Category: Match Reports 1s

Tuesday night down the Hood and a crucial promotion battle against BB Eagles. BB Eagles are promotion rivals ad they have so many games in hand because of cup runs and the weather that if they win all their games they would go up and if they lost them all (no sign of that happening) they would go down. But after Saturday’s humiliation we had to get back on track and get a vital 3pts. We got off to a flyer and went ahead with a slick move down the left with Bosh and a good finish from Ackers with our first attack after only 10secs. Strangely this galvanised them and seemed to prevent us fom settling into a rhythm as we were pushed back. BB Eagles dominated the next 25 minutes with some very good passing and movement but we defended really well with Clappers organising well and our midfield helping out. They had a number of corners and a very good long throw all of which we defended well. We got into the game and a good free kick from Dan was headed back across goal by Clappers and Woody finished well. We had a couple of close calls when Ackers was played through but flagged offside. One was very close. Just after the break we made it 3 with another Woody finish but surrounded in controversy as they believed the ball had gone out of play and we played to the whistle. There were linos. Their sense of injustice did not spur them on as I feared it might but they lost concentration and we dominated the game. They had a number of lapses when we should have scored but missed some golden opportunities. It boiled over as one of their two very good strikers finally had a go at the ref and got a red card. Vanny made it 4-0 with a header and they got a consolation goal with a rocket volley from about 30 yards. We played very well. Our defence was determined and well marshalled by Clappers and it needed to be to weather the first half storm. Our forwards were very mobile and played well together. The Midfield was outstanding; Woody won everything in the air and Will Lowe and Dan put in a great shift. This sets it up. We need to win on Saturday at Old Actonians but BB Eagles are our only rivals for the second promotion spot and they need at least to win 7 of their last 8 to stand any chance. That is a tall order but it has been an odd season. The lads were cheered on by an enthusiastic home support with the U11s joining in after a light training session.

MOM:

Team: Sherbs (GK), Clowesy, Browner, Clappers, Al G, Woody, Will Lowe, Dan (Pat Mnton), Ivan, Bosh, Ackers, (Sub DQ not used)

Written by:Max Herbert

After Tuesday night’s excellent win against B.B. Eagles we had another crucial and difficult game away at a side who had beaten us 4-2 at home (well on 3G at T&M). In the last few weeks Old Actonians’ promotion challenge had unexpectedly fallen away so we were not quite sure what to expect but were prepared for the hard game we got. We arrived a little early as there was hardly any traffic. The pitch looked good and facilities are nice. Only Browner was missing this week. He has had a terrific season at Centre Back paired with Clappers. Dave Hitchcock stepped up to the plate again and did very well. It was a tight scrappy start but we settled down better and got on top and after 25 mins the pressure told with Woody scoring directly from a well placed free kick. Although we pressed we did not increase the score and just before half time a really good move from Old A’s and an early cross was squandered. This would have been a bitter blow and we were relieved to see the shot go across the goal and just wide. A good team talk by Clappers at half time and we set in for a hard 45 mins. Whilst we were on top Old As have some talented players and threatened but our well organised defence held firm. Snooks, Will and Woody dominated in midfield and Ackers and Matt Bosher were lively up front . We created some chances but we could not get that second goal and it was tense. It got tenser. Over the last few weeks Sherbs has mastered the long goal kick; not the distance but the amount of time it takes. He always manages to look really busy collecting and setting up the ball. The highlight of these little pantos was when they ballooned the ball onto the pavilion’s flat roof and before they could get another ball into play for him Sherbs was waving from the roof in his attempts to retrieve the ball. At last the whistle blew for another really good 3pts and we sat nervously in the bar waiting for the B.B. Eagles result to come through. When we found out that they had won we knew that the wait would go on. (See Post Script). All the lads played really well. The defence performed as a solid unit well protected by the competitive mid field. We had a very lively attack with Vanny , Dan Whiteman, Bosh and Ackers. It was another excellent away win. Away form Played 11 Won 9 Drawn 1 Lost 1 which is pretty special.

Post Script.

On Tuesday night after the 2s game we heard that BBEs had lost at Norsemen 4-3 and as they needed to win all their remaining games to get ahead of us this meant that we (and Old Garchonians) were promoted to Division 1 of the Southern Amateur League. It is 60 years since we were relegated from there and we have spent a lot of that time in Division 3. This is an enormously exciting prospect and it is really a tremendous achievement by Clappers who with the help of Tills and an excellent squad of players have really done Merton proud. Well Done Lads. The 1s last game of the season is on Saturday April 26th at home to Old Garchonians so please come along and support the team and celebrate their success.

MOM:

Team: Sherbs (GK), Gravesy, Dave, Clappers (Capt) Al G, Will, Woody, Snooks, Vanny, Bosh, Ackers. Rolling subs Pat M, Dan W.

Written by:Max Herbert

So we were able to approach the last game of the season with promotion to Senior Division 1 secured and a match against the side that would be promoted but as Champions. Old Garchonians had already beaten us heavily a few weeks ago and whilst it would have been nice to avenge this our main objective was to give a good account of ourselves and expunge the 7-0 humiliation. Having said that I thought this was a game that we could win. This was a very good game against a very good side. Old Gs settled better and were on top and it took us a few minutes to get a foothold in the game when we did it was a more even contest but Old Gs remained slightly on top. There were very few chances for either side. Sherbs saved well at the far post from their best chance and Ackers hit the post from ours but otherwise both defences dominated in their last third.In the second half Old Gs put us under increasing and sustained pressure. They had the balance of play but we had some ood moves and chances. They struck the bar with a terrific strike and Sherbs had a to come out for a double save but with 15 min to go they scored what proved to be the winning goal with a very good move down the left and an excellent cross and finish. After that we pressed for the rest of the game but their defence held out. They deserved the win but of course a draw would have been nicer and not wholly unfair. The game was well reffed and it was good to have Gareth Dineen thundering up and down the line.

Old Gs are a very good team who have secured promotion through to Division 1 without losing a single game. They pass and move very well and there two central defenders and centre mids were outstanding again in this game. It will be interesting to see how they fare next season in Division 1. Congratulations to them for another excellent season and a well deserved Championship.

This has been a great season for the Firsts and even in defeat they looked a good side. It really has been a team/squad effort with many players contributing to the success. Clappers has organised the team really well and has been at the heart of the defence where Browner has had an excellent season. Al G who took over from Jonesy at left back has also been outstanding as he showed in this game when he surged forward in the last 15 mins as we pressed for the equaliser. It was good to see Jonesy back forthe2s playing again after his nasty injury. Dave Hitchcock has been playing in the last 5 or so games and was at right back today and again didn’t put a foot wrong standing in for the suspended Rat. Gravesy (Rat) has played his part during the season with his reading of the game and excellent use of the ball. In midfield we have also strengthened this season with Woody being back to his best and scoring goals again. Snooksy in his first season with us has looked a very good influential player and Will Lowe has been a constant and talented grafter who can fill in anywhere. We have missed Tills for the last 6 or so games but he was back today for a substitute appearance. After the disruptions of fatherhood he had settled back into the side and was back to his dominant best when he suffered a freak injury. But his support of Clappers and the team has been an important factor. Pat Manton has provided a lot of support at crucial times in midfield when called upon. Up front it has been Ackers, Bosh, Vanny and Dan in various combinations. It has been a real boost to have Ackers back at the club and he and Bosh have always worked well together. Vanny free from injury has had a good season. Dan Whiteman has chipped in cultured performances and some crucial goals. Sherbs came in since Christmas when Angus Lees was posted missing and did very well securing the Golden Gloves club award for the second successive season. The whole season though the first team effort has been supported by call ups from the reserves who with injuries of their own have suffered as a consequence. Crucial wins were secured none more so than the 1-0 win at Norsemen when Clowesy and Jason Marsh were outstanding in a magnificent team performance with 6 first team regulars missing. I regarded that result following two home defeats on 3G as the turning point and the base for the run we then put together that secured the historic promotion. Clappers has done a terrific job in organising the team on and off the pitch and has had a great season on it aswell.

Now is the time to celebrate the achievement and prepare for the challenge that awaits us next season. Well done to all those who have turned out for the 1s.

MOM:

Team: Sherbs (GK), Al G, Browner, Clappers, Dave Hitch, Will Lowe, Snooks, Woody, Vanny, Ackers, Dan, Subs Tills, Pat Manton, Bosh (In the second half the subs were rolled to give everyone a chance to make a contribution and they did.)

Written by:Max Herbert

This was always going to be a tough game because they all are in this division. Old Gs have mad a decent start to their campaign in Division 1 having been Div 2 Champions last season. We know they are a good team. Clappers had to shuffle the pack with another bout of unavailability throughout the club and we fielded a bare eleven. It was quite an even game with both having half chances but really nothing much in last third. Old Gs took the lead when a defensive error let them in for alead on 25 mins. But Bosh equalised almost straight away and another defensive error gave Old Gs the lead just before half time. In fairness their striker finished well with a chip over Angus. In the second half I felt we had slightly the better of it and deserved our equaliser with Vanny rifling home from 20 yards for the best goal of the game. We had chances to win it, particularly when their keeper fumbled a free kick but recovered well to block Ackers volley. Old Gs had a couple of players missing from last season and did not look quite the flowing side that beat us twice.  Merton looked a well organised and committed team and are still finding their feet in this division. Draws are not quite enough but there is no reason to think that Clappers and the boys wont start winning games. Ackers worked hard up front and showed great touch, Clappers and Browner were solid in the heart of defence and Woody and Snooks showed. Craig Usher on debut put in a strong performance But in truth all eleven played a significant part in this game.

Team: Angus Lees (GK) Rat, Browner, Clappers,Jonesy, Woody, Snooks, Craig Usher, Vanny, Ackers, Bosh.

A really good team performance and a well deserved point on a difficult afternoon. With so many players missing (Holidays/Stag dos/Injuries) Clappers did well to get a team out at all and with no shows on the day it was the bare eleven. This is pretty disappointing and unacceptable at this level of football. The side had something of a makeshift appearance with players playing in unusual positions but it did not appear so when the action started. This was a good competitive match and we did more than hold our own. Everybody put in a big shift. We settled well and looked to move the ball around. We had the best of the early exchanges but we got snuffed out in the last third. We keep finding new ways to go behind and this week we conceded a penalty. The ref insisted that he had to blow his whistle before the penalty could be taken and being slow to do so caught the Alleyns guy out twice and was made to retake perfectly good penalties. But he held his nerve and scored three very good penalties but still only made it 1-0. We did not drop like last week and continued as before. Craig hit a magnificent volley from 30 yds when the ball broke to him after a corner but it cannoned back off the bar.  So it was a little unlucky 1-0 down at the break.  We battled away in the second half sticking to our plan and pressing for the equaliser.  Clappers hamstring went and he went up front and hobbled around organising our efforts and sledging their back four in equal amounts. Another foul as their defenders jumped over Woody and it was our penalty which Tee confidently slammed past their keeper. There was one heart stopping moment when they I thought we looked the more likely to score they struck the underside of the bar with a fierce shot and Angus did really well to save the follow up. We had our chances but could not score again although we pressed hard. This was a very competitive game and both sides had key players missing. Tee lead the the line magnificently for us holding the ball up and using it well. But all our lads were outstanding .  So another point but we need that elusive first win to get things moving. It is a very tight division. The ref and linos did very well as it was quite a physical encounter. Alleyns pitches were pretty good and their bar with balcony is an excellent facility. It is a bit hard to find though, specially when they close Turney Road, but it as a great place to visit and would have been even better if we had got three points.

Team; Angus (GK) Ben Cook, Rat, Clappers, Will Lowe, Vanny, Dan W, Snooks, Tee, Craig,  Woody

After last weeks baptism of fire against a classy Old Wilsonians side it was off to Chiswick for our first away trip of the season and another tough test to face Civil Service who narrowly avoided relegation last year.  Clappers was forced to shuffle the pack through some unavailability so in came Rat and Jonesy at full back, Ackers slotted in to the middle three and Whiteman down the left. Both teams started brightly but it was the home side that found their rhythm quickest and it wasn’t long before Angus was called in to action when a couple of direct moves resulted in one on one situations which the big number nine couldn’t capitalize on. We then tightened up across the back line and Browner and Rat dealt with the pace and movement of their front two well whilst Jonesy and Clappers kept the left flank locked down. We were also in control further up the pitch with some good moves of our own with Ackers and Snooks at the heart of most of them but we couldn’t carve out a chance of note until a well delivered Van free kick found Browners flick on and Tills controlled well on the edge of the box before dispatching a floated effort over the keeper and in to the net. 1-0 to the good and looking comfortable until the Services tricky 10 twisted to the bi line before centering for the nine to force home the cross and bring the sides level before half time. It was just about deserved on the balance of play but a shame to concede a reasonably soft goal again after a lot had been discussed after last weeks sloppiness. No sooner had the second half started when Angus and Rat combined to some how keep the scores level after a remarkable goal line save and clearance. We then found our feet again and dominated the middle of the park without really releasing Van and Whiteman in to areas where they could cause damage. Bosher worked tirelessly without much reward but almost restored the lead for us when his menacing shot was tipped around the post by the keeper. In all honesty we could have nicked it but the game deteriorated slightly through some niggly tackles and behavior which the ref did well to control. Theo was a threat from the bench. When the full time whistle came it felt like a relief to get off the mark with a point tinged with frustration that we might have dropped two. It was a decent performance though and whilst we are up and running it isn’t going to get much easier with the visit of last years winners Old Owens at the Hood next week.

Team: Angus, Rat, Browner, Clappers (c), Jonesy, Tills, Snooks, Ackers, Van, Whiteman (theo), Bosher (Mike Kelly)

It was a very special day down at the Hood on Saturday as we celebrated our return to the SAL first division after 60 years in the lower divisions. We could not have hoped for more illustrious opponents as we welcomed Old Wilsonians who won the AFA senior Cup and Old Boys Cup last year and came within a whisker of winning the treble but were beaten on the last day of the season in the League. And it’s no good thinking that we could have hoped for easier opposition because this season there aren’t any.

A clash of colours meant that we stepped out in an all white change strip and looked a well organised competitive side lead by Clappers. We were also much more vocal than i ever remember us being.  OWs settled well and had the better of the early exchanges but we got in the game and created some chances mainly from set pieces. Sherbs was forced to make one good save but both sides moved the ball well but both defences did well.

But just before half time when I and I suspect some of our lads were thinking that a goalless first half would be good we lost concentration, conceded a sloppy corner, did not defend it well enough and were one down slightly unluckily at half time.

The second half was much more open and we scored very quickly. A flowing move down the right saw the ball swept across the left where Vanny ‘rifled’  it in at the near post. But just as quickly as we scored we conceded. Giving away a free kick and not defending it well enough saw OWs back in front and then the game was pretty even with both sides having chances but with about 15 mins to go OWs wrapped up the points. We failed to clear the ball and their striker finished with a well taken overhead kick 3-1 and game over.

I was very proud of the boys last season and no less proud today  where we gave an excellent account of ourselves against a top side. It is good to be back in Division 1, staying there is the challenge that we can rise to. Clappers organised the team really well and we executed the plan well. Snooksy was outstanding again but everyone put in a good shift. Tills in midfield competed and won a lot of headers. We probably conceded too many free kicks and their delivery was top notch. OWs were the better side and deserved the points. Ref and Linos had a good game. It is Civil Service next week and Old Owens (SAL Div 1 Champs) the week after. Well done lads we battled all the way and can take a lot of positives from the performance. Thanks to all our members who came back to the Hood and supported the boys. And then enjoyed a lively bar after. Great Club atmosphere.

Team.    Sherbs (GK) Dave Hithcock, Clappers (Capt) Browner, Al G, Tills , Will Lowe , Snooks, Vanny  Bosh, Tee ,  Dan W, Connor M, Tom Rowe.

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