Match Report – 21/04/2018 vs OLD ACTONIANS 8 HOME

Another huge match for the sixes, as we played the team that beat us comfortably at their ground earlier in the season.

It was nice to play football in glorious weather and at the HOOD!!

We had another strong squad and with a few people out injured, this was great for the club to get 14 players out when other teams are struggling!  Loverboy Tyron missed his THIRD game in a row for the end of season running and to be fair the weather at the hood felt like Brazil!

A squad of Merton’s number 1 Swanny in goal, back 4 of Chappell, Grant, Skipper, Spense.  Midfield four of Michael and Charlie, Reece and Callum. Up top was Pete (who is on fire!) and the Big DOG (special mention who played despite being in hospital for 3 days!!) A very strong bench of Matt, Dan P and Denys.

The oppo only had 10 men to start the game which played massively into our hands.  We started the game well and was pressuring Actonians and picking our passes. After a few dangerous throw ins we finally managed to get the early goal before they could get upto 11.  The skipper pouncing on a loose ball to give us the deserved lead.  What happened next was outrageous! Grant from a fully 25 yards banging one into the bottom corner. 2-0!  Then a sour note.  After a tangle of legs, there was a scuffle between Spense and their best player at the time.  Both skippers tried to convince the ref to book each player and just carry on as we thought it would be best for the game, but we were both shocked when red cards were produced.  Both down to 10 and a change in the defence with Matt coming on for Pete.  Actonians did have spells in the game and were very dangerous and to be fair to them they never gave up.  Ultimately it would be our depth in strength from the bench that was the difference.  Also Charlie’s non-stop running and superb energy was immense! Goals from Dan P, Pete and Michael in the second half pushed our dominance home.  A consolation – just to piss Swanny off made the final score 5-1.  At the final whistle, we knew we had overcome a massive hurdle and was just waiting for the result of old wilsonians to see if were champions this week or having to win our last game next week.  After frantically checking teletext the result came through that WIlsonians had drew 2-2 with South Bank.  Although not mathematically MERTON 6’sWERE NEAR ENOUGH CHAMPIONS!! We need to lose 33-0 at home to South Bank. 

NEXT WEEK WILL BE PARTY TIME!!!!!

MOM – Charlie

DOD – SPENCER

Posted in Match Reports 6s