Category: Match Reports 4s

Having been knocked out each of the cups in successive weeks, the 4s bounced back with an impressive win against a title rival. With a host of regular players unavailable or injured we picked up a number of players from the 5s and welcomed a new recruit in Carl Bartley.

We started brightly against a team with skill and pace up top, but very little to worry us in defence. Werode our luck at times as the first good chances went to. Aob but they couldn’t finish them. The. At the other end Giz took up the ball 35 yards out and fired an unstoppable shot beyond the desparing dive of their keeper – soon after we broke quickly with a glorious ball from Mickey found Giz – 4 defenders rushed to him and forgot all about Dan… Giz found him easily to tap into an empty net.

Alleyns on the ropes and close to collapse they got a lucky lifeline just before halftime. The ref missed a clear handball in the build up and the resulting shot clipped off Mickey and beyond my reach… 2-1 and gameon.

The second half was a very close affair, but our defence held firm – and Jess and Shaun were providing anexcellent shield in midfield. We had a close shave when the Aob attacker broke clear despite being clearly offsid and I just managed to get back to clear the ball off the line – we never managed to get the 3rd goal to kill them off, Denyz and Giz both going close, fortunately we didn’t need it and remain unbeaten in the league.

MOM:close between Giz and Mickey, but the latter gets it for so e quality last ditch tackles. Special mention to Daryl Flattery who played excellently at left back

Team:

Attendence:

Report by:Mark Chappell

Merton missed too many good chances, throughout the game Oppo keeper was excellent and proved the difference in the end Merton keeper Robert did not have a lot to do Denys scored in the 1st half, capitalising on a defensive mistake Essex injured himself kicking the corner flag instead of the ball 1-0 up half time, a 2nd goal would have killed the game but never came Broomfield got a penalty on the break which was NEVER a penalty. 1-1 Within 5 minutes oppo had centre half sent of for blatant pull on Denys in the box Keeper saved the resultant penalty For 2nd week running we lost our shape and mojo against 10 men One particular offside decision was so surreally wrong it got two Merton players booked 90 mins 1-1

We were poor in the 1st half of extra time. Oppo played well Lenners got a knock on the head, staggered around a lot, saying “I ‘m alright”, then staggered some more Players went down with cramp all over the pitch. Not the oldest player though!We were much better in the 2nd half of extra time, could have scored 3 or 4 Didn’t happen

Penalty shoot out. We missed 2, they missed 1. A very long way to go to lose a big game – one we should never have lost. Again Concentrate on promotion

MOM:

Team:

Attendence:

Report by:Shaun Jones

We travelled to Guildford knowing a tough semi-final awaited us. Astolat have swept and mainly crushed all before them this season. We had our own unbeaten record to protect and knew it would be nothing but a tight battle. We were going to have to be at our best to win.

Our pre-match preparations were unfortunately disrupted when a car containing Essex, Micky and Giz turned up 5 minutes before kick off. What also did not help was Essex throwing up several times just before kick off after his own personal brush with the ongoing meat crisis. They had stopped at McD’s en route and Marc’s burger contained not only beef, salad and gherkin but also an added serving of shower gel sauce courtesy of a team mate. Not what anyone needed before our biggest game of the season.

Not unsurprisingly we started the match quite slowly. Astolat were quick, strong and confident and exploited our uncertainty with our 4-2-3-1 shape by bursting quickly forwards via their full backs, particularly from their left, and through their capable attacking midfielders. Astolat forwards dangerously got to the byline a couple of times but our defenders coped very well, as they did all game. Denys had a tricky half-chance volley early doors but couldn’t quite get the right connection.

After 15 minutes we made the right decision to change our shape to match Astolat’s 4-4-2. Immediately we looked more organised, positive and creative. Astolat were pegged back and Paul Ellis in goal was a virtual spectator for the rest of the half. Denys again got close to opening the scoring but couldn’t quite get his head to a far post cross at close range and used his hand instead, earning a yellow card.

We grew stronger, playing some nice football at times, as Astolat became increasingly ragged and frustrated.They gave away numerous free kicks throughout the game, earning several bookings. It was very clear that they were unsure how to react to a team who would not roll over and who gave as good as it got (in their leaguecampaign for example, Astolat are: P8, W8, F57, A6). it was obviously a novel and uncomfortable experience for them; but we should regret that we did not score from one of our many free kicks, especially as their keeper was no taller than 5’5″ in his boots, and was never truly tested.

Having said that, Astolat defended extremely well all game, particularly after they were down to 10 men in the second half. Half time perhaps came a little to soon for us, as we were pressing strongly for the first goal.

The second half started and the pattern continued. We pressed without creating many clear chances, Astolat competed and defended well but continued to commit more than their fair share of fouls. It’s the first time in a long time that I can remember an opposition team giving away (many) more fouls, more bookings and being deeper in the ref’s bad books than ourselves. Astolat’s left back was arguably lucky not to receive his second yellow card for a clear foul not long before the turning point and defining moment of the the match.

On 65 minutes we broke from the back down our right. Sean Monaghan had the ball under control near the touch line when an Astolat midfielder charged across from CM and dived in, clattering Sean to the ground. The ref consulted his assistant and they came to the conclusion that the challenge deserved a straight red, and off he went. From where I was standing it looked a bit harsh. He did jump in but it wasn’t two-footed, and to be honest – and I said this at the time – It suited us better to be playing against 11 than 10, as we were clearly in charge. We had been pushing and probing while Astolat had offered very little threat at all.

I was unfortunately proved right. Astolat’s team and their supporters were indignant and pumped up by the sending off. We lost our shape, concentration and momentum and the tide turned decisively against us. 3 minutes after the sending off we conceded a needless penalty as Sean Monaghan got too close to his man as he ran away from goal. Contact was made, the player fell and the spot kick was duly awarded and converted, to wild home celebrations.

Their tails were up, and raised even further 3 minutes later when Astolat, suddenly dangerous in the newly stretched game, hit us on the break again and a speculative left wing cross sailed over Ellis into the roof of the net. He couldn’t have placed it better if he’d tried. Which he hadn’t.

We became more direct and slightly desperate, losing our previous shape and more measured build up play.Free kicks and corners came and went; crosses went in and were cleared; several long shots failed to trouble the keeper; Pearcey nodded a free kick just wide; Denys could have earned a penalty after a barge in the box, and Essex sliced a great chance wide late on, but we never looked like getting it back. It’s also fairto say that Astolat looked more likely than us to score again as the game became super-stretched.

We really should have won the game and were unlucky not to do so considering the circumstances, but Astolatkept their heads when it mattered and we regretfully stopped playing. A couple of their lads we spoke to said it was their toughest game of the season, but that is little consolation for us losing a cup semi-finalwe really wanted to win.

Thanks to our small but loyal band of supporters who travelled to Guildford on Saturday. Hopefully we can gather one or two more people to cheer us on if we get to the SAL Cup semi-final by getting past (the also unbeaten) Broomfield on Saturday.

MOM:

Team:

Attendence:

Report by:Shaun Jones

In their 177th game in this competition (well thats what it feels like) the 4s deservedly won through to the Semi Final of the Surrey Lower Junior Cup.

Preperation was less than ideal, with a number of key players unavailable we were forced to seek help from the 5s to bolster the squad, and then both Ross and Giz turned up after kick off, and Shaun Monoghan made it by the skin of his teeth (NB… I forgot to say Shaun… thats a £10 fine for being late).

Despite this Merton had the better of the early exchanges, with both Graham and Dan Kelly getting joy against the Addlestone defence – both backing up Denyz who was having one of his man mountain games up top. At the back Darren and Micky were dealing with anything that Addlestone threw at us, but despite having the better of the half, we went in 0-0.

A few changes at half time moved us back to a 4-4-2 to try and make better use of the domination Denyz was having against both their centre backs, moving Giz up along side him. A few decent chances came and went, but it was Addlestone who drew first blood. Depending on your point of view, their goal was either a worldy shot from 40 yards that arrowed into the top corner that gave the keeper no chance… or… I was lobbed from 40 yards… Whichever, it meant we had to dig deep. I took heart from their shouts of “we now have something to hang on to” that told us exactly that they knew we were the better team, it was just a matter of time and whether we could take the chances presented. Fortunately the qualiser wasn’t long coming, Giz finding space in a crowded box and finishing well.

There was a definite confidence within the Merton team that this was our game, and there was never any panic – the sign of a team growing in self belief – A VERY good sign for the many BIG games ahead.

The winner came out of nothing… So much so that all I saw was Giz running clear and finishing past their on rushing keeper. The linesman clearly realising that he had saved them a couple of times… but couldn’tjustify this one.

We brought Ross on to bolster the midfield for the inevitable onslaught, but it never really came, the team all defended manfully and left Addlestone with a few hopeful punts into the box which we dealt with easily.

A great win by a great team.

MOM:Denyz – The Ukranian ‘Ivan Drago’ of the Merton 4s

Team:

Attendence:

Report by:Mark Chappell

A very disappointing result as our series of draws / dropped points continues. The performance was poor and error-strewn in the first half, improved dramatically after half time but we couldn’t quite grab the 3 points we needed and possibly just about deserved.

We were all over the place from the first kick off. Everyone seemed rushed, and we gave the ball away too easily all against an Ibis side who started brightly and with real purpose. We could have already been 1 goal down by the time we conceded the first goal after 5 minutes. Lax defending from a throw in on the right of our area gave their busy front man time to nip past the stranded last man (me) and finish firmly past Ellis. The defence was all over the place, but the whole team seemed nervous and shell-shocked.

The next 20 minutes wasn’t much better as we struggled to gain shape and understanding. Things improved alot when Essex came off the bench and immediately caused major problems rampaging down the left. One of the first things he did was beat his man for pace and put in a great whipped ball across the 6 yard box, which begged to be finished, but just evaded Denys rushing in.

Suddenly we were more confident and on top, creating stuff in their half and applying good pressure. A stunning 30 yard trademark free kick (past the admittedly smallish keeper) from Thommo levelled the scores after 25 minutes. We were now on top, carving out several corners, but also still looked stretched and out of shape when defending, and paid for that with a breakaway sucker punch on 30 minutes. I won’t put myself through describing it in too much detail, but I did completely miss a bouncing ball I felt I had to go for on half-way when I was last man, and a few seconds later we were 2-1. Arrrgh! F!!

This didn’t help anything or anyone, and we remained disjointed, annoyed and disappointed until the break.

The gaffer made his feelings known at half time and agreed to change the shape from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2, as our our initial shape (both centre backs marking) could not cope with Ibis playing a deeper, floating forward (4-4-1-1). We have agreed to disagree on this and on precisely what was wrong.

Nevertheless, the change of shape worked a treat. Paul didn’t have a save to make during the 2nd half and it was largely one way traffic. We pressed and probed, enjoying long periods of possession in Ibis territory and eventually, deservedly, kicked down the door and equalised on 70 minutes when Jamie Buckley scored with a well struck 25 yard daisy-cutter into the corner of the goal.

Ibis, who were lacking subs, had one player who was carrying an injury and were hanging on and it seemed only one team was going to take the points. Pearcey was thrown up front (Merton DEFCON2) with 15 minutes to go but the change of shape didn’t work in our favour. Ibis, plucky all day, suddenly had a couple of dangerous breaks, including one down our left which resulted in a shot which fizzed past Ellis’s post.

We created enough chances, half chances, and possession in the last third and penalty area to win the game comfortably. Pearcey snatched at a great chance in front if goal when put through and I had a header from a great Thommo corner which was blocked by someone’s knee on the line. Hailstone broke though from the left and shot into the side netting from an angle when a squared ball or shot across the keeper looked set for a goal. After one scramble Pearcey managed to accidentally block one of our own shots on goal. Desperation gradually set in and we had far too many speculative shots from distance, none of which really troubled their keeper.

It finished 2-2 and we were all gutted to say the least. While we are still unbeaten this season we have drawn far too many games in the league that we should have won, while Old Actonians (who we drew with last week – but should’ve beaten) won again on Saturday and are now clear at the top of the league.

We have a cup game in Barnet on Saturday, and a break from league pressures may be a good thing. There’s still a long way to go this season. Heads up.

MOM:

Team:

Attendence:

Report by:Shaun Jones

Merton 4’s entertained top of the table Actonians on Saturday welcoming back James Fiveash for his first appearance of the season and Chris Hailstone back from Injury.

Merton notorious slow starters were surprisingly quick out of the blocks. Playing with a high tempo they forced a succession of attacks early on. With the gaffer switching to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation for this game Denys in tandem with Dan Kelly were causing the visitors plenty of problems and it was Dan who gave Merton a deserved lead 15 mins into the game as he rifled into the top of the net following good work from Shauno.

Merton should have increased their lead after a succession of misses from inside the six yard box and were made to pay when Actonians midfield player showed great technique to chest down and volley home into the top corner from 25 yards out. For the rest half Merton seemingly shell shocked by the equaliser when on top and struggled to keep the ball allowing Actonians to have more possession and inch their way into the game.

Second half followed the same pattern, Merton wasteful with chances and Actonians always carrying a threat at the other end. It was the visitors who took the lead when their impressive right winger fooled everyone and sent a swerving dipping free-kick into the back of the net when everyone was expecting a cross.

2-1 down and Merton pressed; more chances were spurned until finally they were rewarded for their pressure with Denys sweeping home after a flick on from Pearcey. 2-2 and both teams pressed for the winner, with 10 mins left Tiddy’s chin thought he had secured it when he bundled home at the far post. It wasn’t to be however as Actonians came right back and the right winger tucked home another free kick off the post to claim a share of the spoils.

In summary the team remains unbeaten, but the mood on Saturday was definitely one of a missed chance to close the gap on Actoniansat the top. We must find a way to kick home our advantage, convert our chances and learn again how to see out a game when in a winning position.

MOM:Myself…

Team:Ellis, Gash, Pearcey (C), Lofty, Essex, Shauno, Jessie, Hailstone, Kieran S, Dan K, Denys. Subs – Ian J, Tiddy, Chappell

Attendence:8

Report by:Simon White

Merton travelled to Hayes (Kent) for a tough encounter with a young Wilsonian’s side. The game was played in strong winds, drivingrain and cold conditions as the winter hit our season. The pitch at Hayes Lane was outstanding.

Merton started the stronger of the sides and hit the bat through Sean M after 10 mins. This was followed by a series of 6 back to back corners that Wilsonians somehow managed to survive. After controlling the game for 20 minutes and playing slick passing football, Merton took their foot off the pedal. Wilsonians broke the deadlock with their only effort on target as Merton were sloppy from a freekick, allowing the 5ft tall forward to head in unmarked.

This sparked Merton into life and Denys maintained his goalscoring run with a neat lob following an Ian Jordan through ball. The second half was pretty much uneventful as both sides cancelled each other out. I have a feeling Wilsonians will be there or there abouts in the shake up for promotion.

MOM:Jamie Buckley

Team:Chappell; Essex, Lofty, Pearcey, Jessie; Dan Kelly, Shaun Jones, Jamie Buckley, Sean M, Ian Jordan, Denys Subs; Alex R, Ricardo, Kieran Y

Attendence:

Report by:

This Saturday saw the 4’s travelling to Merton in the Surrey cup. Merton looked like a very good side so we knew we would have a tough game. The ground wasn’t the easiest to find so we started with a bare 11 with Richard and Sam Donovan struggling with the locals to get directions!

Merton started strongly, they were a very well organised outfit and had some very strong players. However we matched them with grim determination at first and then gradually our football started to flow. After 30 minutes of quite equal possession Jack Fortune got clear through and I could see the first goal coming, unfortunately he hit the ball like a little fluffy bunny in a summer dress and the ball just about reached the keeper. Never mind, he is a defender after all! The last 15 minutes remained quite even with both teams doing well but our keeper had probably been a bit busier pulling off a couple of great saves.

I gave Jack a rest at half time and brought on Sam Donovan to sit behind Kevin up front. We started confidently and were winning a lot of the challenges, defensively we had been excellent with Luke completely in control at the back. Unfortunately after 10 minutes Rob pulled up with his hamstring so had to come off, so Jack was on again. We had had all of the normal niggles during the game about offside, with the lino deemed to be always wrong and cheating. I must say that the positions all the moaners were in on the half way game them a perfect view to make such a clear cut decision and the abuse was obviously very well founded. I have made a note to pit forward a proposal to have the linesman stand still on the half way line and just have a guess for offside, makes much more sense. Unfortunately Bruce Forsyth was reffing and he became more and more senile as the afternoon went on. Some of his decisions at the end wouldn’t have looked out of place at live at the palladium, poor old fella. Anyway the game was heading for a draw and the dreaded extra time when Merton brought on their big striker, it didn’t take long for him to get an opportunity and he hit the ball like a bullet into the back of our net. That was the 86th minute so it looked like curtains for our cup run ! We continued with great spirit and 2 minutes later Kev Badcock hit an absolute beauty from the left which floated magnificently into the top right hand corner, sensational!!

So extra time, that wasn’t good because we were knackered. The first half went by without incident, apart from the ridiculous calls from the sideline and Brucey apologising for his legendary wrong decisions. The 2nd half kicked off and both sides were tired, Merton however took the initiative with another great strike from the big man and it was going to be tough to come back. We battled well butdidn’t have enough to get that equaliser and went out to a very good side. Good luck to Merton in the next round and all the best toBrucey on strictly this evening.

MOM:

Team:

Attendence:

Report by:

The 4s maintained their unbeaten record, but this was far from a convincing display and perhaps the only thing that could be takenfrom it is that good team get results on bad days… and we got out of jail here!

Injuries and unavailability meant a few changes to the starting XI with Paul Ellis coming back in goal (apparently 3 clean sheets isn’t enough to keep your place … sniff) and Jamie Buckley and Shaun Jones replacing the missing Chicken Kiev and Fat Controller. This accounted in part with the slow start the 4s made and we could easily have been down and out before we woke up. An incredible clearance off the line by Marc Cottrell and a fine save from Paul kept it 0-0 but then HSBC split us apart again far too easily and tooka deserved lead. As this stage it was all HSBC and I couldn’t see where we could get back in the game. Then suddenly Ricardo made a break and fed Kieran in on goal, he was tackled well but the ball broke to Dan Kelly and he finished well … Always scores the hard ones… we’ll come back to that later.

This should have kicked us into gear… but HSBC weren’t done and a smart turn and shot on the edge of the box left Paul with no chance and it was 2-1 and half time.

A few choice words at half time a slight change of shape had little effect initially with HSBC still bossing things… but we startedto influence the game on the break and had a number of excellent chances to score, most notably Giz, Shaun and Dan Kelly (who hit thebar with the goal gapping… cost… £1 fine) before Shaun Monoghan finished well round the keeper to equalise. We then took the leadwhen Dan Kelly beat defenders to the ball to squeeze the ball in to make it 3-2 and surely job done.

But HSBC weren’t done yet, Paul made a few smart saves before with a minute or so to go their striker was allowed to turn and shoot to get what they must have thought was a deserved point… But in one final twist, Giz won a free kick and after pushing Giz and Jamie Buckley away.. Marc Cottell stepped up.. and with Pearcey’s words of encouragement – “noooo , don’t shoot, how many do we put in the net from there” ringing in his ear.. He curled it into the bottom corner – The club will be pleased to hear that he will be finedif he ever mentions the free kick again… So feel free to ask Essex about it J

MOM:Dan Kelly

Merton 4’s came away from Civil service with all 3 points after a scrappy game in which it was more about the result than the performance.

On a surprisingly bobbly pitch Merton struggled for any rhythm in the opening 20 minutes and found themselves being second best toCivil’s swift counter attacks. Slowly and surely Merton crept into the game and forced a succession of corners, with Denys going the closest, heading wide after a pin ball in the box when arguably he should have done better.

Merton did however take the lead 7 minutes from the break when in the ascendency as Denys’s deflected effort (later awarded as an OG) squirmed into the corner of the net following a Thommo free kick that the keeper could only parry. Within a few minutes the lead was doubled as Denys again latched onto Lofty’s precise through ball and coolly lifted it over the on rushing keeper. 2-0 seemed generous s at the break and the gaffer seemed far from happy…

The second half produced a much more disciplined performance, with the midfield starting to get on top and the defence more in harmony. Thommo unfortunately pulled up with a calf tear midway through the second half which may keep him out for some while. Ian his replacement nearly created the third with a delightful cross which Giz could only get half a connection on and was scrambled wide.

The third however did arrive courtesy of a bit of trickery by Giz down the right 20 mins from the end as his whipped in cross was deflected home by the oppositions centre half into his own net.

The rest of the game was seen out by the resolute back four led by Pearcey, and by the Cat Chappell his third clean sheet in 3 games…

MOM: Pearcy

Team:Chappell, Tiddy, Pearcey(C), Essex, Alex R, Lofty, Shaun M, Thommo, Dan K, Denys, Ricardo. Subs – Ian J, Giz

Attendence:2

Report by:Simon White