan F (2), Marcus (2), Nicola (2), Becca, Joe, Frances
A fantastic win against a great team!
We went into this match believing that if we played to the same standard as against Bucks we would win, and we did!
Fantastic attacks combined with defence that really shut down their opportunities lead to a safe win against them.
Lots of wonderful movement and skills from the whole team but MVP to Matt M for a whopping 4 goals when he only played a half!
Coach's MVP: Matt M
1st October - Didcot Dragons 2 vs Oxford Isis 3 (13-6)
Scorers: Dan F (3), John (2), Joe
The second match of the season was another exciting encounter with an experienced Didcot side. It proved quite early on that this would be a tough match, with lots of aggressive attacks from the opposition, one of which resulted in Diana sustaining a nasty ankle injury, following a 4 man collision, and sadly having to sub off barely 10 minutes into the game. Our loss appeared to be Didcot's gain seemingly spurring them on, quickly scoring 7 goals in very quick succession. However, as the match progressed so did our skill, pace and shooting.
Following the half time break, a motivational team talk and a jelly baby fix, we came out much stronger, executing superb attacks, stronger passes and tighter defence. If the match had gone on 10 minutes longer, I'm sure the score line would be much more favourable to us. Everyone played really well and improved a great deal from the previous week but I wanted to make a couple of special mentions; Dan F proved vital in his division and got a superb hat trick as a result, also re-jigged his Sunday plans so he could play the match - greatly appreciated!! Super sub Joe who soldiered on despite suffering with an injury, but scored an amazing long shot in the short time he was playing. Catherine B who again applied herself well in both attack and defence, despite having to switch divisions half way through the second half, which she did with only a small complaint! David who ran half a marathon Sunday morning, and still somehow had enough energy to play almost a whole game, proving a strong threat in attack. John had another strong game, scoring 2 great goals and defending equally well. Lastly coaches MVP Susie who played the whole game despite suffering countless injuries the previous day sustaining bruises and cuts galore! She continues to improve week on week, proving to be more than capable of handling any opposition. Also thanks to Matt C, Dan F, Deb and Catherine B who played this game and then went onto play another game for the seconds!!
Coach's MVP: Susie
1st October - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 1 (7-25)
Scorers: Katherine M (2), Nicola (2), Chiya, Debbie, Matt C
Another very strong performance against clearly the best team in the league (they've already scored 105 goals in just 4 games!) There were times when we really shut down their attack and stopped them scoring for periods of time which were fantastic. We also showed some really good attacking moves, but we need to work on taking our time to keep some solid possession in 4-0 before we rush into feeding / more complex moves and make sure we are creating good opportunities rather than rushing. That combined with practising more shooting will see us score more and have a much closer game. Most of all everyone should feel really proud for how they played, we made very few mistakes and if we play like this against other teams in the league we will surely win! MVP is Katherine for some stunning work in collect and 2 great goals - one of which was a penalty which are always tricky under pressure!
Opposition MVP: Dan F
Coach's MVP: Katherine M
24th September - Oxford Isis 3 vs City 4 (3-11)
Team: Edd, Marcus, John, George, David, Susie, Diana, Hiroe, Debbie, Venetia, Catherine B
Goals: Edd, Marcus, John
The new season kicked off with Isis 3 taking on City 4 in a thrilling opening encounter. This maybe City's 4th team but this was a team with lots of athletism and experience behind them. We started off very strong matching them in pace and enthusiasm, preventing them from scoring in the opening quarter. It was towards the end of the first half City found their feet, putting lots of lucky shots up which all went in! We fought back well with Ed and Marcus working strongly within their division , getting a goal each for their efforts. Alongside Debbie, Venetia and Catherine who were able to provide good movement, experience and structure in both attack and defence.
During the second half we continued to play to our strengths, creating good shooting opportunities, passing the ball around the division well, which lead to a fantastic third goal from John who attacked strongly throughout. However we soon began to tire and City were able to use this to their advantage, increasing their lead further.
The match ended 11-3 but there are so many positives we can take away from this game. Everyone worked really well together, giving 100% from beginning to end. David, George and Hiroe all made their league match debuts and made a strong presence felt on the pitch. David was able to create space and put up some crafty shots, was very unlucky not to score. George worked tirelessly against a very strong opponent defending superbly throughout. Hiroe proved lethal in attack, keeping her defender on her toes and winning MVP from our opponents. Susie provided her usual endless energy and proved very strong in attack. Coaches MVP has to go to Diana who was solid in defence, nullifying City's strongest girl and always working to allow others space. Well done!
Opposition MVP: Hiroe
Coach's MVP: Diana
24th September - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 1 (10-24)
Goals: Venetia, Katherine M, Frances (2), Nicola, Dan C (4), Matt C
24th September - Oxford Isis 3 - Bucks Royals 2, 19:4
This was always going to be a tough game, but for me (Frances), the 3rd team games are all about getting out there, playing the best korfball we can and enjoying it. We certainly did that. Bucks clearly scored a lot of goals, which is to be expected, but we did not give up! At half-time we were 10:1 down so reset with the aim of scoring two more goals in the second half -which we did! Overall it was a well fought game that I hope everyone enjoyed, it was a pleasure to see such good play from the sidelines. A special well done to Naomi who played her first game but did amazingly, you wouldn't know it was her first time by the way she played with strong defence and a few shots at goal. Coach's MVP goes to Hiroe for great play and an awesome goal!
Goals: Ellie, DanT, Paul
The first half didn't look the way we wanted and we spent it mostly on the back foot, making mistakes in defence and making lots of mis-passes in the attack. These originated largely from our lack of movement, where players didn't move after the pass, whether to create a new shooting position for a return pass, or into a dynamic feed position. Often we were stagnant and watching the rest of the division struggle in despair rather than contributing by sharp movement and asking for the ball. Lack of passing options then resulted in passing to players who weren't free or were out of position. When we eventually did get free for some shot, we took it regardless of how good the position was and what the rest of the was division doing, often from far out, so our collect didn't work either.#
To our slight surprise, the half ended with the score being 'only' 3:9 down, and we set ourselves to improve the movement and passing and focus on choosing shots. We did improve on the first two points as well as in defence, but the shots we took didn't want to go in, and we missed even the easiest chances including penalties due to the frustration and lack of confidence. In korfball, many things have to click in together - whether it is movement with passing, shooting with collecting, collecting with after-shot movement, shooting with confidence, and these things didn't really click in for us on the day. On the other hand, the team we were against was largely made of players with many years of regional league experience - and our ability to improve throughout the match and togetherness when everything played against us were great to see.
Apart from Matt Moore who got MVP from the opposition for making good decisions and adding physicality and height, and Venetia getting my MVP for hugely contributing with her movement and efficient marking of the best girl on the pitch, I'd like to praise our newer players Ellie and DanT for getting on the score sheet and all the fantastic progress they've made this season.
Coach's MVP: Venetia
Opposition nominated MVP: Matt Moore
22nd April - Oxford Isis 2 vs Abingdon 3 (16-8)
Goals: DanT (6), DanF (4), DanC (2), Catherine, Debbie, Joe, Frances
A great win to end the season! We were comfortably in the lead throughout which is always a nice feeling, with only a short moment in the second half where Abingdon picked up the pace a bit. Great dynamic attacks, and (Frances is so pleased!) much better colleting, meaning that when we did miss a shot we were still continuing the attack and getting more chances. Defence wise, there were lots of stopped feeds meaning they had very few running in shots, no doubt to their frustration. Coach's MVP goes to DanF for his strong patient defence against a very physical, angry player and still scoring 4 goals. Although DanT of course deserves a special mention for his fantastic 6 goals!
Thank you so much to everyone who has played for Isis 2 this year, it's been a really enjoyable season where you've grown from strength to strength - roll on next year!
Coach's MVP: DanF
15th April - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 2 (7-12)
This game was a bit up and down. We quite quickly were down by 5 goals, but managed to bring this level just before half time and finished the first half just 1 goal down. We performed well in the beginning of the second half but then stopped scoring, meaning despite strong defence from us they ended up 5 goals ahead. To improve for next time we need to keep working on our shooting accuracy by regularly training, and focus on good collecting so that we recycle the ball when we do miss. Still, some fantastic dynamic movement from us and stunning defence so a good performance other than the scoring! Coach's MVP is DanC who did a fantastic job defending their most experienced player, Darren, who can run in and also score long shots, too.
Coach's MVP: DanC
8th April - Oxford Isis 1 vs Didcot Dragons 1 (11-11)
Goals: DanT (3), Ellie (2), DanF (2), Venetia, Kate, Frances, MattC
With the majority of first team players unavailable, it was the opportunity for the second/third team players to shine and so they did! Didcot have very athletic and agile players and we needed to demonstrate our ability to both defend and attack as a team and bring the benefits of the club drills and tactics. Considering the shortness of first team players and the fact that the opposition came pretty much in at full strength, it was not an easy task by any means. But each player put a huge shift in and the efforts were amazing. It's hard to pick only a few players to mention as everyone did so well, but defensive switching between Frances and Venetia was superb on every occasion. DanT played great considering he was poorly and couldn't breathe or run very well, It was a first team debut for David, and all our girls should be proud for allowing only 3 goals from their very strong girls. Overall extreme happiness as despite odds our team got 2 points for a draw and showed great character throughout.
Opposition MVP: Ellie
Coach's MVP: DanT
25th March - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford City 3 (9-6)
Goals: MattM (3), Ellie (2), DanF (2), Kate, Venetia
Yay we won! The first half was tough, we were down 3-1 at one point. We were winning by one at half time and knew we needed to come out believing in ourselves that we could win. We showed fantastic defensive work, really limiting their shots and calling feeds nice and early allowing us to stop any running in shots. We also had some great shots ourselves - well done Matt for your hat trick! A time-out a few minutes before the end allowed us to refocus and hold our nerve to a comfortable win - so well done everyone. Coach's MVP goes to Ellie for an absolute textbook free pass she scored, all round energy and great play.
Opposition MVP: MattM
Coach's MVP: Ellie
25th March - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Isis 3 (21-6)
Isis 2 goals: Kate (5), MattM (4), Ellie (3), DanF (3), Debbie (2), Joe (2), Venetia, MattC
Isis 3 goals: Lewis (2), Hiroe, David, Catherine, Carlos
It's always tough playing an inter-club game, we all know each other's moves so winning's never a given, even if on paper Isis 2 should win. But we put on a great show of dynamic korfball that was lovely to see. We should continue to focus on how we use all the space around the post, but we were definitely doing this better as the game went on. In the second team, it was lovely to see everyone score and the team thinking about sharing the ball around to give everyone opportunities - this makes better korfball all round. Isis 2 coach's MVP has to be Kate with a fantastic 5 goals, scoring all but one of her penalties very confidently. Isis 3 coach's MVP was Catherine for keeping her cool despite some very frustrating attacks, finding great space and movement and topping it off with a well deserved goal!
Isis 2 coach's MVP: Kate
Isis 3 coach's MVP: Catherine
18th March - Oxford Isis 2 vs Didcot 2 (9-14)
Goals: DanF (3), Kate (2), Frances (2), DanC (2)
What a game. Fiercely fought on our behalf, bringing us to a 5:4 lead at half time. Sadly in the second half they got a few quick goals, and whilst we stepped up our defence we couldn't match it with enough goals to regain the lead. Still, it's a game we can be proud of, lots of shooting and some good defence. Things to continue to work on are stopping feeds, being vocal about calling feed/tight, and collecting the ball in attack and defence - so that we get as many shots as possible, and reducing the attacks for our opponents. Coach's MVP is Hiroe for excellent play against a girl twice her height, who was fouling her a lot un-noticed by the ref. Hiroe also managed to defend lots of her opponent's shots which was fantastic!
Opposition MVP: Frances
Coach's MVP: Hiroe
18th March - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 3 (12-10)
Goals: DanT (7), Joe (2), Hiroe, Andrew, Graham
Another fantastic win for the third team! It took us a while to get going but then the goals started flowing, we were ahead for the whole of the first half but Abingdon remained close behind. They really ramped up the pressure in the second half and were able to draw level. It was 9 goals a piece as we entered the last quarter which made for a very exciting (if not a little stressful) end to the game. We regrouped, held our nerve and developed some really great attacks which resulted in 3 goals in quick succession and our defence held its own until the end!
Another strong performance from everyone! A great team effort, too many highlights to mention, so to name just a few...DanT delivered another faultless performance and scored a whopping 7 goals winning him MVP from our opponents. A superb match debut from Graham (who also bagged a goal right when we needed it the most!). A great defensive effort from Mary and Catherine who were marking very strong, established Abingdon players. Coach's MVP goes to Malin for another consistent performance, working tirelessly in both attack and defence and assisted in creating many of our goals. A win to remember and a fantastic game to watch!
Opposition MVP: DanT
Coach's MVP: Malin
4th March - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford City 4 (9-10)
Goals: DanC (3), DanT (3), Ellie (2), Venetia
This was a hard fought game against City 4 who always field a really strong team, many of whom regularly play for higher teams. It was close throughout thanks to our super-strong defence that really limited their shooting opportunities, as you can see from the low score-line. At half time we were 2 down and did well to come back out fighting in the second half. Frances was impressed to see lot of shots go up from everyone and 2 fantastic hat-tricks from the Dans! With 1 goal in it in the last few minutes it could have been a different story, but sadly this time a loss. Coach's MVP is Debbie who played really well throughout, helping direct her division and ensuring a strong defence, and was also so helpful as a second coach.
Opposition MVP: Ellie
Coach MVP: Debbie
25th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 3 (8-4)
Goals: DanT (2), Joe (2), David (2), MattC, John
A fantastic match which saw us win convincingly over our rivals Abingdon! We were ahead from the start and never let our opponents pose much of a threat. We attacked well, defended flawlessly and our passing was on point! A really great performance from every single player; Diana and Susie defended amazingly...presenting what can only be described as a defensive firewall! Malin and Naomi did brilliantly and continue to improve week on week. Another assured performance from Hiroe and David whose persistence in attack eventually paid off with 2 second half goals! Coach's MVP this week goes to Chloe who did so well against her opponent, created space and opportunities and was very unlucky not to score after putting up some great shots! Thanks to everyone who played in the second team game who stayed to watch/sub on and offer support/experience both on and off the field, it was great to have so much support from the sidelines and definitely helped spur us on to victory! Can't wait to play the same team in a couple of weeks time and hopefully win by an even bigger margin!
Opposition MVP: Andrew
Coach's MVP: Chloe
25th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Didcot 2 (9-6)
Goals: DanT (5), MattC (3), CatherineB
Wow, great game 2nd team! We were very evenly matched with Didcot 2 and didn't that show in the first half! Despite a sterling effort from the attack, we just couldn't break through their defence and they had exactly the same problem with our defence. We entered half time with the score 1-0 to Didcot and then came out fighting. With a few tweaks here and there, we broke the deadlock and our shots started falling right. It was great teamwork and the divisions really gelled. Incredible shooting from MattC with a hat trick and DanT with 5 goals in half an hour, which earned him a well deserved opposition MVP. Coach's MVP goes to Catherine B for coming in to attack after 5 mins and scoring a fantastic goal straightaway.
Opposition MVP: DanT
Coach's MVP: CatherineB
18th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 2 (8-15)
Goals: Kate (2), MattC (2), DanT (2), Chiya, Debbie
We started the game with energy and determination to challenge the second best team in the table. Despite conceding the first four goals of the game, we kept our heads help up, tightened the defence and became more daring in attack which got us nearly level on goals. At half time we were still trailing by two goals but there was very little between us and them in terms of quality in attack and defence. However, with the time ticking and many of our players having played another match earlier, we started to lose energy and that was the reason why we didn't defend as closely, while in attack we didn't do the right things; instead of waiting patiently for the right chance by lots of passes all around the post (which of course require a lot of movement and energy), we rushed shots after only a pass or two, which then allowed the opposition to collect these shots. When we have the energy we can play really well and are a force to challenge even the best in the division, but we need to work on our stamina to maintain such tempo for 60 minutes. Everyone tried really hard in this game, but the MVP goes to Carlos for an assured display winning dozens of successful collects and picking free players immediately, despite carrying a leg injury.
Coach's MVP: Carlos
18th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Oxford City 4 (6-10)
Goals: David (2), Joe (2), DanT, Debbie
Another compelling performance form the third team against City's 'fourth' team who, as always, included a wealth of experienced players. We got off to a flying start taking an early lead, matching (if not outplaying) City's strong attacks and fast tempo. We went into half time level at 6 goals a piece. During the second half we continued to fight fiercely, but City just had the edge and went ahead. We panicked and started to rush our attacks and often lost the ball. It ended 10-6 to City but to keep a goal difference of only four goals against a team as strong and experienced as this City team is very impressive. A great performance from everyone, notably DanT and Hiroe who excelled against two very strong players. Well done team!!
Opposition's MVP: Joe for 2 great goals and all round strong performance.
11th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Uni 2 (16-9)
Goals: MattM (6), Ellie (4), Kate (3), Catherine, Joe, DanT
Our team gave everything to this match and took a very deserved victory after a focused and hearty performance. Our front defence was good and communication caused the opposition problems and our attacks presented a lot of creativity with a wide range of shots from all types of angles. Although we were down a couple of goals halfway through the first half, the focus and determination gave us the lead again. As the goal advantage was getting bigger, so was our ability to improvise and create in attack. When we lost the ball after a shot and went for a full-on-8-player tight defence to get it back, this was often achieved within seconds. The opposition excelled in converting chances, but we definitely matched their renowned athleticism despite having only 5 boys and 4 girls.
Kate scored a hat-trick, Ellie a personal record of 4 goals, and MattM got opposition's MVP for an assured display around the post, leadership and scoring 6 goals. John got Martin's MVP for a concentrated effort against a strong boy and ever-growing confidence in both attack and defence.
Opposition named MVP: MattM
Coach's MVP: John
11th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Buckingham Royals 1 (8-35)
Goals: DanT (2), Joe (2), Catherine, Chiya, Naveen, David
Yet another tough match against the unbeatable top of the league Bucks side. We got off to an amazing start, scoring 2 goals in the opening 2 minutes. We were playing so well and perhaps for the first time this season Bucks were on the back foot and were certainly caught off guard by our strong attacks! They managed to draw level and then sneak ahead but we remained close behind, going into half time just a few goals down and with 7 goals to our name. Stern words must have been had at half time as they came into the second half back to their old selves with their trademark effortless goals and gained an unreachable lead. We struggled to get through their tough defence and just couldn't put up the shots we were able to in the first half. It ended 35-8 to Bucks but to put this in perspective this was 2 more goals than when we played them last time and 4 more than City (who played them just before we did). No MVP this week as a truly fantastic performance from everyone against the strongest team not just in the OKA league 2 but perhaps the korfing world (I ain't kidding...they are machines!).
Opposition named MVP: DanT
4th February - Oxford Isis 1 vs Didcot Dragons 1 (13-11)
Goals: MattC (5), Paul (3), Chiya (2), MattM (2), Pete
We didn't start well - they seem to have been more lively from the start and scored 4 quick goals before we started responding with goals too. It was a nerve-biting match from start 'til end, with lots of chances created and often missed on both sides, and with the ref giving lots of free passes and penalties. The opponents are a rejuvenated, athletic and skilful side made largely from experienced players coming in from other clubs, and they made our lives very difficult. At half-time as we were trailing 4:8 we pushed ourselves to remain positive, believe in our shooting and gave it a real go, copying our recent efforts against Abingdon 1. And this is what we precisely did - our shots dropped in more frequently, and our defence hardened even more, with girls especially topping the opponents with energy and decisiveness. The second half was won by an incredible result of 9:3 and that was enough to see us get another 4 points for a well-deserved win. Matt C got MVP from the opposition for exemplary play in both defence and attack and for scoring 5 goals, which is superb for a player who primarily prefers helping others to score by his movement, feeds and collects. Chiya got MVP from me (Martin) for the passionate display throughout, and for the very important goal scored in the last minutes where she converted the chance under lots of pressure from underneath the basket. A win to remember - well done to all!
Opposition named MVP: MattC
Coach's MVP: Chiya
4th February - Oxford Isis 3 vs Bucks Royals 2 (19-4)
This was always going to be a tough game, but for me (Frances), the 3rd team games are all about getting out there, playing the best korfball we can and enjoying it. We certainly did that. Bucks clearly scored a lot of goals, which is to be expected, but we did not give up! At half-time we were 10:1 down so reset with the aim of scoring two more goals in the second half -which we did! Overall it was a well fought game that I hope everyone enjoyed, it was a pleasure to see such good play from the sidelines. A special well done to Naomi who played her first game but did amazingly, you wouldn't know it was her first time by the way she played with strong defence and a few shots at goal. Coach's MVP goes to Hiroe for great play and an awesome goal!
Coach's MVP: Hiroe
4th February - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford City (8-8)
Goals: DanC (3), DanT (2), Catherine, John, Joe
This was a tense game against a strong City 4 side who fielded a number of very experienced players we are more used to seeing in their second team. We put on a good show in general with some lovely attacks at times. Defence-wise we were focussing on calling the feeds, preventing them where possible and watching for runners. We did well here, as only 8 goals conceded shows. We do need to work on keeping our composure, particularly around passing. We had many rushed attacks with little possession, making it hard to increase our score. We need to work on this going forwards, keeping our confidence and our heads held high. The last 5 minutes were a true testament to the strong team - it was 8:8 for the whole time and we managed not to concede any goals and hold them to a draw. Coach's MVP goes to Pascale who was a late addition to the team and came out fighting (as always) and was really strong against her good girl opposition.
Coach's MVP: Pascale
28th January - Oxford Isis 1 vs Abingdon Atoms 1 (8-11)
Goals: Pete (3), Frances (2), MattC, DanF, DanT
We started well especially in defence and the good work in attack wasn't rewarded with goals as our shots were constantly bouncing off the basket. At half-time (score 2:5) we must have had at least 50 shots, and scoring 2 wasn't anything to be happy about, but the work rate was very high and limiting a strong Abingdon team to only 5 goals in 30 minutes was great. We knew that if we kept on defending in the same way, we may still come back into the match if we converted our chances better. However, after the half-time break we made a few individual errors in passing and in concentration in defence which resulted in us trailing by 6-7 goals. But we picked ourselves up, kept on working even harder in both defence and attack and scored quite a few goals on the trot, bringing the score to 3 goals down at the end, which gave us an important point in the league table. If the match had been a bit longer, we would have had a good chance of getting even more as we became more confident in our shooting and we got the opponent worried. We tried lots of variations in divisions and some of them worked better than others; the only thing we were really missing was the ability to convert chances to goals. Anni played very well against an extremely tough opponent, DanF and DanT proved they can be relied on when playing up in tough first divisions, but my MVP goes to Frances who had a painful fall but came out even stronger and scored 2 important goals.
Coach's MVP: Frances
Opposition nominated MVP: Anni
21st January - Oxford Isis 3 vs Didcot 2 (6-16)
Goals: David (2), Edd, Hiroe, Andrew, Joe
We started strongly against a team currently ranked 2nd in the league. We went ahead and really worked well together as a team, working the ball around the post beautifully, in text book 4 zero style. However Didcot's experience enabled them to keep their nerve and they soon drew level and then the goals just kept coming. Every shot they had went in. During the second half we upped our game, developed some strong attacks but these were often cut short, intercepted by our opposition before we had chance to shoot at goal. The last 10 minutes of the match, Didcot began to make some mistakes allowing us to score 3 goals in quick succession, but sadly this wasn't enough to really impact the scoreline. Special mention this week goes to Anabelle and Mary who were both playing their first league game (finally), doing superbly against 2 very strong girls. Next match we really need to work on our passing as we were never really able to keep the ball in our possession for long. Partly due to Didcot's defence but equally attributed to our lazy passes. But all in all another exciting game where individuals continue to improve week on week. Well done!
Coach's MVP: Hiroe
Opposition MVP: David
21st January - Oxford Isis 2 vs Abingdon 3 (10-3)
What a fantastic game! We came out strong and dominated from the start. I was really impressed with our dedication in defence and the power of our attack. It was great to see quality passing and very few silly mistakes, which all led to our well-deserved win. My MVP has to go to DanC for a hat trick in his first game back after being away for a while.
Coach's MVP: DanC
21st January - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford City 3 (17-7)
Goals: Anni (6), Pete (5), Ellie (2), Paul (2), Frances, MattM
We started brilliantly, with the intent to leave no hope to the opposition of any points taking. We were lively and agile, moving quickly, the ball was whizzing about, changing angles and involving every player in a division and that helped us to score a lot of goals in succession. Our defence was greatly improved, with much more control over the post area, with improved communication and team spirit in both defence and attack. The first half result (12:1) was there to leave no doubts about our qualities and improvements over the season. The second half took some of our edge away as both mental and physical tiredness kicked in and the sharpness needed to beat players as well as shooting accuracy were somewhat reduced, but we still dominated in every single way and led the contest to a victorious end. Pete was brilliant in converting chances and penalties and Anni scored an amazing 6. Everyone deserves a praise for their energy and flair - let's bring on Abingdon!
Coach's MVP: Anni
14th January - Oxford Isis 1 vs Farnborough Jets 1 (13-19)
Goals: MattC (3), MattM (3), Frances (2), DanF (2), Anni, Ellie, Paul
A tough match against a very strong opposition playing also regional league exposed a few of our weaknesses but also showed the strength of character and team spirit. We went 4 goals down quickly mainly due to individual mistakes in defence and not converting our chances. We had to strengthen our communication and physical presence in defence, worked really hard on preventing the feeds and did our best to improve collects in both defence and attack. We scored two and traded goals after that, at times remaining within point-scoring distance. Our shooting improved and we started to play with more ease, getting stronger in the areas we needed to improve on. The quality of the opposition was very high to play against, but our ability to match their standards was fantastic. At the end we didn't earn a point for a close loss, but we proved to ourselves we can match even the best. It is good to see goals spread amongst many players, and the MVP goes to Matt Moore for his great decision-making and work around the post as well as three open-game goals.
Coach's MVP: MattM
3rd December - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 2 (4-7)
Goals: Marcus (2), David, Susie
We went into this game knowing it was going to be tough, having played the same team just a few weeks ago and losing 16-4, it was not going to be an easy game. However, little did our opponents realise how hard they were going to have to work for victory! They went ahead early on, but never managed to gain a strong lead. Goals from Marcus and David ensured we kept ourselves in the game, going into half time trailing by just 2 goals.
The second half saw Abingdon come out with a determination to score but they were met by a determined, unwavering Isis defence. The next 25 minutes remained frustratingly goal-less with our attack unable to find a way though the tough Abingdon defence, try as we might we could not get the ball in the net despite some great shots from the attacking division. We did eventually break the deadlock in the last few minutes only for Abingdon to sneak a couple more in before the final whistle.
Another really well played game against an experienced team, another point gained for another very narrow defeat. It's impossible to name every single player who did well ie. everyone, but coach's MVP goes to Susie who came along after a cross country run to be our fourth girl and scored her first league goal! Also special mention to Debbie and Catherine B who were defending solidly for much of the game, keeping the opposition goal tally to a minimum and did some great switching under the post. Opposition MVP went to David for an all round strong performance. Well done team!
Coach's MVP: Susie
Opposition MVP: David
26th November - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford Uni 1 (10-13)
Goals: Anni (3), Paul (3), MattM (2), Ellie MattC
We started in a much better tempo and focus than in the previous match against Uni 1, and combined with the fact that they missed a boy at the start of the game, we gained a good lead of 5 goals. However, when Uni got their remaining boy, they got much stronger, and as a team they upped their game. We did all we could, but the goal advantage was getting smaller with time and the quality was too high especially of the two boys who scored impossible goals at crucial times in the match (one of them plays for Czech Republic U21 and the other one for Hungary U21 - potentially the two best boys in the entire league). These goals came at a time when we thought we could hang on to a tiny lead, and at that time their enthusiasm and athleticism prevailed, however, we still got a point for a narrow loss. If there were areas we need to focus on more, these are converting chances and choosing when to shoot. Often, especially at the beginning of the match, we weren't patient enough to wait for good opportunities and we took shots from far away with other players being out of position. We need to keep our heads cool when the pressure is on and wait until one of us gets an easy chance; the abundance of movement, creating chances and offering options (which we have been focusing on for a long time) doesn't mean we have to take every single of such shooting options - instead it means that we have to work on creating lots of shooting options so that then we can create one that is worth taking in realistic time scope. We tried really hard and we must be proud of the efforts we made. Both Nicola and MattC who played against their strong boys did a great job and not many players in the division could defend so well; Ellie scored her first competitive goal and Anni with Paul deserve MVPs for their attacking prowess and scoring hat-tricks - congratulations!
Coach's MVPs: Anni and Paul
26th November - Oxford Isis 2 vs Abingdon Atoms 2 (10-12)
Goals: DanT (4), Kate (2), Andrew (2), Marcus, Carlos
We started very strongly and took a good lead, owing to (maybe) the fact that we warmed up really well and came to the match much better prepared than sleepy-looking-late-coming players of Abingdon. Our attacks could do with a bit more movement as many times after we passed we didn't offer movement and we didn't offer many dynamic feeds either, apart from Joe who has done it pretty much after every one of his passes. However the agility and willingness to look for scoring options with tenacity in collects meant we created lots of chances. DanT played his usual best, offering diagonal passes and lots of runs, which together with speed of thinking (and of legs) summed up what a wonderful player we have in him. Debbie and Kate offered a strong and stable partnership in both attack and defence, making the lives of the opponents very hard. Pascale's arrival later in the match brought us a lot of control and power, where she had to selflessly play to support others in a division where we went on to play 4on3 after an opponent's girl got injured. I can't name every player who did very well, but the coach's MVP goes to Andrew who scored two goals and didn't put a foot wrong in defence the entire match. Well done team, we nearly took a scalp of the opponents who only recently played in the division above ours!
Opposition MVP: DanT
Coach's MVP: Andrew
19th November - Oxford Isis 3 vs Buckingham Royals 2 (9-11)
Goals: Carlos (4), DanT (2), Hiroe, Andrew, Chiya
An epic match for the third team on Sunday against a very youthful Buckingham Royals 2. We were equally matched pretty much in every sense; speed, stamina, agility and athleticism, which led to a very exciting game with only 1 or 2 goals separating us throughout! Bucks just had the edge and despite a valiant effort they won by a very small margin!
A great contribution from each player with everyone fighting for every ball until the very last second of the game! So many highlights to mention...Carlos played superbly, scoring 4 goals including 2 penalties! Hiroe scored her first korf and continues to be a real threat in attack. Diana was great collecting and again proved solid in defence. Dan T did a great job against Bucks 1's best boy (who's also the second highest scorer in the league), limiting his scoring opportunities and bagging 2 goals himself! It really was a great game and whilst we didn't win we can only build on this amazing performance next time! Well done all!!
19th November - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton Uni 1 (13-16)
Goals: Nicola (4), Anni (2), MattC (2), Pete (2), Venetia, Frances, MattM
We came to the match with a great deal of focus and determination, and took the opposition (league champions from last season) by surprise. They stood on the back foot in both divisions, and it was times of great pride when our division of 3 (Anni, MattC and Nicola) produced some outstanding korf against a division of 4. Movement after passing, running behind their backs, passes turning into feeds and feeds into shots - it all clicked really well for us, and the division short of a girl scored an amazing 8 goals. The other division played superbly too, in an inspired fashion, producing a very agile korf hungry for goals, with players all wanting to help each other score a goal. Frances in particular defended their very strong girl (England U19) amazingly well, while Nicola in the other division outshone their quick and jumpy player and provided not only 4 goals but also plenty of assists and collects. If we play with this flame, we will beat pretty much every team in the league.
Opposition MVP: Frances
Coach's MVP: Nicola
12th November - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Uni 2 (9-6)
Goals: Kate (3), Debbie, Joe, Marcus, Diana, Carlos, Venetia
A convincing win against an inexperienced Uni side. We felt confident throughout, had some good scoring opportunities and nearly everyone scored which was great to see. We could afford to take a bit more time with our shots, particularly running in shots as they were often contacting from behind, giving us penalty shots which Kate was scoring with ease (another great hat-trick from her!). But, my MVP is Venetia, for an energetic attack, especially after playing a full game for Isis 1 just before.
Coach's MVP: Venetia
12th November - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford Uni 1 (6-9)
Goals: Chiya (2), Paul (2), MattC, MattM
We started slowly and gave the other team a huge advantage and plenty of hope for the rest of the match. It was an uphill struggle but we managed to equalise and take the lead, however in later stages the movement was lacking on our side and when our energy started to diminish and easy shots started to miss the target, the opposition's energy and enthusiasm prevailed. Lots of improvements are needed, starting with increased level of mental and physical preparation before the match and continuing with not making mistakes in simple tasks of passing, movement and in choosing positions, shots and passes. The good parts of our game include a very strong defence; Chiya's defence of their strongest girl and MattC's defence of their strongest boy were brilliant plus both chipped in with goals for which they deserve MVPs.
Coach's MVPs: MattC and Chiya
12th November - Oxford Isis 3 vs Abingdon 2 (4-16)
Goals: Joe (2), Andrew, Pascale
It was another tough match for the third team who were once again up against a very experienced opponent. We got off to a great start - taking the lead early following an Andrew longshot and the scoreline remained close for much of the first half. It was during the second half we began to make mistakes, giving away countless penalties and free passes which Abingdon were able to take full advantage of and gain a strong hold of the match. We did however manage to put up lots of shots, 4 of which went in which was great, and despite what the scoreline suggests we defended brilliantly for much of the game. This weekend we really need to work on fighting for the collect in order to recycle the ball within the attacking division in order to create more scoring opportunities. But all round another great effort, well done team!
Opposition MVP: Carlos
Coach's MVP: Pascale (it's like she's never been away! Played superbly for the whole 60 minutes and topped it off with a great goal!)
5th November - Oxford Isis 3 vs Oxford Uni 2 (6-7)
Our second time playing Uni 2 was going to be trickier than our first a few weeks ago when we scored a decisive victory. We only had 7 players and that put us at an immediate disadvantage, but thanks to the tenacity and team work of our division of 3, we gave Uni a run for their money. Or defending was very strong throughout and our attack became more confident as the game went along, with some great play from both divisions. There were lots of shots going up which is great to see, the more we put up the more will go in. Two things to focus on for the next game - shooting higher and everyone fighting for collect after shots go up. But, all round, a great, gutsy performance from Isis 3. The whole team is my MVP as it was a great effort from everybody!
Opposition MVP: Catherine
Coach's MVP: Everyone!
29th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton City 2 (10-12)
Goals: Peter (4), DanF (2), Kate, MattM, Joe, Nicola
This was a real killer for our entire bodies as we had barely recovered from the previous match. Us having beaten them not long ago, but with tiredness and limited squad we knew this would be a tight match at best. The energy and enthusiasm from every single player in our team was more than we could hope for, but on the day we were just unable to score those extra few goals to win it, although we did make the score level at one stage in the second half. Another pair of legs was all that was needed, but it wasn't to be. It was amazing what we could still do in this match given the tiredness, and I want to really thank everyone for a brilliant performance. To name a few players, Pete had a great goal streak, and it's Venetia who provided tons of energy throughout and a very reliable defence getting her MVP. DanF deservedly got opponents' MVP for yet another spirited display. Well done team!
Opposition nominated MVP: DanF
Coach's MVP: Venetia
29th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton City 1 (6-20)
Goals: DanF (5), MattM
We went to Southampton knowing these were going to be two very difficult matches made harder by many first teamers unavailable. But we made ourselves proud by a brilliant display full of energy and dedication to give all we could. The opponents occupy the first place in the first division and it was impossible to bring home points, but the way we played start till end, with full concentration and will to win every feed and collect, block every pass and shoot whenever given a chance was a great example for any team. Knowing we had another match to play afterwards, we didn't save our legs but went full pace. Everyone on the bench was itching to play. DanF, having only just recovered from an illness, brought a real intention to change the course of the game by scoring amazing 5 goals, a personal maximum. Ellie was awarded for her brilliant defence and movement and efforts on goal which came from brilliant evading moves.
Opposition MVP: Ellie
Coach's MVP: DanF
22nd October - Oxford Isis 3 v Oxford University 2 (5-2)
Goals: DanT (2), Edd, Venetia, Diana
Sunday saw the third team claim their first victory against a very strong uni side. Whilst they may lack experience, they certainly had enough energy, enthusiasm and support from the sidelines to make this quite a tough game. As usual, it took us a while to get our attack going but we defended superbly against a relentless Uni attack. It was stalemate for the opening 20 minutes and it was Uni who eventually broke the deadlock scoring first. This seemed to kick start us into gear and we scored 3 before half time which took us into a comfortable lead.
The second half we continued to defend magnificently, however our shots just weren't going in. We did manage to score another 2 before the final whistle...but this doesn't reflect how many shots we were able to put up. Once again there were so many stand out performances...Edd won opposition MVP for being an all round strong player. Dan T and Hiroe, who had both played for an hour for the first team earlier, showed boundless energy on the pitch, proving to be a strong threat to their opponents. Diana and Venetia, defended amazingly well, counteracting every shot their opponents put up. Carlos, who soldiered on, without complaint, despite a vicious nail attack from his opponent. Andrew defended well and continues to prove vital in collect. But coach's MVP goes to Malin as despite it being only her second game she was able to mark a very strong girl splendidly and shows great promise for the rest of the season. We play the same team in 2 weeks so I'm hopeful we can win them even more convincingly next time!
Opposition MVP: Edd
Coach's MVP: Malin
22nd October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Southampton City 2 (17-14)
Goals: Anni (5), Paul (4), DanT (3), MattC (3), MattM (2)
This was going to be a very difficult match due to the fact lots of players were unavailable due to illness or injury. Luckily for us, players from lower teams stepped up and played fantastically well: Hiroe was amazing and with her movement and agility she settled in very quickly. For DanT it was the first-ever match in the first team and he celebrated that with a hat-trick.
We fought with a great spirit and belief which is why we came back from two conceded goals early on and continued to increase the goal difference as the match progressed, very much like in the first two matches of the season. We strive under pressure and we don’t get fazed when things don’t go our way all the time. Our play is very much based on everyone having the ability to make attacking decisions quickly, contribute to the team play and take on opportunities, and it’s fantastic that this squad of players right across the teams did just that. It would be too long to praise every player, but the MVPs are Anni for yet another shock of 5 goals (Anni is the top league’s second best goal scorer and best girl scorer at the moment) and to MattC for great contributions to the attack and very solid defence.
Opposition MVP: MattC
Coach’s MVP: Anni
15th October - Oxford Isis 2 vs Oxford Isis 3 (8-2)
This felt like a close game throughout, with Isis 3 really putting Isis 2 through their paces. We struggled often in attack to take control, we often rushed our movements in attack and lost the ball regularly. For future games we need to focus on keeping that control in attack - starting with some 4-0, bringing the ball closer to the post, then start feeding and shooting. On the positive side, it was good to win and we did score 8 so that's good!
MVP for Katherine M who scored a whopping 4 goals and was an all round terrific player. And shout out to Catherine B for persistence and continuing to shoot steadily throughout, even though they were frustratingly not going in! Now for a well earned rest for a couple of weeks before we get playing again.
15th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Oxford City 2 (19-12)
Goals: Paul (4), Anni (3), Peter (3), Matt C (3), Chiya (2), Matt M (2), Frances, Dan F
A fascinating match lifted the levels we can play at once again and it was a joy to watch, as I’m sure many second/third team players on the bench can confirm. We played at high tempo, everyone was trying to beat their opponent for a shot / feed / collect and we were very agile but not aggressive. As the time progressed, we took charge of the rhythm of the game, able to slow it down and prepare for attacks when bringing the ball out. From 3:4 down we took it to 10:7 lead at half-time, and increased the lead to 7 goals quickly in the second half, which we then just needed to control, trying to improve the attacks further by offering more half-way line attack passes, long passes to the back, diagonal passes, using wide angles etc. It was great to see the confidence grow and the dominance particularly in collect. Lots of subs meant we could keep on bringing fresh legs, while the opponent was running out of ideas, faith and energy. The combination of front and rebound defence worked wonders, and it was fantastic to see the goals spread out so nicely among players. Confidence, team-play and clarity in how we attack and defend are becoming our strength and they help each player progress even faster. Too many players deserve to be named here, but Matt Moore deserves MVP from the opposition for many things including his awareness, decision-making and last not least the defensive blam of a shot near the line. Chiya is my MVP for the tons of energy, ideas and creativity as well as the impact she provides whenever she plays. Well done, team!
Opposition MVP: Matt M
Coach’s MVP: Chiya
8th October - Buckingham Royals 1 vs Oxford Isis 3 (31-6)
Scorers: David (3), Debbie (2), Venetia
It was always going to be a tough game against an unbeaten, top of the league Bucks team. We started a little shaky and Bucks went powering ahead. However, we kept our heads high and were able to develop some threatening attacks, scoring 3 before half time. It was during the second half where we really up'd our game, only conceding 1 goal in 15 minutes (a record for any opponents of Bucks!). However as the match neared the end, we began to tire (understandable considering half the team had either ran a marathon or played a full game of korf for the second team earlier in the day!) and Bucks were able to extend their lead further.
I think this is one of those games where the scoreline is irrelevant, as we were playing a team featuring regional/former England players, that would have been a match for even the most experienced of teams. Scoring 6 goals is a huge achievment, we had some great attacks and set plays...including a 'text book' free pass from Debbie, a hat trick from David and a brilliant match debut from Malin. A great game to watch!
Opposition MVP: Debbie
Coach's MVP: Venetia and David. Both ran the Oxford half marathon in the morning in super quick time, then came to play a whole 60 minutes of korf and scored some great goals!
8th October - Oxford Isis 1 vs Abingdon 1 (13-13)
Scorers: Anni (5), Matt C (2), Matt M (2), Frances, Paul, Peter, Nicola
Matches against Abingdon 1 are always nail-biting experience and as tight as they can be. One of their strengths used to be long shooting and they didn't show much of that on the day thanks to a very committed defence on our part. They have become even more pushy and aggressive trying to get running-in shots and fouls at the post, and it took us a bit of time to adjust to that - stop the feeds, hinder passes from the feeds, cover for each other and sometimes step into the path of a runner (if there is time). We matched their physicality which was great, and played a much more nicer, inventive, creative and playful korfball in our attacks and for this we should be proud. It was fantastic that we kept a good coverage of all the angles around the post, varied the passes and did what we have been training for. We can still improve a few things - emptying area around the post, set plays from half-way line, stopping the feeds more. Our fitness was second to none. MattC played the best match ever in my view, helping the attacks, scoring goals and limiting their highest scorer to a beautiful zero. Anni defended superbly and scored 5 goals, one of them being the equaliser in the final seconds. And for Ellie it was the first ever match in the first team, and she played absolutely brilliantly. Well done team!
Opposition MVP: Anni
Coach's MVP: Matt C
8th October - Isis 2 vs Abingdon 2 (13-9)
Scorers: Matt M (4), Dan F (2), Marcus (2), Nicola (2), Becca, Joe, Frances
A fantastic win against a great team!
We went into this match believing that if we played to the same standard as against Bucks we would win, and we did!
Fantastic attacks combined with defence that really shut down their opportunities lead to a safe win against them.
Lots of wonderful movement and skills from the whole team but MVP to Matt M for a whopping 4 goals when he only played a half!
Coach's MVP: Matt M
1st October - Didcot Dragons 2 vs Oxford Isis 3 (13-6)
Scorers: Dan F (3), John (2), Joe
The second match of the season was another exciting encounter with an experienced Didcot side. It proved quite early on that this would be a tough match, with lots of aggressive attacks from the opposition, one of which resulted in Diana sustaining a nasty ankle injury, following a 4 man collision, and sadly having to sub off barely 10 minutes into the game. Our loss appeared to be Didcot's gain seemingly spurring them on, quickly scoring 7 goals in very quick succession. However, as the match progressed so did our skill, pace and shooting.
Following the half time break, a motivational team talk and a jelly baby fix, we came out much stronger, executing superb attacks, stronger passes and tighter defence. If the match had gone on 10 minutes longer, I'm sure the score line would be much more favourable to us. Everyone played really well and improved a great deal from the previous week but I wanted to make a couple of special mentions; Dan F proved vital in his division and got a superb hat trick as a result, also re-jigged his Sunday plans so he could play the match - greatly appreciated!! Super sub Joe who soldiered on despite suffering with an injury, but scored an amazing long shot in the short time he was playing. Catherine B who again applied herself well in both attack and defence, despite having to switch divisions half way through the second half, which she did with only a small complaint! David who ran half a marathon Sunday morning, and still somehow had enough energy to play almost a whole game, proving a strong threat in attack. John had another strong game, scoring 2 great goals and defending equally well. Lastly coaches MVP Susie who played the whole game despite suffering countless injuries the previous day sustaining bruises and cuts galore! She continues to improve week on week, proving to be more than capable of handling any opposition. Also thanks to Matt C, Dan F, Deb and Catherine B who played this game and then went onto play another game for the seconds!!
Coach's MVP: Susie
1st October - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 1 (7-25)
Scorers: Katherine M (2), Nicola (2), Chiya, Debbie, Matt C
Another very strong performance against clearly the best team in the league (they've already scored 105 goals in just 4 games!) There were times when we really shut down their attack and stopped them scoring for periods of time which were fantastic. We also showed some really good attacking moves, but we need to work on taking our time to keep some solid possession in 4-0 before we rush into feeding / more complex moves and make sure we are creating good opportunities rather than rushing. That combined with practising more shooting will see us score more and have a much closer game. Most of all everyone should feel really proud for how they played, we made very few mistakes and if we play like this against other teams in the league we will surely win! MVP is Katherine for some stunning work in collect and 2 great goals - one of which was a penalty which are always tricky under pressure!
Opposition MVP: Dan F
Coach's MVP: Katherine M
24th September - Oxford Isis 3 vs City 4 (3-11)
Team: Edd, Marcus, John, George, David, Susie, Diana, Hiroe, Debbie, Venetia, Catherine B
Goals: Edd, Marcus, John
The new season kicked off with Isis 3 taking on City 4 in a thrilling opening encounter. This maybe City's 4th team but this was a team with lots of athletism and experience behind them. We started off very strong matching them in pace and enthusiasm, preventing them from scoring in the opening quarter. It was towards the end of the first half City found their feet, putting lots of lucky shots up which all went in! We fought back well with Ed and Marcus working strongly within their division , getting a goal each for their efforts. Alongside Debbie, Venetia and Catherine who were able to provide good movement, experience and structure in both attack and defence.
During the second half we continued to play to our strengths, creating good shooting opportunities, passing the ball around the division well, which lead to a fantastic third goal from John who attacked strongly throughout. However we soon began to tire and City were able to use this to their advantage, increasing their lead further.
The match ended 11-3 but there are so many positives we can take away from this game. Everyone worked really well together, giving 100% from beginning to end. David, George and Hiroe all made their league match debuts and made a strong presence felt on the pitch. David was able to create space and put up some crafty shots, was very unlucky not to score. George worked tirelessly against a very strong opponent defending superbly throughout. Hiroe proved lethal in attack, keeping her defender on her toes and winning MVP from our opponents. Susie provided her usual endless energy and proved very strong in attack. Coaches MVP has to go to Diana who was solid in defence, nullifying City's strongest girl and always working to allow others space. Well done!
Opposition MVP: Hiroe
Coach's MVP: Diana
24th September - Oxford Isis 2 vs Buckingham Royals 1 (10-24)
Goals: Venetia, Katherine M, Frances (2), Nicola, Dan C (4), Matt C
24th September - Oxford Isis 3 - Bucks Royals 2, 19:4
This was always going to be a tough game, but for me (Frances), the 3rd team games are all about getting out there, playing the best korfball we can and enjoying it. We certainly did that. Bucks clearly scored a lot of goals, which is to be expected, but we did not give up! At half-time we were 10:1 down so reset with the aim of scoring two more goals in the second half -which we did! Overall it was a well fought game that I hope everyone enjoyed, it was a pleasure to see such good play from the sidelines. A special well done to Naomi who played her first game but did amazingly, you wouldn't know it was her first time by the way she played with strong defence and a few shots at goal. Coach's MVP goes to Hiroe for great play and an awesome goal!