((These match reports are biased, one sided and probably inaccurate)
OLD BOYS CLAPHAM 4-1 RH123 RESERVES
Breen 7, 33
Walsh 44, 72
Carlshalton Athletic FC
7.30pm kick off
ref: Simon Craig, assistants Mr R Dick, Mr N Arbuckle, 4th official Mr
G Ellis
Line up: Harman, Whelan, Idjiwa (Barrett 78), McGuire, Burke, Horner
(Shingler 70), Walsh, Kubik (Peters 73), Dundas, Belk, Breen
Half time 3-1
Man of the match: 18. Super Mike Breen
BREEN BLASTS OBC TO HISTORIC LEAGUE & CUP TREBLE
Old Boys Clapham won Surrey FA County Cup Final at Carlshalton
Athletic FC by beating Redhill & District side RH123 Reserves. Mike
Breen scored a 7th minute opener after sweeping home a delightful
cross from Matt Belk. Grant Burke was unfortunate to score an own
goal to level the game in the 11th minute but back came man of the
match Breen who hit a twenty five yard screamer off the underside of
the RH123 crossbar to knock the wind out of the opposition on 33
minutes. Ian Walsh hit a third on the stroke of half time and then
added another half way through the second half to seal the win. Both
Walsh and Breen had good chances to complete their hat-tricks but
OBC remained solid as we looked to see out the game. Old Boys
Clapham have completed a remarkable 2011/12 season as the first
team won the County Cup, the League Shield competition and the
Division One League championship. Added to this the Reserves
team had a great first season finishing runners up in SSECL Division
Three. The end of season awards and party will be sometime in July,
with an open top bus and tickertape celebration through Clapham
High St to be announced. Well done all and thank you for a great
season!!!
The last fixture of the 2011/12 season was delayed from Thursday 10th May
due to South Park FC’s pitch being waterlogged after heavy rain. The re-
arranged date of Friday 18th May at Carlshalton Athletic meant that the pitch
was much closer to central London and it allowed Cian McGuire and Idjiwa
Adjido to recover enough from knocks which meant they were able to play.
Marc Henderson was unavailable due to being on a stag do in Prague. Mark
Kelly could not get out of work commitments and Matt Fairbrother had
received surgery on his hand in the week so those two could not play.
The line-up was a very strong one with Steve Harman in goal. Across the
back were Alex Whelan, Idjiwa Adjido, Grant Burke and Cian McGuire.
Across midfield were Charlie Horner, Ian Walsh, Joe Kubik and Andy
Dundas. Up front skipper Matt Belk was joined by Mike Breen. On the
bench were Dean Barrett, Adam Peters, Emmett Shingler and Reserve
team captain Andy Cochrane who was on stand-by should Cian McGuire
be forced off.
Before the kick-off Old Boys Clapham FC found that the opposition had all
arrived at the ground at least ninety minutes before kick off and we as usual
had to wait for one or two that had difficult journeys from work. RH123 (RH
stands for Redhill) looked smart and prepared as they carried out neat drills
whilst we looked a bit of a shambles to be honest and our casual manner at
least hid our appetite for the big games which perhaps put RH123 into a
false sense of security.
The game kicked off with OBC flying out of the traps. Mike Breen nearly
opened the scoring with our first attack in the second minute. Breen raced
away down the left had side of the box and forced the keeper to parry a well
struck shot out for a corner. The corner was cleared but OBC were able to
maintain the early pressure and Joe Kubik hit a low shot from the edge of
the area that was saved by the keeper.
Grant Burke was unlucky not to break the deadlock as he had stayed up for
Belk long throw but the ball came back out to Alex Whelan who whipped in
a beautiful ball to the unmarked Burke at the back post. Burke’s free header
got the desired power but not the direction and the ball went wide.
Mike Breen opened the scoring in the 7th minute when Andy Dundas and
Matt Belk linked up well on the left hand side of the penalty box which
allowed Belk to dink in delightful ball into the path of the flying Breen who
tucked away the ball with a neat left footed flick past the keeper. 1-0 OBC
Breen’s 17th goal of the game.
RH123 were given the opportunity to get back on level terms when Cian
McGuire uncharacteristically missed his kick to let in the big striker but
Steve Harman flew out to the rescue and made a smart save to palm the
ball out for a corner.
From the corner the RH123 striker lost his marker and powered a free
header wide as OBC looked like a boxer on the ropes.
The pressure paid off as a long throw in was headed beyond Steve Harman
by Grant Burke as he and McGuire seemed to be challenging each other for
the same ball. The ball took acquired a wicked amount of spin of our big
centre back and the ball looped into the net for an unfortunate equaliser. 1-1
11 minutes gone.
The goal galvanised OBC as Breen was a constant threat. It was clear that
RH123 had done their homework and were looking to mark Belk out of the
game but they had no answer for the pace and power of Mike Breen. Belk
won a flick on and Breen hit a low fizzing shot that went a fraction of the
wrong side of the post.
It was all one way traffic and OBC were unlucky not to have been awarded
a penalty on thirty minutes when a defender used his arm to stopped the
ball breaking for an OBC player in the box but the referee waved away any
appeal as play continued.
Then Breen scored the goal of the season bar none. Another Belk flick on
was perfectly weighted for Breen to run onto, did he take a touch? Did he
need to? No he thumped it first time in off the underside of the cross bar
from twenty five yards. A strike that nearly burst a net, what a screamer. 2-
1 OBC Breen’s 18th goal of the season. Finals deserve great goals and that
one will live long in the memory of those that were there to witness it.
The goal seemed to deflate RH123 as they realised we don’t need Belk to
score and they could not match us when we had them turned and running
back to goal. It was clear that they had one or two players carrying injuries
so it was very difficult for them to get into the game.
Steve Harman saved bravely at the feet of their excellent Brazilian player,
the number ten. The player was lucky not to have been cautioned for
leaving his studs in on our big stopper.
Grant Burke made a crucial block with his right testicle in the thrity ninth
minute as he flew himself at a goal bound effort from the edge of the area. It
shows how good a team you’ve got when players are prepared to put their
nads on the line for the cause.
The game was effectively wrapped up in the final minute before the break
when Ian Walsh got on the end of an excellent passage of play involving
Charlie Horner, Whelan, Kubik, Belk and Breen as little six yard passes
were too quick for the Redhill side and Walsh was cool as a cucumber to
tuck the ball under the keeper and in for 3-1. Walsh’s 15th goal of the
season.
There was still time for the score to be extended as Matt Belk burst through
the RH123 backline but with Breen taking up an excellent position to his left,
Belk opted for power and glory from twenty five yards and the effort flew
wide. After scoring 38 goals this season you can’t blame the big man for
trying.
At half time Joicey reminded everyone of the Stoneleigh Town game and
how goals can change games. They’ll have to come out flying in the
second half to get back in the game so we had to just shut them out and
focus on not conceding. Joicey said that the last ten minutes of play was
excellent and that the opposition were less effective when the ball was
played around them. Joicey said focus on getting around the full backs as
this is what we had done well in the first half.
The first effort of the second half was from Mike Breen as hit a firm angled
half-volley which forced the keeper to tip the ball over the bar on forty six
minutes.
RH123 tried to get extra bodies forward but Cian McGuire and Grant Burke
were playing excellently now. Everything in the air was dealt with by
McGuire and Burke and everything on the ground was dealt with by the
excellent Alex Whelan and the hard working Idjiwa Adjido.
OBC were down to ten men for five or six minutes as Grant Burke had to
be treated for a blood injury with Matt Belk going to centre back as Paul
Lewis and Alex McGreevy saw to the injured centre back.
When Grant did return to the pitch he did an amazing gaoling clearance
from under the cross bar. RH123 had looked to have got themselves back
in the game with a well worked move and Steve Harman beaten Burke slid
in to sky the ball clear with an amazing piece of defending.
Then Cian McGuire did a double tackle making one thunderous tackle after
another to stop the RH123 forwards from breaking into the box.
The tide began to turn when a good ball up to Mike Breen was controlled by
his right foot and smashed with his left from twelve yards, it should have
been his hat-trick but the effort lifted just over the bar.
Joicey introduced Emmett Shingler for Charlie Horner to introduce added
pace and give the opposition something extra to worry about. The local
officials came with their own electric board which looked good but meant
that it took over five minutes to get each sub on the pitch. There was also a
form to fill in for each sub.
Whilst distracted Ian Walsh tucked away his second of the game again
after a fine piece of interplay from not sure who as I was distracted with all
the fuss on the side lines. I am sure it was a good goal though, 4-1 OBC
Walsh’s 16th goal of the season.
Adam Peters was introduced for the ever industrious Joe Kubik in central
midfield and Dean Barrett came on for the carrying Idjiwa Adjido with Andy
Dundas filling in at left back.
The fourth goal killed any hope that RH123 had and Ian Walsh put a free
header wide to deny him what would have been a deserved hat-trick.
Moments later Walsh appeared to be one on one with the keeper but opted
to pass to Belk or Barrett and the defenders were able to get a good block
in on the shot.
The referee added six minutes of stoppage time before blowing the whistle
and the County Cup was won. The county FA officials voted Mike Breen as
the cup final man of the match and it was a nice touch that the man of the
match announcement was done before the game ended whilst the players
were playing and I’m sure it meant a lot to Mike’s dad who had travelled a
long way to see his son play in the game. Well done to Breen all those that
played and made this achievement possible. A great result and a great way
to end an absolutely fantastic season. Division One league champions,
League Shield winners and now County Cup winners. 2012/13 can’t start
soon enough.
**** OLD BOYS CLAPHAM WILL RETURN ****
Peter Joicey
20.05.2012
