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Nottsbrough 1 Old Actonians 4’s 0 League March 13th 2010
This was, it must be said, a bit of a result. Victories don’t come much more important, or harder to come by, than those accrued on Saturday against a strong, well-organised and unbeaten Old Actonians side.
The visitors arrived at fortress Tolworth - and its hallowed and landscaped green grounds in confident mood - having dumped Nottsborough out of the cup just a few weeks before. Success in cup competition meant they trailed Nottsborough by ten points before kick-off but, with four games in hand, you didn’t have to be Clarke Carlisle or any other numerical boffin, to recognise this was a top of the table six-pointer*.
The mind games started early with Actonians breaking out the training cones before kick-off and the manager unveiling a rather impressive looking clipboard complete with pen and paper. They also had three substitutes, two of which were wearing training tops.
Nottsborough, meanwhile, only had a squad of 12. Injury and lack of availability forced manager Dustin into naming veteran Dave Hallam and Jody Veerman (recently returned from Argentina and, more latterly, Cambridge) into a starting XI that paired Widget with Gigsy up front and Mitch in goal.
Following a stirring teamtalk involving some clapping, the game began at a frenetic pace. Despite a near perfect surface, neither team seemed keen to get the ball down and play with Actonians flighting long balls down the channels in search of their pacy front men. Meanwhile, the Actonians manager wrote some stuff down on a clipboard.
There was no lack of determination and workrate from Nottsbrough but, in possession, passes and first touches were going awry and, despite the willingness of Notssbrough’s top two, the ball simply wasn’t sticking up front against a combative Actonians back four.
After 20 minutes, and shortly after the Actonians manager jotted some more things down on his clipboard, Actonians came close to taking the lead on two occasions. A free header from a free-kick had Mitch scrambling for the far post and lambasting the shocking marking while, minutes later, a sweeping move ended with an Actonians midfielder pulling a shot wide from the edge of the box. If his manager didn’t write “should have done better” on his clipboard then, well, he should have.
Notts, meanwhile, were restricted to set-piece opportunities and nearly broke the deadlock when Dustin whipped in a vicious corner that was cleared off the line via a deft flick-on from Hallam.
Then something bad happened. Widget got sent off for reacting angrily to an over-zealous, late and dangerously high challenge from the centre-half. The referee, who was 71 years old, had no option but to brandish the red card and reduce Notts to ten men.
After surviving a couple of scary moments, Notts reached half-time with the score 0-0. It’d been a scrappy 1st half performance and the sending off didn’t help but the half-time mood was very positive and there was no talk of playing for the draw.
Despite the complete lack of a clipboard and pen & paper, Cattell performed a managerial masterstroke (McFarland must also take some credit for this one too) in moving Negus up front and bringing Giggs into right midfield as part of a 4-4-1 formation.
Straight form the restart, Notts took the game to Actonians with renewed vigour - Negus making a nuisance of himself among the back four, Hallam and Giggs making forays down the wings, Jo and Tom putting pressure on the opposition playmaker and Adam and Veerman getting their heads to Actonians’ increasing use of the long ball.
And on the hour mark, Notts took the lead in quite spectacular fashion. Good play down the right flank saw a deflected cross fall from the sky onto the cultured, and criminally underused, left peg of Hallam. The multi-billionaire buried a volley into the top corner from the edge of the box.
With half an hour to go, McFarland replaced Donovan at right back only for Dustin to succumb to hamstring twang just minutes later – essentially leaving Notts playing with just nine men.
While Actonians dominated possession, they didn’t have much to show for it. Notts battled hard, tracked runners and ran themselves into the ground and denied Actonians a meaningful shot on target. A fact that, one hopes, was jotted down on a clipboard somewhere.
When the final whistle blew, Notts players hardly had the energy to celebrate what was not the most attractive performance of the season, but certainly the most impressive in terms of commitment, workrate and passion.
Notts remain unbeaten.
MOTM: Adam and Veerman were rocks at the back.
* Disclaimer: It wasn’t actually a six pointer.
Renton, Donovan (McFarland, 60), Veerman, Hamadache, Seale, Negus, Phadnis, Head, Hallam, Weclawek, Gardner
Civil Service 4’s 0 Nottsborough 6 League 13th February 2010
After 13 straight victories and a 100% win rate the 4s were flying. Weather, lack of fitness and team commitment then conspired to getting knocked out of both cup competitions in the first two weeks of February. On the back of these results a big performance was required against top of the table Civil Service.
With the ageing leader warming his bones in the desert sands of Dubai, it was time for the young apprentice Cattell to step up and inspire the team. A strong 14 was available with top scorer Widget starting (having recovered from 'undisclosed' conditions) and Darvill making the bench all the way from Portsmouth.
After a high energy start from both teams Notts came close and Civil service had a corner cleared off the line, Pies shifting his barrel-shaped body and thumping the ball to safety in hippo-esque fashion. 10minutes in Notts started to get our foot on the ball and control the game. After the third lump was taken out of Negus' ankle a free kick was awarded 30 yards out. A sweetly struck ball from the right foot of Negus was mis-judged by the keeper and the ball was in the back of the net. This was quickly followed up by Nick getting on the end of a good ball into the box and setting Widget up for a simple tap in. Notts were clearly on top and enjoyed a period of possession in the Service half resulting in a series of corners. After the umpteenth corner a decent ball in saw Cattell rise like a geriatric pregnant salmon and collide head first with the ball, resulting in a 3rd goal and 1-0 to Notts at half time.
A good start to the second half saw all three subs being introduced to the fray after 10mins. After the team gelled again the pattern of Notts domination returned. With goals from Giggs (great move and finish into bottom right corner), Darvill (half way round the keeper, into the keeper and then into the net) and a lovely run by Phadnis (scuffed into the bottom left).
In the words of the apprentice Cattell, "the best performance for four years." This was undoubtedly the best we've played this season and was largely due to the prematch focus, composure on the ball and strength of squad available. Get yourselves available for the double header on Saturday.
Mcfarland, Goad, Cattell, Hamadache, Carter, Negus, Phadnis, Head, Collins, Weclawek, Haigh
Subs – Donovan, Gardner, Darvill
Goals – Negus, Weclawek, Cattell, Gardner, Darvill, Phadnis
MoM – Phadnis. Just ahead of the rest of a dominating midfield.
Old Actonians 3 Nottsborough 1 SAL Cup Semi-Final February 6th 2010
Nottsborough failed to recover from a dreadful start on a cabbage patch of a pitch as they crashed out of a second cup competition in the space of two weeks.
A makeshift back six, which included two debutants, conceded all three goals in the opening 20 minutes – the first two absolutely beauties from the edge of the area, it has to be said – and although Notts rallied well in the final hour, the damage was already done.
Player-coach Dustin Seale will have a raft of regrets. The pulling-out of key performers on the eve of the fixture, the failure of his team to adapt to a playing surface he labelled “laughable” after the game, possibly the deployment of a 4-5-1 formation that did not come off. It was the shipping of those early goals, however, that would really have got his goat, rendering his second-half penalty nothing but a consolation.
The look on the faces of Seale and his cohorts as they drudged off after the match was a real sign of intent. They only have the league to play for now and they appear determined not to let that prize go.
Andy Bosson, a rangy centre-back with Rio Ferdinand-style swagger, and Steve Douglas, a centre-half/centre-half playing his first 11-a-side match of the season (how it showed), received late call-ups from the blue after Marshall and Marris withdrew at the 11th hour. Bosson, an ex-Sheffield Uni student like Douglas, Jo Phadnis, Andy Cattell, Stu Donovan and Giles Carter, deserves special mention after making the journey to South West London from Cambridge via a couple of replacement bus services. Credit where credit is due.
He may have wished he’d not bothered after seeing his team conceded in the very first minute. Sloppy defending saw Actonians win a corner almost immediately from the kick-off and after the dead-ball was only half-cleared, the ball was lashed home from 25 yards, leaving acting keeper Ben McFarland with no hope.
Worse was to follow. A few minutes later, Notts’ defence again failed to clear adequately and a shot was driven home left-footed from 20 yards, McFarland again grasping at thin air.
Nottsborough settled as they began to make ground in midfield but promising situations were butchered and set-pieces from decent positions were easily cleared by the hosts.
It was therefore slightly against the run of play that Actonians nicked a crucial third, a long ball piercing the gap between Donovan and Cattell and although the latter did well to block an initial attempt on goal, the striker latched onto the rebound to stroke home into an empty net.
That scoreline was slightly harsh on Notts – three goals conceded from three shots on goal – and they were arguably the better time in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Seale came on for Douglas for the second half, with the formation by then having changed to a 4-4-2. It suited Seale’s men more and they took the game to the home side, who began to retreat and look to attack on the counter.
Notts started to create chances. Phadnis glanced a header wide from a free-kick while other set-pieces from the manager caused panic in the Actonians box.
The visitors came back into the match following a Harold Schumacher moment, Haigh latching onto a long punt forward before getting clattered by the onrushing Actonians goalie. Seale dispatched the penalty with aplomb but the hopes of a miracle comeback disappeared when Haigh, who ran onto Bosson’s pass from deep, sidefooted his finish straight at the keeper from 15 yards out.
If that had have gone in, it would have set up a nerve-jangling finale. As it was, Notts were left to lick their wounds and vow to avenge this defeat as they go head to head with their sworn enemies in the league run-in.
Notts - McFarland; Donovan, Cattell, Bosson, Carter (Latte, 75); Douglas (Seale, h-t); Negus, Phadnis, Head, Holt; Haigh
MOTM: Joint to Ross and Nick. The pair worked the hardest of the lot and will have picked up plenty of bumps and bruises after being clattered left, right and centre.
Nottsborough 4 Old Meadonians 4 (Meadonians won 5-4 AET) AFA Cup Quarter-Final January 30th 2010
Nixon, Donovan, Cattell, Hamadache, Seale, Negus, Head, Gardner, Phadnis, Marshall, Haigh
Subs – McFarland, Marris, Morris
Goals – Cattell, Negus, Haigh, Morris
MoM – Old Meadonians left midfielder. Caused lots of problems with good pace on the left wing and bagged the 1st equaliser.
Nottsborough 5 Crouch End 1 AFA Cup January 23rd 2010
Lacey, Donovan, Cattell, Hamadache, Seale, Negus, Head, Gardner, Phadnis, Holt, Haigh
Subs – Marshall, Carter, McFarland
Goals – Phadnis, Haigh 2, Holt 2
MoM – Phadnis
Parkonians 0 Nottsborough 2 League December 12th 2009
McFarland, Corcoran, Cattell, Hamadache, McCoy, Donovan, Head, Gardner, Seale, Marris, Lacey
Subs – Paul, Chamberlain
Goals – Marris 2
MoM – Marris
Nottsborough 3 Old Minchendians 1 AFA Cup November 28th 2009
Nixon, Carter, Cattell, Hamadache, Seale, Croft, Gardner, Marshall, Holt, Lacey, Weclawek
Subs – Hallam, Paul
Goals – Weclawek 3
MoM – Weclawek
Carshalton 5’s 0 Nottsborough 1 SAL Cup Quarter-Final November 21st 2009
Bailes, Donovan, Hamadache, Cattell, Carter, Negus, Gardner, Marshall, Kennedy, Chamberlain, Weclawek
Subs – Holt, McFarland, Paul
Goals - Chamberlain
MoM – Chamberlain
Nottsborough 5 Alexandra Palace 2 League November 7th 2009
Bailes, Donovan, Cattell, Hamadache, Carter, Negus, Gardner, Kennedy, Holt, Marshall, Weclawek
Subs – Bonser, Marris, McFarland
Goals – Weclawek 3, Marshall, Negus
MoM – Weclawek
Winchmore Hill 0 Nottsborough 3 League October 31st 2009
Chamberlain, Donovan, Cattell, Weclawek, Seale, Negus, Phadnis, Gardner, Holt, Marshall, Haigh
Subs – Kennedy, Paul, McCoy
Goals – Gardner 2, Haigh
MoM – Gardner
Nottsborough 4 Polytechnic 6’s 1 SAL Cup October 24th 2009
White, Donovan, Cattell, Hamadache, Seale, Negus, Phadnis, Gardner, Marshall, Chamberlain, Haigh
Subs – Kennedy, Paul
Goals – Chamberlain, Cattell, Haigh
MoM – Chamberlain
Sinjun Grammarians 1 Nottsborough 8 AFA Cup October 17th 2009
Chamberlain, Rocher, Beckett, Cattell, Seale, Negus, Phadnis, Gardner, Kennedy, Marshall, Haigh
Subs – Donovan, Paul, Gray
Goals – Haigh 2, Chamberlain 2, Cattell, Donovan, Seale, Paul
MoM – Haigh
Nottsborough 3 Civil Service 4’s 2 League October 10th 2009
Chamberlain, Rocher, Beckett, Lacey, Seale, Negus, Phadnis, Kennedy, Marshall, Haigh, Hamadache
Subs – White, Gray, Hallam
Goals –
MoM –
Crouch End 1 Nottsborough 1 (Notts Won 4-3 on Penalties) SAL Cup October 3rd 2009
Mr X, Donovan, Gardner, Cattell, Seale, Negus, Phadnis, Marshall, White, Hamadache, Paul
Goal - Marshall
MoM – Mr X – exceptional performance in goal from the man with no name.
Nottsborough 4 Carshalton 0 League September 26th 2009
A tough selection week saw Notts 4’s skipper, Dustin Seale, with some major headaches leading up to a home league tie with Carshalton 4’s. Club availability was at an all time high, resulting in a number of players switching between teams, and an unfortunate few missing out entirely. The result was a strong starting side with depth on the bench, albeit an unfamiliar line up.
Renton made his debut in nets with Cattell replacing Weclawek at centre half as he switched to his preferred centre forward spot. The rest of the back 4 the same as the previous week with new signings Kaye (CB) and Rocher (RB) having done very well, and skipper Seale retaining the left back berth. Negus continued on the left after his promising debut, Phadnis and Gardner returned to the centre of the park, and were supported by Hamadache on the right. The nimble Pete Marshall completed the new front pairing. Donovan and Kennedy were joined on the bench by the returning Chamberlain.
Carshalton lined up matching the 4-4-2 of Nottsborough. They appeared to field a number of new faces from last years side and the opening exchanges were frantic and competitive. Neither side was able to get a firm grip in the early battle in a game that was constantly disrupted by niggling free-kicks. Renton was dealing well with the high balls, and the likes of Kaye and Phadnis were getting their heads on one delivery after another. One notable chance came for Carshalton on 20 minutes with yet another ball delivered into the box, not quite gathered by Renton, and cleared off the line by Seale before Renton was sharp to dive and gather. At the other end Notts looked like they could have the quality to make a break through. Rocher was proving a great outlet at right back and the front pairing looked a lively partnership, but the final ball wasn’t quite there yet.
30 minutes in Notts won another in a succession of corners from the left. Seale delivered superbly again, Carshalton failed to deal with it as it drifted over the near post man, and Cattell ghosted in for a simple volley on the edge of the 6 yard box. 1-0! From the resulting Carshalton kick-off came one of the real pieces of quality in the match. Gardner was rapid to close down and bully Carshalton off the ball, take a touch, and play a slide rule pass to the alert Weclawek running into the channel. He instinctively let the ball roll into his stride, and rifled a right foot shot first time, low and hard into the far bottom corner. 2-0! A real blow to Carshalton up until that stage who had given as good as they got.
Carshalton continued to battle winning a succession of corners that were well dealt with. Notts were industrious with Negus and Hamadache covering plenty of ground up and down the flanks, without really ever getting the possession they craved. However, that work rate paid off just before half time. A delightful passage of passing football down the left channel saw Negus feed the influential Marshall, who slid the ball through to Weclawek. Weclawek reached the byeline before pulling back to the rampaging Gardner for an 8 yard pass into the net after yet another lung-bursting run. 3-0, clinical, and Carshalton were going to struggle from here.
The half-time talk was one of keeping the work rate high and giving more information across the pitch. It worked in part but Carshalton were competitive to the end and Notts were never totally comfortable. Although the midfield 4 gained more control with Phadnis finding increasing space in ‘the hole’, Notts never really had long periods of possession. A fourth goal sealed the game though. More good work from Negus down the left gave Marshall the chance to drift into the box, skipping past 2 defenders before he was tripped from a tiring Carshalton challenge. Weclawek made no mistake in firing straight down the middle into the net, before making way in a professional manner for the returning Chamberlain. Big things are expected from the former Aussie League man now that he has retired in order to extend his Nottsborough career for as long as possible.
Donovan had also entered the fray at left back for Seale, committed as ever in winning one particularly crunching tackle from an uninviting hospitable ball, the type only he knows how to find on a weekly basis! And the industrious Kennedy also did well on his introduction to left midfield for Negus, adding plenty or energy and work rate to a tiring 11 and working well down the left with Donovan. Notts defensive unit were breached just once in the 2nd half with Cattell scuttling round to clear in front of the goal line. Otherwise Renton was showing good hands in claiming corners and free kicks neatly and looks a solid signing.
All in all 3 important points, a 3rd consecutive clean sheet and promising signs for Notts 4’s. There’s plenty of hard graft to be done in the coming weeks though with a full calendar of cup and league fixtures to navigate.
Mitch Renton (GK), Tom Rocher, Andy Cattell, Steve Kaye, Dustin Seale (C), Adam Hamadache, Jo Phadnis, Alex Gardner, Ross Negus, Pete Marshall, Mark Weclawek
Subs – Stu Donovan, James Kennedy, Rob Chamberlain
MoM – Mark Weclawek. Provided great quality and aerial ability up front. Held the ball up well, created plenty of space and bagged a fine brace. Closely followed by the bearded Gravesen-esque Gardner whose work rate is clearly benefiting from a full pre-season’s graft.
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