Westside Reserves 4-6 Old Boys Clapham 07.05.2011

Match Report by Peter Joicey

the contents of this report are biased, one sided and probably inaccurate

Late second half goals from Emmett Shingler and Joe Chun sealed a convincing win against Division Two strugglers Ashtead. Dean Barrett had given the Old Boys Clapham the lead with a delightful lob from twenty five yards. But some inspired goalkeeping from the Ashtead stopper kept the OBC from running rampant. Ashtead had two great chances to equalise and Alex Whelan headed off the line to keep the OBC clean sheet intact. Emmett Shingler fired in a quick fire brace and was denied a hatrick by a string of stunning late saves and Joe Chun wrapped up the game with a belter from the edge of the penalty area. OBC still have it all to do against Old Plymouthians at Colliers Wood United on Wednesday evening where a win would see OBC promoted to Division 1.

After the shock 6-3 defeat in the Cup Final just two days before OBC were down to the bare bones after injuries and knocks. Matt Custance looked to put his cup final nightmare behind him and was in determined mood to ensure that the promotion push continued. Across the back Alex Whelan continued at right back and Andy Cochrane was again partnered by skipper Alex McGreevy. Simon Burbage returned to left back after impressing in last weeks 4-0 win at Croydon Greenside. In midfield Mahf Chowdhury returned on the right wing. Charlie Horner started only his second game in centre midfield and striker Ed Uff was asked to partner him as both Mike Breen and Cian McGuire picked up knocks in the final. Joe Chun on an excellent run of form continued wide left. Up front was the inform Dean Barrett was partnered by Emmett Shingler as Matt Belk was away. On the bench were Michael Nguyen, Paul Lewis and Peter Joicey.

OBC returned to one our favourite grounds having never lost a game at Ashtead. It was a beautiful cloudless sunny day and it was the perfect spring day. OBC kicked off into a strong headwind and were unlucky not to break the deadlock within ninety seconds as a brilliant Joe Chun corner was not tapped in at the back post.

OBC showed good early pressure and Mahf Chowdhury had a goal bound effort deflected off the centre back and over the bar from six yards after good work by Emmett Shingler. Alex McGreevy whipped in a delightful ball that curled the wrong side of the far post when it looked as if it may dip into the top corner of the net.

Dean Barrett had a fine effort in the eleventh minute when he did a good turn and shot that was well saved by the keeper’s excellent reflexes. A minute later the keeper was forced into an acrobatic save to tip a brilliant dipping effort by Joe Chun from twenty five yards over the bar for another OBC corner. McGreevy’s whipped corner was expertly delivered and the big centre back had to head over his own bar to deny the OBC.
OBC were playing excellent pass and move football all over the pitch. Charlie Horner and Ed Uff commanded the midfield whilst the front four of Joe Chun, Mahf Chowdhury, Dean Barrett and Emmett Shingler showed infectious movement to confuse the Ashtead back four.

Mahf Chowdhury showed excellent skills on the right wing and delivered a perfect ball across the six yard box but the ball went agonisingly behind Dean Barrett with the goal gaping. Joicey was hoping it was not going to be one of those days.

And it wasn’t when Dean Barrett lobbed the keeper from twenty five yards. The hard pitch meant that the ball often bounced high and was difficult to control. Charlie Horner played a lobbed through ball for Barrett to run onto and with the keeper advancing off his line Barrett expertly lifted the ball up and over the keeper and into the net for 0-1. 18 minutes gone. Barrett’s 18^th goal of the season.

Ashtead broke forward rarely as they kept seven players in their own half so worried were they by the OBC’s attacking play. But Ashtead’s first attack saw an excellent ball from the right wing headed out by Andy Cochrane at the back post as the striker looked favourite to win the header.

Emmett Shingler nearly doubled the lead with a glancing header after a perfect ball from Dean Barrett on the left wing touchline. The header went fractionally wide of the right hand post.

Ashtead should have equalised on the twenty sixth minute when Alex Whelan under hit a pass to Andy Cohrane inside the OBC penalty area after initially doing well to dispossess the winger. The ball was intercepted and laid on a plate for the big number nine but he rushed his shot and thankfully put the ball wide of the near post.

OBC continued to pile forward and Dean Barrett had another shot deflected over the bar for a corner. Again another brilliant corner was met this time by Andy Cochrane but he could only direct his header over the bar.

Matt Custance then made a brilliant save to deny Andy Cochrane putting through his own net. A long ball upto the OBC backline was touched on by Cochrane and with Custance closing in he had to make an excellent reflex save to stop the ball going past him. That was close.

Ashtead were starting to grow in confidence and they did beat Matt Custance a minute later after an excellent ball to the back post from deep was powerfully headed goalwards and Alex Whelan popped up from nowhere to head of the line. A superb bit of defending by the full back on thirty-three minutes.

Ashtead were in the ascendancy now as OBC appeared to be getting nervous as the second goal appeared to allude us.

Ed Uff gave away a free kick wide and near the right touchline. A well struck free-kick caught the wind and looked to be dipping in, and had it been Thursday night it would have gone in but thankfully it grazed the top of the OBC crossbar and out for a goal kick.

The last chance of the half fell to Joe Chun who powered an effort from four yards but somehow it was cleared off the line and away. OBC always looked dangerous going forward and at least we finished the half back on the front foot.

At half time Joicey told the players to stop all the tricks and flicks and focus on getting the ball down and into the corners where we were having so much joy in the first half of the half. Joicey switched Emmett Shingler and Mahf Chowdhury in an attempt to change our fortunes in front of goal.

The second half kicked off with the wind at the OBC’s backs. Within minutes OBC had a great chance to double lead and we found ourselves three on one at the back but Mahf could not control the ball and the keeper collected when it seemed that the winger had too many options to pick from.

Emmett Shingler then played an excellent through ball for Joe Chun but Chun could not control the ball as it bobbled up and he could not steer the ball past the advancing keeper who bundled the ball out for a corner. From the corner Andy Cochrane had a free header but like the first half headed over when he should have hit the target.

Shingler was involved again as he hit a thunderous effort from a narrow angle on the right and keeper made a super reflex save to tip the effort around the post for another OBC corner.

Ashtead went close to equalising in the sixty-third minute when the substitute played a nice ball to the striker as they hit us on the counter attack. The striker turned around Andy Cochrane and curled a shot just wide of Matt Custance’s far post. Thankfully it was to be Ashtead’s only meaningful effort on goal of the half.

The game was started to get a bit nervy with neither side really making much headway. Simon Burbage and Alex Whelan were working hard to keep the Ashtead deliveries to a minimum.

Joicey decided to bring on French winger Michael Nguyen for Mahf Chowdhury who played well but the ball was not falling for him. Nguyen went wide left, Joe Chun moved wide right and Emmett Shingler was pushed back up front.

The changes may have disorientated the home side as the substitution reaped immediate rewards. French Mike got the ball on the left wing and retained possession. Nguyen found Ed Uff who knocked the ball back to Simon Burbage as OBC probed the Ashtead defence. A series of over ten passes saw the ball come to Charlie Horner on the edge of the penalty area who expertly played in Joe Chun who powered a shot off the keeper but the rebound fell kindly for Emmett Shingler who controlled a first time strike from the edge of the area to finally put two goals between the OBC and Ashtead. Shingler’s 11^th goal of the season on 79 minutes.

Within two minutes Emmett Shingler added a third when an excellent driving run by Charlie Horner played in Shingler who had the simplest of tap ins on 81 minutes. Shingler’s 12^th goal of the season.

Shingler was denied a hatrick when Michael Nguyen whipped in an excellent ball from the left wing but Shingler headed over from under the crossbar it looked harder to miss. Shingler was then denied by another reflex save from the outstanding Ashtead keeper.

The game was wrapped up in the 88^th minute when Horner again set up Joe Chun to blast into the roof of the net from twenty five yards. A quality strike and a great way to end the game. Chun’s 10^th goal of the season.

The result means we have to beat Old Plymouthians on Wednesday at Colliers Wood United and then we would only need a draw on the final day of the season against inform Westside at Oberon Park, Raynes Park. A win on Wednesday would see OBC finish a minimum of second as a result of having a goal difference straight out of the SPL.

Peter Joicey
01.05.2011

		1. Custance

37. Whelan	2. Cochrane		3. McGreevy	15. Burbage

	12. Horner		39. Uff
7. Chowdhury				35. Chun
	10. Barrett		29. Shingler