Merton 1s v Crouch End Vampires 8th March 2014

Three trips up and down the north circular, Victoria and Northern lines in three successive Saturday’s and this time we were off to Crouch End for a typically testing battle on their first team ‘pitch’ which hadn’t seen any football since November. The good news for Browner was that no matter where he found himself he always had an excuse for his first touch but for others it meant that playing any real flowing football was going to be a challenge.

We didn’t start particularly well with Tills and Woody getting over run through the middle and the front three of Van, Bosh and Whiteman struggling to get hold of the ball to feet or in behind the Vamps back row. It was at the other end where a lot of the action was and Sherbs had to be on his toes to keep the scores level with a couple of smart stops from half chances. As the half wore on we began to dictate the play morethrough excellent play from Al G and Rat from full back whilst Snooks was enjoying more success throug the middle. Chances were starting to fall our way and after another marauding run down the right from Rat his deep cross found Bosh in space which he expertly guided past the keeper with a smart first time volley to put us one up. The second goal wasn’t far behind and this time Whiteman delivered from the right to find Tills whose header cannoned off the bar and was first to the rebound to turn the ball home to double our advantage going in to the break.

The second half began in the same vein as the first but this time the Vamps found a way past Sherbs (for the first time in three appearances)after some poor marking in our penalty box. We didn’t panic though and soon regained control of the game through decent spells of play down both flanks before Whiteman picked out Van with a pin point cross and his header squirmed through the keepers grasp to restore our two goal lead. Woody then polished the afternoon off nicely with a cross/shot from the touch line which found the far corner of the net and that was that. The hard work that a lot of the squad are putting in on Wednesday nights with Nathan is really paying dividends as we are looking stronger and fitter as games go on. With seven fixtures to go and promotion still very much up for grabs we must not take stop working hard and playing the football that has got us this far. Next week sees us return to action at the Hood against EBOG and thankfully the North Circ will be given a break.

MOM:

Team:Sherbs, Al G, Clappers, Browner, Graves, Tills (1), Woody (1), Snook, Van (1) (Marsh), Bosher(1), Whiteman (Manton)

Written by:James Tilley