Newsletter w/c 02/11/20
Sadly due to the restrictions of the national lockdown all amateur football will be put on hold until Dec 2nd at the earliest. We are wishing all members and their families well during this difficult time and we hope we are back playing football again in early December.
Results Sat 31.11.20 & Sun 01.11.20
| Team | Opposition | R | Score |
| 1sts | Fitzwilliam Old Boys | W | 3-1 |
| 2nds | Clissold Park Rangers | L | 1-0 |
| 3rds | Economicals II | L | 6-2 |
| 4ths | Old Guildfordians | L | 4-3 |
| 5ths | Old Tiffinians II | W | 5-3 |
| 6ths | Shene OG IV | W | 3-2 |
| 7ths | Dorkinians VI | W | 3-2 |
| 8ths | Reigatians VI | – | P-P |
| Sat Vets | Bank of England (friendly) | W | 2-1 |
| Sun Vets | Old Chigwellians (LOB Cup Final) | W | 4-2 |
WE ARE CHAMPIONS AGAIN!
Congratulations to our Sunday Vets who picked up their second trophy of the delayed 19/20 season by beating Old Chigweillians 4-2 at Riverside Lands. A big thanks to everyone who came down to support them.
Golden Boot
| Name | Goals |
|---|---|
| Russell Cherry | 6 |
| Ben Weeks | 6 |
| Chris Bridle | 5 |
| Mohammed Ebzary | 5 |
| Ali Gordon | 5 |
| Xavier Mackney | 4 |
| Ed McKenna | 4 |
Old Meads Table of Tables
| P | S | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PT |
| 1 | 4s | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 13 |
| 2 | 1s | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| 3 | 7s | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 28 | -11 | 10 |
| 4 | 2s | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 7 |
| 5 | 3s | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 7 |
| 6 | 8s | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 13 | -2 | 6 |
| 7 | 6s | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 17 | -6 | 6 |
| 8 | 5s | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 19 | -5 | 3 |
| 9 | Vets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
Match Reports
Meads 1 V Fitzwilliam1 Won 3-1
Date -24/10/20
Location – Hamptonians FC HQ
Personnel involved in scouting mission – Gordy (organiser) , Big Kev ( participant)
Report – The objective of this event was to discover the patterns of play and footballing skills associated to Hampton and Fitz prior to the game against Fitz on 31/10/20. The two personnel attended the location and for 45 minutes watched Hampton play against “Fitzwilliam” and both reached the same conclusion- nothing to worry about here.
Problem identified – Gordy had got the wrong time 2pm, and they had just watched the Hampton second team play against some random team for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, Hampton ones were drawing 2-2 with Fitz on an astro about half a mile away and had kicked off at 1pm!!!!
Conclusion – Lets keep this to ourselves and not let the lads know – agreed by both personnel.
Outcome – Kev grassed Gordy up and the wig nestled firmly on his head FFFS
We turned up to the so called “White City Tiger Club” in plenty of time and with the heavens opening up to destroy any chance of changing by the pitch. I fully expected to see Carole “F**” Baskin or Joe Exotic to appear at any stage . If there were any tigers there they would have to be small, very very small- well certainly as small as the pitch that we played on. It was the largest 9-a-side pitch I’ve seen and the carpet on my stairs has more purchase. I initially thought we had the wrong venue as I was not convinced 11 a side could be played there.
However the ref pitched up and was warmly greeted by myself and Kev , which stood us in good stead for what was to come.
We took to the game with a new look midfield of Cain , Brandon and Jay at the bottom of the triangle. Fitz laid their game plan out fairly quickly, play it long and high , niggly fouls and non-stop moaning. To be fair in the first 15 minutes we looked really good , our pass and move was first class and we just couldn’t find the final ball. The wind played a huge part as did our in ability to retain possession when we had the ball. We were battered in both halves by corners which in the main we dealt with really well. As usual Brighty was being targeted for unnecessary and ruthless foul play. It was from a resultant free kick that Cano delivered perfectly through the crowd into the box and as it crossed the line Medish finished it off to make it 1-0 Meads after about 25 minutes. The oppos answered quickly and were closed down again and again to prevent them scoring. We then had another opportunity from Xavi and the rebound from Brighty from which their keeper made an incredible double save. We turned round 1-0up.
The second half started with Brandon being replaced by Harry Sanders making his first team debut after starring for the 2s this season. After around a minute Xavi disposed their midfielder and now with the swirling wind at our back let one loose from around 40 yards. The ball travelled like a rocket past the outstretched palm of their keeper to rattle into the top right hand postage stamp area of the oppos goal. Top Bins 2-0 Meads. We then started to play a bit with our unforced errors becoming sustained periods of passing and control. Don’t get me wrong the oppos were still very dangerous playing in Joe Exotics back yard and from a corner an unmarked defender headed home to ruin our clean sheet 2-1. We then stepped up a gear, Timmins now replacing Caino and Xavi being replaced by the now svelte looking Joe Jones.
There was still more to come with the oppos having replaced their right back with an old fat lad Medish was proving to much for him. They did what any team would do – they switched full backs to put him on Brighty who they considered the lower risk! We switched Medish for Brandon and we were gaining more and more possession – although Joe Marsh seemed determined to give it to the oppos at every opportunity!.
Jay Hawkins came really close with a long range effort palmed away by the keeper and Brighty was rampaging down the right. However Brandon on his debut was not to be outdone. After great interplay with Joe Rich, Jay and Joe Jones , Brandon broke into their penalty box to seal the game 3-1. The ref blew up shortly afterwards to conclude a hard fought but well deserved win for Meads. Some star performances in the back 4 and by the midfield and strikers but after a debrief Jay Hawkins was named a well deserved MOM. Wig unfortunately was Manager Gordy.
We face Sutts next time out and have played them on Match day 1 we know what to expect COYMS
Old Meadonians V 5 – 3 Old Tiffinians II
Started from the bottom, now we’re here, started from the bottom, now my whole team F**ckin’ here….
In fairness, we’re still bottom….
On the plus side, Meads 5’s got the monkey off of our backs and finally got off the mark for the season with our first league win. After what seemed like an eternity of frustrating 1 goal defeats we put a game Tiffinians II’s side to the sword in the final game before lockdown 2.0.
Despite a heavy disadvantage from the wind, we took an early 2-0 lead through smart finishes from Stich and Big Bad Bridle (who later held a competition to win his boots which had been signed in the oppo’s blood). This was short lived though as the wind continued to play a huge factor, Tiffs consistent pressure paid off and we were pegged back to 2-2 by halftime, some smart stops from Tristan kept us level at the break.
The second half saw us start brightly and after camping in the Tiffs half for the first 15 minutes debutant Sam Jones rounded the keeper to make it 3-2. Due to recent results – this immediately led to squeaky bum time. All of a sudden, Tiffs broke and won a corner against the run of play, a flick on header crept in at the near post and it was 3-3. Here we go again….
Unlike previous week’s this only spurred us on and we continued to apply pressure, after a multitude of corners Big Bad Bridle powered a header home to make it 4-3 and then Sam Jones capped the day off with another smart finish to put us out of sight at 5-3.
A well-deserved and well overdue first win of the season in the bag and some great performances from the boys, in particular:
- – Tristan Evans – Put on a clinic between the sticks in the first half to keep us in it
- – Chris Bridle – Immense, well deserved MOM and made at least 3 grown men cry (not quite as many as Clemo’s fancy dress)
- – Sam Jones – fantastic debut secured a well-earned Captains’ Choice
All in all, a good way to sign off for a few weeks’ and we’ll hit the ground running when we come back!
#COYM
Squad – Evans, Wallace, Tugman, Tanner, Klaksjnsneck, Gates, Ring, Youle, Bridle, Stichbury, Jones, Easter, Jackson
Meads 6s vs Shene OGs 4s
After a soul destroying defeat to the same opposition last week, something had to change. I was wracking my brain as to what it could be. Was it just bad luck? Was it the players? Were we just really unfit and the pre game cigarettes had to stop? Nah… Then it hit me.
Ladies and Gentleman, this week Meads 6s will he playing a Four-Four-F**king Two!
On paper we looked like a very good team and I really fancied our chances. Greg asked me at the beginning of the game how we were going to play this 442. ‘How am I supposed to know? Just do whatever you want’ was not the reply he was expecting.
Meads started well and were knocking the ball about nicely on the slightly soggy Riverside Lands. But then again we did this at their place too. Shene won a free kick from about 30 yards out and their midfielder came up to hit it. Instead of making its way towards goal, it cannoned off their onrushing player unmarked to rifle a shot passed Gribbler. No chance of saving it. 1-0 Shene.
Meads immediately hit back and took control of the game. Shene could not get close. They didn’t like that we had matched their physicality from the week before. Meads won a corner which was delivered in superbly by Dom for Jerome to poke home. 1-1. Then with 5 minutes to go before the half, some dilly dallying at the back by Smithy went punished as he was robbed by their striker who then lift the ball over Gribbler. 2–1. Shene at half time.
We knew we were the better team and our team talk reminded us of that. So we went out and done exactly what we did in the first half. We battled, we gave them nothing, we played lovely football and…. we, well Jacob, rode his luck. I then had to come off injured again (Yeah, Yeah, I shouldn’t have played so soon) after another last ditch tackle.
Meads levelled after some more nice passing amongst each other, Dom played a lovely through ball to Kortney who nutmegged their defender before smashing the ball past the keeper with his left. 2-2. Jacob then badly missed timed a tackle and it almost certainly was a penalty. The ref waved play on, leading to their subs and manager to lose their heads claiming that the ref was my brother (I cant see the similarities between myself and Nathan to be honest) . After last week, they were off their heads and were told so (politely).
With the game on the pitch turning end to end and the match up on the sidelines because very, ‘heated’, Dom then seized his opportunity to bag his first goal since coming back from meads and made a mockery of the keeper in the process as he calmly slotted the ball through his legs for. 3-2 Meads. Gribbler was pulling off saves left right and centre, Jacob cleared one off the line. We ended up with a Centre back pairing with a combined height of 4ft after a spate of injuries and even had more chances to bury the game. But we dug deep. We got the win. 3-2 Meads Full Time.
What a win, what a performance! The oppo? Oh we didn’t hear a peep out of them again. What a difference a week makes!
Man of the Match: Jamie Rudkin
First game back at meads after a long spell out. But he took the battle to Shene and they did not want it.
Moose of the Match: Smithy
For the dilly dallying. Sloppy leads to goals!
7s match report
Final Score:
OMFC 3 – 2 Dorkinians
Old Meadonians very own Jekyll & Hyde side welcome Dorkinians to the riverside lands.
Pitch conditions, far from ideal, weather is blustery and wet, players are unorganised and hanging, Ref’s late but so is the oppo.
Unwilling to delay the kickoff the ref blows his whistle and the game is underway with dorking a man down.
With the wind behind us we wanted to capitalise on the numerical advantage, could we do this, simple answer is no!
Truth be told dorking played better with 10 men, we just take our time to find our flow but once we found our rhythm we just struggled to be ruthless.
11 v 11 now, 1 ball popped on the thorn bush and another lost to the allotments, we start peppering dorking’s goal mouth with a range of different shots. Will was unlucky to hit the post, Carlitos shot from outside the box was just a few inches from going in.
We looked in control but there was a feeling of deja vu, and without the usual superb goalkeeping exploits of Christian we could have found ourselves 1-0 down.
We continued to apply relentless pressure and were fortunate to be gifted a goal by dorking’s goalie who kicked the ball straight to Will who didn’t hesitate to stick the ball in the onion bag.
10 minutes on another goalkeeping error from a corner results in a rather dubious goal for Will, we let him have it but it was rather sketchy to say the least!
Half time, 2-0 up but now playing against the wind, naturally we end up conceding.
Christian fumbled a cross which caught a huge gust of wind, it literally just crossed the line as he got his other hand to it.
Within 5 minutes Andrews attempt at clearing another cross looped over Christian and into the back of the net.
That sinking feeling began to set in and we were beginning to feel like it just wasn’t going to be our day, however dorking’s spirited comeback was short lived.
Carlitos and Jerome were causing havoc from the wings, but it was actually Dave Maher who won us a penalty despite having to play in midfield to accommodate Carlitos complete lack of positional awareness.
Up steps Will for his hat trick who made no mistake in putting it past the keeper.
We switched up and went more defensive for the last 10, and didn’t give them an inch.
3 points and a good performance.
We go into lockdown on a high and with a renewed sense of optimism.
Saturday Vets Shock Bank of England who are top of the division above
Bank of England 1 – 2 Old Meadonians Vets
The Saturday Vets produced a dominant performance to overcome the table-topping Bank of England Vets in a well-contested friendly. Played out on the exquisite surface at the Bank’s home grounds in Roehampton, aided by the pre-match rainfall, the Meads were able to capitalise on the quality added by a couple of debutants and a number of players returning from recent injuries.
Meads opened the game confidently with the new additions and first-time combinations settling well into the 4-3-3 formation chosen for the game by Captain Fox. Despite not creating clear-cut chances, Meads were finding ways to break-through the Bank’s defensive shield. Building calmly from the back through Man of the Match Earl, Meads found lots of joy down the right with Delfines pushing on from right-back and linking well with Simon Robb.
The presence up-front added by debutant Jones, and the crisp passing from midfield of fellow-debutant Hornblow ensured Meads were also generated a threat through the middle, confident in the defensive cover provided by Killough and the tireless Wilson.
Despite their dominance, Bank’s quality was still evident, and the well-organised defence marshalled by Roberts had to stay alert. Meads, indeed, were thankful for an outstanding save by Bramble – ‘keeping in place of the injured Barrett. Flying high to his right, Bramble somehow got his fingertips to a stinging drive heading to the top corner.
The Meads response was swift and effective, taking the lead on 30 minutes. Working the ball down the left, stretching the Bank defence, Fox laid an incisive pass to the oncoming, un-marked Hornblow who steadied himself and bent a delightful finish to the top corner from 20 yards, leaving the unsighted keeper helplessly rooted to the spot.
As so often the case in this disjointed season, Meads failed to fully exploit their dominance and were punished shortly before half-time. Failing to clear their lines, a well hit volley from the edge of the area dipped and swerved, catching the previously unflappable Bramble out. Half-time arrived with the sides level.
Meads took advantage of the break and gout themselves organised and ready to go again. The injection of pace added by Allen on the left, replacing the ever-steady Barnett, created an extra threat – with willingness to carry the ball the length of the field (and then some!). With wise words from Bramble ringing in his ear, Killough regained his earlier composure to influence the game from the base of midfield.
The winning goal was to arrive shortly before the hour, and was a goal deserving to win any game. Once again playing out from the back, an under-pressure Killough held-off two challenges and laid the ball out to Delfines in space on the right. Moving the ball forward, Meads worked the ball to Robb who found a precise pass to Jones on the left of the penalty area. Dropping the shoulder to create space, Jones unleashed a blistering strike from 15 yards that gave the flying keeper no chance.
The ecstatic Meads revelled in the goal, but unlike previously quickly buckled down to concentrate on protecting the lead. As hard as Bank of England could try, they struggled to lay a glove on the Meads defence. The earlier introduction of Sowacki on the right had added energy and hassle that helped drive Meads forward when seemingly penned in.
The game became more and more disjointed – in no small part due to the increasingly petty interruptions of the referee. To the bewilderment of both sides, the referee, in fact, found ways to add fuel where no flames appeared to exist. Inexplicably, he chose to terminate the game 7/8 minutes early, having dug himself into a hole with players from both teams becoming frustrated by the lack of sense in his erratic decision-making and refusal to communicate his reasoning.
Nonetheless, the Meads had taken a thoroughly deserved 2nd win of the season and will be very hopeful that the newly-enforced break in the season allows for key players to recover full fitness and that we can build on this result for a strong season ahead.
Written by George Killough.
MOM: Nick Earl.