Match Report

(This match reports are biased, one sided and probably inaccurate)

NPL RESERVES 0-3 OLD BOYS CLAPHAM

Horner 6, 52,
Henderson 84

HT 0-1

NPL Sports Ground, Teddington

2pm kick off

ref:

Man of the match: 6. Marc Henderson

Line Up: Harman, Whelan, Idjiwa, Burke, McGuire, Horner, Kubik, Walsh (Henderson 80), Dundas, Belk (Barrett 72), Breen (Peters 72)

Old Boys Clapham bounced back from the midweek loss by coming out with all guns blazing at NPL. The big news before the game was that both midweek centre backs were dropped and Henderson was on the bench with OBC needing three points to close the gap on Norton FC and Kerria Knights. Charlie Horner grabbed an early goal thanks to a wonderful cross by Andy Dundas and Horner supplied the first of two sublime finishes. A mix of fine goalkeeping and poor misses kept the score 0-1 at halftime but Horner again popped up in the right place after the keeper made an excellent reaction save from the misfiring Matt Belk. Belk and Breen were subbed and Hendo came on to put the feel good factor back into OBC by heading home a Dundas corner from close range. For the most part it was the the Chaz and Whaz show down the right wing with Charlie Horner ("Chaz") and Alex Whelan ("Whaz") playing some exceptional football. The ball would not come out to Dundas who looked to the heavens to shout "For the Love of God, move the ball left!!" Dundas' spiritual outburst was something of a surprise but clearly The Almighty was not impressed as Dundas then proceeded to miss two absolute sitters as the game ended with hysteria breaking out on the OBC bench as the smiles returned.

How would OBC bounce back from the shock 3-2 defeat at the hands of Division Two leaders Stoneleigh Town in midweek? A reaction was needed and expected. Idjiwa Adjido and Grant Burke returned to the defence in place of Marc Henderson and Mark Kelly. Joe Kubik came in for Matt Fairbrother who returned to the Reserve squad after a good tryout for the firsts. Steve Harman continued in goal with Alex Whelan at right back and Idjiwa Adjido at left back. Grant Burke and Cian McGuire made up a new central defensive pairing. Across midfield Charlie Horner continued and was looking to keep his excellent personal form going after his stunning freekick in midweek. Ian Walsh was partnered by the returning Joe Kubik keen to keep hold of a midfield spot and Andy Dundas after playing well in midweek was pushed back to his usual left wing spot. Up front skipper Matt Belk was again partnered by Mike Breen. On the bench today Dean Barrett, Adam Peters and Marc Henderson.

The game kicked off at the very nice surroundings of the NPL Sports Club and Teddington in West London. Matt Belk won the toss and opted to kick into quite a strong wind. A small tight, neat pitch looked very inviting to the OBC. NPL looked pretty determined as they worked through some pretty mean looking drills and they had a good opening spell as they forced Chaz into conceding an early corner which was headed over and wide by the NPL player.

Matt Belk and Mike Breen were flagged offside on decent breakways but NPL could do nothing about the excellent delivery by Andy Dundas across the pitch to Charlie Horner at the back post who calmly picked his spot from fifteen yards out to put OBC in front with our first attempt of the game. 0-1 Horner’s 9^th goal of the season.

NPL continued to try and press OBC in our own half and Cian McGuire was turned by a good piece of forward play but the striker was denied by Steve Harman in goal who showed excellent reactions to palm the ball out for another NPL corner in the tenth minute.

NPL forced two further corners in this opening fifteen minute spell but then OBC got going and started to dictate play as Chaz and Whaz started to turn on the style down the right with neat interplay and one-twos.

Mike Breen on the half volley hooked a well taken effort narrowly wide as OBC looked to double our lead. The pressure was now being applied as chances were being carved out with each attacking move. Matt Belk had a low shot cleared off the line in the seventeenth minute. Matt Belk was then put through on goal a minute later but he fired straight into the keeper.

Grant Burke had a free header powered over from eight yards out from an excellent Chaz corner and then Chaz was denied as he had an effort cleared off the line as NPL showed dogged determination to make sure OBC did not run away with the game.

Ian Walsh had a superb dipping drive from twenty five yards fisted over the bar by the keeper who made a smart save. From the corner Mike Breen was able to smash an effort goalwards but the keeper made another reaction save and the ball was tipped over. From that corner Andy Dundas whipped the ball in and Ian Walsh rose highest but planted a firm header at the keeper.

Even Whaz tried to break his OBC duck when he was allowed to play on the outside of Chaz. Whaz showed some good skills to dink inside and unleash a firm shot that curled wide of the goal from twenty five yards.

On thirty-nine minutes Matt Belk was again played through on goal but he was wide left of the penalty area. Belk hit a low drive across the keeper but the effort went well wide and never troubled the keeper. It was a good opportunity as both Breen and Chaz were busting as gut to get to the back post.

Belk had another opportunity to get on the score-sheet when another Chaz corner was expertly delivered and Belk met the ball unchallenged and powered a header over as he got not get his bearings right.

The last chance of the half fell to Walshy as Idjiwa advanced with the ball down the left and he knocked it back for Dundas to whip a ball to the back post from the left where it was met by Walsh but the effort dropped agonizingly wide of the post.

At half time Joicey said that this performance was much much better than the midweek performance and despite creating fourteen decent opportunities we had only one goal to show for it. Joicey reminded everyone that NPL may struggle further kicking into the wind and so we would have to come out and take advantage of this. Walshy said that NPL were still in the game and one goal could change this so we had to keep being positive and further goals should come.

The wind did prove to be a big help to the OBC. Andy Dundas looked to end his long goal drought when he got down the left wing and put a looping cross come wind assisted shot that the keeper did very well from stopping the shot dipping into the back of the net under the cross bar. Chaz was following up but the keeper got a block in and the ball went out for a corner.

From the corner Walsh got a free header but planted his header into the grateful arms of the keeper. Walsh could have had a hatrick of headers on another day.

OBC’s lead was doubled on the 52^nd minute when Dundas again got down the left where he hit a low cross for Breen to smash which was saved. The rebound fell to Belk to score but he hit the ball straight at the keeper when the net should have bulged but the keeper only manage to parry the ball out to Horner who smashed the ball back in from a tight angle into the far corner of the net and that was some thumping finish, bang! Horner’s 10^th goal of the season.

The pressure and momentum continued as Chaz corner was met by Cian McGuire. McGuire powered the ball past the beaten keeper but the defender on the line denied the big Irishman.

On sixty two minutes Belk was put through on goal once more but again hit the keeper. Like Walsh, Belk would have had a hatrick on another day.

At the other end NPL issued a wake up call as a rare sortie forward saw the initial challenge intercepted by Grant Burke. The ball was picked up by the NPL midfielder who knocked a first time ball to the striker who had not come back from an offside position as his momentum from the Grant tackle continued and the striker moved towards goal and he then finished smartly past Steve Harman in goal but the flag was rightly up.

NPL then forced Steve Harman into another smart save as he got down low to tip a good effort around the post.

At the other end Chaz had a hat-trick goal ruled out when his corner sailed into the roof of the net but the referee a bit harshly ruled for a freekick of Breen impeding the keeper.

On seventy one minutes Breen was put through on goal and thumped his effort off the post when he should have scored and the rebound fell to Belk with the goal at his mercy but the ball took a wicked bounce and he miskicked the ball into the grateful arms of the keeper. Joicey had seen enough chances come and go and the pair were subbed. On came Dean Barrett and Adam Peters.

The chances continued to be created and the ball went increasingly out to the right as Peters and Barrett drifted right to get in on the Whaz and Chaz show. A frustrated Andy Dundas got to his knees and called to the skies and shouted “For the love of God, move the ball left!!!” Well, he did not get down on his knees, I made that bit up, but the call had everyone watching in stitches and for the rest of the game Dundas had the piss taken out of him it.

It did not help that Dundas had two absolute sitters before the game but God showed no mercy and denied the flying winger as Dundas fired straight at the keeper after good work by Adam Peters who put a beautiful ball across the box where Dundas and Kubik were waiting for a tap in. Dundas opted to shoot but the keeper, no doubt with the help of Jesus, saved with his legs.

As the game entered its closing stages Marc Henderson was introduced at centre back for Ian Walsh with Cian McGuire being pushed into central midfield. Henderson got the last laugh when a Dundas corner was whipped in a Hendo does not miss from one yard out (as per Wednesday night!) but this time it was in the right net and the game was won. Henderson’s 6^th goal of the season on 84 minutes.

A cracking game, loads of chances and gags. Hopefully the win will inspire us to another win against Worcester Park on Tuesday which could be a difficult game as they have a lot of players as they are a big club. A win against Worcester Park would move us two points with Norton with three games in hand. Norton next play on Easter Saturday at Kerria Knights.

The results went our way yesterday as fellow League Shield finalists St. Andrews beat Kerria Knights 3-2 and Balham FC overcame Pilgrims Well 4-2 to end their promotion bid. Norton did not play. The results put OBC up to 2^nd in the league and we can finish no lower than third. With the Intermediate Divisions expected to be reorganised next season as three teams have left Intermediate One, it seems a certainty that we will be in Intermediate Two next season even if we finish third. So well done lads but its important we keep the winning run going at Worcester Park before our big, big game next Saturday at Alfold in the County Cup Semi-Final.

Elsewhere OBC Reserves missed a glorious chance to stretch their lead at the top of Division Three to five points over Epson Eagles who did not play due to their cup win the previous evening. OBC missed plenty of opportunities but had to settle for a 3-3 draw with Cheam Village Warriors as they came from behind to draw 3-3, goals from Jamie Bradley and a brace Emmett Shingler.

Peter Joicey
01 April 2012