MIKE TRIM says Oxted can be pleased with a good season, despite dropping to fifth with a final day defeat at home against Bromley and Beckenham on Sunday.
The O's went into the clash still harbouring hopes of a top three finish in the Men's Conference East, but their aim of finishing on a high never materialised as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners to leapfrog the O's in the final standings.
Bromley and Beckenham opened up a 2-0 lead with goals from Peter Dobson and Nicholas Bluett either side of half time.
Andy Cornick pulled a goal back for the O's on 55 minutes, but Daniel Walsh struck from a penalty corner in the final minute to seal the win for the visitors, avenging defeats in the league and cup earlier in the season.
And Oxted defender Mike Trim said it was a poor performance from the O's, adding that the game had an "end of season" feeling about it.
He said: "To be honest, we didn't really show up.
"We controlled much of the game, but they looked more dangerous in the final third.
"We didn't create too many chances and it was a typical end of season affair."
Trim added, however, that it was a great effort by the club to get the fixture played, with players and club members helping to clear ice off the pitch to get the game on.
He said the only disappointment was that the O's could not give the supporters the performance they deserved to close the season, but added that the club could be pleased with its season as a whole, having finished fifth and reached the semi-final of the Knockout Cup.
He said: "Our results since Christmas have not been good and we made it a bit of a dogfight for ourselves.
"We always wanted to finish as high as possible and we have shown that we are capable of competing with the top sides in the league. We have played some really good hockey this season, we just need to find a bit more consistency against the teams at the bottom." Trim added that with a few of the club's younger players now going off to University, Oxted would need to recruit a few new players for next season, adding that he felt with the right additions, they could challenge in the division next season.
"We need an out and out goalscorer," he said.
"We need to find a bit more consistency and if we can replace the players we are losing and bolster the forward line, there is no reason why we can't be up there."
