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MATCH REPORTS |
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Games played on: Sat 20th Mar 2010
| 1stXI v Old Westminster Citizens 1st XI |
| Lost |
Score: 0-4 |
League |
Home |
| Scorers: |
Report: With the conditions varying from wet and windy to blowy and damp this was a thoroughly forgetful afternoon compounded by our poorest performance of the season. The first half was a fairly even affair although Cits did take the lead midway through the half catching us with a swift counter attack, however we failed to capitalise on some good opportunities to equalise but reaching the interval only 0-1 down we were fairly confident of overcoming this deficit after the break. Unfortunately our play deteriorated as the second half wore on and we struggled to maintain possession and looked very shaky all round, In the end we were completely outplayed and conceded 3 further goals, the oppo even had the luxury of missing a penalty. Difficult to explain exactly want went so badly awry but our opponents certainly handled the condition better and boosted by their first half lead showed a little more determination and desire. Having had a much improved season to date we must guard against just going through the motions in the final few games against opponents who are fighting for points.
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| 2ndXI v Alexandra Park 2nd XI |
| Lost |
Score: 1-3 |
League |
Away |
| Scorers: |
Report:
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| 3rdXI v Old Salesians 3rd XI |
| Won |
Score: 3-0 |
Old Boys Cup Final |
Away |
| Scorers: McMullen T, Mays, Hankins |
Report: “Mick and Danny's magic they wear a magic hat and when they saw the double they said we're having that.... Ohhhh...”
After last weeks triumph over Nottsborough in the AFA Cup, this week saw us line up against Old Salesians in the Old Boys Cup final and gave us the chance to claim a historic cup double.
It was important to get off to a good start and we did exactly that, taking control of the game while sizing up the opposition. We played some good possession football in the opening stages and looked dangerous with every attack.
Starting 4-5-1 we were getting at the Salesians defence from wide positions, hard work and good hold up play from lone striker Masey allowing Naim and Mikey a lot of the ball and they looked dangerous with it.
The opening goal came mid way through the half. Good build up play in the middle of the park and a through ball inside the Salesians left back found Tom McMullen running from deep. Although forced a little wide he moved into the area and hit a lovely low drive across the keeper and into the far corner for a deserved lead.
Although we felt comfortable in the match we had to be wary of the Salesians threat on the break as they showed on a number of occasions they had the pace and ability to keep us on our toes.
We continued to look the better team and wasted some good spells of possession before doubling our lead as we approached half time. A ball floated from deep caused concern in the Salesians box and as Tom looked to turn towards goal he was pulled down and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. This week it was Masey who stepped up and though hardly convincing with his first strike, he tucked away the rebound and we went into the break 2-0 up, feeling we had one hand on the trophy.
Maybe it was effects of last weeks match on tired legs, maybe it was down to complacency of being two goals to the good or maybe it was a combination of both and more, whatever the reason we started the second half poorly.
We lost our shape, our passing was off and we were getting caught on the ball too often. Sensing an opportunity to get back in the match Salesians raised their game and the match was an open, even contest, if a little scrappy.
The positive in this was that we showed an ability to dig in and win ugly as we stood strong and kept Darren's workload to a few comfortable saves from distance.
All game we felt confident in keeping a clean sheet and knew a third goal would end the contest and that duly arrived going in to the final ten minutes. Some good work down the left led to a free-kick midway into the Salesians half. Skipper Ben McMullen placed the ball down and whipped a delicious cross for Bobby Hankins to get up and flick a header beyond the keeper and into the far corner. That goal sealed the win and we saw the game out to make it two cups in two weeks, a fantastic achievement and huge credit to the whole squad.
Special mention: Pat ‘Churchill’ Dunphey – inspiring words of praise, appreciated by the team.
Man Of The Match: Mikey/Bobby – solid games from both
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| 4thXI v Winchmore Hill 7th XI |
| Won |
Score: 3-1 and 7-1 (DOUBLE HEADER) |
League |
Home |
| Scorers: |
Report: 2 games, 14 players, I referee, 3-1, 6-1, 2 games won, 6 points, job done. Won 9 games on the bounce, 4 games left 6 points required = league won. JOint Men of the match's Beano and Aaron both of whom worked tirelessly and used the ball well not to mention the latters belter of a goal from 25 yards!!
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| 5thXI v EBOGs 8th XI |
| Won |
Score: 2-1 |
League |
Home |
| Scorers: Hulkes, Blackmore |
Report: As you may gather from the scoreline, not at all a straightforward game. This EBOGs team seemed quite different from the versions I've seen earlier in the season and last. They were all about 19/20 years old, reasonably good on the ball, and looking fairly well organised. Their manager was shouting something about them having ten years on us, but to be honest it was more like 20-30 years. When Jim Townsend came on the pitch, in excess of 40 years..! We also were not full strength, and some players (Mike Douglas notably), playing through the miasma of flu, seeing tigers and stars all game. However, we stuck to our jobs, closed the oppo down, and restricted them to long range pot shots. We took the lead through a stunning Gary Hulkes strike of about 40 yards (he picks the ball up, realises he's got to out run some 18 year old centre back, thinks 'blast it, I'm too knackered', and boots it straight into the roof of the net instead. Let the ball do the work all good coaches say...) The oppo equaliser in the second half was scrappy from our point of view, and should have been defended better, but that's how we are with our lapses. Where chances were created in the match the more meaningful ones were ours, and Ross slotted home a good left foot finish (yes, left foot!!!) from a great knock down and pressure from Mark Nwosu mid way through the 2nd half. It was good to see Mark back terrifying the oppo defence with his physical presence, putting his body on the line for 50/50 balls, like an old fashioned centre forward. Also Sean Hunter deserves a shout for a good twenty minutes off the bench, really buzzing around the oppo defence when the rest of our team needed a break from their pressure. Most important mention must go to Jim Townsend for his appearance that earns him the 'most eons in football' award. Shame on the Captain for only giving him ten minutes on the pitch, because in those ten he made a number of fine tackles, and demonstrated his excellent reading of the game; really worthy of starting a lot earlier..!
And by the way, that's five wins on the bounce for us. Good work all round.
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