Month: March 2016

Avery Good Long Good Friday Started with A Round Robin Vets Competition won by Epsom Athletic. But Merton beat OWCs Vets who were drowning their sorrows in the bar (What sorrows?). Merton Select beat Argentinos 5-2 in a very good game on a beautiful day. The U13s beat Mitcham Park and the U10s beat Wallington Wanderers in two good games. Thanks to everyone who turned up to support this event and to Peter Kemp, Jasper, Sherbs, Steve and Dave Laughton who helped with organisation, reffing bar food etc etc.

So our final league game was upon us and it resulted in a trip to Beckenham for a showcase against HSBC 4s. Having narrowly lost 3-2 in the reverse fixture a few weeks ago, we knew that they were there for the taking if he played the football we knew that we were capable of.

With our usual skipper side-lined due to a freak salad chopping incident, Dulanie wore the armband., and with a number or regulars opting for a stopover at Cheltenham Races, we drafted in the likes of Vin De Matteo, David Donovan, Darcy Yates and Tony Postlethwaite to deputise.

The game started well with both team using the unusually good surface to their advantage however  no real chances were created. The breakthrough did however come 10 minutes in. Sam was unable to keep hold of a direct free-kick that somehow found its way in between his legs. 1 – 0 to the hosts.

We were downbeat a little by going behind as we were the better team. We started to create chances however we unable to find the back of the next with Dave Donovan shooting agonisingly wide and Dulanie blasting an effort over the bar.

Something that we failed to do, the opposition managed. That was to find the back of the net.

Sam did well to stop a shot following a break on the right from the pacey number 3 (minute version of Asamoah Gyan)  however his parry rebounded off of their strikers knee and into the back of the net. Fortunate however still a goal.

Things got worse after half an hour. Tony reacted the wrong way following an aerial challenge and retaliated. Straight red card and Merton were down to 10 men with a mountain to climb. We conceded another before the break. An effort from 25 years to went in off of the far post.

The team talk at the break was a positive one. Even being a man down we knew that we could potentially get back in the game.

We started the second period well and with 25 minutes to do managed to reduce the deficit. Darcy was quick to find Dom with a quick free-kick who slotted home with ease. Five minutes later we found another. Dave Donovan managed to squeeze an effort under the keeper to make it 3-2. We were doing all we could to get back in the game and we had the hosts on the ropes. Until the 80^th minute that is. Sam attempted a clearance on the edge of his box however the ball fell straight to their left football playmaker who found the back of the net from all of 40 yards. 4 – 2 HSBC.

The 5^th goal Merton conceded was unfortunate. Sam thought he had judged the ball going out of play from a cross however following his step over, the ball hit the post and feel kindly to their striker for him to complete his hat trick.

Not the best way to end your season however we know what we need to do and what to work on if we are to challenge next season. All I can say is bring on the 2016/17 season!

I want to take this opportunity to thank all those that have been part of the 4s this season and look forward to next season already.

FINAL SCORE: HSBC 4s 5 – 2 Merton 4s SCORERS: Dom Plumridge, Dave Donovan MOTM: Darcy Yates

STARTING LINE-UP: Samuel Singer-Ripley (GK), Tony Postlethwaite, Vin De Matteo, Joe Plumrudge, Edward Plaistow, Sevan Mutafyan (Billy Dowie),Danny Gridley, Darcy Yates, Dave Donavan, Dulanie Richards, Dom Plumridge

Excellent results at the Hood – The U11s beat West Side 9-2 and the U12s beat Esher Lions 4-1, the U13s beat a very good Kew Park Rangers 5-3. Mason and Niqoy operating as stand in keeper as Jamie was ill. Also next years U9s started their training for next season. Then all in the bar for a spot of lunch to celebrate the homecoming. Well done to all the managers and Steve for organising the event.

Today results. 1s make it three wins on the bounce with a big win at Old Finchleans with Bosh a two goal hero. 2s win 4-3 at home to Ally Pally with Olly Ross getting a hat trick . 5s lose 2-1 at home to Civil Service but battle to the end 6s lose both double headers 3 – 2 and 2 – 1. 1s look safe from relegation now and 2s can fight their way out of trouble now. Pics 2s celebrate in the bar and some action from 2s game !!! 4s lost away to HSBC 4s 5 -2.

2s had a great win today and pulled in some experience to help them with four of our players all having 15 years with Merton and 1000+ appearances between them Lofty, Mustard, Welchy and Sherbs stepped up to the plate today and helped in the 4-3 win and a valuable 3 points. Big game at CEV on April 2nd

Back Home. As the pics below show the Hood has dried out and we will be playing home games at the Hood tmro 2s and 4s. Sadly Pitch 3 is still unplayable so KGPF has been booked. Also Four of our youth teams are playing on Sunday. And looks good for Long Good Friday. To celebrate this momentous homecoming i am trying to get local churches to ring their bells at 3pm on Saturday but because of the short notice it is more likely to happen on Sunday morning.  Thanks to Danny, Ian, Ryan and the team from the Council at the Hood for their work this week to get it ready.

THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY RETURNS – 25th March 2016

The Long Good Friday is nearly here – and is set to be a great day with youth games, vets games & senior team games!

What a strange afternoon this turned out to be. It was a fairly crucial league game at the bottom of SAL Div 2 between the two teams that had been relegated from SAL Div 1 the previous season and were both battling to avoid consecutive relegations. With the Hood still waterlogged it was off to Tooting and Mitcham 3G for this encounter.

Merton had the best of the early exchanges but we went behind after about 15 mins slightly against the run of play to a passing movement cross and shot from the left hand side. We had created and missed a couple of chances but got the equaliser on about 25 mins when OS cleared a corner to the edge of the box and we recycled it and Wilgo flicked it in with his head. Now I have watched Wilgo over the last 15 years or so I have seen him do many things on the field with a football but a Wilgo headed goal is a first. It got better because almost immediately after a great move down the right involving Rat and Vanny and a deep cross was volleyed home at the far post by Tills. Moments later it was 3-1 when a free kick touched on by Woody was fumbled in by their keeper. Just before HT their tricky CF came down in the box and it was 3-2 from the spot.

The second half was not what you might expect looking at the ultimate scoreline. OS came at us and put us under the cosh and Clappers and Browner had to be at their best to deal with their very good CF. We had a number of great opportunities to make it 4-2 all on the break but comprehensively missed them all and it looked more likely to be 3-3 than 4-2. However Jason having missed a couple on the break eventually scored rather cleverly on the break and 4-2 soon became 5-2 with Olly scoring and game over. Vanny fed up with being grappled and tugged back scored a couple of good goals as Old Sals rather gave up. So this was pretty good win and three excellent points in a horrible game. All our players put in a good shift and needed to against clever opposition who were good on the ball and well organised at the back and lively up front. Clappers deserves enormous credit for organising our team and maintaining their discipline in the face of a lot of provocation. It was not an easy game to ref and he did well to avoid any major bust ups. But in all honesty  it was not very nice.

Team Adam (GK), Kearnsey, Browner, Clapps (Capt),  Rat, Woody, Tills. Will L, Wilgo , Tom Rowe, Vanny Subs Jase and Olly

Scorers Vanny 2, Woody, Tills, Wilgo, Jase, Olly

Youth Results. At WCE U14s lose to Whitton Wanderers but U13s in their lucky white change strip beat Esher Lions (in a strangely unfamiliar yellow strip) 9-0 and move up to second in the table.U10s beat AFC Walcountians 8-1, U11s beat Lyne Pumas 3-2, U12s beat Rocks lane 4-0. So it has been a pretty good day. Well done to all the boys and managers and thanks to the parents for their patience with the Hood still waterlogged. Great stuff.

Todays Results- 1s win 7-2 against Old Salesians on 3G at T&M. Goals Vanny 2, Wilgo,Tills, Woody,Jase, Olly, Good win but at 3-2 it was a close game. The boys (pic) celebrate in the bar. 5s lost to Carshalton.