Match report February 19 2011
A superb result for the 1st XI, holding league leader Havant to a 2-2 draw away from home, and a first win of the season for the 2nd XI who thrashed Old Midwhitgiftians 6-0; the 4th XI beat struggling Old Reigatians 4-1 to continue their rise away from the relegation zone, but the 3rd XI lost to leaders Sunbury and Walton Hawks 2-4. The Ladies beat Wanderers II 4-1 in a friendly while the Veterans lost 1-3 at St Albans
Havant 2-2 1st XI
Click here for match photos
The 1st XI came away from league leaders Havant with a superb 2-2 draw, vindicating the decision to stick with a winning side rather than chop and change depending on availability. Full report to follow.
2nd XI 6-0 Trinity Old Midwhitgiftians
Click here for match photos
The 2nd XI recorded their first win of the season – they have been playing well of late but lacked the confidence in front of goal – and were boosted by the 1st XI decision to retain a winning team and in so doing releasing a couple of returning absentees to the side. Three goals in either half was not an unfair reflection on the game, and while it may have come too late, it was a much-needed and deserved morale-boosting victory.
Ladies XI 4-1 Wanderers
The Ladies enjoyed a well-earned win over Wanderers II, a side struggling at the bottom of the division above. In the first half it appeared as if Wanderers would prove too strong for us as we struggled to break down their defence and allowed their midfield to control the pace, their goal on 17 minutes the only one of the half. But even without an inspirational talk from Goalie, we were a different side in the second half, with Philly tormenting their defence, our midfield in charge and our defence rock solid. A well-struck Sarah Mann goal off a short corner level the score seven minutes after the break, and then a slick and classy strike from Philly put us ahead five minutes later. As Wanderers wobbled, Michelle, who was also causing no end of problems, slotted a well-taken third and then Philly rounded off the scoring two minutes from time.
Sunbury and Walton Hawks 4-2 3rd XI
Report to follow
4th XI 4-1 Old Reigatians
Stung by recent comments such as ‘Who needs Harmer?’ or even the rather ill informed ‘Who is Harmer?’ Harmer’s Column returns to the coal face this week after spending eight days studying the playing techniques of Barcelona FC in the Catalonian capital. The passion, power and precision of those Nou Camp athletic elite have always influenced the Mighty 4th team. Obviously we hide it well but blow away the dust and you will find these values at the heart of the squad driving it forward to ever greater glory. Stirring stuff or what, eh!
Unfortunately the weather on Saturday morning was as damp and moist as Chris Bent’s laundry basket with all the attractiveness of his broken big toe! That’s right it is ugly, just like Mr Bent’s last three hot dates! For those of you sensing a theme running through the last few lines, then you will be glad to know that Mr Bents is now regretting recently calling me a ‘Chubby version of Gazza!’
Since the beginning of the New Year, the mighty 4th team have been improving slowly. Last week’s victory against Sanderstead gave the team more belief that we can win those tight matches in which we have too often come second.
We welcomed Nathan’s brother Ben to the centre of defence for a one match only appearance who was flanked either side by Harmer and Smith (the very old) at right and left back respectively. Smith (the slightly old) returned between the posts stinking of deep heat in an attempt to avoid tweaking his back again. The midfield consisted of Howie anchoring the centre of the park with a strong line of Grant, Rob J and Nathan working their magic in the middle. Upfront Jamal ‘AKA The Thames Ditton Chopper’ returned to centre forward with Smith (the much younger) and Smeer, both of whom are on fire at the moment, working the wings.
Alas for the first 15 minutes we showed OR’s too much respect and we fell behind to a lucky goal which came from us not clearing our lines after a short corner. From that point onwards the traffic was only one way and the mighty 4th’s spent most of the time camped in the oppositions half. Countless opportunities came and went but our forward line could just not find the clinical finishing touch. With Smeer taking a break on the side line, Nick J waddled onto the pitch and managed to unleash a stunning hit from the top of the D which flew the keeper, clipped the last defender on the knee cap and shattered the backboard. Nick wheeled away from the goal knowing that he had managed to score with only his third touch of the match and broken his record from the previous week. Before half time we went close on several occasions with the pick of the bunch Joe’s inch perfect shot that avoided three defenders and then pinged off the outside of the post! The OCHC subs bench obviously decided to reverse sledge our own team for their inabilities which made the driving rain only feel like a minor issue.
At half time both teams came in and knew that the next goal was going to settle the match. The OC’s were in the ascendency but we needed to be cruelly clinical, decidedly dirty and excruciatingly evil ...just like Robin Crumby’s chat up lines. From the re start we took the fight to the OR’s again and started to work the angles but all to no avail. It was not until Smeer returned to the pitch that he scored two glorious goals, one a half volley from a tricky cross and the other a deft deflection around the advancing keeper. At 3-1 up we started to really stretch the opposition with the right hand side of Atushi, Nathan and Jamal pressing hard to find the next opening. Alas Jamal was struggling to get past the oppositions left back and on countless occasions lost the ball due to dubious lack of basic skills. In fact, the OCHC bench were so distressed they demanded that Jamal ‘get the bloody basic’s right!’ Alas Jamal thought that this was the opposition umpire sledging him and amusingly turned around to unleash a volley of disgust, thankfully he realised his mistake in time.
As the clock ran down we mounted numerous attacks against a tiring OR defence. With a ball released by Smith (the very old) at left back, which facilitated a lighting break from midfield to release Smith (the much younger) to run at the OR back line. A quick one – two with Jamal, allowed Smith (the much younger) to stroke the ball past the keeper and into the goal. As Smith (the much younger) wheeled away in delight, it was reported that Smith (the very old) commented ‘I made that!’
At the final whistle, we had won 4-1 which gave us back to back victories for the first time this season.
Harmer’s Column signing off. Steve Harmer
St Albans 3-1 Veterans XI
Havant 2-2 1st XI
Click here for match photos
The 1st XI came away from league leaders Havant with a superb 2-2 draw, vindicating the decision to stick with a winning side rather than chop and change depending on availability. Full report to follow.
2nd XI 6-0 Trinity Old Midwhitgiftians
Click here for match photos
The 2nd XI recorded their first win of the season – they have been playing well of late but lacked the confidence in front of goal – and were boosted by the 1st XI decision to retain a winning team and in so doing releasing a couple of returning absentees to the side. Three goals in either half was not an unfair reflection on the game, and while it may have come too late, it was a much-needed and deserved morale-boosting victory.
Ladies XI 4-1 Wanderers
The Ladies enjoyed a well-earned win over Wanderers II, a side struggling at the bottom of the division above. In the first half it appeared as if Wanderers would prove too strong for us as we struggled to break down their defence and allowed their midfield to control the pace, their goal on 17 minutes the only one of the half. But even without an inspirational talk from Goalie, we were a different side in the second half, with Philly tormenting their defence, our midfield in charge and our defence rock solid. A well-struck Sarah Mann goal off a short corner level the score seven minutes after the break, and then a slick and classy strike from Philly put us ahead five minutes later. As Wanderers wobbled, Michelle, who was also causing no end of problems, slotted a well-taken third and then Philly rounded off the scoring two minutes from time.
Sunbury and Walton Hawks 4-2 3rd XI
Report to follow
4th XI 4-1 Old Reigatians
Stung by recent comments such as ‘Who needs Harmer?’ or even the rather ill informed ‘Who is Harmer?’ Harmer’s Column returns to the coal face this week after spending eight days studying the playing techniques of Barcelona FC in the Catalonian capital. The passion, power and precision of those Nou Camp athletic elite have always influenced the Mighty 4th team. Obviously we hide it well but blow away the dust and you will find these values at the heart of the squad driving it forward to ever greater glory. Stirring stuff or what, eh!
Unfortunately the weather on Saturday morning was as damp and moist as Chris Bent’s laundry basket with all the attractiveness of his broken big toe! That’s right it is ugly, just like Mr Bent’s last three hot dates! For those of you sensing a theme running through the last few lines, then you will be glad to know that Mr Bents is now regretting recently calling me a ‘Chubby version of Gazza!’
Since the beginning of the New Year, the mighty 4th team have been improving slowly. Last week’s victory against Sanderstead gave the team more belief that we can win those tight matches in which we have too often come second.
We welcomed Nathan’s brother Ben to the centre of defence for a one match only appearance who was flanked either side by Harmer and Smith (the very old) at right and left back respectively. Smith (the slightly old) returned between the posts stinking of deep heat in an attempt to avoid tweaking his back again. The midfield consisted of Howie anchoring the centre of the park with a strong line of Grant, Rob J and Nathan working their magic in the middle. Upfront Jamal ‘AKA The Thames Ditton Chopper’ returned to centre forward with Smith (the much younger) and Smeer, both of whom are on fire at the moment, working the wings.
Alas for the first 15 minutes we showed OR’s too much respect and we fell behind to a lucky goal which came from us not clearing our lines after a short corner. From that point onwards the traffic was only one way and the mighty 4th’s spent most of the time camped in the oppositions half. Countless opportunities came and went but our forward line could just not find the clinical finishing touch. With Smeer taking a break on the side line, Nick J waddled onto the pitch and managed to unleash a stunning hit from the top of the D which flew the keeper, clipped the last defender on the knee cap and shattered the backboard. Nick wheeled away from the goal knowing that he had managed to score with only his third touch of the match and broken his record from the previous week. Before half time we went close on several occasions with the pick of the bunch Joe’s inch perfect shot that avoided three defenders and then pinged off the outside of the post! The OCHC subs bench obviously decided to reverse sledge our own team for their inabilities which made the driving rain only feel like a minor issue.
At half time both teams came in and knew that the next goal was going to settle the match. The OC’s were in the ascendency but we needed to be cruelly clinical, decidedly dirty and excruciatingly evil ...just like Robin Crumby’s chat up lines. From the re start we took the fight to the OR’s again and started to work the angles but all to no avail. It was not until Smeer returned to the pitch that he scored two glorious goals, one a half volley from a tricky cross and the other a deft deflection around the advancing keeper. At 3-1 up we started to really stretch the opposition with the right hand side of Atushi, Nathan and Jamal pressing hard to find the next opening. Alas Jamal was struggling to get past the oppositions left back and on countless occasions lost the ball due to dubious lack of basic skills. In fact, the OCHC bench were so distressed they demanded that Jamal ‘get the bloody basic’s right!’ Alas Jamal thought that this was the opposition umpire sledging him and amusingly turned around to unleash a volley of disgust, thankfully he realised his mistake in time.
As the clock ran down we mounted numerous attacks against a tiring OR defence. With a ball released by Smith (the very old) at left back, which facilitated a lighting break from midfield to release Smith (the much younger) to run at the OR back line. A quick one – two with Jamal, allowed Smith (the much younger) to stroke the ball past the keeper and into the goal. As Smith (the much younger) wheeled away in delight, it was reported that Smith (the very old) commented ‘I made that!’
At the final whistle, we had won 4-1 which gave us back to back victories for the first time this season.
Harmer’s Column signing off. Steve Harmer
St Albans 3-1 Veterans XI
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