12th April Merton 0 - 0 Bank of England (League) (Home) Report: Well this result may cost us dearly in the final stages of the season, we played controlled football throughout this game and really should have been out of site by half time.The problem was that like previous weeks we dominated in tearms of possesion but could not fashion enough clear cut chances for our strike team of Simon and Jolon both worked hard to break the deadlock.John and Carl dominated in the center of the park so much so that the defense had a comfortable afternoon and the oppo did not get a shot on target until well into the second half, they only got two corners all afternoon but they did come into the game in middle of second half and battled hard througout the game. In conclusion the boys did good shame about the result.Thanks again to Jim for a faultless performance as stand in goalkeeper he is Merton through and through we need more like him.
5th April Merton 1 - 0 Old Wilsonians (League) (Home) Scorer: Philpot Report: As the score suggests this game was tight with few clear cut chances for either side.Whithout a regular goalkeeeper Jim had to stand in and did a fine job on the few occasions he was called upon we all owe for helping out once again.We took a while to settle down as it has been weeks since some of have played but once we got going we took control and had the better possesion and chances and managed to score a well worked goal after a fine pass from paul Peagan and some neat work from both forwards allowed Philpott to score his first goal of the season.Our oppo worked hard but could not carve out any real danger even after half time when they made a lot of changes.We felt we had the upper hand most of the game but failed to make the most of our suppior possesion my man of the match was Dave Lewin who had his best game of the season.We need to continue the hard work if we are to clinch the second spot as we got a lot of games still to complete but with this group of lads we can remain confident.
15th March Merton v Lloyds TSB 8 (League) (Away) (Double Header) Scorers: Report:
9th February Merton 4 - 2 Lloyds TSB (League) (Away) Scorers: Report:
2nd February Merton 5 - 1 Bank of England (League) (Away) Scorers: Knight 3, Murphy S, Quinlain Report: The last time we played the Bank we won a hard fought game. This time it was different Merton played very well and were better in every department. Possibly the most satisfying aspect was our discipline and organisation. This showed in the way everybody did their job and worked hard for each other, this is something we have been striving for since the beginning of the season. Goals came from Simon, Martin and hat trick for Jolon. We did not vote on the mom but for me Jolon and Kempy shone thanks to all concerned. (For me Fergus Murphy was quality all game – Mark C)
26th January Merton 3 - 2 Carshalton (League) (Home) Scorers: Ansell J, Murphy P, Quinlan Report: 5th January Merton 3 - 3 Llyods TSB (League) (Home) Scorers: Murphy S, Chappell, Lewin Report: On a pitch that looked more like a farmers field after the monsoons, the 7’s claimed a point in their race for the title…. Merton dominated the early exchanges, Jolon causing his usual problems up front and John Ansell & Peter dominating midfield with good effect. This saw profit when Simon Murphy gave chase to a long ball and got lucky with the conditions to capilise. We should really have scored more, John going close from a well flighted free kick and the Dave-Jolon partnership up front was working well. But a long punt from Lloyds left stand in keeper Jim Murphy in no mans land and the striker finished well. We did hit straight back, a free kick by Mark Chappell taking a number of deflections off Lloyds players before going in (now if I was Mr P I’d have claimed it!!). But again we failed to push our advantage and Lloyds again equalised from the spot. 2-2 half time. The 2nd half was a lot different, the condition of the pitch getting steadily worse and the ground took its toll on the old legs of the 7’s. It didn’t help losing Steve Philpot at half time so we started badly with the new formation. Lloyds took the lead early on again from the spot, this time a dubious decision and this was how it stayed until midway through the half when Dave Lewin headed in a Chappell corner for 3-3. The rest of the half was far from pretty to watch, as both sides pushed for the winner. Jim saved brilliantly from a Lloyds Free –kick and Fergus did well to keep out the striker after rounding Jim with a fortuitous rebound. John Ansel hit the post when it seemed easier to score for Merton but a draw was probably fair. Pat’s MOM was a 3-way split between Simon, Fergus and myself. Worthy mention to Jim for a thankless task he under took well in poor conditions
1st December Merton 2 - 0 Old Wilsonians Scorers: Knight, Veneables Report:
17th November Merton 2 - 8 Old Wilsonians (AFA Junior Novets Cup) (Home) Scorers: Chappell, Lee Report: This sounds and is a shocking result but there were times that the 7s played some great passing football and lets all face it at least 4 maybe 5 very soft goals. Ian Bell put his hand up for 3 (or rather he didn't), I committed the cardinal sin of a clearance across goal and Pat M also got caught in possession. What we can take the game is that Mark Chappell still knows how to shout even though he is now a married man, so Clare hasn't beaten it out of him yet. We can take some positives from this, OWs were a good side, and at times we kept the ball well and worked for each other, we were a bit shy in front of goal and maybe could have had a few more efforts. The second half was only 2-1 to the oppo and this wasn't a case of them easing off but a much more resilient Merton. A good debut by Dave and welcome back to Graham Coombes and John Ansell. JUG WATCH (Jugs bought this season) Brian Meggs - 1
10th November Merton 4 - 3 Old Wilsonians (League) (Home) Scorers: Murphy J 2, Knight, Venebles Report: Vikings among other things were called "Wolves among sheep" and there was a certain Canis Lupis like approach about the second half performance that had the Wilsonian sheep swimming in mint sauce. Beset by injuries (at least 3 players) and only having a 11 by way of balsa knees Peter Kemp donning the keepers shirt, we got of to a slow start. Fortunately, so did the opposition most of the first half action took place in the last 10 minutes of it with Steve Philpot having to go off with a recurrent groin problem (getting a hard on during a match is always painful). So down to 10 men and a few minutes later OWs took the lead with a well worked goal. Second half, Steve came back on but this was short lived and although the game was tight, OWs sneaked in for a 2-0 lead, this seemed to spark a bit of life into the Merton 7s and a break down the right and then spreading the ball left to Jim Murphy saw him beat two players, a cry from Pat Murphy of "have a swing at it Jim" saw him do just that and the ball went under the keeper for 2-1. Although a lot younger OWs suddenly looked weary and a good spell of domination saw three more Merton goals, another from Jim (a rare header), one from Jolon Knight (supplied by Jim) and one from Leeds United fan Ollie Venebles, I am sure he was happy that the ref gave the goal unlike the perfectly good goal that was disallowed for Leyton Orient up at Elland Road, I'm not bitter though Ollie ;-). Credit to OWs they rallied in the last 10 minutes and sneaked one passed Peter Kemp who had a great game in goal with his dodgy knee, for 4-3. The 7s held out for a good win and a really superb team effort considering everything that had conspired against them. There was no MOM vote but it could have been any one of the team. Brian Meggs
3rd November Merton 0 - 4 Lloyds TSB (League) (Away) Report:
27th October Merton 1 - 4 Lloyds TSB (SAL Junior Novets Cup) (Home) Scorer: Spencer Report: We only sing when we’re winning. Scorer… Chris Spencer on his comeback!
20th October Merton 4 - 3 Bank of England (League) (Away) Scorers: Chappell, Murphy 2, O.G. Report: The 7’s gained their 1st goals and their 1st victory of the season. All this after 4 players turned up 5 minutes before kick off and 2 further players after half time! Despite the disorganisation before kick off we started well and dominated a very young Bank side. Both Simon Murphy and new man Jolen up front showed that they were likely to cause Bank a few problems and a strong defence was coping well with any early attack. However against the run of play Bank scored to take a 1-0 lead. This didn’t drop our heads and we soon got back into the game with an OG after Simon Murphy got round behind their defence from a Paul Peagam free kick and caused panic. This showed us the way to go and we spent the rest of the game trying to put the defence under pressure, Jolen was superb at harrowing them all game and he held the ball up brilliantly to allow Simon and the midfield to join in. We took the lead before half time, Jolen taking a quick corner and Simon finishing well. The 2nd began as the 1st, with Merton stating the better, but Bank scoring 1st. The equaliser was probably the best goal of the game, and the nature of it should have told Bank how to play against us, but the quick one touch passing game that got them round the aging legs of our defence didn’t happen (and perhaps wasn’t allowed to happen) too often. We regained the lead after Mark Chappell scored a free kick well won by Jolen. A change of keepers saw a change of fortunes for Mr C, who let slip an easy header and dropped the ball at the Bank forwards feet 3-3. Fortunately new player Mark was on hand to score the eventual winner minutes from time. A good game to play in on a typically great surface. Play with heart like this and we could easily be challenging higher up the table.
13th October Merton 0 - 5 Alleyn Old Boys (League) (Home) Report:
29th September Merton 0 - 9 Carshalton 8 (League) (Away) Report:
