Merton 4s v Alleyn Old Boys – 29th September 2012

Played at Wimbledon Common Extensions

It started so well for Merton. We created 4 golden goal scoring chances in the first 25 minutes through a mixture of good football and Pearcey winning the flick-ons from set pieces. Unfortunately Dan Kelly missed them all. Credit Dan for getting in the correct position to miss them and for never giving up, however, rumour has it couldn’t finish his dinner after the game and he missed a one on one with his mrs later that evening!!!!

Following their considerable let offs, Alleyn’s came into the game. Their forward 5 were very quick, very skilful and very off the cuff. They had not been coached in the discipline of defending and this made for a very open exciting game. The pendulum swung in Alleyn’s favour 5 minutes before half time when a breakaway lead to a good cross our box which was finished at the far post giving the returning Paul Ellis no chance. Chappell said he would have saved it.

We came in at the interval disappointed but not downhearted. The game became stretched as both sides went for the next goal. After half an hour of two good sides slugging it out and missing reasonable but not great chances, Merton were awarded a free kick wide on our left. Ricardo, who does not understand the difference between meet time and KO time, delivered a dangerous ball into the box which glanced off the stumbling Ian Jordan’s head into the roof of the net. A well deserved equaliser.

With 5 minutes remaining, the referee (a cross between Lenny Henry and John Cleese) awarded a very debatable free kick 25 yards out. The confident Alleyn’s number 10 pushed everyone away and struck a free kick Beckham-esque destined for the top corner. I looked to the floor in frustration at conceding when out of nowhere, Paul Ellis rolled back the years and twisted in mid air to somehow touch the ball onto the bar. In my 30+ years of playing football it was in the top 3 saves I have ever seen. Simply outstanding. He made another save that was only really good 2 minutes later.

All in all an enjoyable game, with a fair result between 2 strong sides. Great performances from Kieran and Alex at full back and from Paul Ellis for THAT SAVE. Roll on next week at Civil Service.

MOM: ?

Team:Ellis; Alex, Pearcey, Jeremy, Kieran; Khalid, Buckley, Quainton, Ricardo; Kelly, Denys Subs Ian Jordan, Shaun Jones

Attendence:8 people, 3 Children

Report by:Mark Thomas