This was quite a road trip for me as i had to leave just before eleven and go via Harlow to pick up Son and Heir to keep goal. Old Es is never an easy place to get to and est not to go via  Harlow. Old Es are now playing at the Ford Sports Ground in Ilford and it is a very nice place too, with good pitches and a comfortable bar and the chicken nuggets and chips were fine. The 1s have made a poor start to the season with a string of undeserved defeats. But I was very proud of the boys today. We had the full 14 players and we were all there on time being were well drilled and organised on and off the field by Clappers.   We were kicking up a not inconsiderable  slope in the first half We settled well and quickly mounted attacks but early on Old Es were dangerous but we seemed to have the measure of them and had created some good chances. As now seems to be the pattern of the last few weeks   it was Old Es who hit the post and went ahead with a good cross and header . We continued in menacing fashion and created and missed a hatful of chances. When we were on target their keeper pulled off an incredible block save from an Al G’s header(HT 1-0).  In the second half the game was played mainly in their half. Too much so in fact as we seemed to stay in their half when they broke up field and made it an extraordinary 2-0. For all the good it had done us we continued to dominate with Vanny and Kearnsey creating chances from the wing with good crosses but we just could not finish it off. Just when i had decided it was not to be  Al G rifled home when they failed to properly deal with a cross. Then Vanny made it 2-2. It continued to be one way traffic with the odd break away but it ended 2-2. It was a good comeback if not quite complete. For the first time this season a lot of our regulars were back in the line up and we had Clappers Tills and Woody on the bench. Old Es had won both their previous games and must have been disappointed not to win as they had led 2-0 with 25 mins to go. The ref was excellent explaining  his decisions being consistent and getting enough right.He also had to listen to the most amazing whingeing. I thought we were bad but Old Es have cornered that market.  So it is our first points on the board onwards and upwards. That is an achievement and with Ilford almost diagonally opposite Wimbledon i was able to drive  all the way round the M25. Back to the clubhouse to watch England go out of the World Cup but its only rugby.

Team    Sherbs (GK) Kearnsey, Weasel, Cooky, Rat, Liam Stevens, Will Low, Al G , Vanny , Ackers, Tom Rowe, Subs Tills, Woody, Clappers

Posted in Match Reports 1s