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.

An exciting and tense end to the U8’s first season for MFC.  Undefeated in the league and up against a strong Carshalton team.  Both teams played great football, but with a winning goal in the last few minutes of play for MFC, the boys held on to their fantastic record.  It was truly emotional and well done to our amazing and brilliant boys.  MOM JM

This week we were at home for the second week running against HSBC 7s. We turned up already a man down with Jay, longing for Baz, breaking down on the way there. In the changing room fear was running through the team as everyone was asking, with Baz gone who would Jay take into the showers to have a “little talk”. The weekly intense warm up commenced with Kev the cat getting nutmegged not once but twice in quick succession, filling the team with confidence. The gaffer then began to run us through the team, drama struck with Alex sprinting over asking for a player for the 2s. Another man down! This left us with just the bare 11 as Jay must have settled for the AA man as his new bitch. We lined up with Kev in goal, a defence of Harry, Rob, Steve and Ryan. In midfield were Matt, Scott, Aaron and Frazer with the pace of Nuno and Arnold up top. Jay had still not arrived meaning the we were without the 3 Amigos as well as the mighty Mo who had still not recovered from the devastating injury he sustained last week after a bust up with a rough blade of grass. With the 6s raring to go the game began. We started the brighter team and took an early lead through a long range effort from new boy Scott. Keeper should’ve done better but a great debut goal and the mighty 6s were up 1-0. We continued to press on after this with Aaron and Scott pulling the strings and creating numerous chances for our attacking players. Matt was often on the receiving end of these chances, unfortunately he had chosen that day to have a bust up with some birds and skied a number of chances in a short amount of time. Frazer, feeling compelled to back up his brother, joined in on the act too. We weren’t taking our chances and were punished for it just before half time when a ball was played over the top and Steve, with the pace of a dying slug, was beaten to the ball by their striker who cut the ball back to the edge of the box to their player to shoot. Somehow the ball squeezed under Kev the cat and they were level. Our heads didn’t drop however and straight away we won a freekick in a dangerous area. Aaron took it and delivered a swirling cross which eluded everyone and nestled in the top corner, despite Rob’s last ditch effort to nick it himself. Halftime came and the 6s were up 2-1 and we went into the second half full of confidence. We picked up where we left off, especially Matt who continued his assault on the sky with another effort blazed over the bar. Soon after we extended our lead with Harry breaking down the right and whipping a David Beckham style cross into Nuno who rose like a salmon to nod the ball home 3-1. Then Nikhill came on, after getting bored of watching the 4s, for Arnold and partnered Arnold up front. Nikhil had an immediate impact expertly slicing the ball into the bottom corner to make it 4-1 and give us some breathing room. This was much needed as not long after they equalised after a freekick being nodded in. Rob seemed bemused as to how he was offside, which was justified considering he was the only player in the six yard box beside Kev the cat. We held out against a late bombardment and the game finished 4-2 putting us firmly on course for a late push for a mid table finish.

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

The penultimate game of the season, away at Esher Wizards, turned out to be the most challenging, so far. A very good side, Esher went close to taking the lead 3 times but the cross bar helped our ever fighting boys to remain in the game.
Under great pressure the boys picked themselves up and took the lead with a great team effort. Esher brought the score to one all with good passing football. Our boys went back in front with a great individual goal in the second quarter. In the last two quarters the game was very balanced and both teams had their chances to score. However, it was in the dying minutes of the game that a penalty was awarded to the home team, who, despite the great effort of Merton FC Goalie, equalised to bring the score to a final 2 all.

FACT FILE

Nickname: Al
TEAM: U11s
POSITION: Defender/Winger
CLUBS: Wimbledon Little League

RAPID FIRE

Player of the Season: Marouane Chamakh
Childhood Team: Crystal Palace
Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid
Favourite Food: Spaghetti Carbonara
Favourite Drink: Super Malt
Favourite Musician: Michael Jackson

INTERVIEW WITH ALEXIS BARRIOS CRUZ

1. How did you end up at Merton FC?
I was scouted last year and asked to come along.

2. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
When I did an amazing shot from well outside the box. I thought it wasn’t going to go in, especially as I did it with my left foot. It just seemed to take ages going through the air, and landed nicely in the back of the net. Everybody was amazed!

3. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it?
Crystal Palace. They are a great team, not money orientated. They play in an exciting style.

4. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I do the sign of the cross and kiss the ground.

FACT FILE

TEAM: U12s
POSITION: Goalkeeper
CLUBS: Wimbledon Little League

RAPID FIRE

Player of the season (so far): David de Gea
Childhood Team: Manchester United
Favourite team outside the UK: Real Madrid
Favourite Food: Curry (takeaway, not homemade)
Favourite Drink: Coca Cola
Favourite Musician: Eminem

INTERVIEW WITH JAMIE BERRY – AKA KEEPZ
1. How did you end up at Merton FC?
Scouted by the manager.

2. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Winning the Invitation Cup Semi-Final last season to a team 3 divisions higher than us. We were 1-0 down with about 10mins to go and we scored 2 goals to win 2-1. Unfortunately we lost 2-0 in the final.

4. If you could play for a professional team,  which would be it?
AFC Wimbledon

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I always get my manager to tie my boot laces, but he thinks I’m just being lazy rather than superstitious.

FACT FILE

TEAM: U8s
POSITION: Right Wing
CLUBS: Morden Little League

RAPID FIRE

Childhood Team: Liverpool
Favourite team outside the UK: Paris St Germain
Favourite Food: Fish
Favourite Drink: Lemonade
Favourite Musician: Maroon 5

INTERVIEW WITH OSCAR TEDDY NEWNHAM
AKA OSC
1. How did you end up at Merton FC?
Because Marcello was my manager at Morden Little League and he invited me for trials.

2. What was your best moment in your MFC career till now?
Playing against Orange Dracular’s, we were losing 4-3 with mins to go. We scored to make it 4-4 and then with seconds to go I crossed the ball to Joseph and it went in so we won 5-4.

4. If you could play for a professional team, which would be it?
Liverpool FC because they are my favourite team.

5. Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?
I always get ready super early for games. One night I even secretly put on my Merton kit before bed and slept in it… even my shin pads.

Merton 5s vs. South Bank 5s

SAL Minor Division 2 South

Saturday 21^st March 2015

South Bank 5s were the visitors to Joseph Hood this time around. With the opposition having lost all ten of their league outings, this was one match we felt we could capture three points and give everybody that much needed confidence boost having only won one in fourteen.

One of our main problems throughout the season has been finding a goalkeeper. We didn’t have that problem this week as we were helped out by Ryan Tomlin who is a regular in the youth set up. Big thanks to him for the effort.

We started brightly, passing the ball around well with everyone working to get onto the ball. This was expected as the starting XI, with the exemption of a couple of positions, was the strongest we have had all season. Unfortunately we fell behind ten minutes for the break. Miscommunication between Glen and Ryan following a through ball resulted in gifted goal meaning we went into half time on the back foot.

We were playing some good football so the team talk was one of a few words, carry on with what we were doing and the chance will come. Two changes were made at the break, Aaron came on in place of Sevan and Dulanie, who started but had to be replaced early on in the game by Rob, took the place of Chris Dodd. We reverted to a more common 4-4-2 formation to tighten things up and it seemed to pay off. Dan Plaistow delivered a ball into the box after receiving the ball from a throw in and Rob stepped in to claim it before the keeper could claim it to draw us level.

We were not playing as well as we did in the first half but felt we were doing enough to push on and grab another goal. Another goal came shortly after our equaliser but it was the visitor that claimed it. Their number eleven received the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal. Unfortunately he was given too much space to turn and fire a shot into the top left hand corner. 2 – 1.

We then found ourselves 3 – 1 down. Glen, under no pressure what so ever, got his ankle stuck and miss-controlled a ball on the half way line. With Glen being the last man back, this allowed their number eleven to easily slot past Ryan on a one-on-one situation. We felt hard done by at this time as we felt we should have been playing against ten men. Dan Plaistow won a fair challenge in our half however the player on the receiving end seemed to differ by running to the ref shouting “Ref! That’s a red card offence, that’s a red card offence!” As expected the ref confirmed that the challenge was fair and waved play on. Not two minutes had passed when Dan Plaistow had the ball on the touchline when the player that was on the receiving end of his challenge thought it was a good time to get his revenge with lunging with fists and feet at Dan. It took the ref some time to decide what a fair punishment would be and we were all shocked, including some of his own players, when it was only a yellow card that was shown. We found out after that the yellow was given for dissent and not the challenge!!!!!

I want to thank those players that are consistent in making themselves available week in week out.

It was frustrating to be on the back on another defeat but we need to put this season behind us and plan for next season.

FINAL SCORE: 1 – 3 MOTM: Ryan Tomlin

TEAM: Ryan Tomlin (GK), Clive Corrigon, Glen Porter, John Gridley, Edward Plaistow (Capt.), Chris Dodd, Sevan Mutafyan, Danny Gridley, Chris Outred,  Dulanie Richards, Dan Plaistow. Subs. Rob Greenway, Aaron Ackerman, Martin Quinlen

“We were back at the Hood after a long spell away from home soil!

In a freezing cold morning the U8 displayed brilliant football in the first two quarters but could not capitalise their many chances; still the result was in their favour, as they went 2 nil up.  Esher Colts Yellows fought back with courage and scored a deserved goal.

However, our boys extended the lead with an outstanding team performance and closed the match with an 8 – 1 win.

As always, great support from all parents, was the extra player on the pitch.

MOM Aarya”