3rd X1

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Manager - Tony Roome  Contact - tonyroome@mac.com

Season 2008-9 Results

SAL - SOUTHGATE OLYMPIC AWAY 1-1 EMMETT

SAL - BB EAGLES HOME 5-1 RIDDETT (2) BARHAM (3)

SAL - LLOYDS AWAY 2-4 NEWMAN (2)

SAL - OLD PARKS HOME 1-5 PETTET

SAL - SOUTH BANK CUACO HOME 3-0 SINGH WATSON JK

SAL - IBIS HOME 4-1 JK EMMETT (2) SAUNDERS

SAL - BANK OF ENGLAND AWAY 2-1 EMMETT BARHAM

SAL - BROOMFIELD AWAY 1-4 BARHAM

SAL - ALEXANDRA PARK H 1-5 SAUNDERS

SAL - OLD PARKS A 4-1 BARHAM (3) WATSON

SAL - OLD LYONIANS H 4-0 HARRIS BARHAM SINGH EMMETT

SAL - IBIS A 4-1 BARHAM (2) SINGH (2)

SAL - BANK OF ENGLAND H 2-1 RIDDETT WATSON

SAL - BB EAGLES A 2-2 RIDDETT OG

SAL - SOUTHGATE OLYMPIC H 3-0 HARRIS (2) RIDDETT

SAL - ALEXANDRA PARK A 1-6 CHURCHMAN

SAL - OLD LYONIANS A 4-1 RIDDETT (2) WATSON ROOME

SAL - BROOMFIELD H 2-3 RIDDETT SINGH

SAL - LLOYDS H 1-0 HARRIS

SAL - SOUTH BANK A 1-2 OG

AFA - OLD PAULINES H 3-3 (L 4-3 ON PENS) SAUNDERS (2) THROWER

OBC - MINCHENDENIANS H 2-1

OBC QF - BEALONIANS H 4-2 EMMETT (2) SINGH BEEVERS

OBC SEMI - OLD OWENS A 5-3 HARRIS (2) OG WATSON BEEVERS

OBC FINAL - OLD PARKS 1-1 SINGH L 2-4 PENS 

 

 

Southgate A SAL 1-1 Emmett  

 

Another year, another set of new faces for me to take under my greying wing and we got off to a reasonable start away at Southgate. Enough chances to win the game by half time but we only had Billy’s effort to show for it, nicely set up by Dom’s searching pass. As is usually the case early in the season we tired, most of us having done sod all over the summer aside from wobble our belly like a big bowl of jelly…oh and get relegated at cricket. Consequently Southgate fired back at us and in the end probably deserved a share of the spoils. A hot day, I lurched on for 10 minutes or so at the end just to look important but it had no effect on the outcome and we left the arena sweating like chelsea fans on a spelling test. Not a bad start, a few useful additions to the club so who knows??

Bank Of England 1-2 Lats

Happy days eventually at the bank as we had to battle very hard for the points against a stubborn and organised oppo. The first half was a bit of a non event for both sides with them having the better chances and deserving the lead with a curled right foot effort that had Dom scrabbling in vain. This is a big old pitch and myself and the bank centre mid were having our own private battle as to who could move out of the centre circle the least whilst letting the young uns do most of the running about. Simply though we weren’t getting enough bodies forward to support billy and matt so changes were required.

Expecting my services to be required on Sunday i took myself odd after an hour for Danny and Jason, looking like nanook of the north on the line as it was rather chilly, came on and slowly we took charge, launching wave after wave without managing to break through Banks resistance, bill, danny and pete all missing good chances. Eventually it fell to the cultured right foot of skipper Matt, Mr Encouragement himself to unlock the defense, his through ball was lifted over the keeper and Billy touched it home to the relief of the snowmen on the line. Now we had our tails up and another ball over the top from Matt was brought down by Danny who slammed home the winner. There was still time for Dom to almost fumble one but we held on comfortably in the end. As is often the case in this league positions mean little and Bank were better than theirs suggested, we go to Broomfield next week expecting just as tough a test.

Danny and Jase wait to come on at Bank, was a bit nippy.

Broomfield A SAL L 1-4 Barham

Strange afternoon, reminiscent of Ali/Foreman in how it panned out as Brooms played the Louisville Lip and rope-a-doped us to defeat. First half, down the slope pretty much all us and chances to Billly, Dan, Matt, Jase, all went begging whilst Andy King’s free kick was pushed on to the post. Unfortunately all we had to show for our dominance was Dannys shot which somehow squirmed under the keeper. Still Brooms body language was negative in many areas and i felt a comfortable win was on the cards but two or three of their lads kept the encouragement up and a scrappy equaliser gave them belief, The ref saw fit to award a corner after the big lad up front put the ball out and after a bout of pen box pin ball the ball was nodded home and we went in level at the half.

I still felt pretty confident at that point, we’d kept the very lively front pairing and tricky number 8 fairly quiet but as they grew with confidence they became tougher to hold and took the lead through sheer perseverance. Dom came out wide right to meet a crunching challenge from their nine, totally fair but Dom came off worse and from out on the touchline the lad found the empty net though possibly younger legs than mine might have got back! The third was more bizarre still as Doms clearance was humped back with interest from fully 40 yards back over his head. Now we were almost dead in a game we’d been bossing and the air went out of our balloon pretty quickly. The fourth was poor marking at a corner leading to a simple header and we were done. We still found time to wake up and create three more gilt edged chances with the simplest falling to Billy who somehow screwed wide with an empty net at his mercy.

So in the end a deserved win for a tenacious Broomfield side but the game was a lot closer than the scoreline suggests and we simply must take our chances to compete at the top of this division but if the first half display can be replicated regularly we won’t lose too many more. A special word for Matt Saunders who was outstanding all game and another for an odd refereeing display which involved numerous conversations with people on the line whilst the game was still going on. If he’s reading this i would apologies for my curt response to a question about going back to their clubhouse whilst they were bearing down on our goal! Hey ho, all adds to the flavour!

Old Boys Cup Quarter Final

Old Bealonians H W 4-2 Emmett (2) Singh Beevers

Highlight of the season so far as an impressive AFC outfit were killed off in 45 minutes of lats rampage. Our strongest squad of the season started strongly and after Bens shot somehow squeezed under the keeper we never looked back. Beals did equalise with a fine finish from the skillful centre forward after we failed to clear and though they played it around nicely at times we were far more direct and it paid dividends. time and again we caught them square and i’m afraid their reliance on the offside trap was their undoing.

Our ref, Mr Skelton, a lovely old fella and pretty competent is not in the first flush of youth and without linos was never get every decision right so our sweeper system gave us protection whilst they lived on the edge and bemoaned decision after decision. Great work from Ben and his cross was headed in by Billy and soon after more graft from churchy and a great cross was met by cappa who out jumped the keeper. By half time we were 4-1 up, Matts searching pass headed down by Jase for Billy to knock in his second though he was probably offside. Bens brilliant block kept the gap to three and we were almost home.

Beals picked it up after the break and had some chances, Danny came on for Billy and John for Andy and as Beals pressed we countered. In the end it could have been a rout if we could finish but the final moment was for the visitors with a fine finish from the sub. I came on for Ben who copped a whack on the shin and may struggle to be fit for next week but this was the only downside to a great day. Everyone was excellent but a special mention for the midfield three and Ben who were particularly outstanding. Back to the league next week and Ibis again.

Alexandra Park H SAL 1-5 Saunders

After a week off with the rain a tough one back with fellow contenders AP who have never given me an easy afternoon in 20 years of SAL football. We spoke about the need to put AP on the back foot early and things started well with Billy going close though despite the better of early exchanges we never really tested Farhad in nets. Park went ahead with pretty much their first shot which somehow eluded Dom but again we continued to harrass their back four and reminded Adrian that really he should still be in midfield ;-). Pretty soon we were level as Matt curled a super shot into the top corner and I still felt we were having the better of things as Park went ahead again as a through ball wasn’t dealt with by either Dom, Matt or Neil and as those three debated the current state of the housing market the centre forward nipped in to poke home.

So behind at the half but more than in the game but when a shot squeezed through a crowd of players from a corner we found ourselves chasing the game. Park now had us worked out and our makeshift defence was becoming more and more stretched though considering wello was having his first outing in three years, anything over a call to St Johns was a bonus and there is no truth to the rumour that he was embalmed over the festive period. Still we were creating, Matt, Jason and Billy had good efforts but there was only one good save required from the goalkeeper who did very well to block Billy’s one on one. Whilst we missed, they hit, catching us on the break and getting away from the markers and to be fair could have had more than the two later ones that they did get, Dom making one great save, a blaze over the bar and a trip in the box which fortunately Mr Kinner missed! Still they did get a pen as Dom brought down their guy one on one and was lucky to stay on, 4-1 and the big forward muscled his way though some weak challenges to stab home a fifth, though to be fair to matt, with his rib injury had we had another sub he’d have been off.

So a deserved win for Park, missing Dan, Capp, Ben, Stu and Tabbers, plus churchy to a back injury in the first half didn’t help us but to be honest the problems remain the same. We tend to have the better of the first half but don’t put our chances away and end up chasing a game which playing a wing back system leaves us exposed. This game could have been 5-5 but just as easily 7 or 8-1 and we won’t beat good sides like AP playing as loosely as that. Still good luck to Park who fully deserved the win and we’ll see you in North London later in the year.

 

Old Parks A SAL 4-1 Barham (3) Watson

 

A great win for Lats against opponents who had yet to taste defeat in the league all season.

We arrived with 6 men as usual, and found a pitch that resembled Brooke Shields, (Great looking but very icy!)

After chatting to the ref and oppo about the safety aspect of the pitch, we were then afforded a tremendous piece of sportsmanship by the home captain, (you could tell who he was as he was wearing an arnband in Div 3 3rd X! football, ), in which 4 of our players were making their way from the dressing room but he was begging the ref to start so they could score against 7 men. Our final 5 were stuck in a large traffic jam, not to be helped. The seven men ably held out for the minute it took to get to the pitch, and after 5 mins of head scratching about the pitch, we got into our stride. The conditions called for 2 touch passing, which suited our system well, and we began to make inroads into the Parks backline. Cabs and Danny upfront were causing problems, assisted by some probing passes from Dom, playing his 1st game in midfield after 10 games in goal nursing a knee injury. Jason M and John W were grafting alongside him in the middle, with Blinky on the left and Matty on the right providing their usual 110% workrate up and down the flanks. Stu and John B were holding fort at the back magnificently, restricting the home side to a couple of efforts that Banksy dealt with in his usual aplomb. We broke the deadlock near to half time, a great ball from Dom inside the full back met by Dan’s crisp finish. We turned round 1-0 up, but immediately were pegged back by the home side with a scrappy goal, and for 10mins at the start of the 2nd half we were under the cosh. We got our passing game back together, and again had the upper hand as we went in search of more goals. Unfortunately, their no 4 fell over due to the skiddy icy conditions, and had to be helped from the field with his arm in a sling!! Again we (both teams) consulted the ref about the safety conditions but we carried on,and from this point dominated proceedings, Dom twice playing the canny thru ball for Danny to score 2 more, and a great strike from John Watson from 20 yards curled into the top left hand corner completed the rout. At 4-1 the skipper, who couldn’t wait to beat 7 men, and insisted all the way that the pitch was ok, slipped and suggested the pitch was unsafe. One final effort from Matty Saunders hit the inside of the post and ran along the goalline only to be cleared. All in all a very pleasing win, which moves us up to second. We go to Alexandra Park in search of revenge for the hammering they dished out to us only a few weeks ago, with the knowledge that if we keep things simple like today we are a match for anyone. No man of the match, just a great team effort which left the absent manager celebrating long into the night.

Finally we wish Matty Saunders, captain for the day and our player of the year so far, well in his 10 month trip to South America. We look forward to his return for next season.

Danny and Cabs showing that their partnership up front is as tight as ever.

SAL OLD LYONIANS W 4-0

A good win over a spirited opposition who made us work every inch for the win. We took the lead early with dom’s delicate chip and held a loose grip on the game with Cabbs going closest and billy bringing out a neat save from lyons keeper. At the other end we weren’t really tested and gladders dealt perfectly with anything that came his way. Dom managed to dislocate his finger somehow and under the advive of the lyons sub who happened to be Barnets doctor he was able to continue so thanks to the Lyons boys for that.

In the second half Lyons continued to snap away at us and refused to let us settle and it took a fine goal from Danny to give us daylight as johns through ball was complimented by a lovely finish into the top corner. Still we failed to put the game to bed as Danny hit the post, Jase missed two complete sitters one on one which i’m sure he’s still dreaming about and Cabbs missed an identical chance before he nodded home danny’s corner to kill the game off. Billy drilled home a free kick right at the death and i them came on for what i thought was a final 10 minutes only to have the game ended by Peter straight away…i wonder what he’s trying to say!

So it could have been 8 in the end but that would have been hard on Lyons who never gave up and had a good work ethic and team spirit. We move on to Ibis next week where again i will leave the side in Matts capable hands, hoping to give us another win going into the semi with Owens on the 7th Feb

 

SAL IBIS 4-1

 

Another interesting away day for Old Lats 3s. A journey of less than 5 miles from our home ground caused some problems as with 15 mins to go to kick off only Matt and Tabbers were in the dressing rooms.

We started at least with 11 men and even had a sub! Against a strong and very cold wind, we controlled the game without getting out of 3rd gear, and turned round 2-0 up courtesy of some incisive attacking play from Dan and Cabbs, and lots of huff and puff from the rest, except the gaffer who played better at collecting the money than sweeper. (1 out of 10 in the Sun on Monday), Col between the sticks pulled off a couple of good stops to keep us ahead, and we recharged the batteries at half time in the lead. Another good finish from the strike partnership settled the nerves at 3-0, assist by statto John Watson!!!

A late rally from a spirited Ibis gave them a sniff as they brought it back to 3-1, but another speedy break saw us home to win 4-1 with relative ease, plenty of missed chances but also some average play and also endeavour from our oppponents means we head into next weeks semi final with some head scratching, as well as some selection problems. At least Mr Roome the manager slept well again on another day off from the office, and more kit washing for me. Good start to 2009 with 3 wins in a row, lets hope we keep it up and cement a position towards the top of the table. We are off to Old Owens for the semi next week, looking forward to pitting our wits against a Division 1 outfit. (Tickets still available we believe!!)

 

 

OLD BOYS CUP SEMI OWENS 5-3

The last time any lats side made it this far in a cup Brit Pop was exciting the masses and a young man named Tony Blair was about to set off on his adventure to fuck up the country. Ist division opposition were defeated that day also so we sauntered round the M25 with a degree of confidence to meet the cup holders at Potters Bar. The day started well with Blinky clearing out their fruit machine of £250 quid, a good omen.

Unfortunately we soon reverted to type as kick off time arrived and went with Cabbs Model T ford still huffing it’s way through Potters Bar high street, and tabbers weeping quietly to himself somewhere in cuffley with his sat nav telling him he was still in his own road in Kingston. Thankfully Julian the ref allowed us a bit of leeway and we started. fully manned, about 10 minutes late.

All the kerfuffle must have lulled Owens in to a false sense of security because we were one up inside 2 minutes with Cabb’s flick on being turned in to his own net by an unfortunate young man in a pair of tights and green boots. Owens were clearly a good footballing side and they played it around well without too much end product. We were content to get about them and put them under pressure with their keeper insisting that we wanted it more. I’m not sure if that was true but we did realise quickly that if we stood off we’d lose this game.

So on the back foot quite a bit but the back three and colin weren’t overly troubled though a rasping free kick did graze the bar and john was forced to clear one off the line late in the half. At the other end Danny’s pace was stretching them and as the half wore on we grew in condfidence, Dom’s buffalo like run through the middle ended with the pack of cheetahs bringing him down but both Ben and Cabbs missed great chances to slot home the loose ball. Dom then drilled one just wide and a superb move ended with Danny bringing out a tidy save from the keeper. Finally when it looked odds on a goal lead at half time Ben found space in the box and finished well, thankfully he ignored my cries of ‘well if you’re bloody injured don’t go forward!!’

In terms of possession i’d say owens had had the better but we came out firing in the second half. Their inspirational skipper had won everything through the middle so we started moving the ball wide and against their tiring legs danny and co were getting more of the ball. Dan should have put us three up but having gone round the keeper could only find the side netting. We soon did make it three as dom glided through two defenders and finished with the most sublime chip, the best individual goal of the season for us quickly followed by arguably the best team goal with a flowing 5 man move finished cooly by John.

The last 20 minutes were, shall we say, a little loose. Owens kept their shape better and after a brilliant double save from Colin they got one back with a deflected shot we could do nothing about. Other shots went wide and high and we woke up long enough for Dom to score a brilliant second direct from a free kick, though his cries of ‘chin up’ to the keeper weren’t especially appreciated. Two late goals for owens rewarded their endeavour as a deep cross was stabbed home by the skipper and then tabbs brought down the number nine and the penalty eluded colin in to the corner.

So it finished, a thrilling win and we had made a cup final against Old Parks which should be a ding dong as each side have one win each so far, we can’t wait and the cream suits are being ordered as we speak! Everyone worked their socks off and but special mentions for Dom and Ben who played through injuries so well that i didn’t have to come on to the relief of all. Thanks to Owens for their hospitality, great facilities, and particularly welcome bangers and chips.

 

 

SAL BANK OF ENGLAND H 2-1

 

A big potential banana skin avoided with a narrow win over a tenacious bank side who gave us our second close call of the season. The hangover after the semi was evident in the build up with the third team revolving door fully employed, no danny and cabs and dom and ben out with injuries picked up at owens meant that jason came back along with sam and dean and even i got a game.

Mark started off in goal after colin decided he wasn’t going to show up, less said about that the better but it was soon all change as Matt did his ribs again and they swapped over. The first half was pretty quiet, our best chance falling to john who had his effort cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. Both sides were also having to content with a slightly odd refereeing performance from Mr Skinner who certainly wore the rule book on his sleeve, no laughing at one point…no running, petting or diving in the shallow end.

The second half was a good battle, we went ahead as sam smashed home a loose ball in the box but bank quickly drew level with a 30 yarder into the top corner which gave matt no chance. It was cut and thrust after that but we found a winner when billys cross was turned in from close range by John and we were thankful to leave with the points, even though the league website is still showing the result as a 2-1 win for bank! They to be fair will probably feel as though they should have gotten something from the game and indeed a draw would not have been harsh on us. Still we remain second and travel to ever improving BB Eagles next week needing to step it up i think.

 

 

BB EAGLES SAL 2-2

 

Sigh…. all in all a strange afternoon, very much your cliched game of two halves which we came very close to throwing away against a bullish and determined eagles side. We arrived at the new eagles ground pretty much together with for a change no late arrivals. Recent dry weather created a bobbly surface and it must be tough on those brought up on first rate barclays pitches who must have been secretly crying into their beer at the change in surface but we adapted well to the conditions.

Lats started brightly, welcoming back church and danny and with the new sylph like milligan pulling more strings than frank oz we managed to unlock them early with danny going close twice. At the other end ‘ribs’ pettet was untroubled as we kept the big lads quiet and i took control of the broom. We went ahead as sam sprung the offside trap (or not if you believe the eagles back line) and rounded the keeper and then made it two as the centre half somehow managed to screw a cross over his own keeper. So 2-0 at half way and there was no indication of the change round to come but every credit to eagles who made accurate tactical changes and an inspired substitution to pull the rug from under us.

Switching to one up front they snuffed out our midfield service and began to get at us out wide, 2-0 became 2-1 as we failed to pick up the sub at a corner who crashed a header in. By now we were playing no football, eagles hit the post and matt made a save with his legs which i don’t think he knew too much about and tabs, now sweeping made a couple of crucial clearances. An eagles second looked inevitable and it came from the same guy who headed in from a free kick, not unchallenged this time but the result was the same.

This seemed to finally wake us up and sam brought a tidy save from the keeper and danny had a goal ruled out, probably rightly, for offside after another shot from sam was parried but it finished level with a draw probably the least their fightback deserved. We move on to southgate at home and will welcome back dom and billy to the fold after their OAP bothering outing to Bournmouth, steady boys, and john bellekki makes a welcome return as does john ’statto’ watson so we will be back to almost full strength.

 

 

SOUTHGATE OLYMPIC H SAL 3-0

In the end a pretty comfortable afternoons work punctuated by some extraordinary skill from Dom to liven up the flagging crowd. We went ahead inside 5 minutes as a mazy run from Billy led to his pull back being slotted home from a yard by the prolific, goal a game Sam. The returning JK crashed a shot against the bar and when a tidy interchange between Churchy and Dom led to the latters first of the afternoon it looked like we might run up a big score.

Complacency does seem to be a problem for us and not feeling threatened we allowed our oppo back in to the game. Andy touched a scorching effort on to the bar but really there were no other scares despite a barnstorming performance fro their number 12 who was everywhere and made sure that Dom and Bill didn’t have everything their own way.

The second half was pretty much all us, John B came on for Sam who had a dose of the eartha’s and Danny who had arrived late came on for a tiring Rich and the extra legs put paid to any hopes of a southgate comeback. Finally after chances for John B and Bill the games defining moment as Dom added to his own private goal of the season competition, Bills corner was met 25 yards out with a strike reminiscent of Rooney against Newcastle which flew in to the top corner. Special stuff.

So onto our bogey team AP next week and it’s a huge must win game. Plenty of thoughts on how to get one over on out nearest rivals, but i’ll keep them close to my chest for now in case Farhad or Adrian are reading! See you Saturday boys!

 

 

SAL AP AWAY L 1-6

 

Not really sure how to report this other than to say that this was, at times, an embarrassing disappointment. I often talk about AP being a bogey team but it’s not as if we didn’t know about them and much of the journey over was spent discussing their 3-5-2 formation and the need to shut charlie down but in the end i didn’t follow my instincts to change our system and paid for it.

Matt was still out injured and of course we had no keeper so i went in and friday night cry offs from danny and cabs and a last minute emergency for John meant some shuffling around and Andy C kindly helped us out so that we had the bare eleven but not ideal for a game of this magnitude. That said the team put out should have been more than capable of at least competing but we were blown away within 25 minutes of the start through some excellent football and suicidal defending. We were short of defenders so churchy switched to centre half and the poor lad had a hand in the first two as he tripped and let their forward in for the first and then about 8 of us failed to clear and the second was smashed in. The third was another error as Blinky and i got our wires crossed and the backpass was intercepted and toepoked past me.

We managed to stabilise for a while, Dom had very close early on and Billy shot wide but really we were shocking and proceeded to get stuck into each other in what was a rather inglorious period. We can be thankful that the excellent Mr Winter saw our frustration for what it was but that kind of behaviour is not want we want to see in our side. To compound matters jase went off with a cut head so we were down to ten with no subs and late on in the half i flapped at a corner, and it was headed back across goal for a simple tap in.

At half time we were calmer, resigned possibly feeling that we couldn’t play any worse. We changed to 4-4-1 and produced a much better display, churchy scored a beauty, tabbers and stew were immense at the back and we held them off with the help of some desperate keeping from me. Two late goals were possibly hard on the guys given the effort put in but in truth it could have been more, a humbling experience and now AP move ahead of us on goal difference and are in pole position to get the second promotion slot.

I can only hope the guys respond in the right way and the opportunity is there next week away at Old Lyons, we shall see. Meanwhile congrats to Adrian and the lads, if they go up we wish them all the best but i’m sure we’ll take it to the wire.

 

 

SAL OLD LYONIANS 4-1

 

Normal service resumed, kind of. With Blinky away on holiday I thought 11 men at the ground on time would be a result in itself but with personal responsibility the phrase for the day we found ourselves fully manned up with an hour to go before kick off….what to do with this new found organisation? Well we warmed up on a hot day, just as well as this was a feisty affair at times and we worked extremely hard for the win without playing particularly well.

 

The tone was set early on as Billy’s slightly agricultural challenge on their number 8 was met with a lot of well chosen abuse and no quarter was given, though there was a little asked. Neither side created too much in the first half and we were separated by two poachers efforts from sam who was the difference between the sides. 

Not really much football to report on from there on, Jase was replaced by JK early in the second half as he had to retire injured for the second week running having this time taken a couple of hefty clumps to the foot. Lyons put us under some pressure and could have scored as Banksy came out quicker than Graham Norton to clear a through ball and executed a perfect airshot which was cleared by Stuey. They did score as we got caught a little short at the back, I got lightly roasted on the wing with a hint of olive oil and garlic by the number 8 who curled it past banksy who again found himself much too far out to sea.

It could have been a tough run in from there by John settled the nerves with a tremendous volley from distance just a few minutes later, Sam got a little excited and was replaced by Matt, coming back from his rib injury and it was this move which precipitated a rare event as I moved into midfield and popped up late on to fire home the fourth from Cabbs lay off. Luckily Bill had gone on one of his mazy dribbles and so held up the ball long enough for me to lumber up in support.

So the game ended as it started with JK overexciting their lad who proceeded to exhibit the first symptoms of rabies in his desire to teach JK the error of his ways, luckily the ref saw sense and blew for full time to diffuse the situation. Another hard earned win then, Broomfield next week and with AP at Old Parks, this weekend could go a long way to settling the promotion slots. Here we go!

 

 

SAL BROOMFIELD 2-3

A poor afternoon for a number of reasons, fortunately AP drew with Park and so didn’t escape us completely though Brooms are back in it now and it’s a 3 horse race to join Parks in Div 2. Whilst we play Parks in the Old Boys Cup final this week, AP take on Brooms in a game which could decide matters.

In truth we could have won this game but Broomfield were probably the better side so we can’t really begrudge them the win. Sammy hit the bar early on as did they and we took the lead against the run of play as Sams carbon copy chip this time avoided the bar and dropped in, nice assist from Dom again. Chances for both sides were few though there were one or two twitchy moments in our box, mostly caused by their number nine, probably the leagues biggest handful and a player who Stuey has found the hardest to deal with all season. It was he who levelled things as poor banksy made a horrible hash of a clearance and gave the lad a simple tap in, early on in the second half.

Despite this we took the lead again fairly quickly with Cabbs heading in a corner and i had the feeling it might just be our day but fate was there to be tempted. I stretched for a ball and the plank of wood that masquerades as my hamstring ‘went’ and john went to sweeper with JK coming on in the middle. We seemed to settle ok at first but our golden rule with whoever sweeps is never to play offside with no linos, we tried it, it failed, they scored, 2’s each.

This did kick start our best spell of the game, danny came on to inject some pace and three great crosses from Dom were close to being converted but we couldn’t quite manage it and the game, perhaps fittingly was settled by their outstanding player, number 9 who hooked in a low cross for the winner. Not a happy day though my injury might make selection a mite easier for the final, and it ended in acrimony as somebody had rifled through our bags and left clothes open to the hailstones which attacked us midway through the second half. Not sure if i’ve ever heard some of the swearwords Dom was using before…..

Any how cup final day looms and a chance for a great day out. Both sides have a win apiece over each other so should be a good game. We welcome back Matt and Tabbs in defence, both back from injury though Jason and Ben will be missed, lets hope we do ourselves proud and that AP and Brooms can manage a draw!

 

 

OBC FINAL OLD PARKS 1-1 (2-4 ON PENS)

Oh the agony! So a Lats team contested a final for the first time in almost 10 years and just came up short against all conquering Parks at Westminster Cits Mitcham ground. Both sides had a win each in the league and our victory at Oakfield earlier in the season gave us confidence that we could turn over a side who had seen no other defeat in the league all year. Both sides had overcome division one sides in the semis and a tense, even battle was expected and that was what we got.

Parks arrived well before most of us in a coach and as is our want we turned up in dribs and drabs, Dom providing the pre match entertainment as he ploughed his ford focus into a wire fence in his haste to get there on time. We had very little time for a warm up or the team photo and as supporters of both sides took their places on either touchline, i had a feeling that we’d be slow out of the blocks, and we were.

Parks went ahead 5 minutes in as Matt misjudged a challenge, the resulting cross was flicked on and unmarked the young right winger drove low past Banksy. Neither side played too much football all afternoon but Parks won telling challenges and stopped us getting any momentum whilst testing our defence with crosses which often were not dealt with and the odd effort from distance which was. At the other end Sam seemed most likely but his two efforts were comfortably saved. Toward the end of the half came a telling stage, Danny who’s hattrick had wiped out Parks in the league, came on for Blinky who had developed a stitch, or cup final ring twitch as Matty put it. Almost immediately he scorched off down the line only to fall badly and twist his knee, ending his involvement inside a minute. JK came on and Billy went wide and we made it to the half one down but it was an important loss to us.

So the second half looked like following a similar tight pattern, we had more of the ball than we’d earlier enjoyed, Dom’s free kick was well saved but as we pressed forward Parks found space and often broke away, John Watson saved on the line twice and one brilliant save from Banksy kept us barely in it but we couldn’t die wondering. So I took Stuey off for one last gamble and threw on John Bellekki up front but Parks defence remained organised and i really didn’t think we’d find away through until finally with 5 miutes left Cabbs turned and hooked one in to precipitate a Jose like celebration from me on the touchline and to take us to extra time.

In truth we looked shattered in extra time, i didn’t want pens but increasingly it looked our best bet, Parks attacked often, only lacking accuracy in the final third. In fact we possibly had the best chance as another Dom free kick was brilliantly tipped away but if either side was going to score it looked like it would be them through sheer tiredness on our part. In the end neither side managed it and the horror of pens played out as i suspected it might. Dom hit the bar and Parks buried all theirs so when Cabbs put his wide it was all over and a brave effort came to nothing.

I couldn’t have asked for more effort from everyone, John Watson, Tabbs and Churchy were outstanding in particular and i was only disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to show more of the football we can play, but i guess credit goes to parks for stopping us. For me their number 6 was man of the match and our players and fans thought he was mostly responsible for disrupting us and getting them going. Gary and his boys were a good bunch afterwards and it was good to share a beer again with the legendary Eddie. They are a very good side and deserve all their success this year. Hopefully we can still perform a small miracle in the league and join them in Div 2 next year.

So thanks again to players and fans alike from our side, a congratulations to Parks, hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did afterwards, and good luck for next year.