Match reports - January 19, 2008

The 1st XI overcame a limited Addiscombe side 6-3 to maintain their outside chances of promotion, but the performance of the day came from the 2nd XI who finally clicked as we knew they would and beat league leaders Woking 4-1 away from home. The 3rd XI secured a good 3-3 draw at the delight that is Kennington, the 4th XI played well in losing 1-2 to Staines, and the Vets secured only their third win of the season with a 1-0 victory at HAC.

1st XI 6-3 Addiscombe
This was a potential banana skin against an Addiscombe team who have had a good season up to this point. The game saw Cooky play by far and away the best he has played all season and it was his intervention in the second minute that won a long corner that became a short and then a goal with Rippers coolly slotting home the loose bal. Nick Lewis doubled the lead with the shot of the season, Cook again making a nuisance of himself in front of the keeper , the ball breaking to Nick at the top of the D who put the ball into the top corner with a blistering shot. The remainder of the half saw us dominate without creating any chances and we lost our shape when Ed Breton went of with a knock on his hand.

Addiscombe were back in the game in the early stages of the second half but straight away we regained the two-goal cushion. Sven increased the margin with a drag flicked short, the first of two with, in between times, Addiscombe scoring a soft short corner. Rippers scored his second after a great move down the right and there was just time for the opposition to score a consolation with another short corner in stoppage time.

The two big pluses were the performances of Nick Lewis and Cooky with the downside the concession of three soft goals. Unquestionably we had the rub of the umpiring especially early on and we made it count. Surry Old Boys next week and then UCL and Merton after which we will know whether we have a long wait until September or have a chance to be in the mix. Rex Bermon

Woking 1-4 2nd XI
On paper this game was a formality. We had taken on point away from home all season whereas Woking, the league leaders, were unbeaten at home and had not lost anywhere since early October. On a pitch which made our old one look slick and sandless, the early exchanges were tight and the pace quick. But whereas we made inroads, Woking’s attacks foundered against the rocks of Dodie Khurshid and Jon Heard. We took the lead on 15 minutes from a short corner, fiercely disputed by the defence who claimed to their own umpire that they were not ready. Neither side created many openings in the reminder of the half, but Woking’s concern was evident from the length of their half-time chat. “We’re top, they’re crap but that doesn’t matter if we carry on playing like this,” were the last words shouted to them at the break.

The second half was equally pacey but the better attacks came from us with a hole in Woking’s midfield being repeatedly ripped open. We had some nervous moments and Woking were enjoying their best period when we broke and struck the second. We could have extended the lead but Bruce hit the post and then a short corner was cleared off the line; at the other end Nigel made some good saves and the defence remained solid. Five minutes from time we again broke and made it 3-0, only for Woking to run right through a dozing midfield and pull one back within 20 seconds. The ball was in our half for the next few minutes as Woking threw the kitchen sink at us, but from another break we sealed a convincing win with the last strike of the match.