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Nottsborough 3 - 0 Civil Service 22 Sep 07
Top Top Top of the league (after week 1)....
After pre-season performances more akin to a can of Happy Shopper Vimto, the 4th XI opened their eagerly-awaited assault on the League with a vintage Champagne performance.
Man alive, we were good. As were the conditions: The pitch was in glorious green nick and decked in sunshine with a slight headwind which, as we lined up with new shiny boots and an audacious attacking line-up, we somehow knew would bring with it the sweet smell of victory.
The return of the Portsmouth pair, Darvill & Johnson, meant target-man Jody Veerman retreated to centre-half alongside Notts pin up and fellow media type Steve Beckett, Joe The New Fella suffering from flu and Ben McFarland, whose book on beer will be available in all good bookshops priced £16.99 from March. Buy it. Please.
Giggs, looking as buffed and shiny as his player of the season gong, took up the captaincy and position alongside debutant James “Who Killed” Kennedy with the silky Matt Holte on the left and bimbo-slave trader Bertie, fresh from a recent bout of knee-knack, on the right.
In terms of attacking verve, creative derring-do and scoring potential, it rivalled the Spurs team under Ossie Ardilles. Just better and with a fatter and slightly more coherent manager in the rotund shape of caretaker gaffer Ian “Sh1tty” Whitear – a replacement for absentee manager Andrew Cattell.
Civil Service, who topped the table last season, may be pedantic pen pushers who leech of our taxes and clock-watch for a living but they’re certainly no pushovers. A good start was essential. Sadly, as befits the first game of the season, there was a lot of running around but very little finesse in the first ten minutes. The highlights being lots of effort from both sides, some nice but ill-executed ideas and a clearance that hit McFarland in the face and poleaxed him in quite comical fashion.
While Beckett and Veerman kept a close eye on CS’s very pacey striker, Nottsborough began to take hold of the game in midfield with Giggs and Kennedy working well together and the wingers getting plenty of change down the flanks.
Blocked shots, long-range efforts and some dangerous corners all failed to break the deadlock but a goal was coming and, when it did, it was a cracker.
Starting with Joe the New Fella, the ball worked its way across the pitch to Kennedy, a quick one two with McFarland hoodwinked the opposition and freed up the space for Kennedy to feed Johnson who, with a deft first touch, turned his marker on the edge of the box, and with his second buried the ball into the bottom corner for a well-deserved lead.
Half time was the usual mixture of oranges, water, breathless tactical nonsense and a general consensus that an early goal would be a good thing and that to concede wouldn’t.
Starting where they left off, Nottsborough nipped any possible second half gusto out of CS with an early strike. After lulling the CS defence into a false sense of security with a corner kick that was appalling as it was amusing, Holte swung in a peach that was met with no small amount of power and precision by a rampaging Veerman, his header flying into the onion bag from about 15 yards. It was text-book stuff.
Five minutes later, smelling blood, Nottsborough enjoyed their best spell of the game – knocking it around the pitch with what can best be described as “skill” – both in its literal and playground meaning. Darvill was giving them the almighty runa-round, Johnson making their lives a misery and Kennedy even indulged in a bit of behind-the-leg showboating.
The third goal was not long coming and came from a corner. CS let another Holte inswinger bounce in the area and were left stranded by Darvill’s deft header which looped over the keeper and in off the bar.
With 30 mins to go and the sun beating down, early-season fatigue kicked in and Nottsborough unfortunately swapped the simple stuff for a few over-the-top long balls. Civil Service pushed forward bit a mixture of profligate finishing, great goalkeeping from Adam Goodwin and a cracking rear-guard action secured a clean sheet.
All in all, a cracking start to the season made all the better by the news of a 1st round bye in the cup.
MoM: James Kennedy – the diminutive dynamo in the centre of midfield worked extremely hard and linked-up effectively with Giggs. A marvellous debut.
Nottsborough 3 Old Owens 1 6th Oct
Notts 4’s show Flair Talent!
Having been dumped out of both cup competitions by Owens in ‘06/’07, Saturday was a game that Notts 4’s had the bit between their teeth for. The boys were under strict instructions from the Manager, Andy Cattell, to avoid heavy pre-match drinking and late night shenanigans. Unfortunately the teams’ ‘engine room’, Fat Pies, and Assistant Manager Stuart Donald Donovan, were discovered in a low quality Oxfordshire nightclub at 4am, ‘mime-sweeping’ for one final drink.
Donovan is no stranger to controversy, with previous unconfirmed allegations about flings with Ralph Lauren models, nightclub swimming pool exertions, and an incident involving a small Czech boy.
The Managers response was to risk handing the Captains responsibility to Pie Man and line up in an attacking 4-3-3 formation. The Beast was welcomed back to literally fill the sticks, and a solid looking back 4 saw Mat Nimmo’s competent league debut alongside the big man, Veerman, and McFarland and Seale at full backs.
New signing James Kennedy retained his centre mid birth after impressive early season form in a trio with the weightier Pies and Giggs. Bertie was tasked with leading the line and was ably flanked with an abundance of pace and skill in Chris Gray and Holte.
Notts have been accustomed to slow starts in seasons past, and early season has shown more graft than craft, but Saturday looked to be different against a slightly depleted Owens side that had made the long journey from Hertfordshire.
With a commanding presence in The Beast in nets, and Nimmo/Veerman commanding the back 4, Notts began with a solid defensive presence, and gave a platform for the midfield 3 to control the game. Giggs and Pies were dominating the centre of the park with the typically robust challenges we’ve come to expect, and James Kennedy was linking play superbly with neat and efficient use of the ball.
Bertie was making sure the ball stuck up front and both wide-men were having plenty of joy and time on the ball, each with the beating of their opposing full-backs. The back 4 had to be wary of the long ball over the top undoing the promising early work, but with more pace having been injected defensively this season, they coped reasonably well and denied any real Owens opportunity.
It was only a matter of time until chances came for Notts. However, guilt-edged chances were wasted by Holte from 12 yards and Pies from 1 yard as he struggled to regain his vision from the night before. That said, his work rate was still superb in breaking into the box to support Bertie at every opportunity. Notts remained patient and the breakthrough came from a Dustin Seale 25 yard free kick. Struck with pace into the bottom corner the lead was well deserved, although the Owens keeper may have been disappointed not to have done better.
Notts started the second half brightly with an audacious 40 yard lob finding the roof of the net by Kennedy. However, they should really have buried the game before half time and at just 1 up, were open to a breakaway Owens goal that duly came on 65 minutes. A harmless-looking ball over the top saw Owens front man not tracked by the flat back four and he ran on unchallenged to calmly loft the ball into the net. Notts looked to be tiring and were now under pressure by a revitalised Owens. Subs Whitear, Dowling and Farrell had been deployed to add extra energy and it was time to show some character!
On 70 minutes Bertie came up with a moment of class to regain control of the game, twisting and turning in the box the chance seemed to be slipping away, until a shift of the ball to his right and cool strike curled it’s way into the top corner. Notts switch to a 4-4-2 for the last 10 with Veerman pushed on to ensure the ball continued to be held up in the oppo’s half. Bertie duly killed the game when the ball was played into feet, he flicked it round the centre half and did him for pace before rounding the keeper and slotting home from a tight angle.
Notts celebrated their 2nd win of the season with a respectable team performance in Deckers which they’ll certainly be looking to build on. They’ll also look to take advantage of a 3rd home league game next week against Actonians 4’s where they hope to build on a promising start to their league campaign.
Nixon, McFarland (Whitear), Nimmo, Veerman, Seale, Kennedy, Gardner, Carter (Dowling), Gray, Holtm (Farrell), Gekoski.
MoM – Gekoski. The Flair Talent man sneaked it ahead of Kennedy. Led the line superbly and capped a hard working display with 2 classy goals to secure all 3 points.
Nottsborough 4th XI 1 Actonians 4th XI 2 13th Oct 07
Slack Notts Turned Over
With 2 early season wins behind them, Notts 4’s turned up for a 3rd successive home win with confidence to take the season tally to 9 points. It was perhaps this over-confidence that was to be their undoing. Lining up in a familiar 4-4-2, Whitear returned to the centre of defence with Veerman, with Seale and Smith at full-back. Holt joined Carter in centre-midfield, supported by Goldsmith and Gray out wide. And Weclawek returned alongside Gekoski.
The first 20 saw a lack-lustre Notts conceding possession and failing to retain the ball for any spell. Actonians, more orgainsed and committed were winning 1st and 2nd balls all over the park, and dominated the early exchanges. It looked a matter of time until Actonians breached the Notts goal, and the deadlock was broken on 20 minutes with the impressive number 15 up front, cutting inside Smith, and slotting neatly into the bottom right corner. Nixon left with no chance, but a series of tackles were missed in the build up to the goal which was disappointing from the home side perspective.
The goal seemed to finally wake Notts up a little, and with Weclawek switching into centre mid for Holt, Notts had a decent spell leading up to the break with some decent moments of passing play. The pressure built and a long goal kick was well flicked on by Gray. Gekoski used his strength and pace well to beat the centre-half and round the keeper and slot home, 1-1.
A rousing team talk would hopefully put the first 20 mins out of minds and Notts back on track for three well craved points. However, a harmless looking ball in to the Notts box after the restart, flicked on by the tall impressive Actonians centre-mid, was spun on and hit first time into the far corner for 2-1. Notts huffed and puffed but had put themselves under pressure. They failed to retain the ball for decent periods and resorted too often to the long ball over the top for Gekoski to chase, but without enough quality it was a little aimless. Actonians didn’t really threaten again all game, but half chances came to Seale who volleyed over the bar from 20 yards, and Weclawek who powered 2 headers over from Seale corners.
The game was really lost by a poor attitude in the first 20, which Notts never really recovered from. A lesson to be learned from, and quickly, with a crucial cup game next week.
MoM – Carter, worked hard for the full 90 in an attempt to rally the side.
Nixon (GK), Smith, Whitear, Veerman, Seale, Gray, Carter (Captain), Weclawek, Goldsmith, Holt, Gekoski. Subs; Hallam, Dowling
Old Wokingians 1 - 3 Nottsborough 20 Oct
The trip to Woking saw the 4s take on an aging Woking side on a flat but fairly uneven surface in the 1st round of the AFA cup. Giggs returned to the central midfield and with Phadnis jetting in from his honeymoon the midfield four was looking to improve on last week’s poor performance.
Notts made a bright start looking to use their pace advantage right from the kick off. With only five minutes on the clock Chris Gray sprinted past the outside into the right hand channel and past the left back. He pulled the ball back to Pies, who smashed low into the bottom left giving Notts a deserved early lead. Notts continued to outpace Woking and looked most likely to score in the early part of the first half.
But the team went off the boil after the first 15-20min and never fully regained their early dominance. Woking then got back into the game more and more and the Notts back four made some crucial challenges under sustained pressure. With the half nearly over a great run from Chris up the left wing ended with a fantastic finish and Notts looked home and dry at 2-0 up. Unfortunately, following a goal mouth scrap where the ball appeared to have gone out Woking managed to scrap a goal and go into half time at 2-1.
The second half was a fairly dire affair lacking in much good football on either side. Under sustained aerial bombardment the back four put up a strong performance and although dominating possession Woking didn’t create much in the way of goal mouth action let alone shots on target. The longer the game went on the superior fitness of the younger side started to pay and a few chances opened up. Notts finally sealed the game with a well taken finish for Widget.
In what wasn’t their finest performance the 4s did well to come away with a deserved away victory.
MOM: goes to Nimmo, returning in central defence. He marshalled he back four well and prevented Woking creating any decent chances.
Nottsborough 14 - 2 Crouch End Vampires 17 Nov 07
They said that there are no easy games at this level; they said that Nottsborough 4th XI often slip up against underdogs, they said they’d struggle without Giggsy, the Tikka-tinged wideboy, passing the ball sideways in midfield and they said that following last week’s daylight robbery against Civil Service, Notts couldn’t afford to be complacent. They said all this and more but, folks, they were lying to us.
There are indeed easy games at this level and this was one of them. When the bottom side –Crouch End Vampires (CEV) - turn up late to fortress Tolworth with only one point and just seven players you don’t have to be Nostradamus, or even know who he is, to guess what’s going to happen.
It was a ridiculous game. First there was a goal. Then there was another. And another. Who scored? Can't remember. But there were lots of them
CEV's decision to defend on the halfway-line was a bizarre tactic but one that bamboozled Notts for a bit. There were some absurd off-side decisions. Some of them prevented Notts from scoring a goal, some didn’t. All in all, it was a bit silly. There was some good finishing (Widget, Joe, Pies) and some hilariously bad finishing (McFarland, Widget). Beast in goal did nothing but get cold. It was difficult to tell whether CEV were playing well as there was only seven of them but they ran around a lot and kept the tally down to ten by half-time.
The CEV ranks swelled to nine in the second half while Notts swapped Pies, Widget and Nimmo for Joe, Apps and Neil. While CEV put in an admirable work-rate, Notts decided to make the extra numbers entirely irrelevant by swapping a simple passing game for some clownshoe tactics involving long balls, misplaced passes and bewildered surprise at being 10-0 ahead.
After Nottsbrough extended the lead, CEV continued to give it a go and got some reward when the otherwise exemplary McFarland, not content with mucking about in the six yard box, gave away a stonewall penalty and – moments later - a defrosted Beast was picking the ball out of the net. The comeback was on.
But as the game descended further into rain-soaked farce, Jody and Holte notched two more goals before Apps scored a fortuitous effort by lobbing the keeper from a yard. CEV were awarded another penalty and scored before the little lady ref blew the final whistle. It was getting ridiculous and it was getting dark - and that’s not what you want with Vampires knocking about.
West Wickham 1 - 1 Nottsborough 01 Dec 07
Having made the trek into the deep south via train, a select few were treated to a ride in Matt Holt’s music-less Peugeot 106 “Green Machine”. How they entered the ground in style, the car’s “muscley” bulk meaning the bottom of the car scraped along the speed-humps. A couple of trips and a few scrapes later, the team were changed and ready. In the circumstances (a team assembled from a combination of the usual 4s, 2 players from the 2s returning from injury, and debuts from Pete, Jim Bailey & Sanjay Ramdhonee….. and in an away game closer to Dover than London) a full fourteen was a strong effort.
Inspired by the gaffer’s team-talk, Notts started with the bit between their teeth – busy and organized, they harassed and closed down the opposition. With Holty and Widget combining well up-front, James and Ted on top in the midfield and Shitty and Gaz providing width and penetration and the back-four simply not giving them a sniff, Notts dominated the early exchanges. And how they were rewarded when Widget rose like the proverbial salmon to score a peach of a header from Shitty’s measured cross.
The first 30 minutes saw a well organized back 4 provide Notts with a platform to press for a 2nd , Andy Lea was in commanding form alongside a strong debut from Pete. Plus Jim Bailey held his nerve so not to be sick on the side of the pitch after late night exertions and no game for months. A high tempo saw West Wickham surrendering possession in the middle of the park with a high frequency, and Goldsmith was having plenty of joy down the left, linking well with the front two. A hamstring strain to Whitear after his promising right-mid berth, saw an early introduction of Farrell who settled straight into the game. Notts couldn’t quite find the killer 2nd goal though and Wickham grafted hard for a sustained period of pressure leading up to half time.
Having gradually battled back into proceedings, Wickham scored a scrambled goal from header from a corner about 5 minutes before the end of the half, and the game was very much back in the balance. After a positive half time message, NOtts returned to the field with renewed hunger.
The second half was a hum-dinger as it swung from end-to-end. The Beast and the back-four were called into action on numerous occasions, Beast launching himself at any opportunity for a bit of one on one. It could have gone either way. Widget was close, shooting just over, and the introduction of Sanjay and Steve Jones on either wing added further impetus. Jones in particular was finding space, in an unusual left midfield spot, threading a series of tantalising through-balls.
When Wickham countered, last ditch tackles flew in from the Notts back 4. With minutes left, Holty found himself in a bit of space at the edge of the area and aimed an impudent nutmeg at the keeper. Unfortunately, he hadn’t factored in the goalie’s huge tree trunk thighs and the ball rebounded to his un-trusty right foot. His shot, though on target, just didn’t have enough puff and was cleared off the line.
All in all, a draw was a fair result. Football was the winner. A competitive, battling performance which still leaves Nottsborough very much in the hunt for that elusive title.
MoM – Andy Lea shades it, marshalled the back 4 superbly and displayed excellent commitment to the cause.
Paul Nixon, Jim Bailey, Pete, Andy Lea, Dustin Seale, Ian Whitear, James Kennedy, Ted Datsun, Gaz Goldsmith, Mark Weclawek, Matt Holt. Subs, Neil Farrell, Sanjay Ramdhonee, Steve Jones
Nottsborough 6 – 2 Westminster Citizens 07 Dec
Saturday the 8th December 2007. The wind is blowing, the rain hurtling down and we are late out due to an unforseen error where the beautifully washed, folded and fragranced kit was late to arrive. We were playing Westminster so when we ran out we thought we would see the likes of Gordon Brown, Alastair Darling and co on the pitch, but instead it was a group from White City or somewhere like that and our excitement was short-lived.
Weather and oppo aside, Notts were up for the game, and after a notably rousing pre-match speech from Catman, we obviously decided to go out and play like a bunch of jokers for 10 minutes. The work rate was there however, and after 10 minutes or so, Notts began to come into the game, with Dave Hallam and Pies playing well in the middle against their two best players. We created some half chances, and began to move the ball around with some aplomb, but then alas, disaster struck. A typically sloppy clearance found an urban youngster who darted towards the edge of the shot, but didn’t really catch it well at all. Unbeknown to him, the beast had had ‘a big one’ the night before, and at a speed of roughly 3 miles an hour got down to the ball but let it in anyway.
This seemed to shake Notts into action however, and the back four looked far more secure, with Steve Beckett and Jody shoring up the centre and Dustin foraging down the left. Dave was holding in the middle and the wide players of Holte and Gray were showing good width and the boys started playing some nice football. Chris Gray shortly after a great move slid the ball across the box and an advancing Pies shinned it in and ran off celebrating like a shrieking blonde Frankie Dettori on a mixture of crack and too much sugar, prompting questions from their players such as; ‘Is this guy serious’, ‘what a t*at’, and other associated pearls of wisdom.
Notts then began to apply the pressure and were rewarded again soon after with a great finish from Holte to make it 2-1, curling a slow motion long range effort into the top corner. A second well deserved goal from the industrious Pies followed (a carbon copy of the first) and more manic celebration followed, prompting several Notts players to apologise for his ‘over-excitement’ and comments he was making himself such as ‘Did you ****ing see that’ and ‘How good am I’………
Then, what was discussed in the changing room post-game and was labelled as ‘Calamity-gate’ happened. A hopeful ball was played though, and in a mixture of confusion, daydreaming and something else, Mr. McFarland allowed the centre-forward to get through; and he finished well past an advancing Beast. Notts then finished the half poorly, and went in at the break 3-2 up to be given a stern talking to by the management.
As a result of this Notts came out for the second half, and bar a decent spell 5 minute spell for the opposition at the start of the half stamped their authority on the game with some good football, committed tackling and wind assistance. Eventually the pressure told and a Westminster defensive mix up resulted in a tap in for Holte. This was followed shortly afterwards by a powering back post header from Veeman after a lovely in-swinging corner by Dustin, who then wheeled away in typical simpleton centre-half style not really sure how to celebrate.
A sixth followed after a poor goal kick was picked up by a returning Johnson. He played Mark ‘goal machine’ Weclawek through, who took the ball in his stride, rounded the last man and slotted past the advancing keeper, in what was talked about in the changing rooms as the best goal of the game. Mainly by Mark ‘ballbag’ Weclawek.
The game finished shortly afterwards, and a well deserved Notts victory with it. Other than some sloppy mistakes all over the park, it was ultimately a good solid performance, and man of the match is awarded ‘just’ to Pies this week, as he scored twice, and also got around the pitch with great energy.
The team was:
Paul Nixon, Ben McFalrland, Steve Beckett, Jody Veerman (1), Dustin Seale, Chris Gray, Dave Hallam, Giles Carter (2), Matt Holt (2), Mark Johnson, Mark Weclawek (1), Subs; Big Pete, James Kennedy
Winchmore Hill 1 - 1 Nottsborough (League) 15 Dec
We’ve had the French Revolution. We’ve had the Russian Revolution. But both pale into dull insignificance compared to the great Nottsbrough 4th XI revolution of 2007/2008.
Years from now, our descendants will make a pilgrimage to Tolworth to lay flowers at the feet of our memorial statue. And, as the bugler sounds his reveille, they’ll lower their heads in respect for this remarkable team, this ball-playing colossus – they who have initiated the biggest footballing transformation since Ricky Otto stopped robbing banks, joined Birmingham and found God (with a hell of a pass).
Last season, Nottsborough 4th X1 – then a shambolic bunch of buffoons masquerading as a football team – travelled to the northern wilderness of Winchmore Hill where we were beaten soundly by a strong opposition.
But that was then and this is now. Lying in second place with two games in hand on table-topping Winchmore Hill, Nottsborough 4ths are an entirely different proposition and it was with renewed confidence and determination that we embarked on a bends-inducing train journey north from Finsbury Park.
Everyone was well up for it apart from Widget who had been detained into the early hours by a policewoman amid allegations of “receiving swollen goods”. He was a bleary-eyed shambles but, with no substitutes, he was stuck up-front with Chris Gray. A midfield quartet consisted of Holty, James Kennedy, Pies and “Big” Pete while
Andy Lea, who said he doesn’t want to play for the 2s anymore as “the 4s are better”, marshalled a back four of Ben McFarland, Ian Sh1tty Whitear and Jody in front of The Beast.
On a small pitch, the initial forays were predictably frantic. Little skill, little technique but plenty of commitment and no-holds barred tackling from both sides made for a compelling contest but chances were few and far between.
A couple of half-changes went begging for Winchmore Hill while Nottsborough were finding favour down the channels with James Kennedy and Holty making terrific box-to-box lung-busting raids. Pete kept tabs on their midfield playmaker admirably, Pies was typically energetic while the back four were compact and collected.
After withstanding a period of pressure and defending four consecutive corners excellently, Nottsborough turned the screw at the other end. An in-swinging corner from Holty, grazing Gray’s smoothly-combed barnet on the way, was met by Sh1tty with a terrific glancing header that crashed into the net and left the keeper grasping at air. 1
With seconds to go to half-time, an ugly yet fair 50/50 clash between Kennedy and they’re substitute left-back ended up with the latter breaking his leg in two places. While Kennedy limped-on, the Winchmore player was whisked off to hospital in an ambulance. All at Nottsborough wish him a speedy recovery.
Unsurprisingly, Winchmore Hill came out all guns blazing at the beginning of the second half and Nottsborough struggled to hold onto the ball. Despite this, Winchmore were getting little change out of a hard-working Nottsborough back-line until a momentary lapse of concentration saw the two centre-backs go for the same aerial ball. The nifty striker nipped in behind and tucked the ball neatly under the out-stretched Beast.
Nottsborough didn’t let the deserved equaliser bow their heads, however, and continued to pressure at the other end but the final ball and a strong Winchmore centre-back pairing kept opportunities at a premium.
Both sides had chances to win it at the death, Winchmore Hill missed a golden back-post header while Widget thwacked the post with a terrific shot from a tight angle. It was a well-earned draw and a terrific, fighting performance against a very strong Winchmore Hill team who, rather kindly, gave us a bottle of port in the bar afterwards. But no mince pies. All in all, it was a great way to end what has been a promising and much-improved 2007.
Man of the Match: In a terrific all-round performance, the back-four win this week’s gong.
Alexandra Palace 2 Nottsborough 1 5th Jan 2007
Nottsborough lined up with a strong squad for what they new would be a tough away day in difficult conditions. They turned up confidently but after an absurdly one-sided contest since
somehow left the backside of North London with no points. The game was a tale of missed chances for Notts, with a combination of the weather, shoddy finishing, bad luck and mud keeping Nottsborough at bay.
Playing on a quagmire pitch that suited their style of play, Alexandra Park worked hard, and were rewarded with their 1st goal on 30 minutes. A free kick from 30 yards was squared and struck well, with the AP forward following in well for a tap in.
Nottsborough equalised just before half time against the hill and wind, thinking they should really take the game to AP in the 2nd half. It wasn’t to be, with the sub keeper making a couple of terrific saves, notably, plucking a Holden effort from it’s route to the top corner.
AP struck a killer with an excellent long range effort, cutting in from the flank and firing into the top corner. Notts rallied and missed further chances, leaving after their worst afternoon in the SAL, not having done themselves justice.
Nixon, McFarland, Noreaga, Owen, Veerman, Gray, Gardner, Carter, Seale, Weclawek, Holden
Subs, Whitear, Goldsmith
MoM – Nobody
Carshalton 2 Nottsborough 3 - SAL Cup Quarter Final 12th Jan 2007
Notts travelled to leafy Surrey for one of the biggest games of the season so far (though they didn’t realise it was a quarter final until they arrived)! With that it was disappointing that Weclawek was stranded at the wrong station, and Gardner was orienteering round outer Surrey to find him, both missing kick off.
Notts lined up with a changed back 4, intent on being organised, and all stood still waiting for an offside decision that clearly wasn’t after 30 seconds. Carshaltons right midfielder ran 40 yards unmarked and slotted home – the manager was not impressed!
After some screaming from the sidelines, Notts picked up and played 45 minutes of their best passing football, with Holden and Blackmore pulling the stings, and Carter dominating the centre of the park. Blackmore rifled a 30 year free kick into the top corner, Holden bagged neatly, and Gray added the 3rd.
Half time discussion were all about concentration, not doing anything silly, and keeping the intensity up. Evidently no-one was listening and, within 3 seconds, Carshalton notched after Nottsborough conceded possession at left back.
The second half was one for the neutral, play swinging back and forth and both sides having chances including a comedy 30 yard over head kick effort from Gekoski. Nixon wanted to liven things up with 2 minutes left so passed a goal kick to the Carshalton centre forward. Thankfully, he spurned the kind gift by blazing it just over the bar. Gray decided to punt a ball from right midfield over the top of our left back for a last second corner, but Notts despite nnumerous efforts to cock it up, Nottsborough clung on for a semi-final place, and the fans had their monies worth.
Nixon, McFarland, Noreaga, Seale, Goldsmith, Gray, Carter, Blackmore, Holte, Holden, Gekoski
Subs; Farrell, Weclawek, Gardner
MoM – Blackmore. Extra bit of class made the difference, capped with a superb free kick. Played on through injury for the last 30 mins also.
Old Owens 5 Nottsborough 2 26th Jan 2008
Notts travelled to Potters Bar looking to get back on track after losing at Alexandra Park the previous week. All looked promising taking a 2 goal lead in a well contested first 40 minutes. Blackmore notching a free kick that the stand in keeper should have saved. And Goldsmith striking a dangerous free kick cross/shot that crept into the far bottom corner. Notts were happy to be up in a fairly even game.
Disaster struck on 42 mins when a mix up saw Goldsmith notch at the wrong end from 2 yards. Nixon chasing into his own goal, reminiscent of some sort of Benny Hill film without the scantily clad ladies.
Owens took advantage of the chance they had been given, and came out firing on all cylinders in the second half. Notts had a couple of chances to kill the game but didn’t take them, and Owens were far more clinical, levelling and taking the lead in quick succession. Notts gambled with 15 minutes to go in throwing Veerman from centre back to centre forward, but chasing the game they got caught on the break for a well taken 1 on 1, and finally a free kick was fired into the top corner for a painful final scoreline.
Nixon, Mcfarland, Rhodes, Veerman, Seale, Loiaza, Blackmore, Gardner, Goldsmith, Holt, Gekoski
Subs; Whitear, M.Cattell
MoM – Goldsmith – 2 goals from outside the box
Actonians 5’s 2 Nottsborough 5 2nd Feb 2008
Give Nottsborough a decent playing surface and they’ll be sure to impress. Following some shoddy performances, the 4s got back on track in style! Delighted to be on the Actons 1’s pitch, Notts were up for it from the off, Cranny notching in the first in the opening exchanges, followed by conceding for 1-1 within 3 minutes.
It looked an open attacking game. Both side contributed to a good 1st half, but Gekoski had the last say. Twice he picked the ball up deep in the right hand channel, beat his man, and fired in from an acute angle. Once in to the roof of the net, and once into the far bottom corner. Acton couldn’t handle him, and would have been gutted to see that this was on a day were he was so ruined he threw up on the side of the pitch at half time. It’s these moments that make a manager proud.
More good Notts football followed in the 2nd half, Weclawek patroling the back 4 and keeping Noreage entertained with the odd wise crack, Gray, Gardner, Blackmore and Seale creating in midfield, and Cranny & Bertie torturing the back 4. There was still enough time for Cranny to pull the ball down with a sublime touch and round the keeper, and Gekoski to finish his hat-trick before going home to bed. Not to mention a slice clearance looping on to our own bar for the big Acton second forward to bag his brace.
Lacey, McFarland, Noreaga, Weclawek, Whitear, Gray, Blackmore, Gardner, Seale, Cranny (2), Gekoski (3)
Subs – Marris, M.Cattell, Jones
MoM – Gekoksi. Made us all proud.
Winchmore 5‘s 0 Nottsborough 1 9th Feb 2008
This was always going to be a tough fixture between two sides battling for a European place. Gardner was lost in Surrey again, the conditions were tough on a small bobbly pitch and both sides were showing a high level of commitment – some particularly tasty challenges flying in at times.
It looked like it would definitely be a close run thing, and it proved to be so with only one goal separating the two teams ultimately. The first half produced lots of effort with few clear cut chances for either team, Winchmore notably making the only 1 on 1 which was well closed down by Nixon and put over the bar.
The second half introduced Dave Blackmore for an industrious debut at centre mid along side his brother, Tom. It resulted in the elder sending a deep cross to his bro at the back stick, and Dave calmly volleyed home for 1-0!
Winchmore threw everything they could at Notts. In fact Notts threw everything they could at themselves as well! But Nixon, The Beast, stood firm in goal, and a surprising clean sheet was kept. This was a crucial result for Notts.
Nixon, McFarland, Veerman, Seale, Whitear, Marris, Blackmore, Noreaga, Holt, Cranny, Gray
Sub D.Blackmore
MoM – Joint between Nixon and Cranny. Nobody knows how we kept a clean sheet. Cranny led the line superbly all afternoon.
Polytechnic 1 Nottsborough 2 – SAL Semi-Final 16th Feb 2008
Notts fans had been wetting their lips with excitement for this one, and there was an all time record attendance of 4, including Mrs McFarland who had to shut her ears at times during this one, as well as her eyes with the state of some of the football.
Notts arrived in plenty of time (only Gekoski struggling through London transport) and were well organised from the off. Weclawek once again had the back 4 in good shape, supported well by Noreaga, McFarland and Seale. Veerman/Gardner were grafting hard in the middle on another tough, small, babbly pitch, flanked by Marris and Holt. Gray had his work cut out to partner Gekoski up front, who clearly hadn’t had enough to drink the night before. He was floundering so badly, that his personal 2 man fan club had left for the bar before half time.
The first half bought a plethora of Notts chances, with woodwork sounding every 10-15 minutes and the Polytechnic keeper making some of the most create saves ever seen in the SAL. Notts completely dominated, without playing particularly attractive football, but couldn’t get the elusive goal.
Needless to say when a Polytechnic chance came, they took it with aplomb. A harmless ball bobbled over Welawek’s foot, and Nixon was hesitant in leaving his line. The Poly forward raced on and finished calmly. The Notts response was less than calm, with panic setting in and balls being launched anywhere.
Whitear and Hallam came on to add experience and calming older heads, and Notts gradually got back hold of the game. Seale’s 34 corner kick of the game was met by a Weclawek scream and bullet header, followed by mass celebration. Momentum was gathered and the winner was there for the taking. Veerman had been pushed on into the crouch role to and duly obliged with a scrambled winner on 80 minutes. Notts held on, and happily made their way back home, via 8 pubs across South London.
Again, not pretty…..but a first chance to get the white suits out vs Actonians 4’s in the final.
Nixon, McFarland, Weclawek, Noreaga, Seale, Marris, Gardner, Veerman, Holt, Gekoski, Gray
Subs – Whitear, Hallam
MoM – Ben McFarland – Mr Consistency made his mum proud again. Also bought the whole team a crate of tasty summer beers, not that it influenced the MoM decision.
Crouch End 1 Nottsborough 3 23rd Feb 2008
The manager missed this one for the excitement of a 62nd birthday party in Birmingham, who could blame him? Apparently he picked a good game to avoid. Whitear and Donovan took over the organisation and navigated closed tube lines to arrive on time with a full 14 – testament to the squad’s commitment this year. Some observers would mention that the referee was quite the most shambolic official ever to grace a football pitch but Nottsborough would like to distance itself from such rumour and hearsay.
An important 3 points were collected, it wasn’t pretty (in fact it was fairly dire and dangerous) but the endeavour was there by all accounts. Goals from Seale, M.Beckett & Gekoski.
Nixon, McFarland, Watkins, Weclawek, Seale, Gray, Gardner, Rhodes, M.Beckett, Veerman, Gekoski
Subs – Lacey, Whitear, Goldsmith
MoM – Gekoski just shaded it from Rhodes – Scored a cracker and was a real handful all day…..
Nottsborough 3 Old Actonians 2 1st March 2008
After 9 straight away fixtures, Nottsborough had to remind themselves of how to get back to their home pitch. With a full squad of 14, and 4 recent wins, they confidently welcomed Actonians 5’s to Tolworth.
Nottsborough lined up a strong side, and stole an early lead through Gekoski. Having the ball played in to feet 30 yards out, a Marris overlap allowed himo get one on one with the centre backed, skin him for pace, and pound the ball into the bottom corner. A superb start and all looked rosy!
A resilient Actonians fought back and sent their forward clean through following defensive confusion. Part of the back 4 pushing out, and part of it sat deep. Weclawek was left exposed and had to commit to a last ditch challenge which result in a penalty, that was calmly slotted away.
Actonians put together a good 10-15 minute spell of pressure after the goal with panic setting in across the Nottsborough 11. On 35 minutes Weclawek suffered a recurrence of a previous cruciate ligament injury (off the ball) and looks set to miss the rest of the season. Matt Cattell came on at right back, and the marauding Seale slotted into centre back. Notts rallied and a delightful period of play, saw 9-10 passes culminating on a swinging cross from Gardner, and his centre mid partner, Carter, glancing home a header. A lovely finish, but Carter was sweating to hard in his home made leotard to celebrate his own achievement in his usual ‘fanatic’ style.
Nottsborough put together some delightful passing football in parts, but the overall half time team talk revolved around greater effort and confidence in getting the ball on the deck more. There were no arguments that they could up the tempo.
The second half started positively with some good football and effort. Solid back 4, the midfield 4 were getting much more competitive with some neat Marris footwork down the right, and both forwards looked dangerous. Hallam entered the fray for Carter, with immediate impact having a shot hit the underside of the bar and bounce out, denied by the imaginary Russian linesman. Then a sublime piece of control by Gardner, neat pass to Hallam, saw him slot the ball between the 2 Acton centre backs, for Gekoski to fire at the keeper, and finish off the rebound. 3-1!
Notts looked good for 3 points at this point, but Acton wouldn’t let the fixture go. Their skipper cut in from left midfield, and fired a 30 yard effort, dipping and swerving in the hung over Sellars’ eyes, it nestled in the back of the net and gave the away side momentum.
Notts grafted hard for the last 25 mins, Loiaza holding the ball up well after he came on. There were half chances at either end, with Sellars woken up he was sharp to race out and win the ball 1 on 1. A hard working team performance, in a game that Notts might have lost last year, and will be an important 3 points.
Sellars, Seale, Whitear, Weclawek, Goldsmith, Marris, Gardner, Carter (1), Holt, Veerman, Gekoski (2)
Subs; M.Cattell, Hallam, Loiaza
MoM – Seale. Bombarding, committed performance from right back. Solid in defence when switched to centre back.
AFA Minor Cup Final (played at Carshalton) 29 Mar ‘08
Old Actonians 0 - 4 Nottsborough
What’s big, red and goes beep-beep-beep? Old Actonian’s Cup winning bus being sheepishly reversed back into the depot! Baboom-tshhh, thangyoooverymuch.
It had to happen and - by golly - it flipping well has. Nottsborough 4th XI has got its hands on the most important piece of silverware since the Holy Grail and, unlike fellow intrepid adventurer Indiana Jones, we’re not going to let a monkey in a waistcoat hoodwink us into giving it away anytime soon.
Last Saturday, while mortal men and the Nottsborough 1st team were being dragged around Ikea and other high street tours by their lapels, Andrew Cattell’s craic outfit of footballing mastery got a series of choo-choos to the lush fields of Carshalton to take on fierce rivals Old Actonians in the final of Southern Amateur League Cup Winner’s Cup Champions Euro Vase Cup.
Actonians, who had already taken four points off Nottsborough in the league, swaggered up in a swanky bus, sporting snazzy suits and with the confident demeanour of a team that had beaten us 3-1 the week before and, in doing so, all but ended Notts’ title hopes.
Nottsborough, meanwhile, turned up in drips-and-drabs, sporting an array of long-term injuries and with a star-striker who’d forgotten his boots. Pies turned up fashionably late but not fashionably dressed – decked out in a suit so bad it made his bedraggled “Prince from Shrek” barnet look good.
Anyway, such was the level of pre-match tension even Mother Nature couldn’t handle it and with ten minutes to kick off, an almighty downpour ensued. Gaffer Cattell brought his team in and announced the starting line-up. In front of The Beast was a back four of Ben McFarland, Big Pete, Widget (captain) and Dustin “US” Seale; Giggs, Chris Gray, Chris Marris and Pies made up the midfield, Matt Holte and Bertie formed a potent and pacy two pronged attack while Sh1tty, Matt Cattell and Gaz Goldsmith were posed to pounce from the bench.
Winning the toss, Widget wisely opted to go with the wind in the first half. Early skirmishes were frantic and a little nervy but Nottsborough were by far the hungrier and more composed team making forays down both wings and turning Actonains’ back four. And with just seven minutes gone, pressure paid off when a prodded lofted pass from McFarland was deftly brought down by Holte who, skipping and shimmying between two baffled defenders, lifted the ball into the top corner using the rarely-seen combination of knee, shin, ankle bone, toe and bottom of the foot. If he didn’t do that every week, we’d all have thought it was a fluke.
Eschewing their normal habit of letting an equaliser in straight away, Notts continued to press instead with Marris and Gray threading thoughtful passes all around, Pies doing a terrific job on their burly enforcer and Giggs scampering about picking up loose balls and spreading play. Cattell, on for Bertie who had withdrawn with hamstring-twang, settled in superbly too. Apart from an enormous Big Pete slice, little was getting past the back four either.
Having spurned a trio of half-chances - the most gilt-edged being a Pies header blazed over from 8 yards – Notts deservedly extended their lead with a goal that will go down as one of the finest Carshalton’s hallowed turf has ever had the fortune to witness.
An inswinging corner from Special Teams expert man Dustin was met with an Actonian’s looping headed clearance and, as the ball dropped down from the heavens, an onrushing Giggs met it with an outrageous volley from 30 yards and, catching it sweeter than an otter in a bib, it screamed past a forest of players and bulged the back of the net. It was reminiscent of Cantona’s winner in the 1996 FA Cup Final. Just better.
At 2-0 down, Old Actonians rallied and a brief backlash ensued. After a bit of penalty-area pinball, when Notts should have cleared, a close-range shot that looked destined for the corner of the net was magnificently finger-tipped around the post by The Beast. It was top stuff and The Beast Snr, watching from the sidelines, must have been a very proud man.
With the wind whistling strong, Notts knew a third goal was necessary before half-time and it duly came, with ten minutes to go, courtesy of a mazy run and finish from Chris Gray who, due to Bertie’s withdrawal, had been pushed upfront. Springing the lapsed offside trap and collecting a cheeky thru ball from (I forget who), Gray tucked the ball under the onrushing keeper to send Notts in at half-time 3-0 up.
Fully aware of our ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, Cattell warned against complacency as Notts prepared us for a second-half wind-assisted Actonian onslaught. It never came. With the kind of ruthless efficiency normally associated with Italian teams circa the mid-1990s, Notts kept possession, kept it tight at the back and – with Goldsmith and Shitty introduced – just kept on playing in a manner that can only be described as effing brilliant.
Any ideas of an unlikely Actonian comeback were finally laid to rest when Holte, chasing what seemed like a lost cause, was clattered by the goalkeeper in quite dastardly fashion. The linesman flagged, the referee pointed at the spot and Widget drilled a penalty high into the top right-hand corner to complete a 4-0 rout. And that, as they say, was that.
Minutes later, Andrew Cattell thrust the gleaming cup aloft before Pies, the dirty little hooligan, grabbed it and ripped the handle off.
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