Month: October 2014

Merton were comprehensively beaten and dumped out of the Surrey AFA cup on what was a desperately disappointing day away at Woking. We never really started and most surprisingly never really showed the battle or steel that has been the backbone to or performances in recent years. Woking were bright and quickest to most second balls in the opening 20 minutes and it was no surprise that they took the lead after we failed to deal with a direct run and cross from the left and the simplest of headers giving Sherbs no chance at the near post. One should have been two when their number 7 didn’t make the most of some belated Christmas kindness from Browner 25 yards from goal after he’d been gifted the ball. With our midfield three failing to get any foothold in the game and looking distinctly Clappers read the riot act and demanded that at least the basics were taken care of. Unfortunately they weren’t and within 10minutes of the restart their number 7 got in behind the back four and had all the time in the world to slot past Sherbs. The introduction of Ivan down the right gave some much needed impetus and his direct running created a couple of chances, most notably for Jason who could only hit his shot straight at the keeper. Tom Rees was also unlucky to see his shot deflected over the bar. Their third and fourth goals followed soon after – the fourth an excellent curling effort into the far corner. We pushed for a consolation in the last 15 minutes, but their keeper didn’t have much to worry about. It was was a very bad day of the office but we move on and focus back on the league where we have 13 games left to play in what will be a busy few months. Old Wokingians were a young and lively side who will go in to the semis with confidence. It is a shame that we didn’t give them more of an examination.

MOM:

Written by:James Tilley

The 1s got back to winning ways in a tight and fiery encounter against bottom of the league Carlshalton. With conditions at the Hood just about playable we settled quickest and controlled the opening 15 minutes but were unable to convert a flurry of half chances, the best of which fell to Bosher and Jonesy. From a position of relative comfort we quickly found ourselves two goals down after a combination of some very sloppy defending and good finishing by the Carlshalton front two. Thankfully though there was to be no repeat of last week. Although without Browner’s goal-saving sprint and robbing of their winger at the start of the second half it could have been worse. After this we dominated the half and after a trademark Woody free-kick and a well taken finish by Bosher we were back on level terms. With 20 minutes to go there was only going to be one winner and, after Femi and Reesy had spurned decent chances, it was down to that man Bosher to turn in the winner to ensure our first win of 2013. It was a spirited squad performance with all 14 playing their part but we can’t afford to give teams two goal leads if we harbour hopes of challenging for a place in the top half of the table.

MOM:

Team:Oaksey (GK), Al Gladkow, Browner,Clappers, Jonesy, Woody (Dan Whiteman, 60), Tilley (John Lynch, 20), Hoppy, Tom Reece, Matty Bosher, Jason Marsh (Femi, 60).

Written by:James Tilley

For three quarters of the game it was hard to understand quite how we were at opposite ends of the table to high flying BB Eagles. For the other quarter it looked like the first time that we had ever played together. The afternoon had started so well, with Matty Bosher continuing his fine form in front of goal, firing in from close range after a Clappers flick on from a Hoppy long throw. We were good value for the lead, with the middle three of John, Hoppy and Woody pulling the strings and denying space for the opposition. We then decided to take a hammer to the self-destruct button and by half time were 4-1 down. Sloppy defending, poor communication and an inexplicable refusal to do the simple things across the park (combined with some good finishing) meant that we were out of it by the break. We did however, produce a spirited second half display and were unlucky not to get one or two back through a questionable offside decision and some bad luck inside their box with the ball just not falling to our front three. We travel to Old Actionans next week who are also in the race for promotion, hopefully we’ll leave the hammer at home.

MOM:

Team: Oakes, Jonesy, Clappers (Capt), Browner, Clowsey, John L, Hoppy, Woody, Will L, Dan W, Matt Bosher

Written by: James Tilley

This was a hugely important win and 3pts for Merton in a relegation battle with Old Finchleans. The boys carried on from where they left off last Saturday. I don’t mean where they left off celebrating because that was Sunday morning 3am and they were in a shabby condition but where they left off playing. It was an impressive performance that secured an impressive 2-2 draw with Polytechnic . Both games were played on the very good 3G surface at Tooting and Mitcham’s ground. Seemingly in recognition of the importance of the fixture, Andy Copeland who is in charge of communications at the SAL came to witness and photograph the game aswell as the 3s game on an adjacent pitch for SAL’s Facebook. These were ideal playing conditions and after both teams settled down we started to take control and create chances but failed to convert them until Woody set up Dan Whiteman who finished well. (1-0, 25mins). Jason Marsh had a good shout for a penalty when he was the victim of some grappling but to no avail. But shortly after another Woody diagonal pass was volleyed spectacularly and unstoppably by Tom Rees into the net. Old Fs had shown little other than playing their centre Forward through but he scuffed his shot and Sherbs got a foot to it. 2-0 at HT). Clappers gave his usual rousing HT team talk but for the first 10 mins it was Old Finchleans who came into the game and with a bit of pressure created some opportunities but did not really threaten too much. Sherbs caught some crosses and tidied upm at the back. This proved to be a little bit of a swan song for the opposition because soon it was Merton back on top and creating good opportunities and missing them until Tom Rees latched onto a ball that had been flying round their area and buried to make it 3-0 (65 mins). We had a number of opportunities to increase the margin of victory, none better than when Woody brok clear and delayed enough to allow the centre half to flatten him from behind but Peter Koscoliek, ( the ref) who had an otherwise excellent game thought that was fair enough and perhaps it was. It was an excellent all round performance from Merton who now move significantly up the table. Clappers and Browner dominated in the heart of the defence and the midfield trio of John Lynch, Woody and Hoppy were excellent in midfield. Dan Whiteman and Tom Rees took their chances in great style. I suspect Old Fs had a few players missing but they still had some excellent players out there. Their Centre back, who made a run from deep and hit rasping shot from that flew narrowly over the bar (to the family’s great relief – but the boy had it covered) and centre mid both had excellent games but it just wasn’t enough. Merton were not to be denied driven on by Captain Clappers. There are some important battles still to be fought but we may have turned the corner and need to build on this. Well done lads.

MOM:

Team:Sherbs , Clowesy, Browner, Clappers (Capt), Jonesy, Dan Whiteman (1), Hoppy, John Lynch (Al Gladkow 75mins), Woody, Jason Marsh (Matt Bosher 63 mins), Tom Rees(2)

Written by:Simon Clapperton

The 1’s continued their recent good run of form with a hard fought and deserved victory against a spirited HSBC at the Hood. With both team scrapping for points this was never going to be one for the purists, and it certainly wasn’t. We started brightly and controlled the opening period with some good hold up play by Jamie Clayton up top and with Bosh and Reesy making intelligent runs in behind their back four we looked most likely to open the scoring. Woody, Hoppy and Tills were winning the midfield battle but we were undone against the run of play by a long free kick in to our box and brave header by their number 6 who was their main threat all afternoon. We didn’t panic and came out for the second half with composure. It wasn’t long until we were level when JC picked the centre half’s pocket and rifled in to the top corner with a first time strike. The winner wasn’t too far behind after good build up play by Reesy and Woody before Will Low rounded thedefence and cooly slotted beyond the keeper. A valuable three points which almost guarantees second divisionfootball next season.

MOM:

Team: Angus Lees, Adam Frame, Peter Brown, Clappers (capt), Al G, Woody, Hoppy, Tills (Will Low, 45), Jamie Clayton, Matt Bosher, Tom Rees.

Written by: James Tilley

Merton got their season back on track after last weeks disappointing home defeat with an excellent team display and some clinical finishing in front of goal against a dangerous Broomfield side. The opening 20 minutes provided the foundations for victory with Whiteman and Van providing the width and getting in behind their fullbacks at every opportunity. Merton were soon two up after Whitman and Bosher struck. The back four had to be awake on several occasions after the Broomfield number nine and their dangerous number seven exchanged passes in and around the box with good blocks coming from Al and Roland. Within two minutes of the restart, the deficit was halved after Frames upended their winger inside the box and the penalty was converted. It wasn’t long before the two goal lead was reestablished though after Jase nodded home a pinpoint Woody free kick with his first touch after coming on. Broomfield again pulled one back after a mazy run and shot deflected in off Oaksy’s far post but Tills and Bosher struck again to seal the win. There was still time for Bosh to haul down their winger in the box for penalty number two but even with the penalty being scored (at the second attempt after an Oaksy save) the points were safe and a memorable win secured.

MOM:

Team: Oaksy, Framer, Al G, Roland, Jonesy, Tilley, Woody, Will L, Whiteman (Connor 70), Ivan (Jason M 55), Bosher

Written by: James Tilley

Merton let a two goal lead slip as a great first half performance was undone by a collectively inept second period. It all started so well on the back of last weeks excellent display away at Broomfield. The game started at a frantic pace but it was Merton that settled quickest and after some well worked attacks through Woody and the front three of Ackers, Bosher and Connor. It wasn’t long before Merton were one up when a perfectly delivered Woody free kick was met by a well placed Tilley header back across goal and in to the net. Just before the break, Merton doubled their lead when some excellent work by Ackers allowed Connor to convert from inside the area to put the men in yellow in control. Finchleians came out for the second half in much livelier spirits and with Merton seemingly under the impression that the points were in the bag, found themselves on level terms after some suspect defending combined with tidy finishes past Oaksy. Chances for both teams followed but it was the away side that took the spoils after a floated free kick eluded Oaksy and ended up in the net with ten minutes to go. Merton pushed hard for the equaliser but it want to be. A disappointing end to a game that we really should have won.

MOM:

Team:Oaksy, Jonesy, Al G, Rat, Framer, Tilley, Woody, Will Low, Bosher, Ackers, Connor (Manton 60)

Written by:James Tilley

Merton made it in to the second round of the AFA Senior cup after a real ding dong battle against a young and spirited Dorkinians side. The home side looked dangerous on the break all afternoon and it was no surprise when they went one up after 15 minutes. Merton hit back straight away after a well delivered corner from Dan Whiteman was met at the far post by Tilley to head in off the post before the Surrey men again took the lead in to the half time break with a well executed over head kick inside the box. The second half started well for Merton and after an exquisite passing move from back to front involving most of the team, Tom Rowe cooly passed the ball in to the corner of the net to level things up. Things got even better for the men in yellow after Jason Marsh came on from the bench to almost instantly lift the ball over the keepers head to send Merton ahead. With five minutes of normal time to go Dorkinians levelled things up with a well taken strike on the break after Ackers had missed the chance to put the game to bed. With everyone preparing themselves for extra time, Framer popped up in the area to rifle home a left footed strike in to the near corner of the net to send Merton through. The win was made all the more enjoyable in the bar afterwards with some excellent food and hospitality plus a couple of Merton stories from old from Terry and Dodge!

MOM:

Team: Angus, Framer, Graves, Clappers, Manton, Snook, Woods, Tilley, Whiteman (Marsh 60), Ackers, Rowe (Whiteman 80)

Written by: James Tilley

Merton came away from West London with a deserved three points and a good performance from what was an eventful game. Goal scoring opportunities were few and far between but the games defining moment came when Ackers created a yard of space in the box before squaring to Tills via a Bosher flick to guide home the winner. This was after BB Eagles midfielder was shown a straight red card after kicking out at Adam Snook. Merton’s back five were solid and commanding throughout and whilst there is room for improvement as an attacking force the midfield and forward three looked composed. Tills then went from hero turned villain after being shown a second yellow card for returning to the pitch too early after an injury. A great win though and attentions now turn to next week at the Hood where our home form needs sorting out.

MOM:

Team:Angus, Graves, Clappers, Browner, Manton, Tilley, Wood (Bosher 55), Low, Snook, Ackers, Whiteman

Written by:James Tilley

Merton made it four wins from the last five games after an entertaining and competitive clash against Norseman, down at the Hood. After heavy overnight rain the pitch was is excellent shape and it was Merton that started the better with some expansive attacking football from all quarters. Several chances came and went after some sloppy finishing before the deadlock was broken by Ackers (first goal on his return to the club) with a cooly driven shot inside the area in to the roof of the net. More excellent attacking play from Merton followed with Al G and Rat joining in at every opportunity from full back and it should have been 2-0 after Snooks, Tilley and Rat all missed gilt edge chances. Angus had to be on his toes after he denied the Norseman number 9 was through with a fantastic point blank save. It wasn’t long before the second goal came though as a well delivered Whiteman corner came back off the post from a Tilley header and Bosher was there to smash home the rebound. An all too familiar pattern of play followed after half time when the opposition were allowed back in to the game. A combination of some new blood in to the Norseman midfield and our collective switching off led to the scores quickly becoming level. Momentum swung back to the men in yellow though after a much improved end to the game which saw Ackers notch his second after a devilish Whiteman free kick cannoned off the bar and Snooks popped up to cooly convert his first goal in yellow after some good play from Ackers and Connor. Three points in the bag, second place in the league table and first home league win of the season registered. The next three weeks see a break from league proceedings with some tough cup fixtures ahead.

MOM:

Team: Angus, Al G, Clappers, Browner (Tom Rowe 75), Rat, Tilley, Snooks, Will Low, Ackers, Whiteman (Rainer 75), Bosher (Connor 65)

Written by: James Tilley

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