This was billed as a top of the table battle but it fell rather short of the mark. With a few key players missing Merton was completely out played and in the end overrun by a very good Old Garchonians side who are in their second season of SAL football and still unbeaten. The first team are however trophyless only because they leave them in the pub after the celebrations. We held them at bay for the first twenty minutes but we never coped with their excellent passing and movement and never really tested them at the back. They went ahead on twenty minutes with a fluid move down the left with the Left winger and finished well. The second came pretty much the same way and the third was agreat volley. 3-0 down at half time and game over. I wish it had been. But we had a reorganisation reshuffle and harsh words and came out battling for the second half and got into the game. A little late and not for long. We hit the bar and had one cleared off the line then when they cleared upfield Rat got outpaced and another card as the last man and we were down to 10 men and were then comprehensively outpassed and run ragged. It was a long way to go to suffer this and still a long way to go and a lot of work if we want promotion. The ref and his assistants did well but it was not a difficult game. Old Garchonians are a new club and their teams are all doing well. Their firsts were an excellent committed well organised side who will be promoted and will do well in Division 1. We have to play them again at the Hood on April 26th and we may need to get something from that game so we will have to put on a much better performance.

MOM:

Team:Sherbs (GK), Richard Egglestone, Gravesy, Clappers (Capt), Al G, Will Lowe, Pat Manton, Ivan, Bosh, Ackers, Michael Lynch, Chris Rayner, Denis,

Written by:Max Herbert

Posted in Match Reports 1s