4s vs Civil Service 6s – 17.09.16

Civil Service 6s vs. Merton 4s
SAL Minor Division 2 South
Saturday 17^th September 2016

So after last week’s disappointing result in the opening game of the season, it was time for the 4s to travel to Chiswick to face Civil Service.

Due to a four car pileup at Chiswick Roundabout, there was no option for everyone to park up at Barnes Bridge and walk to the ground. This meant a delayed KO with no chance to warm up.

We were with a few regulars meaning a step up from a few 5s players to help us out, namely Steve, Anam and Dave Golding. Noor Edam was also included in the squad after impressing in training during the week and recommended to us. Chris Outred deputised between the sticks following a ‘no show’ from our keeper. The joys of Saturday football!

We were on the back foot from the off of honest and Civil Service capitalised on this by taking the lead 15 minutes in. Conceding the goal seemed to give us a lift along with a slight change of positions due to Will picking up and injury with Joe converting to centre half. Arnold also picked up an injury forcing a change with Noor coming on in his place.

We were creating chances, some white Dom and Sonny should have easily put away but it was not meant to be. 5 minutes before the break we got a breakthrough. Dom surrounded by a sea of red shirt went to ground with the ref pointing to the spot. Dom picked himself up to slot the ball into the bottom left. 1-1 going into the break in the host were there for the taking.

The team talk at the break was a positive one. Keep doing what we were going before the break and we would get something out of the game. It wasn’t meant to be however.

Civil Service peppered our goals with shots from every opportunity and in the end it paid off. Positional errors and tired legs meant that another three goals were conceded. It could have been a lot worse had Chris had an off day in goal but he didn’t put a foot wrong, likewise either did Ryan putting in a Man of the Match performance for the second week in a row and making it very difficult for somebody to take the shirt off his back.

We realised that key to playing football is consistency and ensuring that you have the same guys week in week out. Let’s hope that going forward players are committed. If not then we can’t push forward.

We have a break from competitive football next weekend before our AFA Cup game away to Old Wokingians. Let’s hope for a better start in the Cup than we have had in the league. Come on boys!!!!!

FINAL SCORE: Civil Service 6s 4 – 1 Merton 4s SCORER: Dom Plumridge MOTM: Ryan Burchell

STARTING LINE-UP: Chris Outred (GK), Ryan Burchell, Will Harrison (Noor Edam), Steve Burchell, Edward Plaistow (Capt.), Arnold Collier (Chris Dodd), David Golding, Joe Plumridge, Anam Hussan, Sonny Kennedy, Dom Plumridge.