6s vs South Bank Cuaco 6s – 01/10/16

At last – a positive match report to write!

After the disappointment of the week before it was time to re-group and go again.

Things got off to a good start as almost everyone turned up on time, but there is always one late and this week it was Chris!

Starting line-up was as follows: Merton’s number 1, Swanny in goal, back 4 of Kev, Chappell, Beans and Martin.  The three midfielders were Ty, Paul and Matt and the three strikers were Scott, Pete and Dave. Impact subs were Ram, Malcolm and Chris.

Anyway to the game, after last week’s disaster it was safe to say we started the game much brighter and were at least to trying to move the ball quicker this week.  In the early stages of the game we created some great chances with Scott missing a guilt edge chance when one on one and Dave hitting the post, to which  I have never seen a ball hit the inside of a square post and go off for a throw in!

After making a few subs during the first half the momentum slightly shifted with South Bank coming back into the game but they failed to create any chances.  At half time the game was still 0-0.

After the half time team talk, we again started brightly and the first 15 minutes flew by – so much so that the ref didn’t know how minutes had gone (he was an entertaining chap!).

Mid-way through the half Merton’s breakthrough finally came.  A mix up in the South Bank defence and with a bit of pin ball around the box, Scott swept home for his first of the season.

After we scored South Bank came back into the game and had a couple of half chances.

Then as we entered the latter stages of the game, South Bank equalised.  It was disappointing as we had a throw in near the corner flag, but failed to capitalise and they broke quick.  Some of the squad say it was the left backs fault as he was up the field and failed to get back, the left back says it was a poor throw in and the centre half and keeper should have done better!

Anyway after they equalised with us being on top for most of the game, our heads slightly dropped and then the unthinkable happened.  A long ball over the top and with Chappell thinking he was on rugby pitch, he brought down the striker on then edge of the area.  Luckily he wasn’t last man and to be fair Chappell did slip, so it was only a booking.  From the resulting free kick, the striker bent the ball into the top corner (of the keeper’s side – sorry Swanny!) and they went 2-1 up.  We were all thinking the worse was going to happen and especially after we dominated the vast majority of the game.

With time ticking away, the lads re-focused and after a superb 40 yard pin point pass, the gaffer found Paul who outmuscled the defender to smash the ball high into the net for a deserved equaliser!

The game finished 2-2 and we move onto next week!

Special mention to the South Bank lads who played the game in a good, but competitive sprit and it was great to see them in the bar afterwards to discuss a few talking points.

Man of the Match:

To be fair this was a difficult decision as everyone had a good game.  After counting the votes Beans, Chappell and Paul got nominations but this week it goes to Dave who had the majority of votes and had a great game up top and held the ball up well!

Dog of the Day: Again a difficult decision – votes were received for Gaffer (who apparently went missing for the equaliser and wasn’t happy with the throwing!), Pete (for booting the ball away when upset with a decision, and was lucky not to get booked) and for Scott (for missing a sitter!). Unanimous decision this week though was for a player on competitive debut – step up Chris! (this was for being slightly late, then forgetting shin pads were part of the footballers attire!)

See you next week when we play Old Salesians!

Written by the Gaffer