Newsletter w/c 14.12.20

Fixtures Sat 19.12.20

Team Selection

Results 12.12.20

Team	Opposition	R	Score
1sts	Dorkinians	D	1 – 1
2nds	HAC 2s	W	3 – 1
3rds	Dorkinians 3s	D	1 – 1
4ths	Mickleham Old Boxhillians	L	2 – 0
5ths	no game	–	–
6ths	Postponed	–	–
7ths	Old Suttonians 6s	L	4 – 3
8ths	Postponed	–	–
Sat Vets	Double H	L	4 – 1

Match Reports

Old Meadonians 1 – 1 Dorkinians

Meads 1s travelled down to Dorking knowing they needed to bounce back from a disappointing result against Sutts the week before, and were full of optimism despite being dealt some tough blows in the 24 hours leading up to the game. Sadly both Rash ‘the Ox’ Ovie and skipper Charlie Cain were forced to isolate meaning we only had 12 in the matchday squad. Meads Veteran and ex-Chiswick Playboy Kevin Quinn, who was due to be playing for the 3s on the pitch next to us did offer his services, but management took one look at his 1970s vintage brown leather boots and decided against it. ‘Don’t worry Quinny, these young fit lads are more than capable, 12 is plenty’.

Sadly the young fit lads had other ideas. 30 seconds in and part time footballer part time body builder Ryan Bright, still aching from a Wednesday morning leg session, embarked on his first sprint of the game, only to tear his hamstring and hobble straight off. On came Joe Jones in what might be meads quickest substitution in its 90 year history, leaving the bench looking very uninspiring – no more substitutes and two angry Scots now trading verbal blows with the teenage locals trying to watch the game with their parents (this coming after an earlier heated altercation with the oppo captain who asked them not to warmup on the pitch – they were certainly making their mark in Dorking).

10 minutes later Charlie Kimpton, who may or may not have seen brighty wrapped up warm on the touchline nursing his hamstring with the ice cold Stella’s that the oppo had provided, was the next casualty. A collision with a Dorks midfielder left him in visible pain, and unable to put any weight on one foot he was forced off. ‘Yer fookin poof’ screamed management. Meads down to 10 and 80 minutes left on the clock.

At that point it felt like it was going to be a tough ask to get anything out of a game that on a normal day we’d have looked favourites to win comfortably, but the lads weren’t about to give up anything without a fight. They actually took the lead, super sub Joe Jones climbing highest to powerfully head home an Ed Glover corner. Queue Gordy and Kev flicking the V’s at the locals and Brighty lobbing his bottle of Stella asking Kimpton why they can’t get on the end of his corners like that.

Sadly the lead didn’t last long, with Dorks replying almost instantly with their first meaningful attack, a quality strike on the half volley to be fair to the lad. They then had the wind in their sails and despite our best efforts and tireless work rate, they started to grow into the game, applying more and more pressure and creating a number of chances. Unfortunately for them, we had a hairband wearing brick wall between the sticks. Joe Marshall was outstanding, making a number of incredible saves including a quality penalty save to keep the scores level at half time.

The second half started like the first had ended, with valiant last ditch meads defending all over the pitch and Joe Marsh just refusing to be beaten. Medish did well to escape a red card following two seemingly cynical identical fouls, before then being on the receiving end of a high one from their big centre mid. The ref thought about it and showed him the straight red! 10 v 10! Game on! Both teams then took turns to attack in search of all 3 points, but the lads were running on empty and we just weren’t able to create that final clear cut chance. 1-1 it finished.

Credit to the 9 lads and one brick wall who played the final 80 minutes. The work rate, character and team spirit was excellent and they were fully deserving of a point in difficult circumstances, if not more!

MoM: The brick wall
Wig: Brighty

Old Meadonians II 3 – 1 HAC II

‘The table never lies’ is the old adage but in truth Meads 2’s lowly league position is not reflective of the ability within the newly formed squad. Senior 1 South is a tough, evenly contested division with no standout sides, all capable of knocking points off each other.  Saturday’s opponents, HAC are typical of the teams nearer the top, a big physically fit side who if you fail to compete will steamroller you – which is what they attempted to do from kick off. Cries of ‘THAT’s THE TRIGGER’  anytime Meads defenders touched the ball and the onslaught of chasing middleclass squaddies was a bit disconcerting, but thankfully Meads had recaptured composure and battling spirit that was missing last week against Hampton.

Critical to the defensive resistance was the 2s own freedom fighter Jack ‘Che’ Cinamon, who alongside Dan ‘Treacle’ Wilson were excellent in repelling freekicks, corners and waves of HAC attacks. (Jack with added inspiration from his new PLO issued boots – see photo)

It may not have been pretty but we made it to half time without conceding and could have scored on a breakaway but Ali shot at the keeper when 1 on 1. HT.0-0.

The second half was a different affair, HAC continued the huff and puff but were susceptible to the incisive counter attacks from Meads with Kenna, Wilson and Ali seeing more of the ball. On around the hour mark Meads took the lead from an unlikely source when Harry’s in-swinging freekick evaded 15+ players lined up on the edge of the box and sailed into the bottom corner of the goal. 1-0 and a riled HAC increased their effort which Meads reacted to with the introduction of Andy Thompson, making his 2s debut this season.

Thankfully Thommo stepped in as a late replacement for Billo who failed to recover from the Wolves Old Boys Trans Club (Putney branch) Christmas party on Friday night.  Thommo made an immediate impact winning headers and then scoring with an unidentified part of his body from close range – surely the no.10 shirt has a new owner?

2-0 up and comfortably dealing with a now tetchy HAC until the dubious award of a few free kicks, one of which was clipped into the top corner (which I should have saved but inexplicably waved past the post – unfortunately the wrong side). 2-1 and a nervy, grandstand finish? No chance.

A couple of minutes later Harry sent Ali rushing through on goal and a penalty was awarded when he was taken out. Matt confidently grabbed the ball ahead of three strikers and duly saw his penalty saved but thankfully it was parried to Nic who fired in to win the game. FT. 3-1.

MOM – Great team effort this week with everyone contributing to the win against a good HAC side, but Jack Cinamon was the standout performer with countless timely interceptions and calmly playing football out from defence when under pressure.

Mickelham Old Boxhillians 1 – 1 OMFC Wildcats

The Wildcats ventured away to the darkest depths of Box Hill to face the unbeaten league pace setters in a week beset by injuries and non-availability. Gatesy & Gav Kenny came to the rescue to give us 12 including debutant Ben up top & Henri stepping into the back 3 (more on him later). However, Kody gave me the infamous words ‘leave it with me’ and did not disappoint, 2 of the latest of late entries boosted our bench, Billy & Jack giving us the full contingent on the bench. Gav was obviously enjoying not having the potential for Quinny to moan at him by turning up late and not warming up. The capacity crowd of 3 including the ever-present Paul Whelan were ready for a dogfight of Top Gun epic levels. But who would crash and burn like Goose? Time would tell.

A very open start to the game led to breaks out wide from Marlon in his newly found Wing Back role with only the final ball missing from another classy performance. Tim dropped in on the left-hand side with his dependable reliability and the central axis of Aidan, Luke and post-xmas party Gav breaking up play well. Ben up top added a new element with some great hold up play giving Kody some much needed support and a pivot to run off. The back 3 of Jordan, myself and Henri were mainly untroubled if not for the odd set piece barrage coming our way. Rorke then decided he was bored and after closing their striker well decided to follow him off outside the box leading to a relatively routine goal line clearance from yours truly. Billy, Jack & Charvey entered the fray as we built into the game, the back 3 getting more chances to step out into the midfield but still little was created. 0-0 HT

Classic ‘more of the same and we can nick this’ team talk done, top up the Vaseline on the gooch and we were off for the second half. For the next 20 minutes something weird happened…. We started knocking it about, overlapping wingers, passing it around the midfield, even Rorke getting involved with a sequence of passes around the defence. Wow, we are actually quite good… a ball into the feet of Ben, dropped off to Jack, smashed home from 20 yards, 0-1. Shame it couldn’t last, from Jekyll to Hyde we then set the blueprints for what Spurs did against Palace and sat back, they came on to us and a slight calamity of the ball looping in the air being watched by the whole team hit the bar and drop in followed, 1-1.

The oppo turned up the heat and after Henri decided he wanted to try as many ways as possible to get himself sent off after being chirped by 2 Vicky Pollard wannabes on the side we were under the pump. Rorke showed amazing bouncebackability after the mistake to pull of a string of class saves, the bar helped us out on a few occasions, and I dragged another one off our line. Special mentions to Aidan, Billy, Jordan & Luke for pure fight across the park and we maybe could have nicked it late but take a point. 3 points off top at the halfway stage of the season, loads to play for.

MoM – Close run thing but deciding vote went the way of Jordan at the back, shout out to Ben on debut, Rorke in nets and all those who came in to help us out this week.

WIG – Nearly a WIG/MoM double as Rorke took home a clear WIG win for watching the worlds slowest loopiest header go in

Squad – Rorke – Clemo – Jordan – Henri – Marlon – Tim – Aidan – Gav – Luke – Ben – Kody – Charvey – Jack – Billy