Year: 2016
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Another match report written by the gaffer can only mean one thing! More of that later!!
Anyway, with selection being a headache this week it meant the mighty Merton sixes went into this home game with the 13 hardy soles! Well I say 13, prior to game John was sent to the stands by the ref for wearing his “light” half plaster cast, when John explained that Montero was allowed to wear one and tried to argue that he could elbow someone and cause the same damage the whole team sighed and knew that was the end of that argument!
So this left us with 12 and with all the confusion going on and sending the sevens players to the right pitch a lack of warm up and team talk went un-noticed!
On to the game then, Merton have started to build a friendly rivalry with Old Blues. We are two teams evenly matched and over the years we have had many a great game against them and they are a great bunch of lads!
Merton started slowly and the lack of warm up was beginning to show. Everyone’s touch was letting them down and passing was pretty much non-existent! Old Blues were looking threatening and putting in dangerous crosses which we struggled to clear.
About 20 mins in, Old Blues finally took the lead with a bit of mix up between keeper and defender ending up with Michael punching the ball 5 feet to an attacker who put the ball in the empty net. Merton were struggling and some last ditch tackles from Chris and the skipper prevented further damage.
After the skipper barked instructions very angrily, Merton seemed to wake up and finally got a foot hold in the game. Paul missed a glorious chance from some great work by Pete and everyone thought maybe this wasn’t going to be our day.
Another couple of close long range shots from Chris (getting closer and one day will hit the target!) meant that Merton kept up the pressure.
Approx 30 mins in Merton equalised. After some great work by Callum then Trey to square the ball to Ty, he calmly shinned it in to the bottom corner (only joking it was a great curling finish!!).
Old Blues then rallied and had some more great chances but was denied in particular by a superb save from Michael, unfortunately he dislocated his thumb in the process and was in pain but held out to half time.
Merton went into half time 1-1 and we could count ourselves very lucky as we knew we weren’t playing up to our normal greatness. During half time the gaffer desperately tried to sneak on Swanny but realised he wasn’t on the team sheet, so that was ruled out, but with Chris injuring his dodgy hamstring, he volunteered to put on the gloves for the second half.
The second half started slowly but Merton were the better team and started to create some great chances with Paul, Pete and Trey all coming close.
Merton’s defence looked a bit more solid and withheld the physical play of Old Blues. That was until a counter attack caught Merton out down our right and after their skipper put in a dangerous cross in the corridor of uncertainty, the gaffer tried to desperately to divert it from danger, but manged to divert in onto the far post and with the ball creeping along the line their striker smashed it in. It wasn’t an OG at all!! (ok, maybe it was!).
Merton then went on the attack and managed to create yet more chances and this definitely had the feeling of one them days. George went off injured as he couldn’t see properly and then with our only substitute coming on (our original GK) at right back, the gaffer was met with discontent from the crowd (Matt) as that wasn’t his position (if I hear that phrase again I will shoot someone!), but Michael didn’t complain and got on with it!
Callum was causing all sorts of problems against a tiring Old Blues and kept driving at the defence, eventually his talent prevailed and he skipped past a few challenges and smashed the ball in the net – 2-2!
Merton with the wind in their sails, went for a winner and again created numerous good chances! However, we fell behind again to a brilliant header from a great Old Blues corner. We were left reeling and wondered what we had to do to beat Old Blues!
Anyway, with time ticking away Merton went to a 4-3-3 to try and snatch a draw. Now as mentioned at the top of this brilliantly written article, there is a reason Mr Skipper/Captain/Organiser and general dogs body chose to write this match report. In the dying moments of the game the skipper ventured forward for a corner, with a first poor ball in by Ty, he made amends by drawing out the defenders to put a whipping ball in for the skipper who scooped low, like he was picking up dropped kebab meat after a night out and powerfully worked them neck muscles to glance a header into the bottom corner – it was superb header and the best so far of his 3 – yes 3 goals (strikers take note!) this season!
Moments later the full-time whistle went and Merton fault to the end for a hard-earned draw.
Now man of the match, it wasn’t the best week for Merton, but like the Arsenal managed to get a draw when playing bad! There was no doubt about the best player on the pitch though and that was Callum, so well played!
Dick of the Day was a harder choice, it could have gone to a number of players – Paul for missing numerous good chances (he was ill though, so definitely get lets off!). John for plastercast gate. Dan P for kicking the ball miles out of play at every opportunity (can’t give it to him though for playing out of position!). But this week I am giving this to a forgotten face who used to be play in the centre of midfield for Merton – Matt, this is for having a go at the gaffer for a substitution he had no choice to make as we had nobody else. It was truly out of order and maybe the frustration of those knees not healing is getting to him – we miss you Matt!!
Let’s get another win next week!
Line up: Michael, Ram, Dan P, Locke, George, Paul, Ty, Chris, Callum, Trey, Pete
Subs: Dylan
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Old Blues 0 – 4 Merton FC
Saturday saw the Merton 1s travel to Kew for a cup tie against Old Blues. Normal order was resumed as Jonny, Sam and Chaz all turned up late.
The game got underway on a well kept pitch in good conditions and Merton instantly looked the more comfortable team. A lofted cross from Jonny resulted in a textbook header into the bottom corner by Nick ‘the engine’ van Wensveen for his first goal of the season. The team looked well balanced, playing out from the back with Rat and the newfound, ball playing, left back Browner. A well worked move led to the ball being laid back to Sam who managed to strike the ball not only over the bar, but over the club house too.
Rat continued to look menacing down the right, linking up well with man of the match James and when the ball sat up to be volleyed on the edge of the area his eyes lit up but the result was the same; over the clubhouse once more.
As it became apparent that Merton were the stronger team, standards began to slip and mid-way into the first half passes were going astray and players began getting on each other’s backs. The half time team talk highlighted this (Chaz teaching Clappers to play 10 yard passes) as well as an unintentional, but scathing reflection of Browners illustrious career at Merton FC (‘he is not a ball player – you lads may have only played a few games with him but I’ve played with him for over 5 years’).
The second half began with Old Blues nearly nicking a goal; the strong centre forward’s quick-fire shot deflecting off Chaz’s shin and hitting the post.
Merton began to take control again and after missing a good chance in the first half, Jonny latched onto a through ball to coolly chip it over the goalkeeper for 2-0. Another shocking 30 yard strike from Sam shortly followed, this time sailing 5 yards over the cross bar. Merton continued to create chances with James looking menacing on the right wing, turning their fullback and looking confident on the ball. When he found himself in 10 yards of space, Woody chose to shoot rather than squaring it across which resulted in a tame effort, collected by the goalkeeper. A surging run from Rat down the right led to the third goal. After an exchange on the edge of the area, the ball bounced off a defender and into the path of a sliding Rat who guided it into the far corner for a rare, but well earned Merton goal.
The final Merton goal came from a nicely weighted corner, hung up at the back post where a back-peddling Chaz managed to direct a great header into the corner. In the closing moments Merton were awarded a free kick around 25 yards out. Both Nick and Woody stood over the ball but despite a torrid shooting display, Sam decided he would step up. Curling the ball 5 yards over the bar again, he quite rightly was labelled the DOD and will no doubt be stripped of set piece duties for future games.
A special mention to man of the match James who looked dangerous down the right all game and then went on and played for the 2’s after already playing 90 minutes.
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Merton FC 2 vs 0 Epsom & Ewell Colts.
Match report by Theo
On a cold miserable Sunday morning Merton fc played Epsom and ewel this was a grudge match seeing that we lost 3:1 against them at the beginning of the season We arrived at Joseph hood at 9:15 we went over to our pitch and started training the opposition arrived and they was watching us(with fear in there eyes)the game started Merton had kick off we pressed them and got a lot of shots off but there goalkeeper saved all of them.soon after that they had a couple of shots but milo had that covered then milo booted the ball up the pitch and Marcus saw the goalkeeper running out and put a lovely chip over the keeper he made it 1:0.they kicked off and we won the ball back and shortly marcus scored again to make it 2:0 a left foot in to the bottom corner.the whistle blew for half time we had a team talk. The second half began we continued with Steve instructions with our passing game knowing everyone was on form and fighting for each other as hard as they could with only 1 sub and a couple of players injured we still carried on the fight until the final whistle. All round a great performance and fight from the team. It was hard to choose a man of the match because the whole team fought well.
Match report from Theo (centre mid)
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Merton 1-7 wallington wanderers
Very bad day today, despite starting off the better side.
First day 10-15 minutes we played very well, on and off the ball. Moving the ball around and keeping the ball on the floor.
We created a few chances, but didn’t make the most of the good opportunities.
We gave away a sloppy free kick in our half and wallington took advantage and took a 1-0 lead. Less than 2 minutes later another free kick, another goal.
We then had a mad 10 minutes and ended up being 5-0 down.
We finally found our feet and settled down back into the game, grabbing a consolation goal through Jamie.
We played some good stuff at the beginning of the 2nd half, causing wallington some problems. We gave away a sloppy penalty, which they brought their keeper out especially to take it. Respect at its highest!
He missed the penalty, but the follow up was put away by an oncoming striker.
They stretched their lead to 7-1 towards the end.
Another penalty given away, but this time George saved the spot kick.
Apart from 10 minutes we didn’t do too badly.
Dissapointing day today, one that promoted questions.
Heads up .. let’s go again (again!)
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We arrived with 2 subs on a freezing cold wet windy pitch in Hamworth.
Team warmed up thoroughly and we stuck to our mission …. keep ball on ground and pass pass and pass.
6 minutes into first half ball was fed through to Cormac… who twisted righr and then and then again and finished with a curler into top left of net.
10 mins ball was again played through and Steven lept like a olympic jumper onto ball and slotted ball low into goal.
By this time i could not feel my hands…. was it trembling from match play plus totally frozen.
We kep attacking pass after pass came and their keeper certainly had warm hands as he saved shot after shot.
Half time my oppo manager and I bantered as I offered to buy his keeper for hot dogs and hot drinks.
Made some further changes and then 2 further goals came Steven road runner Gumble great shot bang into net.
Cormac Little Messi went on a run and his low gravity and twinkle toe feet executed another fine finish.
This team has lost 1 game in 8 and we are really developing….we now know best positions for boys and this brings depth and strength.
Great team effort…. just shows play ball on ground and pass you can win.
Thanks parents…. great support.
David
Co Manager.
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Todays Youth Results and the Hood was playable.
U9s lost 7-2 against Epsom an Ewell colts.
U11s beat Hanworth Sports Bees 4-0
U13s beat Epsom and Ewell Colts 2-0
U14s beat Rocks Lane 13-2 and …
U15s lost 7-1 to Wallington Wanderers.
Well done boys.
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Todays Results;
1s won 4-0 in a good cup game against Old Blues, (Goals from Nick, Jonny, Rat and Chas (pic) 2s drew 1-1 with Kew ass 2s late goals and we missed a pen (pic) 3s lost 3-1 at Actonians, 4s lost 6-1 old Sals res. 5s lost 5-0 in the Cup to Poly 5s. 6s drew 3-3 with Old Blues 4s and 7s opened their account against Alleyn O Bs 8-3. Well done boys. I left Kew with our 1s and 2s still enjoying the social side.
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NAME: Matthew Haswell
TEAM: 6s
POSITION: Midfield
BIRTH DATE: 12/11/1980
BIRTH PLACE: Tooting
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Stoneleigh FC
Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
Outside of the club I am a Deputy Mortuary Manager at St Georges Hospital. I have 2 sons who also enjoy the game of football who I hope will join the youth section when they are old enough. I am also the club’s website editor. I would say that I have a good sense of humour and a laid back kind of person who enjoys life.
How did you end up at Merton FC?
I started dating the Ex-President, Terry Baker’s daughter and one of the conditions was that I joined Merton FC. I have now been at club since 2001.
What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Winning the Intermediate Divison 3 league in 2004-2005 with Darren Pearce’s mighty 2s. Had a great team back then and great bar banter with them.
If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
Would have to say Chelsea FC, childhood team who when on form, can play some good football.
Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I like to play in a short sleeve top, so try to make sure I grab one before anyone else.
Lastly, share us your goals/expectations for the season.
For my knees to allow me to continue playing, they are prone to injury/flare ups due to an ACL and meniscus injury playing at Old Parkonians in 2008. Although, it’s not looking to good but resisting to hang the boots up just yet.
RAPID FIRE:
Player of the season (at Merton, or in professional football): So far at Merton I would say Siraj the 1s keeper. Professional I would say Eden Hazard, think he is back to his best.
Childhood Team: Chelsea FC
Favourite team in the UK: Chelsea FC
Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid
Childhood Hero: Kurt Cobain/Johnny Depp
Favourite Food: Sunday Roast
Favourite Drink: Gin and Tonic
Favourite Band: Oasis/Foo Fighters
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TEAM: Merton FC U13s
NICKNAME: Kenzo
POSITION: Left Back or CDM (captain)
PREVIOUS CLUBS: Wimbledon Little League
Tell us who you are outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
I like going out with my friends, riding my bike, and I like playing PS4.
Had no choice really because my dad started a team but I’m glad he did, I love playing for Merton and I love the club. After little league matches on Saturday I used to hang around for a while and watch the Merton adults play.
There’s two really: winning the league and coming runners-up in the cup in 2013/14 season with the U11s. And more recently, beating Worplesdon Rangers 4-3 after being 3-0 down after 15 minutes! It was my birthday when we played that match which made it extra special.
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Merton FC Stats End of Season
