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Nottsborough 0 Sinjuns Grammarians 1 Saturday 5th November 2011
What a difference a day makes - 24 little hours!
The thrill of waking up on Saturday morning with the prospect of a challenging Cup match has been replaced by the despair of having lost and failed in our defence of the Cup.
Having beaten Sinjuns last year with a 2-0 win which flattered us we knew we would have to be at the top our game. With some notable absentees and some late arrivals the side that took the field manfully held its own for the first quarter of the match. Both sides were playing some neat football but slowly we gained the upper hand and started to impose ourselves a bit more.
The increasing time being spent in the attacking third eventually brought its reward when after a quick interchange of passes Duncan was brought down as he burst into the penalty area. Unfortunately the penalty was struck wide of the post and a great opportunity wasted. The miserable wretch that took the pen was, embarrassingly enough, this report's author, Greavsie.
Devastating after last year's 100% success rate - I now know how Le Tissier must have felt with his one miss!
For the rest of the half we remained on top with Jonty having a close range shot tipped onto the post and a few other close efforts. The second half was much the same as the first with Nottsborough on top but with Sinjuns always dangerous on the break with a couple of fast players upfront. The defence was magnificent and managed the threats superbly. Legs were definitely beginning to tire now so we took advantage of the rolling subs to freshen things up creating a couple more notable chances but just failing to finish them off.
Extra time was reduced to 10 minutes each way. The ref mentioning darkness but I think also wanting to avoid any serious medical issues such as exhaustion, overheating or lung failure. Still both sides fought valiantly to get the goal which would transform the game and sadly it went their way.
The ref felt the need to award a penalty in the first half of extra time after a couple of determined/desperate challenges in rapid succession.
Having converted their penalty they re-grouped for the inevitable onslaught.
Despite our pushing men forward and having a couple of dangerous attacks down the flanks the ball wouldn't fall our way and we ran out of time. A great game to have played in but with, tragically, the wrong result.
Everyone put in a magnificent effort and so many players deserve an "individual mention" that I won't bother as it wouldn't make any sense. You know who you are. We now need to pick ourselves up, brush ourselves down and get back to winning ways in the league next Saturday. We've come a long way when we're gutted at only winning the league!
09/04/11 Old Lyonians V Nottsborough (WLVL) W 5-0
Our penultimate game of the season saw us travel to deepest Harrow for a 12.30 kick off just after the schools had broken up…a perfect recipe for a game of find the 11. Well we did find the 11 (just) and the Cavalry turned up at half time to make it 12 !
The pitch was inevitably hard and bobbly, but did have more grass on it than some of late, coupled with the wind it was difficult to play pretty football, but we tried and also battled really well against one of the stronger sides in the league. About 30 mins in the breakthrough came from a nice move down the right a decent cross and lay off and a nice side foot finish from Frank Lyons. This settled us down and despite a bit of pressure from the home side we doubled the advantage just before the break with a turn jink and fine finish from Chris Braithwaite, who was playing his first game for a couple of months. H-T 2-0.
At the start of the second half we replaced Grayday in goal with Chris Braithwaite, and brought on Jonty Hill for Jeff . On paper a more balanced side but we were shakey for the first 10 minutes until Jonty Hill, finished off a nice passing move. In truth, we comfortably saw out the remainder of the game and played some nice football as everyone tired under the hot sun. Mike McCoy added a fourth with a thunderous header from a corner and Iain Johnson applied the cherry on top with the last kick of the game from some 25 yards. A really good team performance and one which all but secures the title.
Team – Day(G), Appleby, Browning ,McCoy, Thomas, Wile, Hughes, Johnson, Lyons, Braithwaite, Greaves. Subs Hill (and special mention to Dustin Seale who turned up despite being injured!)
MOM Mike McCoy, Frank Lyons , Iain Johnson (joint)
06/04/11 Nottsborough V Molesey (WLVL) W 12-1
For us this game was all about trying to boost our goal difference which was lagging two goals behind our only title rival, Polytechnic. Win first, rack up goals second and the good news was that we'd been able to get a strong side out for this weekday fixture.
First two chances fell to Molesey but before long we'd taken control of the game and were moving the ball around well. Maybe we weren't direct enough and with half an hour gone it was still 0-0 despite our domination. Finally a perfect cross from IJ was headed in powerfully by Stevie Hughes. Nerves were steadied now and we really got into our stride. Three further goals in about 10 minutes wrapped the game up and before half time a couple more were added to leave us 6-0 up and with all three points guaranteed.
A cock up in defence let them in for an easy goal and this provoked an even more relentless onslaught from the team. Goals flowed and indeed many chances went begging but let's not be too critical. Special mention goes to Jonty Hill whose direct style, pace and composed finishing helped him score a superb six goals. The other goals were scored by Lyons(2) , Johnson , Greaves (pen) and Haigh.
So, nine goals up on the goal difference stakes and the title most definitely ours to win.
Team: Day , Wile, Swift, Allgood , Gregory, Lyons , Hughes , Johnson, Haigh , Hill, Greaves Subs Belk, McCoy, Camra
MOM: Jonty Hill
02/04/11 Nottsborough V Kew Park (WLVL) W 5-0
The games are coming thick and fast and we do have a growing injury/knackered list due to hard pitches and mid-week excertions. We managed to get the bare 11 out to face Kew Park and they , eventually , had 12. We pretty much dominated this match from start to finish and could have had more goals, but credit to Kew who kept going throughout with what wasn’t there strongest team.
It took about 35 mins until the first goal arrived and a great cross from the right was headed powerfully against the bar and then buried by Paul Haigh. Just before the break a smart turn and run from Apps who’s cross was bundled home by Keith Welling.H-T 2-0.
More of the same in the second half and Derek Wile scored a fine solo goal 15 minutes in. Apps scored a neat header from a great Wile cross and Dave Hallam touched home after an exquisite flick from Apps. Back to winning ways and goal difference could be important so job done!
TEAM- Crisp,McCoy,Hallam,Browning,Wile,Welling,Lyons,Johnson,Jones,Appleby,Haigh
MOM Derek Wile
30/03/11 Polytechnic V Nottsborough (WLVL) L 1-2
A mid-week game in Chiswick saw us suffer our first defeat of the season. Predictably we had a struggle to get a team out and the unfamiliar look of our defence certainly cost us dear. We were 2-0 down after about 15 minutes the first being a preventable header that looped over the keeper the second as a result of an horrendous Mike McCoy back pass straight to their nippy forward. We gradually got back into the game and spurned 4 really good chances…all of them falling to Glen who the ball seemed to be following. H-T 0-2.
The second half saw us ramp up the pressure and lay siege to the Polytechnic goal. They defended really well and their goalkeeper had a “blinder” and despite forcing some 20 corners and hitting the woodwork 3 times our only reward was a late own goal from one of the many corners. So defeat but we were unlucky and can still win the title. Heads up!!
TEAM- Crisp,McCoy,Watkins,Browning,Wile,Wells,Lyons,Allgood,Gregory,Appleby,Hill Sub Jones
MOM Glen Allgood
26/03/11 Kew Park V Nottsborough (WLVL) W 4-0
So fresh from Cup glory we started the final run in on the League and Cup double that we all are desperate to achieve. We were playing on a very hard bumpy pitch again (I suspect a feature that will not change) with an early start to avoid the boat race. The match was keenly contested by both sides and until the second goal went in was difficult. There was a lot of bouncing , bobbling and huffing and puffing but little in the way of good play or clear chances. Apps managed to get through and his firm shot was excellently saved by the ‘keeper.It seemed that it would be goalless at half time until Apps got half a yard 30 yards out and surprised the keeper with a snap shot which he couldn’t keep out. H-T 1-0.
This did settle us and we played better in the second half with Glen and Robbie Jones bossing the middle of the park. An excellent run and cross from Greggs found Robbie Jones arriving late at the far post for an nice headed finish. Shortly after a pin ball corner fell to Apps to smash home from 3 yards. Apps completed the scoring and his hat trick with a fine finish with 5 mins to go. Not our best performance but given all of the changes to the team we are happy with that!
TEAM- Adrian,Thomas,Hallam,Swift,Wile,Seale,Jones,Allgood,Gregory,Appleby,Greaves SUBS Camra,Goodman
MOM Graham Appleby
19/03/11 Nottsborough V Old Woodhouseians (AFA Cup Final) W 1-1 a et (8-7 on pens)
The first AFA Cup Final in Nottsborough Vets history required a long trip to Walthamstow to play Old Woodhouseians. They had also won every one of their games to this point this season - something had to give.
We lost Jon Gregs to a late fitness test and Baylo stepped in. The game got off to a hesitant start with both sides needing time to settle down and come to terms with a very hard and bobbly pitch. Neither side ever mastered the pitch and we weren't able to play the standard of football that had got us to the final. It came down to a real battle of wills.
Our defence withstood periods of pressure and special mention to Davey H who was immense at the heart of it winning everything in the air. Pete Day inspired confidence throughout the side with his assured display. Appsy's tactical rotations of players meant that everyone got plenty of game time and everyone gave their all. No major moments in the 90 minutes and so we were into extra time. How we all wanted an extra 30 minutes! The boys were determined to seize the day and we dug deep and stepped it up. Gray Day, Tanko and IJ started to get on top of midfield as both sides had players limping off. No more rotation possibilities for us.
Finally the breakthrough. Robbie Jones drifted wide and cleverly dummied a pull back, carried on a bit further before pulling the ball back to the six yard box. Greavsie had lost his marker and turned the ball in. Elation and the hope that it would be enough. Half time and we were still one nil up. Just fifteen more minutes of effort and concentration. We managed thirteen. Two minutes left and a quick breakaway ended up with them putting in a lovely cross which was met by an equalising header from all of two yards. Gutted. The last couple of minutes were safely played out and the dreaded penalty shoot out beckoned.
Dustin, Greavsie, Johnson and Robbie Jones dispatched our first four penalties with Germanic efficiency and joy of joys one of theirs was ballooned over the bar. Appsy's scriptwriter had been working overtime. The captain strode up knowing that if he scored the cup was ours and his bedroom would finally see some silverware. Imagine our surprise when he proceeded to dink the ball into the keeper's hands. Was that it? Sudden death - Grayday,Dave H notched. As did they. Swifty saw his penalty blocked by the diving keeper but amazingly the ball's backspin took it over the prostrate keeper and into the net. OMG, talk about name on the cup!! Steve Hughes bagged his to make it 8-7 and then Pete Day dives full length to push away their penalty. Nottsborough win. We all hobble/limp/stagger over to congratulate Pete comforted in the knowledge that it was on the way to changing rooms anyway. Unforgettable performance and effort by the whole team. More of the same next year please.
TEAM- Day(P),Seale,Swift,Hallam,Wile,Hughes,Lyons,Johnson,Jones,Appleby,Greaves. SUBS Hill,Day(G),Bayles
MOM: Dave Hallam (with honourable mentions to everyone else)
05/03/11 Nottsborough V Army Crusaders (WLVL) W 6-2
The last game before the cup Final saw us entertain the Army at fortress Tolworth. We lined up against 10 men and were confident of helping our goal difference, but a dogged opponent and some sloppy play meant that this was not to be the case. We started brightly and after around 10 minutes Steve Hughes glanced a header home from a corner. Instead of building on this advantage we gave away a rather sloppy goal which had more than a tad of offside about it…good finish though. We immediately regainmatched the lead when Apps hit a shot first time on the turn which really should have been kept out by the ‘keeper. The rest of the half saw us play some nice stuff without adding to the scoreline until just before half time when Robbie Jones finished off a decent move. H-T 3-1.
The second half followed the pattern of the first with some nice play but little real penetration from Nottsborough and a good deal of heart from the Army, as you’d expect. Steve Hughes added 2 further goals to complete his hat trick and Apps slotted a couple of minutes from time to get his second. The Army had the last word when a flicked free kick was smashed home from close range. We will need to improve for the big match but another 3 points!
TEAM – Miller, Seale,Hallam,Browning,Camra,Hughes,Lyons,Johnson,Jones,Appleby,Greaves SUBS Thomas,Bayles
MOM Steve Hughes
12/02/11 Nottsborough V Polytechnic (WLVL) W 3-1
Unbeaten Nottsborough took on top of the table Polytechnic on a fantastic playing surface at fortress Tolworth in what was to be a high quality encounter with a certain element of niggle creeping in to the proceedings as the game wore on. Nottsborough won this game early on with 3 quality goals, all in their own right good enough to win any match!
The first came after Poly had started the brighter…a lightning (ish) counter attack released Apps down the right who pulled it back for Dustin to fire it in to the box and Johnson smashed it into the bottom corner…4 mins 1-0. Four mins later it was 2-0 when another interchange down the right this time released Steve Hughes who’s cross was volleyed home by Jonty Hill . Four minutes later (don’t worry that’s the last time I’ll do that) and Dustin Seale had overlapped perfectly onto an Apps through ball down the right (again), checked and from 25 yards hit an absolute screamer with his left foot into the top left hand corner…3-0. The game then settled down a bit but Notts really should have had at least one more with Apps missing from 5 yards out (it did rebound badly off the keeper) and Poly not really threatening.
The second half saw the Poly team play with a new shape and a new purpose. The best chances still fell to Nottsborough but some good goalkeeping and bad luck meant that the only goal of the second half came after 72 mins and was a thumping header from a corner to Poly, who deserved at least to be on the score sheet. The game did get a bit tetchy but was well controlled by Abel , our makeshift ref. David Hallam and Graham Day in the centre of midfield controlled the game…well done all a great team performance with good quality. Thanks to Baylo for going in goal for most of the game and to Grayday who made an outstanding save in the 88th min when he took his turn in nets.
TEAM – Bayles, Seale, Swift, Browning, Wile, Hughes, Johnson, Day, Hallam, Appleby, Hill
SUBS Lyons, Browning, Thomas
MOM Dave Hallam
05/02/11 Stonechurch V Nottsborough (WLVL) W 3-0
It was a very windy day and this added to the bumpy narrow pitch made it tricky to play anything resembling a passing game. Again we had a much changed side and we struggled for cohesion all game. Having said this we could easily have won by a more comfortable margin. After about 10 minutes of forgettable fare a long ball confused the home defence and Apps latched on to it and finished in style low to the ‘keepers left…1-0. After another 5 minutes another long ball caught out the defence again and Apps raced clear and slotted excellently past the ‘keeper to double the advantage. Apps then missed 2 further one on ones (or rather the ‘keeper stopped them) and we passed up 2 good scoring chances. Half Time 2-0.
The second half followed the same pattern and Apps did well to avoid the hat trick jug…Frank Lyons netted the only other goal and we saw out the game relatively comfortably, with one good save from Steve Belk, our makeshift goalkeeper. Solid if unspectacular stuff…but effective…3-0.
TEAM – Belk,Camra,Swift,Browning,Wile,Seale,Thomas,Lyons,Johnson,Appleby, Greaves. SUBS Hallam, Evans
MOM Graham Appleby
29/01/11 Nottsborough V Old Lyonians (WLVL) W 2-0
Back to league action and the trials of getting 11 men and a ref…aaah wasn’t like that last week!
Although Apps and Chris Barker had to ref the game (half each) it was a very entertaining and competitive affair. Notts played some lovely stuff throughout the game and could probably have scored a few more…but also were slightly more wobbly than usual at the back…so it all evens out.
Notts took the lead after 7 mins when an obvious handball led to a penalty which was converted emphatically by Andrew Greaves. Most of the play for the remainder of the half was in the Lyonians half but it stayed 1-0 until half time .
The second half followed much the same pattern and whilst being relatively comfortable it was good to get the second goal with about 20 minutes to play when the keeper spilled a long range effort and Dustin Seale followed up to convert. The game became really open and enjoyable but there were no further goals. Excellent debut from Keith Welling!
TEAM Braithwaite/Belk, Wile, Browning, Seale, Welling, Johnson, Hallam, Jones, Greaves, Barker SUBS Appleby, McCoy
MOM Derek Wile
22/01/11 Nottsborough V Sinjun Grammarians (AFA Cup Semi-Final) W 2-0
A tough semi final against a full strength Grammarians side saw Nottsborough victorious despite picking up a few injuries along the way. The first 10 minutes was all Grammarians and the signs were not good…but we defended well and gradually begun to assert an influence on the game, which was no classic. Just before half time a well delivered free kick from the right hit the crossbar and looped up in the 6 yard box…unfortunately their defender got there first…and proceeded to head into his own goal…1-0 at half time.
The second half proved a real battle because within 10 minutes, Frank Lyons and John Gregory had joined Mark Swift on the injured list (Swifty came off at half time)…and our re-shaped midfield had to endure quite a lot of pressure. Having said that we still created the most clear cut chances and but for a couple of scares we held out very well…indee as the game entered injury time Robbie Jones finished off a great counter attack to finally give us some breathing space…final score 2-0 and an appearance in our first ever Vets Final !
TEAM – Day(P),Seale, Swift, Hallam, Wile, Appleby, Johnson, Lyons, Gregory, Greaves, Hill SUBS Day(G), Jones, Bayles
MOM everyone
08/01/11 Old Latymerians V Nottsborough (WLVL) W1-0
Having beaten OL in the Cup earlier in the season by 5 goals to nil this game was a much tougher match than we were expecting. Still a deserved win but it required a battling performance to keep up the 100% winning record of the Vets this season.
Good work by Stevie B and Chrissy B who performed manfully with a half in nets each both keeping their sheets cleaner than an 18 year old nun's. We also had first hand experience of the Americanisation of English football with the inclusion of Gordon "the winger" Singer in the side. Had a couple of head-shots and always keen on shouting DEFENCE. I think we should suggest the "time-out" theory to Sepp Blatter - especially handy in the heat of Qatar.
Anyway, collectively we were all off the pace for the first half hour and the Xmas puds and pints were taking their toll. Del Boy's run and angled shot required a good save from their keeper who without doubt was the busiest of the three(!) keepers. A fairly turgid first half was lit up just before half time when Apps cut inside his man, looked up, saw the keeper perfectly placed by his post and decided to shoot anyway. Whether it was the power behind the shot or a small speck of delayed volcanic ash in the keeper's eye the ball went through the keeper's hands and we were ahead with what proved to be the only goal of the game.
Second half we pulled our fingers out a bit and had 3 or 4 more good efforts which the keeper (his sight now restored) did well to keep out. Another good run and shot by Apps produced a parried save which fell perfectly to Gavin B about 8 yards out with an open goal. Sadly, the rarefied atmosphere of the opposition penalty area had induced a severe nose-bleed and Gav's bloody distress resulted in his shot sailing wide.
His claims that it had glanced the outside of the post were later proven by the snickometer to be the rantings of a humiliated centre-half. With a surname beginning in B will he be between the posts next week?
Good work throughout the team to snuff out the inevitable pressure at the end and bring home another 3 points! Bravo chaps.
TEAM – Belk/Braithwaite,Camra,Browning,Hallam,Wile,Appleby,Johnson,Lyons,Gregory,Greaves SUBS Seale, Singer
MOM Graham Appleby
11/12/10 Nottsborough v William Fitt (AFA Cup Qtr Final) W 5-1
Revenge was in the air as we had been knocked out of the AFA cup at the semi Final stage last year…by William Fitt, the same fate never looked likely after what was a very accomplished team performance. The opposition actually kicked off with 9 men and by the time their 10th arrived, 5 mins into the game, Greaves had already finished off a good move. The game settled down and was pretty even, if anything William Fitt had the edge, with Day being called upon to make 2 smart saves. However Notts gradually got a foot hold and crucially got a well finished second goal just before half time when Frank Lyons spun and shot inside the 18 yard box…2-0 at half time.
William Fitt tried to rally in the second half but 5 minutes in Iain Johnson hit a cracker from 25 yards…game over. To accentuate this point 5 mins later a defender passed straight to Graham Appleby who made no mistake from 20 yards to give an element of gloss to the scoreline. William Fitt never gave up and pulled a good goal back when their mute striker scored on the break…woof!
The final goal was scored by Steve Hughes with an assured finish after a good run down the right. We could have added more at the death but this perhaps would have been unfair on William Fitt…roll on the semi.
TEAM- Day(P),Seale,Hallam,Swift,Wile,Johnson,Lyons,Hughes,Gregory, Day(G), Greaves. SUBS Appleby, Belk, Braithwaite
MOM Frank Lyons
21/11/10 Army Crusaders v Nottsborough (WLVL) W 5-1
A chilly Sunday in the amazing surroundings of Sandhurst found us waiting half an hour for the replacement ref to turn up (but we were thankful that he did so that the match could go ahead). Once more we had the bare 11 to start with Jonty joining us at half time...but we did have a proper keeper in nets which makes a big difference. The first half was a real battle and although we took an early lead through Greaver we were probably fortunate to make it to half time at 1-1, Steve Hughes had sat out the last 10 minutes of the half after a particularly feisty exchange and an undeserved booking.
We re-grouped in the second half and played some really good hard football, doing what we failed to do in the first half, gradually it began to tell...the next goal was always going to prove vital and Greaver got it with a great finish after good work down the right from Apps and Jonty. Two led to three with Greaver completing an excellent hat trick, again after good work from Jonty who’s introduction made an impact. John Gregory added a fourth after a howler of a pass from the Army ‘Keeper and Apps smashed home the goal of the game to give the scoreline a flattering tone...but deserved in many ways too. Pete Day had an excellent game in goal, testament to the tough game that it was.
TEAM – Day(P),Camra,Browning,Belk,Wile,Hughes(S),Lyons,Hallam,Gregory,Appleby,Greaves. SUB Hill
MOM Andrew Greaves
06/11/10 Old Minchendenians v Nottsborough (AFA Cup 4th rnd) W 6-1
This latest Cup match necessitated a trek to N14 just south of the Cotswolds.
The game got off to a scrappy start on a muddy pitch but it was clear we had nothing to fear. This was obviously behind our magnanimous gesture of persuading the ref to not send off their keeper after a blatant handball outside of his area when Jonty was clean through and shot for goal. No need for that kind of excessive sporting behaviour in the next round lads.A few minutes later and the the keeper with just eight remaining lives swung and missed at a Stevie Hughes shot which bounced over his foot and into the net. 1-0. Before long a Davey H free kick cannoned off the bar and Derek the Man Woman flipped into Derek the Man Seal as he acrobatically jacknifed in mid air to head the rebound in. 2-0. Half time arrived, as did Steve B having foolishly chosen to drive ratrher than endure the Underground.
A quick shuffle of our formation and we were off again. Already our superior fitness (yes you did read that correctly) was causing trouble for the oppo and before long a trademark galloping run by Stevie Hughes brought his second goal. 3-0. Then Jonty was brought down by the keeper (yes, 7 lives now) who the ref seemed to think could now get away with anything he wanted. Gray Day tucked away the penalty.4-0.Around this time they scored their goal before Jonty got a well deserved goal of his own. 5-1. In the dying minutes some truly fantastic work and an immaculate pull back by the youngster Greavsie teed the ball up perfectly for Gray Day to drive in majestically. Put you foot through it son! 6-1.
So if driving near the Cotswolds in the next few weeks watch out for a cat with seven lives.
TEAM – Day(G),Seale,Hallam,Browning,Wile,Johnson,Lyons,Austin,Hughes,Greaves,Hill SUBS Belk,Braithwaite
MOM Graham Day
23/10/10 Nottsborough V Stonechurch (WLVL) W 2-1
The trend of struggling for players not only continued but hit a new low ...we had 9 players, no goalkeeper and no ref late on Friday night...and amazingly got 11 and a ref in time for kick off. With a completely unfamiliar back line and goalkeeper and no sub we soldiered on. In many ways this was one of the most enjoyable games of the early season...we scored 2 really good team goals converted by Greaver and Rob Jones and played pretty well in the circumstances...HT 2-0.
The second half saw us playing the better football but 10 minutes in Rob Jones got injured and left us to face the rest of the match with 10 men...shortly after Dustin’s dodgy fetlock meant that he couldn’t run much either. It took until about 10 minutes from time before Stonechurch sensed they could get something and they piled forward. IJ was fantastic in midfield and the backline held firm...until the 89th minute when a right wing cross was nodded home...the last few minutes was real backs to the wall stuff and we held out for a great 3 points in the circumstances.
TEAM – Adrian,Camra,Appleby,Braithwaite,Wynn,Seale,Hallam,Johnson,Wile,Jones,Greaves.
MOM Iain Johnson
09/10/10 Molesy v Nottsborough (WLVL) W 5-3
Our first league game in the newly formed West London Vets League saw us take on unfamiliar opponents in the shape of Molesy. Once more we were struggling with many players unavailable and had the bare 11 with Jonty turning up at half time due to kid admin. Despite this we started really well and were 3-0 up within 15 minutes and threatening to run up a cricket score. Excellent goals from Greaver and Steve Hughes(2) meant that the game was pretty well sewn up...which is why we started to play sloppy football and got punished with their first real chance on 40 mins, which was a good finish to be fair and gave them encouragement, snuffed out by a great strike from Iain Johnson right on half time...4-1. The second half started in the same way as the first and Rob Jones converted with a good finish after good work from Jonty...5-1 and game over...or was it?
We then contrived to let in 2 soft goals , the first a 30 yard lob and the second following some awful defending from Apps and Steve Belk. We steadied the ship and saw out the rest of the game despite the lift these goals gave the opposition...job done!
TEAM – Braithwaite,Appleby,Swift,Belk,Wild,Lyons,Johnson,Hughes(S),Seale,Jones,Greaves. SUBS Hill MOM Steve Hughes
29/09/10 Old Latymerians v Nottsborough (AFA Cup 3rd rd) W 5-0
Our first game of the season saw us struggling massively to get 11 men on the pitch, plus we had to switch the venue to an away fixture...not an ideal start to be honest. Anyway we got to Twickenham in good spirits with 2 “unfit” subs and the bare 11. The first half was quite frustrating as we had the majority of possession but no real cutting edge...until right on half time when a corner was deflected home by Chris Braithwaite... half time 1-0. We re-arranged after the break with Dustin having to disappear and Baylo joining the match, pushing Apps into midfield. The first 10 mins saw the only real spell of pressure for the opposition but we held firm with Dave Hallam making one good save (yes he was in goal!). the match turned on the second and decisive goal scored by Greavsie after some lovely approach work. Within minutes we had got a third, with a great through ball converted by Chris Braithwaite. In truth this took the sting out of the match and further goals from Greavsie and a thumper from Derek Wile gave the scorline a flattering feel.
TEAM – Hallam,Appleby,Swift,Belk,Wile,Litster,Johnson,Seale,McCoy,Greaves,Braithwaite. SUBS Bayles,Hughes(M) MOM...Litster and Johnson(joint)
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