Weekly Report - Saturday 28th January
1st XI
This weekend 1sts travelled to local side Old Ignatians, a ground where we have not had a great deal of success over the last few seasons and against a team that always give us a very tough game. The importance of the game was highlighted by the fact that if we walked away with all 3 points we would be only 2 points behind the home side and still be pushing for possibly a 3rd place finish. If we walk away with nothing it left us 8 points behind. Team wise, Jacob Dixon and Michael Castle had still not recovered from their respective injuries so only made up the spectator count. Simon Harris and Jonny Hoare were also unavailable. On paper we had a very strong team, more than capable of grabbing all 3 points. After being outnumbered in midfield last game we reverted back to a 3-5-2 formation. The back 3 lined up as Ross Townley, Lee Hemmings and Tom McCombie. The 5 across the midfield were Ollie Monksfield, Gio Giordano, Joe Heenan, Alex Jennings and Danny Andrews. The usual suspects were upfront, Steve Newlands and Wesley Griffiths.
The game started and we immediately put pressure on the home side. Although the pitch was in poor condition we were trying to pass the ball around and were getting in some good positions. Gio Giordano was first to go close with a half volley that just looped past the post. We were having the better chances but the home side did look dangerous on the break and were beginning to grow into the game. A combination of good defending and goal keeping managed to keep the game at 0-0. It was anyone's guess who was going to grab the first goal and although we probably looked more likely, however it was the home side who took the lead. The Ignatians midfielder waltzed past a few of our players and was allowed to shoot inside the box low past Simon Gallagher. A poor goal to concede but at 1-0 down we knew we had the quality in the team to still get a result. We continued to drive forward and we looked like we were going to draw level when the referee gave us a penalty for a hand ball in the box. Having already missed 2 penalties this season, there was another change of taker and Joe Heenan stepped up to make it 3 misses out of 3 from the spot, the keeper saving low to his right. Disappointing but Joe kept his head and put in effortless display the rest of the game. HT1-0.
The second half began much like the first, we had a lot of position and began to put some real pressure on the home side’s goal. We were getting some very positive positions and could have equalised through a number of players. Danny Andrews looked most likely to score, he was denied when one on one and also hit a screamer that shaved the upright. Wes and Steve were busy up front and had the Ignatians defence at full stretch a number of times.
The home side was relying on counter attack football and as we pushed forward space opened up and they were taking advantage of the space and some very tired legs. Simon made a couple of excellent saves during this period. We stood firm at the back and defended pretty well to deny the home side another goal. Sean came on for Gio who had run his socks off. As the game went on we tried in vain to get an equaliser, even Lee Hemmings found himself with the goal looming from a corner but the angle was tight and he failed to get enough connection on the ball. Danny Andrews had a last chance, a great strike on the turn that home keeper just managed to block low to his left. The final whistle went and we walked away with nothing out of the game. Overall we deserved at least a draw and again we were unlucky in front of goal. On a positive note we worked hard and defensively we looked solid and if we can start taking our chances we surely will start picking up points so we can finish as high in the league as possible. MOM Danny Andrews.
Report by Tom McCombie.
Team
Simon Gallagher, Ross Townley, Lee Hemmings, Tom McCombie, Joe Heenan, Alex Jennings, Ollie Monksfield, Gio Giordano, Danny Andrews, Wes Griffith, Steve Newlands, Sub Sean Mahoney.
2nd XI
The 2nds were at Wadham against fellow strugglers Old Tollingtonians.
This was not a good day in the park with some players failing to turn up. We only had the bare 11 to start with as one substitute turned up late.
We started well and had lots of possession especially on the wings with Darren and Zuka making good runs only to find the final ball being over hit or one touch too many. We really need to look at our passing and shooting options. If we can do this I am sure that the goals will come from the pressure we put on the opposition. In our last two games we did this but as always we got caught on the counter attack to go 1 -0 down. We continued to play well with Darren, Tom and Zuka all having shots either being blocked or of target HT 0-1.
With the ground cutting up badly and with no fresh legs to bring on the visitors scored a second. With what looked like a reasonable tackle around the box the referee judged it to be a foul and awarded them a penalty which Dave could not do much about 0-2. We lost Terry through injury and some other players were feeling the effects of the heavy ground with cramp setting in and unable to use the substitute as I had not given his name to the referee so we were down to 8 fit players, but we still managed to get back into the game when Elliot headed home from a corner.
It gave the team a lift the possibility of a draw looked good only for them to kill us of when they lobbed Dave for their third and final score of the game. FT 1-3.
Report by Tom Farrelly.
Team
Dave Shevelev, Terry Olivo, Michael Hollingsworth, Elliot Modi, Nick Zenonos, Zuka Tusiashuili, Adam Finch, Adam Carpenter, Darren Wilkins, Tom Arnold, A Easa.
3rd XI
The 3rds had an away game against second in the league Old Aloysians on Saturday. We knew it was going to be a tough game as previous matches with the North London team have always been a physical tempestuous affair. From the off the home side started to put us under a lot of pressure and it was easy to see while they have their league position. The pitch was very long and very wide and this was perfect for their nippy No.10 who had plenty of pace, early on they looked to get the ball over the top so he could run on to it. This gave us a few problems to start with and it took us a little while to get to grips with this. For the first 20 so minutes Aloysians were camped in our half and during this time the home team managed to get themselves two goals to the good. From the first goal the player who set up the goal looked off side but nothing could be said about the finish as he tucked it nicely in to the corner, not long after they made it two. A mix up at the back lead to the ball not being cleared and the same player tucked home his second. Up to this point we had hardly been in the game but almost struck back immediately. Hayden had a great effort that looked to be going in but just didn’t dip in time and barely cleared the cross bar. This rallied the boys and we started to look a bit more of a threat. Getting the ball wider was giving us a bit of success, both Chad and Ryan were beating their full backs with ease as we tried to get a foothold. Our task was being made harder by some poor refereeing decisions. This was exasperated by the linesman that Aloysians provided who was just blatantly cheating. We had another chance with good play from Chad down the left. He whipped in a good cross that Jack got on the end of but his header was saved by the keeper and then scrambled clear by defenders. Chad also had a fierce volley saved by the keeper although it was straight at him, either side it would have been a goal. Next came another poor decision from the referee. After a perfect through ball from Cris, Chad was through on goal and although he shot was initially saved Hayden was there to get an easy tap in. A clear goal but the referee gave offside, this was a bit of a shame as we had worked hard to get something from the remainder of the half but it wasn’t to be. HT 0-2.
In the second half we hoped to keep this momentum going and pull ourselves back in to the game. Unfortunately Aloysians picked up where they left off in the first half, dominating possession. Perhaps we were dropping off a little too far and this was giving them too much room in order to play their football. Despite having much more of the ball they didn’t test Paul too much with Kam, Sam, Nick and Luke all working hard to keep them out along with Mes just in front of them. At times we had small periods of pressure but it never really worked out for us. Cris put in a succession of pin-point crosses but we never really had the height in the box to benefit from them. Skinner came on upfront to try and liven things up and he put in a good shift chasing and harassing defenders, looking to profit on mistakes. As soon as we looked a bit more threatening the home side put in plenty of fouls, many of them worthy of a booking or two. Some of their players were already on a card but continued to foul and get away with it. Chad nearly had one of those cross/shots fall in his favour, but typical with our luck on the day the ball rebounded out off the post. FT 0-2.
Overall it was a bad day at the office. Despite not playing nowhere near our best we created enough chances to get back into the game, it just wasn't our day. The lack of protection from the referee and the constant fouling and bad tackles didn’t help our cause. This is not an excuse, but definitely a factor. Hopefully we can pull ourselves back together and cut out the mistakes. We need to start picking up some points soon! This Saturday at University of Hertfordshire would be the perfect time!
Report by Dan Stock.
Team
Paul Butler, Sam Parr, Nick Harris, Luke Francis, Kam Harper, Mike Mesmin, Ryan Macfarlane, Cris, Barthel, Jack O’Reilly, Hayden Watson, Subs Lee ShoeSmith, Ryan Skinner.
4th XI
The 4ths were at home to Academicals, sorry no report this week, James has been away.
They lost 6 -2 with goals from Grant Johnson and Reiss Ellrick
Team
Marcus Fellerman, Hamilton Mavinga, Rail Howley, Grant Johnson, Omar Dick, Sam Hargreaves, Nathaniel Thomas, Fadi Madzoum, Reiss Ellrick, Nathan Marshall, Derrick Guigrey, Subs James Revell, Daniel Florence, Sam Yelley.
Vets XI
The Vets were at home to Hornminster a team we had beaten 2-1 in a close encounter at the start of the season so we knew we had to play at our best.
We were pleased to get the bigger pitch at home which all the players seem to favour and after 3 wins on the trot the spirit was good. The first 20 minutes of the first half we played some very good football which led to some good chances, Steve Hunter getting up well to head at the keeper who made a fine point blank save and Hilary put just over the bar with a good header. Yes we were getting the chances but not putting them away but finally some good work from Martin Treadway saw him slot the ball home to make it 1-0. After our fine start we were not playing quite so well and letting Hornmister inch their way into the game. Taju who had arrived late for the kick off came on and from a good H corner Taju headed the ball home at the far post to make it 2-0 at half time. The second half was becoming end to end stuff with both sides going close and after a sloppy period of play from us one of the Hornminster strikers laid the ball back to a Midfield player who hit a crisp right footed shot high into the right corner of the net past our keeper Gary Doodes. 2-1 and our opposition were right back in it due to us missing so many chances in the first half, so were we going to pay for that? Hornminster now playing with confidence were giving us problems but a great flick from Taju into the path of Martin Treadway`s very powerful left footed shot saw us take a 3-1 lead and we then went further ahead when Tony Graves went through and this led to a 50 - 50 encounter with the goalkeeper but Tony managed to get past him and slot the ball into an open net to make it 4-1. This was more like it leading by 3 goals a place we should have been earlier but an opposition corner with 10 minutes to go led to the ball going into the box and evading our keeper and defenders going to far post right into the path of an opposition player who had time to chest it before putting it into the goal without any challenge 4-2. Paul Obwinko had a couple of good chances towards the end and is getting closer every game so we should see him score next season LOL.
Barry had a difficult task with 5 subs and trying to keep every one happy and assistant manager Kevin Whitworth showed the wrong attitude when being subbed with 10 minutes to go which he apologises for to the Manager and his team mates. The Male Menopause seems to be the reason as he is turning into Victor Meldrew yes I don`t believe it !!! Result 4 – 2.
Man of the Match: Martin Treadway two very good goals, but please stop the moaning you are getting like Kevin.
Report by Kevin Whitworth.
Team
Gary Doodes ( Capt ), Sean Windeatt, H, Kevin Whitworth, Martyn Tribe, Darren Foss, Hilary Francis, Steve Hunter, Paul Obwinko, Tony Graves, Martin Treadway.
Subs: Barry Smith, Roger Gayle, Trevor Burton, Suhail Butt, T , Bill Howard who was unused but never complained unlike Victor.