Author: Matt Haswell

Todays Results. Firsts beat Lloyds 3-1 to set up a semi final with Alleyns O.B. 2s beat promotion rivals Ally Pally 2-1 in a close match, (scorers Rayner with a screamer and Tom Rowe) 4s lose 4-1 to Civil Service 5s lose heavily to Old Sals and 6s win 2 – 1 at Old Blues progressing to next round in the Junior Novets Cup with an away game against Old Finchleians 7s.

Norsemen have some of the best facilities in the SAL . The top pitch is well grassed and close to excellent modern large changing rooms. Even the drive round the M25 wasnt too bad. Weather cold and bright but when we got there the pitch was very wet. In my view it was unplayable ; one of the goal areas was a quagmire. The ref deemed it playable. And then both teams proved me wrong by attempting to play and to a large extent succeeding in playing good quality passing football on the bog. We got off to a good start but after 10 minutes and a couple of missed opportunities Norsemen took control. They scored after 25 mins and made it two nil after 35 mins when their No 9, a very strong player, held off a couple of challenges running through and firing home. A couple of really good saves from Sherbs kept us in the game at only 2-0 at half time. There was optimism as we kicked off in the second half changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-1. We were also kicking downhill  with the wind and defending the shallow end. We also had then tide with us but on the downside the end we were attacking had not stood up very well to the first half skirmishing and resembled a hippos wallow. Still we dominated the second half and Connor Murphy gave us the belief we could at least get a draw by scoring a spectacular volley with half an hour left.  We pressed and pressed but could not get in a decisive strike and Norsemen were always dangerous on the break. So we lost 2-1. Norsemen Res play some very good passing football and have some very talented players. Merton are a very good football team on and off the pitch with great attitude. I was very proud of them all. No man of the match for me every one of them gave everything and Wilgo had them organised on and off the pitch. Even to to the extent of retrieving our match footballs from the same people who stole the points. If the pitch was not unplayable at the start it certainly was at the end.

[Show slideshow]

Todays Results. 1s off, 2s lose 2-1 at Norsemen a bit unlucky and deserved a point for great 2nd half performance on an unplayable pitch. Connor Murphy with a spectacular goal. Chris Rayner and Wilgo jt MOM. 3s lose 3 – 1 against Alleyn Old Boys and 6s lose 5-1 to Poly at home well Wimbledon Common Extensions, not really home. Pics of 2s pre match team talk and pitch exit and Gallery of 6s game, snap shots taken by Chris ‘Spanner’ Spencer.

[Show slideshow]

Steve has made special arrangements so that all our three youth teams are playing at home at the Hood on Sunday February 1st
 
Steve is planning to open the bar afterwards serve bacon rolls etc etc and have a bit of a get together.
 
He has also invited some of the guys who may be joining the youth section to coach /manage our new teams
 
Currently we are exploring the possibility of adding 4 new teams next year so that we have 7 teams U8s/U9s/U10s/U11s/U12s/U13s and U14s but this is a plan that we are examining very carefully.
 
This would be a great opportunity for the Adult club to come and show its support for the Youth section and for Steve who is doing such a great job in keeping this project on the rails and moving forward.
 
The youth team matches are great fun to watch and it is uplifting to see the little lads playing.
 
It might also be possible to make it a bit of a bar event aswell.

All 3 youth teams were suppose to be playing at home, but due to the rotten weather and water loggd pitches they was called off.  The Under 12s didn’t play but the other 2 games got switched to the opponents ground.  So the Under 11s lost 3 – 1 to Doverhouse Lions and the Ubder 8s beat G4G FC 8 – 0.  Let hope the weather eases off next week.

Old Blues are a new club to the league and are in their second season and share facilities with Kew Association. Rather strangely Kew Association having redeveloped their ground with new facilities have shrunk as an adult SAL club but have a thriving junior section. Old Blues, the old boys side from the school, Christ’s Hospital. It was good to go back to Kew as we had not been there for some time and revived memories of tight first team games battles won but more often lost.

This was a very good competitive game and despite a bobbly wet pitch and terrible wind both sides played some pretty good passing football and the score did not really reflect what a close tight game this was for 75 minutes.

We started by far the better and playing uphill and against the wind which was down and across, created some good chances and pressure. Our first goal resulted from that pressure when Craig Usher swung in a good corner and Femi headed home. But then Old Blues started to find their feet and get more into the game. We had a chance to make it 2-0 just before half time but Jase having turned his man fired over from 10 yds.

After half time Old Blues settled into their task and dominated for about 20 mins of really good pressure. Their finishing and last third play let them down and we were always dangerous on the break. It was from such a break on about 70 mins that Jase headed our second goal. The third came when Will T sliced a deep cross and it went unstoppably into the far corner.  Wilgo capped his day with a fine goal from Liam As’s cross headed back to him and buried.

The game was played in a really good spirit and was well refereed but a youngish ref who kept up with play explained his decisions and got a lot of them right. It was a good game to watch and good in the bar after. Craig Usher was man of the match. Will Taylor and Jase T worked tirelessly. We looked pretty solid at the back and Sherbs made a couple of good saves and deserved his clean sheet contrary to what the local supporters thought. The boys enjoyed the post match hospitality in the bar and their usual banter. That is five league wins on the spin but away to Norsemen next week will be another rough test. This was not as easy as the scoreline suggests. Well done to Wilgo who seems to have got the boys firing and enjoying it.

[Show slideshow]

Todays Results. 1s lose 4-3 to UCL Academicals in AFA cup. A bit disappointing as they had neen 3-1 up at HT. 2s win 4-0 at OLd Blues in a good game closer than scoreline suggests. Goals from Femi, Jase, Will T and Wilgo. Craig Usher voted MOM. (Pic celebrating) 4s win 2-0 at HSBC and 5s lose 4-1 to Carshalton.

Members Meeting – Joseph Hood Clubhouse Thursday 8^th January 2015 @7pm

Thank you to all the members who either attended last night’s meeting or made representations about the matter. As a result of this discussion the following course of action has been determined:

• There was a clear preference to continue to play competitive football rather than friendlies and so we will continue to endeavour to field six teams in the SAL.
• Captains/Managers will be asked to collect in all memberships that are owed and arrears and selection will be confined to paid up members even if this results in the postponement of games.
• In order to help the administration of the process and allow team sheets to be published early Members are asked to let their Manager/Captain know about their availability for Saturday’s football as soon as they are able in the preceding week so that selection can be finalised by Tuesday evening.
• In addition players should inform their Manager/Captain  about their availability for the further three weeks ahead so that we can identify problem weeks well in advance.
• We propose to have in place a detailed plan for recruitment of players for next season and details of this will be made available shortly.

It may well be that this will still mean that we have to postpone games on a weekly basis but it is hoped that we can manage this within the rules of the SAL and in a fair way so that members do get their Saturday football. This season we have a significant shortfall in our revenues and so the collection of memberships, match fees, fines and arrears is very important. We will also be holding some star fundraising events (Eg. Quiz Night –Saturday January 24th 7pm) and seeking sponsorship.

U12s home match postponed due to waterlogged pitch.

U11s lost 4-1vs Mitcham Pk.

U8s finished 3rd in their trophy day the scores were:

won 6-0 vs Worcester Pk.
won 6-1 vs Mitcham Pk
Won 6-5 (pens) vs AFC Fulham 2s (1-1 aet).
Lost 4-2 vs AFC Fulham 1s.