Category: Match Reports 1s

The Hood was pretty wet and the top pitch was the only one that was playable and that was only just. The drainage on the top pitch seems to have broken down in the three pitches on the high points which is really odd. But despite the dreadful boggy patches it was a really entertaining game with a surprising amount of good football. The wind which I had not noticed earlier in the day was now a factor blowing down the pitch and we were against it in the first half. Weirside wind assisted started really well. A good run down the left wing and an early well flighted cross was put in the net in the first minutes but was disallowed for offside. But this recipe was repeated several times down both wings and life was a little uncomfortable. Weirside missed a good chance putting a free header over the bar from a corner. Their early crossing was an issue and Woody tracked back really well to get his head to deflect one away, but annoyingly got his kit really dirty in the process. A price worth paying.  Gradually we got a foothold in the game and Vanny was troubling their full back who hauled him down a couple of times but 5 mins before he broke clear and their keeper could only half stop his shot and Charlie was at the far post to finish. Charlie made that seem quite difficult as he seemed to get caught up with it for a while. So 1-0 up at Half time and with the wind helping seemed a promising position. However that was not the case and straight from the kick off the Weirside striker seemed to waltz through our defence collide with Sherbs and somehow we cleared it off the line twice. We recovered from this scare and started to create chances. Tom Rowe was played through but fired wide and Will Low went close. But Weirside were always threatening and their skipper was always probing from midfield and they had good movement and their CF was good at holding up. So the equaliser when it came with 20 mins to play was not totally unexpected or against the run of play. Another good diagonal ball was latched on to and fired home on the turn. Pretty good stuff. The wind had dropped and it was good end to end stuff, Dave Quainton came on For Charlie and Hoppy (welcome back) came on For Woody who had put in a really good shift. DQ fresh legs immediately caused problems and with 10 mins to go broke clear down the right and crossed for Tom to fire home emphatically. We looked to hold on but Weirside were not to be denied and a hard shot from close quarters denied us the three points and delivered a fair result but disappointing as we were so close to a much needed win. I thought Weirside were good value and played better than when they beat us 1-0 at their place earlier in the season. They had some very good players well organised well lead and good movement. David Buick the ref was first class and his control was a major contribution to an what was a very enjoyable game to watch albeit a little disappointing. We put in a great effort and appoint is ok against a good side like Weirside. I thought all our players performed well and worked hard slogging thru the mud. Vanny had a really good game but Rat was outstanding yet again. We need to string a few results together in the new year and climb up the table but have every confidence in the lads and Clappers to do that.

Team; Sherbs (GK) Rat Clappers (Capt) Browner, Cookie, Woody, Al G, Will Low , Vanny , Tom R , Charlie. Subs Hoppy, Dave Q.

This was a dismal day for the first team. It was bitterly cold and we had to hang around outside to find out we had no changing room and then we had to hang around on the pitch which was the farthest corner of a very large playing fields. We lost the toss and were 2-0 down kicking into the gale. We really found it difficult to get out of our half and we squandered the few good chances that we had. We were awarded a hotly disputed penalty just before half time which Charlie (pic)  buried like a hero. I thought that would be the turning point of the game as the change of ends gave us the advantage. We did not get the early goal we needed although we had some good chances. Their keeper made a good save and we had a good shout for another handball penalty. But the wind died a little and so did we as we became more frustrated and they came into the game with a shout for a pen and some chances. But they held on to win the battle for the three points between the two sides relegated from the first division last season and both struggling in the second this season Clapps reminded me that there was only one or two of our players who played in our winning side last season that started in this match. In all honesty I am not sure they had that many. Alex Perrin (pic) was playing his last game for Merton as he is off back to the USA and we thank him for his great help this season and wish him well. A very good man.  The game was reffed very well by John Sperry and the assistants did very well aswell on a bitterly cold day. I have great sympathy with Old Salesians who have lost their ground and their current facilities are not what they are use to. It makes The Hood look quite acceptable and we should be thankful for what we have. The 1s could do with getting some of their regulars back and fit and a few wins would help.

Polytechnic 3 Merton 0 (HT 1-0)  ISEH Senior Cup  2^nd Round

It was a pretty miserable day all round what with the dreadful news from Paris and the weather forecast but I thought it better to get out and get wet rather than just mope around. So off to Chiswick and pretty dreadful weather but their pitch is pretty good and held up well. It rained the whole game. We started pretty well with a good shape and pressed the ball well. They are a good side but we looked to play aswell, We were a little unfortunate to go 1-0 down. The ref gave them a rather generous free kick when Weasel was too strong for their man and edged him out of the way. We did not clear their free kick well and after a bit of knockabout it went in the net. The rest of the half was pretty even and we had as much of the ball as them but they were more dangerous in the final third. Second half More rain and we started slowly and they pressed hard and made it 2-0 from a slightly fortuitous mis- strike which wrong footed our keeper and dribbled into the opposite corner.  We rallied and created chances but they scored a really good goal to make it 3-0 with a move down our left cross and good finish. That was the end of the scoring and it got wetter not better. Poly are a good side and we played better than the score line would suggest. We battled to the end and played some pleasing football along the way. The Ref Tom Cannon had a good game with a sprinkling of slightly odd decisions. Not booking one of their players for calling him a retard and not booking one of their players for a bad foul right at the end. Proud of our team’s attitude and behaviour and overall performance Highlight for me was an excellent cup of tea at half time with biscuits and on reflection moping around at home should not be dismissed quite so lightly as an option.

This was quite a road trip for me as i had to leave just before eleven and go via Harlow to pick up Son and Heir to keep goal. Old Es is never an easy place to get to and est not to go via  Harlow. Old Es are now playing at the Ford Sports Ground in Ilford and it is a very nice place too, with good pitches and a comfortable bar and the chicken nuggets and chips were fine. The 1s have made a poor start to the season with a string of undeserved defeats. But I was very proud of the boys today. We had the full 14 players and we were all there on time being were well drilled and organised on and off the field by Clappers.   We were kicking up a not inconsiderable  slope in the first half We settled well and quickly mounted attacks but early on Old Es were dangerous but we seemed to have the measure of them and had created some good chances. As now seems to be the pattern of the last few weeks   it was Old Es who hit the post and went ahead with a good cross and header . We continued in menacing fashion and created and missed a hatful of chances. When we were on target their keeper pulled off an incredible block save from an Al G’s header(HT 1-0).  In the second half the game was played mainly in their half. Too much so in fact as we seemed to stay in their half when they broke up field and made it an extraordinary 2-0. For all the good it had done us we continued to dominate with Vanny and Kearnsey creating chances from the wing with good crosses but we just could not finish it off. Just when i had decided it was not to be  Al G rifled home when they failed to properly deal with a cross. Then Vanny made it 2-2. It continued to be one way traffic with the odd break away but it ended 2-2. It was a good comeback if not quite complete. For the first time this season a lot of our regulars were back in the line up and we had Clappers Tills and Woody on the bench. Old Es had won both their previous games and must have been disappointed not to win as they had led 2-0 with 25 mins to go. The ref was excellent explaining  his decisions being consistent and getting enough right.He also had to listen to the most amazing whingeing. I thought we were bad but Old Es have cornered that market.  So it is our first points on the board onwards and upwards. That is an achievement and with Ilford almost diagonally opposite Wimbledon i was able to drive  all the way round the M25. Back to the clubhouse to watch England go out of the World Cup but its only rugby.

Team    Sherbs (GK) Kearnsey, Weasel, Cooky, Rat, Liam Stevens, Will Low, Al G , Vanny , Ackers, Tom Rowe, Subs Tills, Woody, Clappers

Another disappointing result and another even game that went against us. It started badly when the ref turned up. I don’t what I fear most but none of them are good Ref turns up with his family/turns up and gives the pre match speech about making mistakes and needs help/Turns up with assessor. Well we had the assessor this week. So lots of fussy decisions. More than necessary so a lot more mistakes. So under pressure and making more mistakes made life a little difficult. It was a fairly even game. Our centre back Alex did his Hammy after 5 mins and had to go off with Woody, proud father, coming on mm They scored a good goal to go 1-0 up we made a bit of a muzzy for their second goal we pulled one back when Tm Rowe fired home but we  could not get the equaliser and point that we deserved. Even the assessor thought we should have had a penalty when Rat was pushed over in the box but it was not to be. I thought two years ago when we were promoted out of this division we had a bit of good fortune so we are paying for that now. Still some of our players will be coming back from injury and better times are just round the corner. For the second week running we had two sets of brothers in the side The Gladkows and the Graves (Rodents) (pics)

Weirside are a club that has done well to survive as it has had the silver spoon wrenched from its mouth. As Lensbury it use to enjoy the patronage of Shell and the wonderful facilities at Teddington but when it lost that the club buckled down and have made it work renting pitches at Imber Court, Hampton Court. They are expensive but nice. It was a lovely day and a good game for the neutral.  The result of the game hung as ever on missed chances and refereeing decisions. We dominated the first half and created good openings and had several great shouts for penalties and just when I was wondering what it would take for the ref to give a penalty Weirside attacked and I found out. We had to commit the foul. It was a penalty and Arturs saved it but they smacked home the rebound. So 1 down at half time against the overall run of play.  I am afraid the second half carried on a bit like that although Weirside created a few more chances but were as profligate as us. The feeling grew during the game that it was not our day and it certainly was not.  We worked hard Weasel (David Graves, Rat’s brother) showed well and another new signing Will Kearns worked his socks off. But it ended up with the single goal defeat.

This is a very difficult report to write to give an accurate flavour of the game. The score line would indicate that we were completely out played for the entire game particularly when you add that they hit the wood work four times and Arturs saved a penalty. But it did not feel like that well anyway not till the last 15 mins.

Old Wilsonians are a very good side well organised with plenty of talented footballers. They were quickly into their stride with controlled passing and movement they dominated us right from the Kick off. We held out stubbornly for 25 mins without creating anything much of our own. WE gave away possession somewhat is easily in mid field and their player picked it up, ran 15 yds and smashed it home. 1-0 soon became 2-0 with a bit of a defensive blunder. But then we started to get a foothold in the game and pulled a goal back before half time. The ball was played up to Will Taylor whose first touch flew in a strange direction. (It often does) but  with his speed  Will is often able to get to his first touch before anyone else. Then without ever getting the ball under any sort of control and after a couple more touches to unsettle the defenders he suddenly unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which proved unstoppable. And then we were in the game and either side of half time played pretty well.  (H-T 2-1)

Despite the fact that about every 10 mins they hit a post or the bar we were still doing OK. Unfortunately when things were looking interesting we gave them their third goal. But we were still in it particularly when Arturs saved a penalty spectacularly but after that we flagged a touch and it was a bit ‘Keystone Coppish’ defending with more woodwork and the ball rolling along our goal line with players form both sides sprawling all over it.  Goals 4 and 5 came along during this episode and at the end after some great work from Al G setting up a great opening we missed a sitter. But in between all this OWs excellence, and they are a very good side, we played some good stuff. We had a number of debutants out there; Joe Griffin did an outstanding job at Centre Back, Liam Stevens man marked in mid field. Of the regulars Snooks and Al G were outstanding, Will Taylor worked his socks off and scored a fantastic goal, Rat showed a bit of culture at right back, Arturs saved a penalty and did a lot of other good things. So it was not as bad as it might look and we have 3 more games to play and although we have slipped into the bottom 2 we can still avoid relegation but this will need to involve winning a few games and a return to pre Christmas form.  It was a good effort to get a competitive team out on Easter Saturday and for 75mins we were very competitive. John Doe reffed the game pretty well and was well assisted.

Squad Arturs (GK), Al G, Joe Griffin, Clappers (Capt), Rat, Snooks, Woody, Liam Stevens, Vanny, Matt B,  Ryan Stevens, Dave Q, Connor Murphy.

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

AFA Surrey Surrey/Kent  Senior Cup Final  at Polytechnic Sports Ground 14^th March 2015.

Honorable Artillery Company (HAC) 2  Merton 1 (HT 1-0)

This was a very good event as all Cup Finals are. The team arrived good and early for the match under a 3 line whip from Clappers to wear a club tie and jeans were forbidden. And the team responded to Clappers relief and Terry’s approval. The collection of ties in Friday afternoon had been a good displacement activity and dispelled any pre match anxiety. Team photos and introductions. The AFA were well represented by a past President stalwart John Wilson who has always been such a supporter of ours. Pat Ryan and his assistants were there early and Pat gave each of the sides a bottle of Champagne which was a great sporting touch. Poly had the pitch marked out and in great condition.  The only problem was the wind and we kicked into it in the First half.

With the aid of the wind HAC had the better of the first half having their first and possibly one of their best chances in the first minute. We took our time to get into any sort of rhythm as we seemed to rush our passing in their half and gave the ball away a little too easily. We had one good shout for a penalty when Woody was tripped  but a defensive lapse on 25 mins enabled HAC to take acrucial advantage into the second half.

With the wind now helping us we dominated the second half territorially. We equalised after about 15 minutes when Snooks played Ackers in who finished decisively. There seemed plenty of time to get the winner and Ackers again finished with a brilliant header but was offside. With extra time looming and us pressing a second defensive blunder gave HAC the lead and with only a few minutes left we ran out of time. We had one last good shout for a pen but it was ruled outside the area. And so the whistle went and HAC from the Amateur Football Combination had won the Cup. It was a close game and they were a good side. They had a lot of movement and 3 or 4 exceptional players. Two of their midfielders and the centre backs did very well for them. Congratulations to them and thanks to Polytechnic for staging this final so well.  I always enjoy Pat Ryan’s reffing and it is obvious that he enjoys reffing matches. The other officials supported him well and were very friendly in the bar after.

I was proud of our team for their performance before, during and after the game and apparently they carried on well into the night Putney’s Star and Garter and beyond. They represented our club with great credit.  We came very close to winning this cup and even closer to getting the trophy as Clappers nearly walked off with it at the presentation. The disappointment of our team is clear from the photos but they now will put that behind them and get to grips with our remaining league fixtures.

Thanks also to those who were able to come and support the boys; A good smattering of Merton Vets and youth managers and the 2s whose game finished early.

Team.   Angus (GK)   Rat,  Browner,  Clappers (Capt),  Jonesy, Woody, Snooks, Tills, Will Low,(Dan W) Ackers, Vanny (Bosh) Sub not used Will Taylor

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