Month: October 2014

Merton booked their passage through to the fifth round of the AFA Intermediate Cup on Saturday, eventually overcoming State Street of the South London Alliance League in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. But, just howthey were unable to win this fourth round tie in normal time is a mystery, such was their domination throughout.

Despite the poor playing surface at Joseph Hood, which made passing difficult, the hosts were quickly into their stride, creating a number of openings but failing to capitalise as chances went begging. Enjoying both territorial advantage and having the better of the possession, Merton continued as the half wore on to press for the opening goal, although a combination of poor finishing, bad luck and the form of the visitors’ keeper meant that with half time approaching, and to the dismay of home supporters, the contest remained goalless. However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute when the home side was awarded a fortuitous penalty; the ball having been driven at close-range onto the arm of a luckless defender. The resulting spot kick was expertly despatched by Oliver Ross to send Merton in at the interval one up.

After the break, the pattern of play pretty much followed that of the first half, with the hosts keen to push home their advantage and extend their lead. Again, though, despite the fashioning of a number of clear opportunities, they were unable to find the net from open play and, on the hour mark, they were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal. The visitors having won the ball in midfield, quickly worked it across the park to the left flank where it arrived at the feet of their winger, who, dropping his shoulder and cutting inside, unleashed an absolute screamer from fully 25-yards that beat the despairing dive of Alex Herbert. Merton recovered from this setback and they went close on numerous occasions to finding a winner, before Mr Rowley’s whistle sounded the end of regulation time.

Unsurprisingly, both sets of players tired during extra-time, with Merton though, still looking likely toprogress. However, to their immense credit, the visitors stuck manfully to their task, withstanding everything thrown at them to set-up a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

The excitement of the shoot-out began with State Street scoring their first penalty, which was followed by Graham Willgoss levelling for Merton. The visitors’ next kick was screwed wide of Herbert’s right post butIvan Gladkow failed to grab the initiative for the hosts when he saw his effort saved by the State Street keeper. The scores level, each team were successful with their next two kicks – the Merton penalties comfortably converted by Ross (his second of the afternoon) and Marc Wilson. Herbert then saved the visitors’ fifth kick, meaning Femi Arogundade was handed the chance to win the tie, which he did with a confident strike to put his team through 4-3 on penalties.

Next week Merton will face a tough test when they meet Horsley 1s at Joseph Hood in a rearranged Surrey County Football Association Intermediate Cup tie.

Report by:Harry Hood

Merton defeated Lloyds TSB Bank at Joseph Hood on Saturday to book their place in the fourth round of the AFA Intermediate Cup, where they’ll meet State Street of the South London Alliance League.

This eagerly awaited all-second division clash promised much for the players and spectators alike. However, due to a combination of the poor playing surface and blustery conditions, it turned out to be one of the worst games likely to be played in AFA competitionthis season. Coping slightly better with the conditions, the home side settled much the quicker and went ahead as early as the 5th minute, thanks to a Ben Cook opportunist effort. Cook, whom Merton manager, Ian Lewis had opted to start in a central midfield role rather than his customary centre back one, doubled his and Merton’s tally after 13 minutes. Despite being two down, Lloyds weren’t aboutto lie down and roll over and, but for a spectacular tip over his bar from Alex Herbert in the host’s goal, they would have pulled agoal back midway into the half. Buoyed on by this, the visitors increased the tempo of their play, appearing keener, sharper and generally more up for the challenge than they had previously. The away side’s resurgence saw the Merton back four coming under pressureforthe first time. And they quickly succumbed, allowing a Lloyds forward to leap unopposed to meet a cross and find the back of the net with the simplest of headers. Moments later, Marc Wilson restored his team’s two-goal advantage – the Merton skipper quickest to react as Lloyds failed to clear at their far post following a Chris Rayner corner. With half time approaching, Femi Arogundade met another Rayner corner, bravely heading home from a yard out to effectively end the game as a contest.

The conditions having worsened after the break meant the second half was a real struggle for both sets of players. Notwithstandingthis, Merton continued to create chances, although these were either too easily squandered, or dealt with efficiently by the visitors. So poor had the game become, the only incident during the remainder of the tie worthy of any note was match official, Mr Doe’s ruling out of a Rayner effort that seemingly had gone through a hole in the net. Closer inspection of the net by the Merton President, Terry Baker confirmed there was indeed a hole present and Rayner, therefore, could count himself extremely unlucky not to have got offthe mark for the season. Mr Doe finally brought an end to the proceedings, with Merton happy to have progressed after such a dire encounter.

Back to league action next week for Merton when they travel to the Muswell Hill Sports Ground to face early pace setters and tabletoppers, Crouch End Vampires. If they are to get anything from the game they will need to improve on their performance today.

Report by:Harry Hood

A share of the spoils at the GSK Sports Ground, especially when missing regulars, Olly Braid, Ben Cook, Chris Rayner, Will Taylor,Graham Willgoss and Marc Wilson would ordinarily be viewed as a point won. Merton, however, will see this as two points dropped, after they had fought back from a goal down to lead at half time, only then to find themselves on the receiving end of two poor decisionsfrom the match official, Mr Keane.

Despite neither team taking command during the early exchanges, it was evident this wasn’t the same BB Eagles outfit that had last week gone down by six goals to one at Carshalton. With the teams evenly matched, it was unsurprising the opening twenty minutes produced little in the way of goal scoring opportunities, although one speculative long-range drive did force Merton’s keeper, Alex Herbert to scamper across his six-yard line and acrobatically turn the ball out for a corner. The deadlock was finally broken in the 22ndminute when a ball down Merton’s right invited the Eagles’ winger to drive to the bye line and send over a dangerous looking cross that resulted in the ball deflecting off a defender’s boot and into the path of an advancing midfielder. The alert midfielder, despite not taking a touch struck a confident first time shot to finish from the edge of the 18-yard box. Undeterred by this setback, Merton quickly got a foothold in the game and they were soon on level terms – Jamie Clayton converting a free-kick on 25 minutes to open hisMerton account after Paul Pearce had been felled by the clumsy challenge of the Eagles’ centre-half. Ten minutes before the interval,the visitors deservedly took the lead after they won a throw-in deep in their opponents half. From the resulting throw, a neat exchange of passes saw the ball delivered into the feet of Oliver Ross who, having cleverly delayed his pass, set-up Jason Marsh who coollyslotted past the keeper.

After the break, just as they had last week, Merton took their foot off the gas, which saw the momentum swing slightly to the homeside. Although the hosts were now enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the away side always looked capable of containing them. And containing them Merton were, until that is the 58th minute when Eagles were handed a lifeline after they were awarded a soft penalty, the referee adjudging Merton’s left-back, Alex Morrison to have pushed an Eagles player from behind. The absence of any appeal from the hosts and the protests from the Merton players merely highlighted what was a really poor decision. The spot kick was expertly dispatched, putting Eagles right back in the contest. Moments later, still reeling from the injustice of the penalty award, the visitors were indebted to Herbert, who ensured the scores remained level with the save of the game – Merton’s custodian denying Eagles with an excellent reflex stop. The remainder of the game was played out with Merton defending an increasing number of attacks from thehome side but still themselves looking dangerous on the break. And it was from a break that Merton appeared to have been awarded a penalty when Ross was unceremoniously hacked down inside the area. Amazingly, though, the play was waved on with the referee indicatingsimulation. The outcome of this ‘simulation’ is that Ross will be out for at least four weeks with a metatarsal stress fracture. Thehome side again managed to breach the visitor’s defence late on, although the effort was correctly chalked off for a foul on Herbert who had dived at the feet of the Eagles’ striker before having the ball kicked from his grasp. Soon after, the shrill of Mr Keane’s whistle signalled the end of the proceedings and Merton trudged off feeling that yet again this season they hadn’t enjoyed an equal share of the rub-of-the-green.

Next up for Merton is the visit of Lloyds TSB Bank to Joseph Hood for an eagerly awaited all second division AFA Intermediate Cup third round tie.

Report by:Harry Hood

Having been on the road for the past two Saturdays, Merton this week were back at Joseph Hood for the first time this season, where they defeated a decent Weirside Rangers outfit by three goals to nil.

Despite both teams making a slow start to the proceedings, it was the homesters who looked the more likely to open the scoring, which they duly did after just 18 minutes. Will Taylor’s tenacious battling, allowing midfielder Oliver Ross the opportunity to bundle the ball over the line for his first goal in Merton colours. Ten minutes later, Taylor, who is currently in a rich vein of form, doubled the advantage with his fourth goal of the season. Merton continued to create chances up to the interval, with Paul Pearce going closest to extending the lead. The striker, though, saw his far post header hit the base of the upright.

After the break, and despite Weirside coming out stronger and seeking to find a way back into the contest, it was Merton again looking the more threatening. Guilty as the half wore on of spurning a number of chances, the hosts survived a scare at the other when Alex Herbert was called upon to make a smart stop during a ten minute purple patch for the visitors. In the closing stages, the home side continued to press and, with two minutes remaining, the points were finally secured when Pearce met Taylor’s cross to the far post, slotting home from close range.

Next week Merton welcome Royal Bank of Scotland to Joseph Hood for what promises to be a tough first round AFA Surrey/Kent Intermediate cup tie. Let’s hope the availability issues of the opening three weeks have abated, therefore, allowing Ian Lewis to select a strong line-up.

Report by:Harry Hood

A wake-up call. It won’t be the story of our season, but today Carshalton were hungrier, fitter and better organised. Credit to the opposition for taking full advantage as we gifted them four of their goals. Oaksey got his only mistakes for the year out the way (so consistently high are his standards), the midfield was out-jumped and defence was caught flat-footed from a straightforward goal kick (our own), and, in our eagerness to up the tempo we jumped in when it was better to stand off, eventually conceding a penalty (no names mentioned, Clowesy).

The positives, such as they were, meant that we kept working hard to create, despite being largely pennedback for much of the game. Ash, Jason and Femi were mostly isolated up front, and when our chances did come,their keeper was not found wanting.

The pick of the bunch was dug out by Chris Rayner, on as a substitute, who probed down the left and produceda first-time hooked cross that Ash made into our best chance of the game, directing a header low to the keeper’s right from 16 yards out – and forcing a fine save.

Fitness, focus and form must improve.

Team:Oaksey (GK), John,Clowesy, Clappers (Lofty H-T), Tilley, Woody, Will, Wilgo, Femi (Rayner 70),Ash, Jason

MOM: Jason Thomas

Report by:Graham Willgoss

As temporary custodians of the Olympic torch for a small part of the warm-up, we showed the Olympic spirit without really showing our class. The exception, in goal, was Sherbs, who stood up to everything Service threw at him and kept the ball out at times when he had no right to do so.

Despite the scoreline, this was a vast improvement on last week’s showing. Vanny (back from his wedding in Reading exodus) revelled in being back in the side, and was eager to make an impression. Tilley brought a greater unity to the midfield, and Ash and Femi were sharper up front.

After a deflected first goal, however, it was too often down to Sherbs to save us from conceding more. A superb reach to tip the ball on to the bar from a corner was followed by our last line of defence rapidly moving from his line to courageously smother the ball in a one-on-one. Football can be cruel (back to that score line later) – never more so when Alex dived low to his left to block the ball from close range, only for Service to follow up and knock it in.

Still, we made plenty of chances of our own. Vanny, switched to the right midway through the second half, almost made an instant impact when bustling down the wing and holding his man off before flashing the ball past the far post. Tilley had the ball in the net but his goal was incorrectly – and spectacularly unfairly – ruled out for ‘hand ball’ 10 minutes previously. Femi was unlucky not to do better with a long-range lob having spotted the keeper off his line. And no one could quite get on the end of another wicked Rayner cross. This was not a 4-0 game. Except it was.

Team: Sherbs (GK), John, Jennings, Marc Wilson, Browner, Wilgo (Clowesy 65), Woody, Tilley, Ivan (Rayner70), Ash, Femi

MOM: Sherbs

Written by: Graham Willgoss

As the cliché goes this truly was a game of two halves. Unfortunately we were so poor in the first half that the second half task was almost impossible but we did give it a good go.

We were so slow starting the game Weirside could have been forgiven for thinking we weren’t interested and after going 4-0 down in half an hour we almost weren’t. A combination of poor marking, slowness in the tackle, and basic errors gifted Weirside three of their four goals which to give them credit they finished very well. Finally pride, and a sense of injustice for an unpunished blatant Weirside headbutt, took over and we started to play with some urgency and bite and got a goal back through Jase just before half time. The second half was a completely different story and we spent the entire half camped in Weirside territory but could only score once more, through Jase again, for all our efforts.

The result was obviously disappointing but more so was the way we were able to dominate the second half showing that with some more quality and greater application in the first half the game could have been a lot different. Having said that I’m sure Weirside’s foot had come off the peddle somewhat at 4-0. A typical all energy display from Jason coupled with his two goals made him our man of the match pushed hard by a high impact second half substitute performance from Vanny.

Team: Oaksey (GK), John, Clappers, Marc Wilson, Will Low, Wilgo (Jonesy 80), Woody (Vanny 45), Tilley, Jase, Ash, Femi.

MOM: Jason

Written by: Clappers

The day started poorly and got continually worse.

Two thirds of the team arrived in Finchley at 2pm, the agreed meet time, and then had to wait a further hour for the rest of the team, including the kit, to turn up just before 3pm having been caught up in every traffic issue possible on route. Finchleans and the nicest ref in the world were very accommodating though and the game kicked off about 15 minutes late.

We dominated the majority of the game but didn’t create any chances of real note. A series of over hit corners and misplaced passes through the middle was all we had to show for our possession. In fact the only two chances we did create were both for Finchleans. Midway through the first half Oaksey came to claim along throw but he misjudged it and the ball was helped over him and past a wrong footed Tilley on the line. Then about half way through the second half a long ball sailed over Browner’s head to Will who was sweeping up. Rather than clearing however he passed across the area to the Finchlean winger who scored well from a tight angle. We pushed hard for the last 20 minutes and Browner had a goal disallowed for half time but we still didn’t trouble the Finchleans keeper enough.

No one really shone but Will Taylor made a positive impact coming on for his first 1s appearance in the second half.

We must learn from this game as it wasn’t dissimilar in quality to any of the 3rd division games we had last year and therefore gifting them two goals was a waste of a good opportunity to get points on the board.

Team: Oaksey (GK), Will Low, Clappers, Browner, Jonesy, Wilgo (Clowesy 75), John, Vanny, Tilley, Jase (Will Taylor), Ash.

MOM:

Written by:Clappers

The prematch excitement became too much for me at the prospect at wearing the AC Milan strip… I was hoping it might mean we play like them. Despite having the kit we were not going to play at the San Siro, furthermore we weren’t allowed to play on the ‘Big pitch’ because the 4s had craftily stolen it and started late, deliberately to wind up Clappers –full marks.

We then enjoyed a particularly long warm up due to a classic case of the opposition forgetting the kit, was their organisation even worse on the pitch? There was an enormous sense of optimism among the squad, Ivan was on fire with the kick ups, with both Gladkows in the starting XI losing didn’t seem likely.

Eventually with the game started, Milan immediately showed their class against the lemons (they wore a yellow kit) who had a serious case of slow starter syndrome, with the lemons having a high average age across the back four, Milan looked like they ought to produce a rugby score, something Tom Rowe could appreciate, but the offside rule wasn’t. The midfield was fully functioning with the Gladkow brothers ruling with an iron fist and there was Irish John causing all round confusion for both opposition and fellow team mates whenever he spoke. With Merton veteran in goal Alex Herbert hitting the giant target man and high flying actor Jason Statham with pin point precision it left the oppo at the back in all sorts of problems. The lemon goal keeper was a little vertically challenged and even with his step ladder he couldn’t reach the bar, but with balls flying well over the bar he didn’t even need to start climbing…

Eventually the deadlock was broken, it was the club superstar and younger, less mature Gladkow, Ivan, who scrambled the ball over the line after three or four bites of the cherry, after having had a few golf balls in the bar, this ugly five yarder had become goal of the season. The second goal came when the young rugby player ‘picked’ the ball up down the right flank and the ball fortuitously ended at slippery Chris Rayner’s feet who arrogantly decided he should knee the ball into the net.

Half time arrived.There were oranges – fantastic! The team reflected how ‘decent’ the performance had been thus far and concluded more goals were on the cards, with Femi failing the punctuality test, he was the fresh pair of legs to come on. Who would he replace? Nobody. He must have been very late!

The opening quarter of the second half saw a revival in energy from the opposition, Milan were slow throughout the team, although the old veteran Sherbs pulled off a string of phenomenal saves, leaving many to ponder how things could have been different for ‘The Crazy Gang’ had this man been between the posts instead of Neil Sullivan. Eventually the lemons broke through the Milan defence, were they back in the game? Not for long.

Jason Statham, left to a standing ovation from the spectators (they were all standing anyway), but he had been terrific winning the aerial battle all day long. Femi was on. He had cleaned his boots, luckily there wasn’t much time left for him to get them dirty, but he did make an immediate impact, using his searing pace to break the line of defence and beat the tiring defender; he squared the pass to the rugby player who avoided the temptation to pick the ball up and drop kick it over the bar, but he nervously side footed it past the little keeper. 3-1 Merton.

A historic day for the club; 5 wins and 1 draw… ‘The Merton Way’

Team: Sherbs (GK), Clowesy, Clappers, Kev Wood, Jonesy, John Lynch, Vanny, Tom Rowe, Jase (Femi), Rayner

MOM:

Written by:Tom Rowe

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Terry demanded ‘3 points – minimum’. By the game’s end, we were on board with his thinking. For this felt like 4. An 87th-minute winner from James Tilley in a hard-fought and hard-won match capped an organised, compact team performance and two notable individual ones. Oaksey in goal made two absolute wolrdies – the first tipping round the post in horizontal flight after a dangerous ball across the 6-yard box was deflected by a Merton boot. The second a point-blank stop on the line with his feet from a close-range header. Our number one had no right to reach either of them.

At the other end, Femi ran the Weirside defence ragged, first breaking clean through and winning a penalty (and if it was a pen, which it was, and a clear goal-scoring opportunity, which it was, why no punishment for the defender?). Jonesy also let the opposition off the hook from the spot.

No matter – Femi wasn’t done yet, collecting a defence-splitting pass from Wilgo before bamboozling his opponents and sending a searching cross into the area, finding Tilley who gave the move the ending it deserved by sweeping home with a first-time left foot volley from 10 yards. Big celebrations followed, particularly after the assorted unpleasantness from Weirside’s number 8 (stamping this week, head-butting the last time we played)

Other performances of note: Clowesy at right back was an insurmountable brick wall for their left-winger. And Kevin partnering Clappers had 90 minutes remarkable for their composure and assuredness. Chris Rayner on the left of the front three ran himself into the ground, his quality consistently high.

Talking of consistent. Three games. Three wins. And a minimum three points.

Team: Oaksey (GK), Clowesy, Clappers, Kev Wood, Jonesy, John Lynch, Tilley, Will Low (Browner), Vanny (Willgo), Femi, Rayner

MOM:

Written by:Willgo