Author: Matt Haswell

Todays Match. 1s lost 5-1 at Old Wilsonians. Top side but for long periods of the game we played well. A great goal from Will Taylor brought it back to 2-1 and we were in the game but they were very good, deserved their win and we need to fight on. Some action pics and with the Stevens Boys both playing a ‘spot the difference competition’

Sadly there will be no Merton Way sent out this week as Editor Ram did not receive any match reports in time.
 
We all enjoy reading it but someone needs to write it first for Ram to then weave his magic

Managers and Captains are already put upon by the administration of getting all you sorry soles out on the right pitch on time and in a vaguely clean kit… So it would be good if you could volunteer to write a few paragraphs on how your team performed on the day. It doesn’t need to be funny… but it helps 🙂

So please send your match reports to Ram so he can start working on it on Monday/Tuesday.

Thanks All

Under 12s had no fixture this week.  The under 11s played Bedfont Eagles beating them 3 – 2.  The under 8s played their last fixture beatin Carshalton Athletic 3 – 2.

An exciting and tense end to the U8’s first season for MFC.  Undefeated in the league and up against a strong Carshalton team.  Both teams played great football, but with a winning goal in the last few minutes of play for MFC, the boys held on to their fantastic record.  It was truly emotional and well done to our amazing and brilliant boys.  MOM JM

This week we were at home for the second week running against HSBC 7s. We turned up already a man down with Jay, longing for Baz, breaking down on the way there. In the changing room fear was running through the team as everyone was asking, with Baz gone who would Jay take into the showers to have a “little talk”. The weekly intense warm up commenced with Kev the cat getting nutmegged not once but twice in quick succession, filling the team with confidence. The gaffer then began to run us through the team, drama struck with Alex sprinting over asking for a player for the 2s. Another man down! This left us with just the bare 11 as Jay must have settled for the AA man as his new bitch. We lined up with Kev in goal, a defence of Harry, Rob, Steve and Ryan. In midfield were Matt, Scott, Aaron and Frazer with the pace of Nuno and Arnold up top. Jay had still not arrived meaning the we were without the 3 Amigos as well as the mighty Mo who had still not recovered from the devastating injury he sustained last week after a bust up with a rough blade of grass. With the 6s raring to go the game began. We started the brighter team and took an early lead through a long range effort from new boy Scott. Keeper should’ve done better but a great debut goal and the mighty 6s were up 1-0. We continued to press on after this with Aaron and Scott pulling the strings and creating numerous chances for our attacking players. Matt was often on the receiving end of these chances, unfortunately he had chosen that day to have a bust up with some birds and skied a number of chances in a short amount of time. Frazer, feeling compelled to back up his brother, joined in on the act too. We weren’t taking our chances and were punished for it just before half time when a ball was played over the top and Steve, with the pace of a dying slug, was beaten to the ball by their striker who cut the ball back to the edge of the box to their player to shoot. Somehow the ball squeezed under Kev the cat and they were level. Our heads didn’t drop however and straight away we won a freekick in a dangerous area. Aaron took it and delivered a swirling cross which eluded everyone and nestled in the top corner, despite Rob’s last ditch effort to nick it himself. Halftime came and the 6s were up 2-1 and we went into the second half full of confidence. We picked up where we left off, especially Matt who continued his assault on the sky with another effort blazed over the bar. Soon after we extended our lead with Harry breaking down the right and whipping a David Beckham style cross into Nuno who rose like a salmon to nod the ball home 3-1. Then Nikhill came on, after getting bored of watching the 4s, for Arnold and partnered Arnold up front. Nikhil had an immediate impact expertly slicing the ball into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 and give us some breathing room. This was much needed as not long after they equalised after a freekick being nodded in. Rob seemed bemused as to how he was offside, which was justified considering he was the only player in the six yard box beside Kev the cat. We held out against a late bombardment and the game finished 4-2 putting us firmly on course for a late push for a mid table finish.

The ones played Old Garchonians away, losing 3 – 0.  The 2s played Bank of England at home drawing 2 – 2.  The 3s had a North London double header away at Old Parkonians, losing both game 1 – 4 and 0 – 3.  The 4s lost 0 – 2 at home to Polytechnic.  The 5s didn’t have a fixture. The 6s played HSBC at home, beating them 4 – 2.

This was an important league game and so this was a very bad result. It started badly. Ackers had a nasty calf injury in his warm up and could take no part in the game and is probably out for the rest of the season. We went 1 nil down within 20 secs of the kick off with a bad blunder at the back. I have heard it said that if you are going to concede a goal do it early but I am not sure I saw the merit in that point on Saturday. Shortly after that it got worse as Will Low had to come off with a foot injury. Luckily though Al Gladkow just back from hols and was on the bench, he came on but that only left Sherbs on the bench. We rallied well and held Civil Service at bay for the rest of the half. Whilst we did not produce too much threat ourselves, even with the strong wind in their favour Civil Service did not cause that much trouble and Angus only had to make one good save, saving well at his near post. With only a one goal deficit and a strong wind to help us I was very optimistic about the outcome of the game. We pressed for the first 20 mins but our pressure did not lead to a goal but Civil Service were starting to creek under severe pressure. Sadly after a scre when they did break out they scored a very good second goal on the break. They added a third when we were very untidy and if Angus had not made another good double save it could have been 0-4. But 0-3 is bad enough. We have 5 games left and we are perilously close to relegation and we need some points sooner rather than later. We have some tough games but also play our relegation rivals which may well decide our fate. It is still in our own hands.
TEAM: Angus (GK), Jonesy, Clappers (capt), Browner, Will Low (Al G), Tills, Woody, Snooks, Vanny, Wilgo, Dan W. Sub not used: Sherbs

The penultimate game of the season, away at Esher Wizards, turned out to be the most challenging, so far. A very good side, Esher went close to taking the lead 3 times but the cross bar helped our ever fighting boys to remain in the game.
Under great pressure the boys picked themselves up and took the lead with a great team effort. Esher brought the score to one all with good passing football. Our boys went back in front with a great individual goal in the second quarter. In the last two quarters the game was very balanced and both teams had their chances to score. However, it was in the dying minutes of the game that a penalty was awarded to the home team, who, despite the great effort of Merton FC Goalie, equalised to bring the score to a final 2 all.

FACT FILE

Nickname: Al
TEAM: U11s
POSITION: Defender/Winger
CLUBS: Wimbledon Little League

RAPID FIRE

Player of the Season: Marouane Chamakh
Childhood Team: Crystal Palace
Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid
Favourite Food: Spaghetti Carbonara
Favourite Drink: Super Malt
Favourite Musician: Michael Jackson

INTERVIEW WITH ALEXIS BARRIOS CRUZ

1. How did you end up at Merton FC?
I was scouted last year and asked to come along.

2. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
When I did an amazing shot from well outside the box. I thought it wasn’t going to go in, especially as I did it with my left foot. It just seemed to take ages going through the air, and landed nicely in the back of the net. Everybody was amazed!

3. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it?
Crystal Palace. They are a great team, not money orientated. They play in an exciting style.

4. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I do the sign of the cross and kiss the ground.

FACT FILE

TEAM: U12s
POSITION: Goalkeeper
CLUBS: Wimbledon Little League

RAPID FIRE

Player of the season (so far): David de Gea
Childhood Team: Manchester United
Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid
Favourite Food: Curry (takeaway, not homemade)
Favourite Drink: Coca Cola
Favourite Musician: Eminem

INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE BERRY – AKA KEEPZ
1. How did you end up at Merton FC?
Scouted by the manager.

2. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Winning the Invitation Cup Semi-Final last season to a team 3 divisions higher than us. We were 1-0 down with about 10mins to go and we scored 2 goals to win 2-1. Unfortunately we lost 2-0 in the final.

4. If you could play for a professional team,  which would be it?
AFC Wimbledon

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I always get my manager to tie my boot laces, but he thinks I’m just being lazy rather than superstitious.