MATCH REPORTS

Games played on: Sat 12th Dec 2009
1stXI v Alexandra Park 1st XI
Drew Score: 1-1 League Away
Scorers: Jackson T (pen)
Report: A very well earned point away against one of our local rivals on a very difficult pitch which cut up badly as the match wore on. The main plus points were the commitment shown by all our players especially in a very tight game, and having the courage and belief to come back from a goal down, conceded with only 20 mins left. Our equaliser 10 mins from time was fashioned by Matt Taylor's inch perfect through ball which allowed Raf Anthony to use his speed to out pace the AP defence before being bundled over in the penalty area. Tom Jackson stepped up to take the resulting penalty and expertly placed the ball just inside the post. The last few minutes tested the nerves with both sides having chances to win it but in the end a draw seemed a fair result. Man of the match was Mark Golding who had an outstanding game at right back both in a defensive capacity and as a threat going forward.
2ndXI v Kew Association 2nd XI
Won Score: 3-0 League Away
Scorers:
Report:
3rdXI v Old Meadonians 3rd XI
Won Score: 2-0 AFA Cup Away
Scorers: McMullen T, Essiaghi
Report: Another cup game and another away fixture, back in West London this week to face Meadonians for a place in the quarter finals of the AFA Junior cup.

We started the game on fire and immediately put the home side on the back foot. Everyone winning their fifty – fifty battles and chasing every ball down, up top Mike Cole and Masey were setting the tone never giving the Meadonians back four time on the ball.

Although on top, we were not testing their keeper often enough, although we did have a goal disallowed after the referee ruled the ball had gone out form a corner that was played back across goal and into the net – a dubious decision to say the least.

It wasn’t all one way traffic however and the home side showed they could be dangerous on the break on a number of occasions. With players missing Tom McMullen was deputising at the heart of the defence and alongside Stephen Cox was proving to be a tower of strength.

Our first meaningful effort on goal came midway through the half, the ball dropped to Ben McMullen just outside the box who connected well on the volley only to see the keeper make a good save low to his right.

Our pressure and territorial advantage often resulted in a corner or set piece in the opposition half and it was from a free kick on the right hand side that our best opportunity to take the lead came. B. McMullen drifting the ball to the back post where both Masey and Bobby Hankins had got free of their markers, it was Masey who got his head to the ball but at full stretch he was unable to get enough on the header to make it count.

After more pressing the breakthrough finally came on about 35mins and it was a familiar set piece routine that unlocked the door. The right foot of B. McMullen finding the head of T. McMullen who got up high at the back post to nod home for his third goal in three games.

More good possession followed the goal and we went close to increasing our lead through what would have been a certain contender for goal of the season. As the ball came out of the air about thirty yards from the Meadonians goal there seemed no immediate danger. But in one majestic movement Hankins managed to control the ball, turn and hit a dipping volley that was only just wide.

We went into break a goal up and with the feeling that the game was there for the taking.
It was important to take our momentum and tempo in to the second half and get the all important second goal. However through a combination of us losing our shape a little and the home side raising their game, it was our turn to hold steady and weather the storm.

Our back four were holding strong and in contrast to the first half, it was us who played on the break while defending for a large periods. With Essiaghi on the left and Tumbridge on the right we had the pace and dribbling ability to hurt the home side on the counter and it was Essiaghi who secured the win with less then 10mins left on the clock. Racing onto a ball down the inside left and into the area, he was able to keep his composure and slot home with his left foot.

With the comfort of the second goal we were able to see out the rest of the game with out any major scares and progress to the next round. A great win that was down to hard work and a desire to win.

Man Of The Match: B. Hankins
Special mention: Tom McMullen for filling in and having a solid game at centre half.
4thXI v EBOGs 5th XI
Won Score: 5-4 League Home
Scorers:
Report:
5thXI v Winchmore Hill 10th XI
Won Score: 7-3 League Home
Scorers: Mike Nwosu 3, Lee Hunt 2, Mark Nwosu 1, Ross Blackmore 1
Report: Not quite the run away victory the score suggests. The first half was
tight, and we shaded it 2-1 (including a notably - and unusually -
calm slotted finish by Ross Blackmore). Second half we went about our
business with some good flowing play from the kick off, and got to
4-1. Then bizarrely we cracked, and allowed the oppo back in to 4-3,
in a very strange period when it seemed we were hell bent on snatching
defeat from the jaws of victory. There was a particularly crucial few
minutes where the manager (on the left wing with no left foot or any
pace - but needs must), decided in his wisdom to take off one of our
strikers, and then play 4-5-1, 5-4-1, and back to 4-4-2, and then
finally settled on a kind of 4-1-3-1-1 thing somehow. In that period
it could've gone very wrong; but then the oppo made a mistake. They
decided to wind up Mike Nwosu. We've seen this before. It's never a
good idea. And he punished them with a cracker of a goal: Hitting the
ball from diagonally outside the box to the far corner of the net,
making it look like it was wire guided or something. And then setting
up a perfect cross from a similar position for Lee Hunt to convert. In
between times we showed the determination necessary to get the result,
and calmed ourselves down to regain the initiative we only surrendered
through our own bickering and over confidence. Beware the self
destruct button chaps!!!
Man of the Match: Mike Nwosu