Author: Matt Haswell

FACT FILE

TEAM: U8s
POSITION: Right Wing
CLUBS: Morden Little League

RAPID FIRE

Childhood Team: Liverpool
Favourite team outside the UK: Paris St Germain
Favourite Food: Fish
Favourite Drink: Lemonade
Favourite Musician: Maroon 5

INTERVIEW WITH OSCAR TEDDY NEWNHAM
AKA OSC
1. How did you end up at Merton FC?
Because Marcello was my manager at Morden Little League and he invited me for trials.

2. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Playing against Orange Dracular’s, we were losing 4-3 with mins to go. We scored to make it 4-4 and then with seconds to go I crossed the ball to Joseph and it went in so we won 5-4.

4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it?
Liverpool FC because they are my favourite team.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I always get ready super early for games. One night I even secretly put on my Merton kit before bed and slept in it… even my shin pads.

Todays Results.

Not so good today. 1s lost 3-0 at home to Civil Service 3-0 in a disappointing performance. 4s draw 2-2 away at Alleyns for the best result of the day. 5s lost 3-1 to South Bank. 6s put in a good performance but lost 2-1 to table topping Old Wilsonians. But we did better in the bar with 5s and 6s showing well.

Merton 5s vs. South Bank 5s

SAL Minor Division 2 South

Saturday 21^st March 2015

South Bank 5s were the visitors to Joseph Hood this time around. With the opposition having lost all ten of their league outings, this was one match we felt we could capture three points and give everybody that much needed confidence boost having only won one in fourteen.

One of our main problems throughout the season has been finding a goalkeeper. We didn’t have that problem this week as we were helped out by Ryan Tomlin who is a regular in the youth set up. Big thanks to him for the effort.

We started brightly, passing the ball around well with everyone working to get onto the ball. This was expected as the starting XI, with the exemption of a couple of positions, was the strongest we have had all season. Unfortunately we fell behind ten minutes for the break. Miscommunication between Glen and Ryan following a through ball resulted in gifted goal meaning we went into half time on the back foot.

We were playing some good football so the team talk was one of a few words, carry on with what we were doing and the chance will come. Two changes were made at the break, Aaron came on in place of Sevan and Dulanie, who started but had to be replaced early on in the game by Rob, took the place of Chris Dodd. We reverted to a more common 4-4-2 formation to tighten things up and it seemed to pay off. Dan Plaistow delivered a ball into the box after receiving the ball from a throw in and Rob stepped in to claim it before the keeper could claim it to draw us level.

We were not playing as well as we did in the first half but felt we were doing enough to push on and grab another goal. Another goal came shortly after our equaliser but it was the visitor that claimed it. Their number eleven received the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal. Unfortunately he was given too much space to turn and fire a shot into the top left hand corner. 2 – 1.

We then found ourselves 3 – 1 down. Glen, under no pressure what so ever, got his ankle stuck and miss-controlled a ball on the half way line. With Glen being the last man back, this allowed their number eleven to easily slot past Ryan on a one-on-one situation. We felt hard done by at this time as we felt we should have been playing against ten men. Dan Plaistow won a fair challenge in our half however the player on the receiving end seemed to differ by running to the ref shouting “Ref! That’s a red card offence, that’s a red card offence!” As expected the ref confirmed that the challenge was fair and waved play on. Not two minutes had passed when Dan Plaistow had the ball on the touchline when the player that was on the receiving end of his challenge thought it was a good time to get his revenge with lunging with fists and feet at Dan. It took the ref some time to decide what a fair punishment would be and we were all shocked, including some of his own players, when it was only a yellow card that was shown. We found out after that the yellow was given for dissent and not the challenge!!!!!

I want to thank those players that are consistent in making themselves available week in week out.

It was frustrating to be on the back on another defeat but we need to put this season behind us and plan for next season.

FINAL SCORE: 1 – 3 MOTM: Ryan Tomlin

TEAM: Ryan Tomlin (GK), Clive Corrigon, Glen Porter, John Gridley, Edward Plaistow (Capt.), Chris Dodd, Sevan Mutafyan, Danny Gridley, Chris Outred,  Dulanie Richards, Dan Plaistow. Subs. Rob Greenway, Aaron Ackerman, Martin Quinlen

Match Report

21^st March 2015

Merton 6s 1 – 2 Old Wilsonians 8s

The 6s were up against top of the table leaders Old Wilsonians 8s. They knew this was not going to be an easy match having lost to them at their ground earlier in the season, but felt they could be the ones to end their undefeated run. Due to 4 home games at the hood, it was a 1pm kick off, everyone on the What’s App 6s group were told to turn up nice and early, get changed and have a good warm up prior to the game.  A certain person obviously didn’t read the meet time turning up half an hour late.  There was also a no show, which to Steve’s Friday night miscalculation meant he could put on a strip.  With the team out on the pitch having a good warm up, it came to naming the team.  With Alex a regular keeper in goal, confidence was high.  Starting line after deliberation from Rob and Steve was: Alex (GK), Harry (RB), Baz (LB), Spanner and Darren (CB), Ram and Rob (CM), Ryan (RM), Jay (LM), Matt (number 10 roll!!), Nuno (CF).  Frazer, Steve and Simon (Subs).

We started reasonably well for a change, but Old W’s caught us a few times on the break and their first goal came from a corner, which was poorly defended and fell to their midfielder who, just inside the box, curled the ball into the top right top, there was nothing Alex could do to stop it.  We picked ourselves up from the kick off and tried to get the score level.  20 minutes gone and a couple of changes, Frazer for Ram and Baz for Steve.  Then came their next goal, a hesitated pass by Steve saw their midfielder get the ball and from right side of the pitch crossed the ball which caught Alex out and looped over him into the net, 2 – 0 .

We could have brought a goal back when the ref awarded us a penalty after Frazer was pushed by their defender.  Matt Haswell picked the ball up and felt he had the confidence to put it in the back of the net.  How wrong he was, dragging the shot just wide of the post, keeper also diving the right way.  It wasn’t till later in the bar that Rob mentioned he has never missed a penalty, bet Matt wished he had snatched the ball off him and taken it.

Half time came and we knew we needed to play a bit better 2^nd half, especially as we had the wind against us.

Second half began and we upped our game and played some better football.  Darren came off for Ram and Rob dropped back into defence.  We continued to attack and wear out the 11 men of Old Wilsonians when we eventually got one back with Nuno putting the ball across the box, pass the keeper and Frazer putting the ball into the net.  Simon came on for Harry, and then came off for Harry after picking up yet another injury.  Not sure if he was on longer than Gerrard and it’s a good job there are no Football Injury Lawyers For You out there as Simon would be a rich man by now!!! As the time wound down we couldn’t get the equaliser, the game ended 2 – 1.  4 more games left, HSBC next week at home, Alexandra Park away on 11^th, and Bank of England and Old Blues, both at home, dates TBC, let see if we can end the season with some wins and move a bit further up the table out of the bottom two.

Well done to those who stayed behind after the game for a beer (Coke for the Burchell’s) in the bar.

Pictures of the game below.

[Show slideshow]

“We were back at the Hood after a long spell away from home soil!

In a freezing cold morning the U8 displayed brilliant football in the first two quarters but could not capitalise their many chances; still the result was in their favour, as they went 2 nil up.  Esher Colts Yellows fought back with courage and scored a deserved goal.

However, our boys extended the lead with an outstanding team performance and closed the match with an 8 – 1 win.

As always, great support from all parents, was the extra player on the pitch.

MOM Aarya”

This fixture, BOE away, is a game the 6s was looking forward to, nice facilities, nice pitches and local. It’s a shame that the football being played by them wasn’t nice.

Kick off we started well for about 5 minutes, Matt should of put them 1 nil up, unfortunately left his shooting boots at home. From then on we looked like we had never played as a team before. BOE started their scoring and 20 minutes in they were 4 up, scoring a free kick, Steve whose not normally a goalkeeper was planted as ball was curl round the not well arranged wall and in the goal. Spanner gave the next goal away by taking down their forward in the box and the ref awarding a penalty, which the BOE player put in the back of the net. The next 2 goals came from us not clearing the defence and BOE taking advantage, Steve tried to save one effort, but started is diving save 5 minutes before and read the flight of ball wrong, although he did get a big toe to the ball but not enough to stop it going into the back of the net.

We tried to get something back before half time but there wasn’t many chances created. Rob tried to help by swapping Baz for Arnold and putting Harry back to full back to see if we could attack a bit more, but wihout much joy. We had a nice flat pitch which should of seen a lot more of the ball instead we played it more in the air rather on the ground.

Half time came and we all knew that we had to play a lot better in the next half, Steve took off the gloves as he wanted to count on his hand how many he let in and for a change there was a few hands going up for a volunteer to go between the sticks. The gloves went to Adam. Rob having endured watching what must of been like what the Sunderland fans watched that same afternoon, gave a team talk and explained where we were going wrong; I think turning up was the main problem. He told us what we should try and do to get back into the game, but that went through the player’s ears and straight out the other side.

They scored their fifth when Adam tried to catch a cross and fumbled it, dropping straight to one of their players who slotted into the net. We managed to get one back, with Nuno lobbing their keeper, could this of been the goal they needed to start the come back? Not really when they went on to score a further two more goals making it 7. Our second goal was scored off of Jon’s after the ball was hit by Arnold against the crossbar, falling straight onto his belly and across the line. Man of the Match went to Ryan for running endlessly, getting stuck in and playing in more positions than the Karma Sutra book.

Not a good day for the 6s and should of taken advantage of the nice pitch and tried to play some good football.

Next week a hard game against top of table Old Wilsonians 8, who have not lost a league game yet, could the 6s be that team to end their good run??

Team: Steve, Harry, Adam, Spanner, Smithy, Baz, Matt, Jay, Ram, Ryan, Nuno (1). Subs: Arnold, Jon (1), Nikhil.

Manager on the line: Rob

As Merton took the field of play

They needed goals galore

For this was not just any match

Today, was Score for Moore.

Yes, the build-up to this game was dominated by the absence of Merton liar Rich Moore. Keen to do their fallen comrade proud, the yellow army set about their mission of sealing three averagely valuable points.

Up against them was a tenacious Old Blues side keen to make amends after a defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. But Merton were fired up after what turned out to be one of the warm-ups of the season. Fast, powerful, electric and assured by the cool, calm and curly centre back pairing of Eggleston and Hitchcock, the front 6 were unrelenting in closing down and hassling Old Blues off the ball, and quick to release the brutal Jason Thomas and the astonishingly good looking Will Taylor up front.

It wasn’t long before the high intensity paid dividends. At just the second corner of the game, Hitchcock showed a rare flash of offensive brilliance. Picking his spot on the inside of the defenders shin, he angled a deflected effort that flew over the line and some seconds later hit the back of the net. 1-0.

But, like the next few weeks of Rich Moore’s life, this was to be no walk in the park. Old Blues hit back – a corner of their own turned into the net by an unmarked number 10 who had quite nice hair.

Cue Jason Thomas. The one man army spent ten minutes showing that bullying is not just for the playground. Thomas was both an immovable object and an unstoppable force, tearing holes in the Blues’ defence with a relentless energy. The rewards came quickly, with two goals in quick succession, the second a true poacher’s effort, capitalising on great pressure by Arogundade on the right.

Seeking a hat-trick and the opportunity to leave the pitch littered with Old Blues corpses, Thomas instead found himself the victim, landing elbow first after falling from a 13ft leap in the air and ending his involvement in the game.

The Merton momentum persisted, however, and it swiftly turned into the Will Taylor show. Striding forward with legs that wouldn’t be out of place on a prize racehorse, Taylor made mouths water as a bead of sweat dripped invitingly from his stylish headband onto his powerful neck. Even clad in Merton yellow, his rippling washboard abs dazzled defenders even when, for a brief moment, they took their eyes off the considerable, muscular thighs, all the more distracting because of the Welshman’s bespoke size XXS shorts. But it wasn’t all about his seductive eyes and impressive frame.

Moving into the second half, Taylor, having breezed past four defenders with consummate ease, paused just long enough before pulling his sizeable trigger to think “what would Richie Moore do?”. And just like that, without a defender in sight, he hurled himself to the ground in a manner of which the stricken Moore would have been proud. A timely reminder of why the team was so motivated.

The referee, quite rightly, reached for his pocket immediately, taking Taylor’s name, shirt and home number before showing him a deserved yellow. Taylor scored two goals.

Old Blues rallied, notching again from a corner after lazy marking from Eggleston, but it was at best a consolation as Merton saw the game out for a handsome 5-2 victory.

Mission accomplished. A hard-fought victory, but with the hilarious thought of a bedridden teammate engrained in Merton minds, the determination to score for Moore carried them through and secured what will almost certainly be an inconsequential victory.

Once the players assembled in the changing room from the 3s, 4s, 5s & 6th teams, we had the bare 11 players, with plenty of experience and good spirits after some good results but a different line up.

The game itself was a very scrappy affair on a hard & uneven pitch with an opposition who liked appealing for everything and haven’t changed in all years I played against them. In addition the referee who gave some odd (being polite) decisions including a penalty against us. That woke us up abit Patrick score from 40 yards after a clearance following the referee stopping the game for an injury in there box, which was where the game finished at half time.

The second half was much the same scrappy because of the conditions plus. CEV scored first again before Dan equalised from a good cross by Ed, however late on we were hit by two quick goals as we started to suffer with a lack on subs having picked up a couple of minor injuries and a few tired legs. Patrick score another screamer as we kept on pushing to achieve a result, however this wasn’t help with Josh having to go off.

Arturs made some were good saves which kept as in with a chance but in the end it was all in vain.

Well done to the team on a fine effort after a long journey.

TEAM: Arturs, Ed, Chris, Martin, Clive, Josh, Ryan, Patrick, Dulaine, Peter, Dan

Martin Quinlan

Following the text messages with Kevin, it looks if I be back in the 6th in goal as they’re missing me.

On paper the 4s looked like they had a good side. Unfortunately no one  really turned up for the game.After a 20 minute delay due to the opposition’s kit not arriving  the game finally got under way. The game started pretty even and Merton looked pretty dominant for the first 10 minutes. A simple ball over the top caught the centre back and the goalkeeper out and Darcy unfortunately stuck a screamer into his own net. Without a manager and clear sense of direction Merton were soon over powered by a forceful midfield. Before long we were two nil down with a simple ball from the left midfield and the centre backs getting caught out once again. From here Merton never really exerted any pressure on The opposition and never made any clear-cut chances on goal. Pretty poor performance all round and came away with the result that we deserved on the day. Special mention must go to Ryan he pulled off some fabulous saves in goal.
Mom – Ryan

Neal Davidson

FACT FILE
TEAM: 3XI
POSITION: Centre Midfield… or various others!
BIRTH DATE: 22/08/1984
BIRTH PLACE: Hillingdon
CLUBS: Too many to list!

RAPID FIRE

Player of the season (so far): Eden Hazard
Childhood Team: Chelsea
Childhood Hero: David Beckham or Super Frankie Lampard
Favourite Food: Sushi
Favourite Drink: Whisky
Favourite Band: SClub7

INTERVIEW WITH DARCY YATES

1. Tell us who is Darcy outside of the club. What do you do, how would you describe yourself?
Work in the city for Watches of Switzerland, Mappin & Webb, Goldsmiths and the Watch Shop.
Good laugh, happy go lucky lad

2. How did you end up at Merton FC?
Tony dragged me down.

3. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Various

4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it and why?
England. Great privilege to represent your country.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
Need a Boost chocolate bar and some Jelly babies

6. Lastly, share us your thoughts for the rest of the season.
Few games left, hopefully we can continue our better form…!
Will be good to see the 1st team win the cup.