The U8 travelled to Sutton where a very good side was eagerly waiting and warming up for the match. Always followed with great support from the parents, our squad started strongly in the first 10 minute quarter but the boys could not put away the many chances they had. We all know what football is like and, with two quick counter-attacks Sutton found themselves 2 – 0 up.

The match evened up and Sutton demonstrated to be a very good team indeed. Our boys pulled 1 back but found themselves straight down to 3 – 1 in the second quarter.

As always, the boys never gave up and brought the score to an even 3 – 3.

The last thrilling quarter saw Sutton regaining the lead but the boys in their smart new training/second all black kits equalised and seemed able to push for a victory; but in the last seconds of the match another quick counter-attack from Sutton brought their striker to a one to one with our goalie… the striker hit the ball but, unfortunately for Sutton and fortunately for Merton, the ball went just wide of the far post.

4 – 4 the final result. A fair result for two teams that played very good football.

Well done to all.

MOM Jaiden

This was a very good win for our reserves against a very Strong AP side. We had already lost to them earlier this season when AP beat us 6-4 in North London playing most of the game with 10 men after a red card. But our boys bounced back from a disappointing result against Norsemen last week to take all three points in a close game. We lead at half time through a terrific Chris Rayner strike from 20 yds that finished off a good passing movement . AP equalised from a far post header from a corner but Tom Rowe scored what proved to be the winner on about 70 mins when he was played through and hit an early shot  hard and  low into the corner. Ally Pally are still well placed for promotion and it is probably between them, NUFC oilers and Norsemen. Our man of the match was Rich Moore.

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AFA Surrey/ Kent Senior Cup

This was a good performance from the 1s who came up against Lloyds who are top of the SAL third division and had only lost one league game this season. But we put in a strong performance and deserved the win that sets up a Semi- final tie against Alleyns to be played at the \Hood in a few weeks time. The pitch was very wet but playable and we settled quickly and got on top early on. Our first goal came from a very good move with Ackers setting up Woody who rifled it home from 20 yards left footed into the corner. Whilst we were on top Lloyds had their moments and created some opportunities and a bit of sloppy defending after 35 mins saw them equalise so we turned 1-1 at Half time.  With the wind behind us we played pretty well in the second half and dominated but Lloys were well organised and never gave up. We took the lead early in the second half when a well delivered Woody free kick was flicked  on and Al Gladkow finished well. We had a number of chances to increase our lead none better than Tills blazing over the bar shortly before he scored our third with a far post header.

This was a pretty good performance against a good side who look likely to be promoted to the Second division net season. Tills and Woody won a lot of the midfield headers and Snooks set up some good moves. The surface was never easy but both sides played some nice football . Everyone (both sides)put in a big shift on a very tiring surface. Phil Cook reffed the game very well . I think we were spurred on by our disappointing cup exit in our last game a fortnight ago.

Well done lads and now for the semi final but there is a big league game at Old Owens next week.

Team;   Angus (GK), Al G, Browner, Clappers, Rat, Tills, Woody, Snooks, Vanny (Chris Jones 70 mins), Ackers, Bosh  (Will Low 60 mins) ,

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Norsemen have some of the best facilities in the SAL . The top pitch is well grassed and close to excellent modern large changing rooms. Even the drive round the M25 wasnt too bad. Weather cold and bright but when we got there the pitch was very wet. In my view it was unplayable ; one of the goal areas was a quagmire. The ref deemed it playable. And then both teams proved me wrong by attempting to play and to a large extent succeeding in playing good quality passing football on the bog. We got off to a good start but after 10 minutes and a couple of missed opportunities Norsemen took control. They scored after 25 mins and made it two nil after 35 mins when their No 9, a very strong player, held off a couple of challenges running through and firing home. A couple of really good saves from Sherbs kept us in the game at only 2-0 at half time. There was optimism as we kicked off in the second half changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-1. We were also kicking downhill  with the wind and defending the shallow end. We also had then tide with us but on the downside the end we were attacking had not stood up very well to the first half skirmishing and resembled a hippos wallow. Still we dominated the second half and Connor Murphy gave us the belief we could at least get a draw by scoring a spectacular volley with half an hour left.  We pressed and pressed but could not get in a decisive strike and Norsemen were always dangerous on the break. So we lost 2-1. Norsemen Res play some very good passing football and have some very talented players. Merton are a very good football team on and off the pitch with great attitude. I was very proud of them all. No man of the match for me every one of them gave everything and Wilgo had them organised on and off the pitch. Even to to the extent of retrieving our match footballs from the same people who stole the points. If the pitch was not unplayable at the start it certainly was at the end.

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Old Blues are a new club to the league and are in their second season and share facilities with Kew Association. Rather strangely Kew Association having redeveloped their ground with new facilities have shrunk as an adult SAL club but have a thriving junior section. Old Blues, the old boys side from the school, Christ’s Hospital. It was good to go back to Kew as we had not been there for some time and revived memories of tight first team games battles won but more often lost.

This was a very good competitive game and despite a bobbly wet pitch and terrible wind both sides played some pretty good passing football and the score did not really reflect what a close tight game this was for 75 minutes.

We started by far the better and playing uphill and against the wind which was down and across, created some good chances and pressure. Our first goal resulted from that pressure when Craig Usher swung in a good corner and Femi headed home. But then Old Blues started to find their feet and get more into the game. We had a chance to make it 2-0 just before half time but Jase having turned his man fired over from 10 yds.

After half time Old Blues settled into their task and dominated for about 20 mins of really good pressure. Their finishing and last third play let them down and we were always dangerous on the break. It was from such a break on about 70 mins that Jase headed our second goal. The third came when Will T sliced a deep cross and it went unstoppably into the far corner.  Wilgo capped his day with a fine goal from Liam As’s cross headed back to him and buried.

The game was played in a really good spirit and was well refereed but a youngish ref who kept up with play explained his decisions and got a lot of them right. It was a good game to watch and good in the bar after. Craig Usher was man of the match. Will Taylor and Jase T worked tirelessly. We looked pretty solid at the back and Sherbs made a couple of good saves and deserved his clean sheet contrary to what the local supporters thought. The boys enjoyed the post match hospitality in the bar and their usual banter. That is five league wins on the spin but away to Norsemen next week will be another rough test. This was not as easy as the scoreline suggests. Well done to Wilgo who seems to have got the boys firing and enjoying it.

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Merton FC U8 v Esher Colts Yellow

The last game of the league fixtures before the Christmas break saw the U8 travel to Esher.  The team was still down to a six player squad due to the absence of Aarya who, unfortunately, was still recovering from illness.

The boys got on the pitch with their usual determination.  Despite a very good performance by Esher Colts, Merton FC were unstoppable.  The team displayed an excellent football performance, varying from one touch passing to personal dribbling skills.

But, as always, the real winner was football, played by two teams of enthusiastic kids all cheered on by a great crowd of supporters.

The MOM was Freddie.

A special thank you to all U8 followers and a wish of a prompt recovery to Aarya.

This was going to be another stern test for Merton as we travelled to table topping Poly in Chiswick. Another SAL club with really good facilities and 6+ pitches. I was surprised to see the Uni side playing a training match on the 1s pitch as this has always been jealously protected and consequently it was not quite so good as in the past but it was still a very good surface. Poly have had a little dip in form lately losing in the cup last week at HSBC (3rd Div) and at home to Alleyns. We were out of the blocks very quickly and created a couple of openings and it was a few minutes before Poly got into the game. They are clearly a very good side and neither side really got on top, but just before half time of a pretty even contest a Poly break resulted in a penalty. Whilst it was not the best Angus saved it and we went into the break all square.

Poly started the second half better and created  and missed a pretty good chance and then scored with a really great strike after Angus had made another great save. We came back at them really well and played some really good attacking football, breaking from defence and passing incisively. None better than Will Low who was filling in at left back for Al Gladkow and was outstanding. Ackers got the ball in the net with a good lob but was penalised for offside or a push on the centre back, could have been either, probably neither. This was a short reprieve as another flowing move started down the left and swung across field opened up Poly’s defence and Vanny rifled it home. For the next 15 mins we created and Poly had a number of escapes with Snooks, Vanny and Tills all having chances. At the end  though Poly came back at us and a snap shot in the last moments went desperately close.

This was the best that I have seen Merton play. Clappers had the side really well organised and everyone did their job. The back four was excellent and Will Low showed his value to the side with an outstanding performance in an unfamiliar left back position. Snooks was magnificent in mid field well supported by Woody and Tills who battled well. Ackers lead the line tirelessly but a worrying hammy caused his substitution. Bosh and Vanny threatened down the wings, replaced with 10 mins to go by Dan Whiteman and Tom Rowe whose fresh legs were welcome relief. Angus in goal was our Man of the Match in an excellent team performance. The game was well reffed by Mr. Turnbull and Poly’s hospitality was very welcome.

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After 3 weeks on non-football due to poor weather conditions, the U8 were back in action.

They boys were eager to play again and their enthusiasm got the better of them, as they conceived within a few seconds from the kick off.

However, the team kept their spirit up and replied with tenacity and great team work against a very well organise and skilful Carshalton side.

As the game progressed in the second quarter, Carshalton got the upper hand and went ahead and seemed to be able to control the game.

Not so! The U8 never gave up and turned around the game in the last two quarters, bringing home an emphatic and well deserved win, with the invaluable support given by the ever present “Parents Fan Club”.

The MOM was Joseph.

As always, thanks to all spectators and well done to both team for a great game of football.

This was a very  competitive SAL Intermediate Division 2 game played at HSBC’s Beckenham ground with wonderful facilities. It was another very welcome 3pts and a second consecutive win for Merton Res. The team had changed somewhat from last week but still seemed strong enough to deal comfortably with HSBC who were bottom of the division. This was far from the caes as HSBC battled hard and played some very good football right to the end. It was in fact HSBC who went ahead after about 15 minutes with a good move and early cross from the left with a good finish. This set back galvanised Merton who played with more urgency and Will Taylor’s surging run past defenders caused their last man to concede the penalty which was probably the red card not the yellow he was given . I understand the ref, Ray Gangadeen’s reluctance to send a player off. Femi tucked the penalty away confidently. This was not an easy game to referee and Ray did well enough. Soon we were 2-1 ahead when  Will was played through and scored comfortably. Then a long Sherbs clearance was flicked on by Femi to Jason who outpaced their defence down the right and crossed for Will to  make it 3-1 with an excellent goal and that was the half time score.  The second half started with a narrow escape for Merton but then we created a number of really good chances from good attacking play but missed them all hitting the bar, post or straight at the keeper. Their culprit in the first half was lucky to not get a t least a second yellow for a nasty tackle with 20 mins to go. But energy levels were beginning to sag and HSBC were not for giving up and scored a terrific second goal with about 15 minutes to go and were dominating the game so that when a good move produced their equaliser near the end it looked very much like a point apiece. Some late pressure from us inspired by Wilgo and Will coming on and re-energising our effort produced some sustained pressure and corners and the final one was flicked on and into the net by Femi to secure the 3pts and the ire of the HSBC GK who hotly disputed the award of the corner and was fortunate not to get a red card. Sadly for HSBC the game ended on a rather sour note whilst we remained somewhat bemused but pleased with the 3pts. This was a really exciting game to watch and both sides played a lot of good football with some excellent goals. Will Taylor was outstanding injecting pace energy and enthusiasm into the game when we went 1-0 down.He was Man of the Match (pic) Femi bagged a couple again but this was a good all round team performance with a squad well managed and lead by Wilgo. Well done lads.

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