Newsletter w/c 28.9.20

Fixtures for Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October

Last Weeks Results

Team	Opposition	V	R	Score
1sts	HAC	H	D	3-3
2nds	Thorntonians 2s	A	D	4-4
3rds	Kings Old Boys 1s	H	D	2-2
4ths	Old Guildfordians 1s	H	W	8-0
5ths	John Fisher OB 1s	H	L	4-1
6ths	Wandsworth Borough 5s	A	L	4-0
7ths	Old Grantonians 1s	H	W	3-2
8ths	Old Sedcopians 5s	A	L	2-1
Sat Vets	Double ‘H’	H	L	1-0
Sun Vets	Albanian	A	W	2-1

Champions of the SAL Vets Cup

Match Reports

SAL VETS CUP FINAL
VENUE. OLD OWENS.
OPPO . OLD ALBANIANS KO 11 AM
SCORE . MEADS 2 ALBANIANS 1 
M RICHARDS, E GLOVER. 

Today, ( Wednesday 30th Sept ) scores of Pantomine Dames marched on Downing street to protest at the banning of Panto for the forthcoming season!

At the helm were a host of MEADS ELITE VETS. Beste was there in full make up and regalia, pushing Ducky Salanson in a wheelchair , after a local butcher performed his knee op. Lukey, Jack and Ed joined the vociferous protest and Thommo and Laurie were in their usual panto horse/mule outfit, Thommo naturally bringing up the rear !!!

This was panto but it was drama at Owens on Sunday.  Writing the report should be an honour, but in truth its not.  It’s a pain!! Thommo had quite rightly observed that ‘ the lack of objectivity ‘ observed needs to be scrutinised and people need to be accountable… Has Pad ever had to write a report despite NEVER knowing who the oppo are,  even after the game? Or is he being protected for having the literacy skills of Harry Rednapp !! Why is Laurie exempt from writing reports when last week he bathed his kids twice in a drunken stupor? NSPCC have been written to, by me as a responsible club welfare officer. Has Goodey 2 shoes ever had to put pen to paper?? Does Skipper Will ever write a report or is he permanently exempt too?? And why hasn’t new ‘Hall of Famer’ Dave ‘ Hit man’ Harvey not been served notice for turning up a day early for the final ??

Thommo was once again handed ‘ The Wig’ for reason (singular) which will be explained. I, KQ, will take the dubious honour for getting ‘ taken to the cleaners’ by their winger in the first half, and can only thank my Ulster colleague (and def MOM) Ali McCombe for bailing me out of trouble on numerous occasions. I am now hurrying the processing of his W4 Green Card,  so he can finally adopt a different accent.

Albanians started brightly on a very cold morning. The pitch was excellent and conditions good for footie. Simon R pulled his hamstring in the first few mins and was replaced by Tim. We spent much time defending without an absolute clear chance being created by A’s. Without playing well we mustered a chance midway through the 1st half when Ed squared a ball, right to central, to Mike Richards, who hit a shot from 25 yards, which the keeper made a hash of and it slipped under his slightly rotund midriff. 1-0. Shortly after a dropkick from Gary was contested by Ed on the right wing. He won the header, lifting it over the defender and cut inside from the right in a very offensive position.  Ready to square or cut it back, the keeper, inexplicably,  moved away from his near post, allowing Ed to side foot with his left in the gap (quite a big one by now) between said keeper and near post. 2-0.

Storms were weathered and we approached HT. Then with my only contribution to the half, Thommo stepped in to claim the wig. An inswinging corner was drifting delightfully straight into the goal (poss clipping the back post on its way in) when Thommo cantered in and cleared the ball over, with his head, from a foot out. Was this pure spite? Was it not enough to deny me (at my age) a goal in a final, but also to deny an assist? Thommo thereby sacrificed a cup final goal of his own and was in mourning for the rest of the day. This may, partly,  be due to the photoshoots of Laurie and Ali cuddling up the week before to enjoy their ‘joint’ MOM. It is not known where Laurie and Ali went for something to eat later, but Thommo was furious.

HT 2-0

Jack C went off injured. Ali Gordon came on and gave us much needed energy. It was a tough, fast pace and Albanians were rewarded for earlier pressure with a goal early in the half. 2-1. Mikey then had a good chance to score before I succumbed to age and injury. Dean Stacey came on and played a very solid 30.mins. The pressure mounted and A’s had most of the ball without creating clear chances.  I recall Gary making only 1 save of note, when a free-kick was drilled in low and he held on to it very well.
We had chances to wrap things up with 3 great opportunities on the break , but none were taken. 

Ed then went off injured and we were getting stretched.  Will took knocks but had to soldier on. Thommo, who went down more than Rocky (in I AND II) kept on getting up on his Bambi like legs and gesticulating to the opponents (like Rocky) to keep on coming!! 

If we had gone to extra time we were done.  A magnificent defence display, marshalled by the aforementioned Ali Mc sealed the win to our relief.

Team. Robinson, Quinn, Goode, McCombe, Pointer, Gerrish, Costello,  Richards,  Glover, Richardson.      Subs. All used   Kenny, Gordon, Wileman, Stacey.

Well done all round. . This Sunday 4 Oct, the bell will ring one more time for the Sunday vets. Can we do one more round, with a patched-up squad, and win 1 more trophy?? Let’s hope so.

Massive drink at Owens and then the Pavilion after. A second successive fabulous Sunday. Well organised again by Rory. Many thanks 

Old Meads 1s 3 – 3 HAC

After a point away at Sutts last week meads looked to go one better this time round but knew they’d be in for a bigger test against HAC, who had looked well positioned to challenge for the title last season before the lockdown hit. Going into the season I had HAC and Hampton as the two teams to beat based on what I’d seen over the past couple of seasons.

HAC always prove difficult oppo, a physical hard working side with quality in most positions, a number of rep team lads and no real weak links. We were turned over 4-1 in the same fixture last season but then managed to get the better of them in the senior cup quarter final (scraping through after playing against 10 men for 70 minutes), so we knew it was going to another tough game.

They arrived kitted up at 1.45 and went straight into a warm up, a bit keen if you ask me but a sign that they meant business. Meanwhile the boys stood shivering comparing pegs as Gordy had waited until the coldest day of the year to get stuck in traffic with the kit. By this time Kev had arrived and then been called back into work, but in the 2 mins he was there made two points:

– ‘3 points please’
– ‘Timmo what the fuck are you wearing’

And the conditions would prove to be influential, a fierce downhill wind really did make it a game of two halves. Meads opted to battle up the hill against the wind first half, and it was fucking tough. We struggled to get out and despite not really giving away many clear cut opportunities, we found ourselves 3-0 down at the break. One quality finish from the edge of the box, and two wind assisted corners that sailed through everybody in the box and somehow found their way into the far corner.

The teams then switched around and so did the momentum. A few minutes into the second half and it was our turn to use the wind to our advantage. My inswinging corner lead to a melee in the box and I think it was mikey who eventually prodded home to give us the early goal we needed. It gave us momentum to start pushing on, Mike and Jay were keeping us much higher, Caino and Matty we’re getting on the ball in more dangerous positions, Dan Stewart had added some hustle to the midfield and we were able to start getting the attackers into the game more. A good quick throw in from Matty (yes you read that right) then put me in behind and the square ball was almost converted by Xav/Wilson(?!) but for some valiant last ditch defending. A long throw then made its way to Timmo in the box who set it back to the edge and I was clipped as I dummied a shot. Thankfully I landed on the ball so was able to grab it before Caino to make it 3-2. A let off at the other end kept us within one goal going into the final few minutes and in stoppage time we got a final corner. Another inswinger from the same side and that man again, Mikey Richards, nodded home to draw us level and see the points shared.

A deserved MOM for Mikey but credit to all the boys for the spirit shown in the second half. Also a big thanks to Dan Stewart for the broken nose – trip to hospital for realignment now scheduled for next week, can’t wait. 

Old Thorns 2s 4 – 4 OMFC 2s

As the more punctual members of Meads 2s (admittedly few in number) gathered down Roehampton for the second game of the season, they were greeted by an unfamiliar sight:  co-gaffer Andy Reid pulling up in a souped-up red Toyota GT, looking like Harry Redknapp on Deadline Day, sniffing around for news of yet more additions to the 2s 35-man squad… (and cursing Dan Wilson’s bat ears for completely buggering the car’s aerodynamics on the way down).

Unfortunately for Reid, pickings were slim as veterans Ed McKenna and Damian Reading tumbled out of Damo’s family wagon carrying nothing but soft toys and a few extra pounds on their waistlines.  Luckily, solicitor-come-hairdresser James Stenning (#StennersNotStanners) skidded his Audi TT into the gravel car park shortly afterwards, hanging out his window Peter Odemwingie style to check his registration as a “new” Old Mead had come through successfully and receiving confirmation of the same.   

The rest of the squad soon assembled and (after interrupting Harry Sanders and Jack Cinamon’s pre-match picnic for two) headed to the pitch, only to realise that they were still a man short… it turned out resident club doctor Alex Monk had confused his timings and would be turning up for kick off, not the meet time.  He duly found himself in a waiting room of his own, reading a 3 year old copy of Good Housekeeping at the side of the pitch.  WIG in the bag before the match had even kicked off (and lucky not to be writing this report), I wont be standing on my doorstep clapping his timekeeping anytime soon…  (even if he did have a decent game). 

Onto more mundane things, the game wasn’t a bad spectacle.  Meads enjoyed a strong first 25 minutes, scoring 1 (Ali G) and missing several other good chances (including a beautifully whipped cross that McKenna allowed to ping wildly off his gammon joint of a head) but then getting into the festive spirit 3 months early and gifting Thorns 3 sloppy goals (including a very dubious penalty) to go 3-1 down in the space of 15 minutes. 

Fortunately for Meads, the referee had as much grasp of the handball rule as his VAR-assisted counterparts and duly returned the favour with another suspicious pen, this one converted by the Gammon.  3-2 at half time. 

Meads upped the ante in the second half, peppering the Thorns goal early doors, and duly got their reward after the celtic (not Celtic Kev, calm down…) axis of Ronald Reid and Ali Gordon combined down the right and allowed the Paisley Pele to bag his second and third goals of the day to leave Meads 4-3 up with 10 to go. 

All we had to do was not concede… Well, we did.  Again the ref played his part by handing Thorns a shocking throw-in (their winger had shinned it out of play) but Meads only had themselves to blame as their failure to clear lines led to a corner and some shady marking at the back post allowed Thorns to loop a header over Si and into the far post with the very last “kick” of the ball.  4-4.  Sickening. 

On the plus side, a first point of the season for the 2s but it should have been three.  We go again against Reigate next week. 

Special mention to Simon for collecting the management team’s third booking in two games (you do the math…) after theatrically grabbing the Thorns striker by the throat and threatening to punch him before throwing himself to the deck in a tremendous impression of Louis Van Gaal.  You love to see it. 

Old Meads 3s – 2 – 2 Kings Old Boys

1st Half – Meads started strong with a 4-2-3-1 formation. With fast and technical players Wingers Oli and Mo quickly cracked the Old boys defence.  High pressing and Mo recover a ball from the centre back and win his 1 on 1 against the keeper.5’ OMFC 1 -0 Billo then starts controlling and imposing his technique in the midfield. He delivers a great header for Romain, who runs to the goal. 2-0 after 10 minutes for OMFCJust after, Romain misses the chance to kills the game on a great assist from Billo again. What could get worse than this? After 20’ the Old boys are technically surpassed and outrun on every ball. They changed strategy and start to play another type of football… In defence,  Clemo and Owen answer the physical challenge and win some headers. Jack and Amine on the wings as well and still outspeed their opponents.

25’ Billo when going for a header, receives an elbow to the face. All bloody he has to leave the pitch. (6 stitches in the end and an afternoon in the hospital )Aidan replaces him.The ref already gave a couple of yellows to the Old Boys but it didn’t seem to ease their bloodthirst.In the midfield, Jack and Adlane are holding the fort and respond with strong tackles.

2nd Half – The old boys come back with the same intensity. It’s getting more difficult for Meads. Having a hard time to control the game and find each other. Alan steps in and gave instructions to put back his team in the game. Nico and Shae try to dynamite the game again and use their speed as an advantage. Rorke has to intervene a few time.55’ on a cross from the right-wing, the old boys reduce the score. 2-15 minutes later, the tall(est) of their players who could potentially be as well the most technical, go for a breakthrough in Meads defence and scored the 2nd goal.2-2Changes of strategy for Meads who has to go back in full aggressive mode. More and more faults on both side.

The Ref has a hard time to keep the game on.Meads change formation 10 minutes before the end of the game in 4-4-2.The old dirty boys stay strong and manage to hold the score.

End of the game – Score: 2-2

MOM : Amine Chelli

WIG: Romain Leroy

We liked:- The first 20 minutes. Meads showed a better football and outplayed his opponent- The answer to the physical challenge- Clemo’s paracetamol

We didn’t like- The flying elbow to Billo, not even allowed in the UFC.- The rugby dropkick from Romain

Match Report provided by the WIG Romain Leroy

Old Meadonians IV 8 – 0 Old Guildfordians I

With the thriller that was Huddersfield against Forest to blame for my hangover/walk of shame across Clapham Common thought turned to the task at hand. Guildfordians the latest visitors to the lands and after their opening 4-0 win they must have been confident of leaving with a result. Steve ‘Laurent Blanc’ Villard made his wildcats debut looking for his first win as a mead, along with Harrison back from his exam sabbatical (much to the ladies excitement the good looking lad that he is), Samie making his meads debut and Rob coming in to complete the changes.

A cagey start to the game, Marlon took a while to work out which team he was on leading to an early smart save from Rorke. Scare aside, Lum and Aidan took control in the middle and we were the better side. Rusty had decided he only wanted to score FIFA screamers and started shooting from the halfway line, each time telling me ‘it was definitely on’, the game was bubbling up nicely like the first 2 minutes of a brazzers xmas special.

The game needed a goal when Lum and Aidan linked up to switch the ball to Marco who cut inside and brought out pure Mr Whippy into the bottom corner, 1-0. A shot of adrenaline to the wildcats who were hunting for more and after a great dummy from Marlon using his arse to control a high clearance the ball fell to Kody to slip in Rusty, 2-0. 40 minutes on the clock another goal needed, Jake and Harrison linking up down the left, ball flashes in, Rusty, cheers, 3-0. 42 minutes gone repeat the above except their keeper makes the save and as the ball trickles home looking like a 1^st half hat trick, Marco channels his inner David Nugent and taps home from on the line, 4-0 HT.

Rob & Samie joined the action at HT, Rob immediately controlling the pace of the game and Samie causing issues for their back 4. A great interception from Stevie V set the ball to Samie who in turn fed Kody, 5-0. Rusty was hungrier than Razor Ruddock at an all you can eat for his hat trick and didn’t wait long before getting the ball in the box dummying the CB and slotting home, 6-0. Still time for Kody to jump in where it hurts to make it 7 and Rusty to put the icing on with a superb chest and volley leaving their keeper to look more like Kepa. No WIG candidates it seems? Hold my hat… a shocking effort with the left peg straight to their CF only saved by Rorke’s reflexes at 8-0 brought the WIG home again.

So many MoM candidates in a complete performance, silent heroes Aidan, Rob & Lum across the middle, the flair of Marco & Jake out wide and the work rate of Marlon & Harrison at full back. But inevitably it was between our SAS partnership (Shearer & Sutton for those under 25), Kody & Rusty with Rusty taking home the MoM.

MoM – Rusty     WIG – Clemo

Squad – Rorke – Harrison – Clemo – Steve – Marlon – Lum – Aidan – Kody – Marco – Jake – Rob – Rusty – Samie  

OMFC 5th Team v John Fisher OB

After a disappointing opening weekend, we looked to bounce back in our first home league game of the 2020/21 season.

A cagey opening 20 minutes and a couple of smart stops from Tristan between the sticks kept it at 0-0. A free kick in a decent position was squandered with Tim Gates unable to add to his impressive tally of dead ball goals for the season. 
As the first half progressed a physical John Fisher side played some good football but were matched evenly until Rob Tanner went into nosebleed territory and ventured outside of his own half. Meads lost possession and a quick ball over the top resulted in a 1 on 1 and it was 1-0 JFOB.

HT 0-1

The second began in similar style and both teams played some good football, as we began to get a foothold in the game and create a couple of chances, a badly defended throw in (missed header -> bouncing ball in box) led to a smart finish from JFOB to make it 0-2.

Normal service then resumed, as like most weeks having given the oppo a 2 goal headstart we began to take control of the game with Adam Tizroutine/Ringo/Pete Jackson all putting themselves about. That was until, a simple square ball at the back from Wallace to Tanner resulted in a trampoline foot first touch from Tanner and a third goal. 0-3.

At this point it became one of those days, although still posing threats going forwards another bouncing ball at the back led to the 4th with Tristan being bundled over in the process. A typical ‘seen em given’ decision that wasn’t. 0-4. Time for the pub.

We got one back towards the end – Nick Nourrice nutmegged the keeper with a daisy-cutter to make it 1-4. We decided to go to a back 3 and stick another body up top but the damage was done and Tanner’s WIG was secured.

FT 1-4

Despite the scoreline there were lot of new faces and some good football played, onwards and upwards as they say. Solid performances from Manser and Reid with big shout outs to Dutt and Ryan who both had solid games in their 5’s debut.

#COYM

MOM – Tristan EvansWIG – Rob Tanner

Squad: Evans, Wallace, Ryan, Tanner, Sowerby, Gates, Ringo, Jackson, Tizroutine, Reid, Manser, Dutt, Nourrice.

Old Meadonians VI 0 – 4 Old Guildfordians 1s

Saturday afternoon and the mighty meads 6s turned up to play wandsworth Vs in Roehampton. The usually bants ensued but in separated groups of 6.

Smithy stood up to give a rousing team talk focused on not making mistakes, especially in the very windy conditions. The squad hanging on to every word making it look like we know what were doing for the new lads called into the squad.

We kicked off with the wind in our faces and weathered the pressure from the oppo who signed up to the lump it forward and be physical school of football.  Focused on making it through that wind the lads were brilliant and we were unlucky to have a soft penalty given against us, going 1 nil down wasn’t a bad 45 in those conditions.

In the second half we played good football and came close on occasions. All that was undone after we didn’t clear a the second ball on a corner and the ball ended up in the back of the net courtesy of the gribbler saving it then inexplicably falling with the ball in hands behind the line. 

After that we lost our shape and went chasing being caught on the break twice more. Turns out we didn’t take in Smithy’s words after all.

The new lads performed well and we go again next week.

Mom – Greg, Moose – Gribbler

Double Update from the 7s…

19/09/2020

Old Tenisonians III Vs Old Meadonians VII

Final Score 4-4

Omens are looking good with our first league game of the season only hours away, the ETA’s of tardy few are on course for kickoff, Carlitos texts the Whatsapp group chat to let everyone know “I will be on time, I’m on the train” Mal’s 25 mins away and even Jerome is running well for time, things are looking up. Turns out Carlitos actually got on the wrong train and found himself waist deep in shit with the gaffer and stuck in West Byfleet, still it wouldn’t be the same if everything went to plan.

The ref’s whistle goes and we quickly found that this was going to be a very very physical matchup. The opposition were very fortunate not to have anyone sent off, there were some proper horror challenges in the first 10 mins. Ten’s knew we knocked the ball around well from the friendly the week before and set out to bully the us (ironically this was how the gaffer told us to start the match)  Meads went down to a calamity goal, very soft indeed but then we got back into the game from a great solo effort from the VAZ!! Time literally stood still for the lump but he took no prisoners. Anas then made it 2-1 with some good work from midfield, but within minutes Tenisonians were level again, the Ref was having a shocker.

Mead’s already shaken defence then got sliced open with a ball over the top. Captain Andy Newman was adjudged to have handled the ball resulting in a free kick, after remonstrating (a few verbal’s) with the ref found himself sin binned, Captain you say “do as I say not as I do” was his reply! Tens capitalised on this advantage just before Andy’s ten min’s were up, 3-2 down.

You could literally see the red mist descending from Aclando’s ears. After some resilient pressing a fortunate ricochet goes in off Tens lacklustre goalie, our heads are up, we’re back in this again, 3-3. Bright eyed, bushy tailed, and oh fuck me they scored again!! The anguish on the gaffers face looked as though he’d just been kicked in the Jacobs, but to his credit he sucked it up, rallied the troops and with a true demonstration of testicular fortitude decided to throw everything the 7s had, including the kitchen sink at Tenisonians for the last 15 minutes adopting 3-4-3 formation. Needless to say we road our luck at times and were very lucky that our keeper managed to pull off some quite extraordinary saves and I mean these were fucking OUTTHERE!! Total flukes mind you but my god, is Liam Smith is double jointed???

Deep into squeaky bum time and the majestic Marc Auriault makes a run from midfield, those long lanky strides are reminiscent of a young Patrick Vieira, no one can get near him, he then cracks a thunderous strike in off the crossbar to make it 4-4,  definitely an early contender for goal of the season.. The final whistle goes with both teams wondering what might have been?

1 point gained is how we see it thanks to a never say die attitude, he who dares Rodders!

MOM:  Marc Auriault  

WIG: Captain Newman.

26/09/2020

Old Meadonians VII Vs Old Grantonians I

Final Score 3-2

Well Autumn is defiantly here…With a chill in the air the 7s had their first League home match.  Really good match.  After a slightly nervous start The 7s went 1-0 up from a through ball from Sonny (the midwife) Turner, that hugged the line on the left all the way into space. Marc Auriault battled away and made the goal himself.  Marc harassed the defender into a poor back pass that put him in, 1-0 after 10 mins.

The 7s let the away team back into the game, but TBF they scored a worldy off the crossbar, nothing the keeper could do. 1-1 half time.

After Manager David Acland made a couple of changes at halftime the mead army were on the up. They never saw Peter Vaz coming, he scored a lovely solo goal from a throw in. 2-1.

Humberto then made it 3 from another assist from the midwife. With 10 mins to go Grantonians get a lifeline after a soft pen as a result of a handball from old git Augaitis.

Meads hung in for all 3points and saw the game out well but to be fair we were the better team. We looked Solid in the middle of the park thanks to the experience of Paul Taylor and Mal Rennie, full of creativity upfront and a solid performance from the defence with Captain Andrew Newman clearing all the long balls that came his way. Special mention to the keeper (Laurent Richer) for 4 incredible save, 3 which were back to backs.  Anas’s Air Kick was the standout hands on heads moment but nonetheless 3 points on the board. 

Away again next week….. COYM

MOM: Paul Taylor

WIG: Paul Augaitis

Old Meads VIII 1 – 2 Old Sedcopians V

A Tail of two halves.

After a 2 hour commute across the city of London, Meads were determined to leave Greenwich with nothing but 3 points.

We started well, knocking the ball about very well; we created 4/5 chances at goal and Joe had a disallowed goal from a corner before finally we broke the deadlock – Ben Weekes took a controlled shot from just inside the area taking a slight deflection and sending the keeper the wrong way. Meads 1-0. It stayed this way for around 50 minutes, Meads being on top throughout.

70 minutes in was the turning point, quite a few decisions went against Meads, one riled Charlie Harris up enough to talk himself into the SinBin. 11v10. With Sedcopians winning a corner, everyone was back to defend it.

A quickly whipped ball in connects to the head of their LB, 1-1. A total turn of events, Sedcopians really couldn’t believe their luck.. the referee signals Charlie to come back on.

We had 10 minutes to turn the game back around, throwing everything at it, we were caught with a late break, the same LB who connected his head to the earlier corner, connects his foot to an unbelievable strike, 25 yards out, post and in.. nothing the keeper could do about it. After a long day and nothing to take home it was definitely a lesson learnt…

MOM – Ant for an outstanding performance and work rate – denied by the post 3 times

WIG – Charlie – for letting his mouth run faster than a turkeys legs in November

Meads 8s:
Adam (GK) Ed Ant Callum Raj Joe Max Billy Henry M Ben W Ben L Mo Charlie Jean

Vets match report for (Home) 26th Sept v’s Double H.   (Meads Vets lost 1-0)

As the Vets players started to arrive at Riverside Lands on Saturday, an interesting discussion began to take place. Due to the ongoing and unprecedented circumstances, we find ourselves in due to Covid-19, it has now become the new norm to get changed in the open air, outside in the cold. Dog walkers and other non-football users of Riverside Lands didn’t know where to look as we advertised our six-packs and muscular torsos to the public….The discussion though, was around the idea of using a gazebo as a mobile changing room, especially when wetter weather is upon us later in the year. After broad agreement from those present that a gazebo would make a suitable, low-cost mobile changing environment, Karl – who was included in the discussion – suggested that instead of a gazebo, we should seek to find some form of “mobile tent on poles” that we could use as a changing room, however, he could not recall exactly what it was called…Good to see that, as a team, we display the same level of listening skills, awareness and understanding both on and off the pitch. No chips for Karl this week.

The conditions for the game were not ideal with a strong wind blowing across the pitch and the pitch itself was still hard from the absence of rain during the summer. This unfortunately meant that the Vets were unlikely to play their slick, one-touch passing game from back to front. Missing a few players due to a variety of reasons gave Steven Fox a few selection headaches, and the final squad of 13 all turned up on time. A 4-5-1 formation was set and lofty discussions were held around how we would all play and support each other. To be fair, everyone played their part. In the 1^st half we were defensively solid against a very good Double H team however we only managed one shot on target ourselves – an insightful pass from Nick in the midfield to Mark W who ran on and shot from distance but straight at the keeper – should have done better. Steven Fox later angled a free kick just over the bar, however other chances were few and far between. Nick, Steven K and Simon all worked tirelessly throughout and our defensive line of Irod, Derek, Jeff and Karl stood solid.

0-0   at half time after a solid 1^st half performance and our heads were still in the right frame of mind to go for the win.

We came out ready in the 2^nd half however, around the 60^th minute a lapse in concentration allowed their no#9 an effort on target – a cracking shot which would have beat most keepers so no chance for Mark B to keep it out. 1-0 to Double H. We did not allow this to let our heads go down and we continued to fight on. Missing most of our strikers meant that 2^nd half chances were also scarce. The game ended with a 1-0 victory to Double H, but in fairness we deserved a draw after the efforts of everyone in the team. Marcello and Alex both played their part coming on as subs.

We all look forward to the next pre-match discussion about changing facilities and gazebos (Karl, it’s spelt G-A-Z-E-B-O). The question still remains though – what exactly does the “H” in Double H stand for?

Onwards and upwards and looking forward to next week’s game against Chelsea Vets in the cup.

Written by Mark Wilson