Author: Matt Haswell

Merton FC 3-4 Elm Grove Colts.

Second round of the cup. We came down to the hood at 9;45
Prepared and ready for the match ahead .we put our boots and stepped onto the pitch it was focus time. After our warm up and we exchanged the cards we were ready to kick off. For the first few minutes we played ok.
The oppo strikes and jack (left back) believed to had cleared it off the line we was all excited then the lino gave it as a goal to the oppo. 1 nil down. Then Theo said something and was put in the book for descent. Yellow card. The opposition striker had lots of pace wiggled through our team with pace and pure interplay to score three more goals
4 nil down by the 40th miniute we had to fix up. Then in the last 20 marcus scored, evan scored and nikoy scored from unbelievable strikes it was 4:3 the comeback was on nikoy (center back)really urged his defence to push right up we kept the ball well in there half as we fought for an equaliser but we couldnt get it. The match ended 4:3 to the oppo unlucky result from the boys
Match report by Keiron Nedd (wing)

Merton 15 vs 0 Corinthian casuals

At home on a lovely sunny autumn morning we continued our winning streak with a conclusive 15-0 victory over Corinthian casuals. Full of confidence we started the game like a hurricane which just did not blow out.
This was not a total walkover as the scoreline suggests, Credit to the Corinthians who had some good strong players, fought hard and fair all the way to the final whistle and won individual battles across the pitch In a game played in great spirit and atmosphere with very good parental support from both teams. However as a team our performance was just too strong for the Corinthians to handle.
We shuffled positions during the match using 3 different keepers 5 different strikers, and many other changes and had 7 boys on the scoresheet.
Man of the match was a tough one for kalyan’s dad, in truth we had 10 men of the match but the award went to Tom for a good solid performance in only his 4th ever game and 1st start.
Special mention and thanks to our referee today James Laughton, by far the best referee I have seen in the surrey youth league, cool and calm, spot on with everything, handled the game with ease. 100% rating.
After the match Corinthians coach called the Merton team superstars and said they gave a polished, inspirational performance and are a credit to our club.

Another good day, Well done.
Gary U9s

Three bridges 7-1 Merton FC

Not a good day at the office today, tough game made tougher by the mistakes made all over the pitch. The hunger and desire shown in the last few weeks was missing today, however we battled and were in the game up until half time.
Three bridges had a lot of the ball and despite only having 11 players to choose from today, made Merton tire by moving the ball very well.
This was a theme of the whole game – they were excellent on the ball.
We defended solidly and stuck at it, looking like we may have come in at half time 0-0. A miscommunication in the back line allowed them in for an incredibly soft goal and they took the lead.
Half time and 1-0 to three bridges. Changes to try and create more chances, we missed 3 good chances before three bridges took the lead.
Second half and three bridges came out of the traps quicker than us in all areas, and nicked an early second goal. Our heads began to drop, and allowed them to score a third.
We found some courage from somewhere and started to battle back and try and get a result. We managed to scramble a goal, and this was deserved for their never say die attitude. We battled throughout, however was overrun by the constant movement of the ball.
In the end three bridges went on to score 4 more to make it more convincing than it should have been.
At times we played some good football, but overall back to the drawing board to put it right.

Reaction needed next week at home to Hampton

Congratulations to three bridges – great hospitality. Thanks

The 1s had a rollercoaster match against Ibis, after being up, and then 3-2 down, they pulled off an excellent 4-3 win.

Fantastic effort from the 2s, eventually going down 6-5 on pens after drawing 1-1 against Old Owens (a team 2 divisions above). No game for the 3s.

A day to forget for the 4s, who lost 8-0 against Old Wokingians.

6s drew 2-2 in a good game against SBC.

And the result of the day, once again, is Clive’s high flying 5s (pictured – well, some of them) who banked a solid 2-0 win. Keep it up lads!

It was a much changed team this Saturday, with various people missing for many different reasons. Luckily, we had good players to come in & we were very confident of extending our unbeaten run of 1 game. However, the first half was indeed a very strange affair; it started with 2 bad injuries, with Andy Bitmead falling awkwardly on his wrist [and his left hand too, much to Mrs Bitmead’s despair], and an opposition player dislocating a knee cap and damaging his ligaments. He left in an ambulance, and we all wish him a speedy recovery.

Now, for the action.

It would not be an understatement to say that we completely dominated the first half. Apart from hitting the outside of the post from distance, which Kieran had well covered, our defence marshalled by two men in the middle of outstanding beauty, kept them well at bay. Kieran could be seen at half time on ebay buying a deckchair, much was our dominance. At the other end…well, Dulanjie kindly requests not to be reminded in writing. His first opportunity was a chance he wonderfully created for himself. He picked the ball up out wide, skipped past a couple of defenders and had the goal at his mercy. Swinging at the ball with real intent, his effort sailed marvellously high and wide putting us 6 runs ahead. His second 1 on 1 was not as easy, however. Played through by Dwayne with a ball that was reminiscent of his assist last week, he latched on and had just the keeper to beat. He was fast off his line however, rushing Delanie into a lob that went agonisingly wide. Sensing a pattern? Enter Ryan.

There were two times when Ryan had golden opportunities in the first half. He had indeed seen Delanie’s first miss which confused him greatly. One on one with the keeper, he smashed high and wide for 6, putting us 12 runs ahead. His second, much like his first, was a 1 on 1 from a slightly tighter angle; we might well let him off that one. The closest he came was when the ball hit him and sailed just over the bar with the keeper beaten! Even papa Burchell got in on the act! The ball bounced to him in the 6 yard box, and under pressure, Steve calmly put it out for a corner goal kick.

Thank the lord for Andy Bitmead.

Somewhere in between, Andy decided that enough was enough. He knocked the ball round their right back, and latched onto it himself. Arriving just before their centre back, he knocked it past him too to leave himself with a 1 on 1 – surely not? With confidence, he hit it towards the bottom corner, leaving the keeper with no chance. I asked the referee if we could convert our 12 runs into a goal, however the motion was cruelly denied and we went in at half time 1 – 0 ahead.

We started the second half strongly, and we knew this may well be our day when Ryan found the target! His effort, however, was well saved by a rather strong keeper. I am sure Delanie missed a couple more in the second half too; however he has left me with so many to remember that I must had given up trying by that time. Luckily, a tragic defensive mistake would allow us back into the game. Their defender played it back to their keeper, who looked nervous, as if he shouldn’t pick it up. This was, in fact, reiterated by their defender shouting “DON’T PICK IT UP!!” Of course, he picked it up. The same defender realised that it was indirect [a bright spark this one] and told his players to move off the line as Bitmead couldn’t shoot. They didn’t budge, and Bitmead hammered it at one of their players on the line. It deflected in to give Merton a deserved second.

They through the kitchen sink at us, and in truth created quite a few chances from it. There were a lot of shots from range, they hit the post, and missed one really good chance from inside the box. Our task could have been made easier when that man Delanie had a golden opportunity 1 v 1 with the keeper, but this time decided to gently pass it to him. There must be a rule that only one person can score per game that I’m not aware of, however there will be other times when we need those goals so best to save them I guess! They did, however, score one just a couple of minutes from the end. We played the offside trap, and from looking across the line, the man was definitely offside. The referee was not sure therefore could not give it, and he squared it to their other striker who chipped Kieran to ensure a nervy ending. A pinball in the six yard box looked to be heading for the corner of our net, however Kieran acrobatically jumped at the ball and held with two players steaming in on him to save the 3 points for us. A much, much tighter game then it should have been, but a well-deserved win.

This week’s MOM, as elected by the team, was a fantastic Andy Bitmead. He soldiered on with a dodgy wrist, and proved to be the difference between the two sides with a commanding all-round performance. Also worthy of a mention is the whole of our defense who as a collective were superb, with Steve Burchell marshalling it well and Josh Fitzgerald-Smith putting in a very mature performance for a young man. Clive provided a very effective shield in front of the defense, and although chances were squandered, Delanie did very well to create them, as well as putting their defense under great pressure throughout the game.

Very good performances all round. A win next week will succeed our points tally for last year, so that is certainly the aim – and how better to achieve in then at home in front of our thousands of cheering fans?

Our under 14s held their third game at home ‘THE HOOD’ with strong spirits after coming from 2 nil down to draw 3-3, kept up their strong spirits and pulled through a convincing 5-0 win against Rocks Lane. Right from the start of the whistle our U14’s kept possession despite Rocks Lane being well organised. But just a few minutes away from the end of the first half U14’s took the lead & that followed through into the second half with some quality goals & even a Free-kick outside the 18yard by our U14’S Captain Joe! Congrats to Mattia, Safwan & Bruno who even netted twice on the day but even a bigger congrats to Jamie for getting his first clean sheet.

Merton supporters gave their usual great support and held a great environment which was supported by the opposition in which ended in a well runned & enjoyable game.

Article by an amateur photographer who follows grass roots football and was at Merton vs Alexandra park, click on picture to have a read.