Norton 0-4 Old Boys Clapham - 18 February 2012

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

NORTON 0-4 OLD BOYS CLAPHAM FC

McGuire 23,
Breen 45,
Belk 49,
Peters 68

Half time 0-2

Garratt Park

Geoff Ellis Premier Shield Quarter-Final

2pm kick off

ref: D Perry

Man of the match: 18. Mike Breen

Line Up: Harman, Whelan (Peters 53), Idjiwa, Grant, Henderson, McGuire (Chun 75), Breen, Walsh, Dundas (Barrett 70), Belk, Breen; subs not used: Joicey, Lewis

BREEN BREEZES PAST NORTON

Mike Breen hit a low fierce drive from twenty yards on the stroke of half-time to deny Norton at Garratt Park. Breen's man of the match performance was deserved as he chased down lost causes and was a constant threat alongside Matt Belk upfront. Earlier Cian McGuire had given OBC a 23rd minute lead when he reacted quickly to flick the ball over the keeper and into the top corner with his knee. Prior to McGuire’s 8^th goal of the season Norton had two glorious chances but whereas the home side missed their opportunities OBC showed ruthlessness by taking our two major chances. The tie was effectively over as a contest when Matt Belk hit his 31st goal of the season four minutes into the second half and Adam Peters rounded the game off with his first goal for the first team on 68 minutes. Ian Walsh was denied a picture book goal by an outstanding flying save from the Norton keeper to keep the score at 4-0. OBC closed up shop for the last twenty of minutes as Steve Harman kept his 5th clean sheet in a row. A semi-final tie against Kerria Knigts awaits on Saturday 10th March 2012.

A much anticipated tie against OBC’s former club and a quick return to Garratt Park after an entertaining 2-2 draw back in December. OBC were looking to make it six wins in a row and five clean sheets in a row. Norton were also looking to extend their recent good form.

Manager Peter Joicey named an unchanged line up from the side that ground out a 1-0 win over Chipstead A in the County Cup two weeks ago. Steve Harman continued in goal. Alex Whelan, Idjiwa Adjido, Marc Henderson and Grant Burke made up the back four. Across midfield were Charlie Horner, Cian McGuire, Ian Walsh and Andy Dundas. Up front were in form strikers Matt Belk and Mike Breen. On the bench today was Dean Barrett, Joe Chun and Adam Peters.

The game kicked off in a fast and furious manner with OBC creating three decent chances inside the first three minutes. Marc Henderson had a looping header from a Matt Belk throw land on the top of the net. Belk then had two great chances to open the scoring first with a low shot on the turn which was deflected around the post. The resulting corner was whipped in by Andy Dundas and Belk escaped his marker at the back post but headed over from a tight angle.

Ian Walsh headed wide when he had only the keeper to beat after a good through ball found the marauding midfielder. Walsh tried to flick the ball over the advancing keeper but in doing so placed the ball the wrong side of the post.

Norton then had a good spell of play midway through the half and moved the ball around quickly. A glorious chance fell to the number nine as a quick ball dissected the defence and the lad blazed the effort narrowly past the far post with Steve Harman beaten.

Harman then pulled off a smart save to deny Tauren Roberts at the near post. Tauren cut inside Alex Whelan and unleashed a well struck shot that Harman parried into the ground and Grant Burke was on hand to clear.

For all of OBC’s domination Norton started to look effective and controlled but those two missed opportunities were to prove costly.

Matt Belk had an effort cleared off the line and the resulting corner saw another scramble. Belk again tried to bundle the ball in but the loose ball fell to Cian McGuire who reacted nimbly to knee the ball up into the top corner of the net for his 8^th goal of the season on 23 minutes

The first half appeared to be heading towards a slender lead but Idjiwa Adjido brought the ball out of defence and played a neat little ball into the feet of Mike Breen just outside the penalty area. Breen spun and unleashed a low rasping drive into the corner of the botton net. Breen’s 11^th goal of the season in first half stoppage time.

At half time Joicey said although OBC were doing really well it was sure as night became day that Norton would look to come out and work hard to rescue their game. Ian Walsh urged everyone to hit channels as their full backs seemed less than certain on the ball.

The game was effectively over as tie when Matt Belk rolled the ball under the keeper for a cool finish after good work by x on 49 minutes. Belk’s 31^st goal of the season.

Adam Peters was introduced for Alex Whelan with Charlie Horner filling in at right back and Mike Breen moved wide right.

Norton struggled to get any sort of stranglehold in the game and the influence of Tauren Roberts waned as he was switched from the left to right flank.

Adam Peters opened his goalscoring account for the first team as OBC passed the ball around Norton’s back four to find Peters unmarked from eight yards where he buried the ball into the roof of the net. Peters’ 2^nd goal of the season on 68 minutes.

Ian Walsh unleashed a thunderbolt of a strike from twenty-five yards and it looked to be curling into the top corner but the Norton keeper made a super one handed flying save to palm the effort out for a corner. Dean Barrett and Joe Chun were introduced in the closing stages with twenty minutes to go.

Matt Belk could have finished the game with a brace but uncharacteristically pulled his shot wide when he had only the keeper to beat from eight yards. Norton’s best chance of the half came as a result of Marc Henderson heading onto his own post after misjudging a good cross into the box.

OBC defended doggedly and saw out the game to put them us through to our second semi-final of the season against fellow Division One side Kerria Knights on 10^th March 2012. Excellent work by the back four and Charlie Horner in the second half.

Our Surrey County Cup quarter-final opponents on 03 March 2012 at Larkhall Park are in form Chessington KC who beat Repton 5-1. Chessington have not been beaten since 24 September 2012 so an excellent match is in store. Chessington KC were cup semi-finalists last season.

OBC 2XI made their own way into their first semi-final after beating fellow Division Three side Destiny Academy 2-0 thanks to two late goals from Emmett Shingler. OBC 2XI will face Tooting Bec who ended Stoneleigh Town’s unbeaten run to the season but looking at Bec’s recent form they themselves will take some beating if OBC are to reach the final of the Geoff Ellis Intermediate Shield.

Away from the cups next week’s opponents Westside did OBC a big favour by holding league leaders Balham 3-3 at Oberon Park. The result puts Balham five points ahead but OBC have five games in hand and Pilgrims Well kept up their own title challenge with a 2-1 win over Park Boys.

Peter Joicey
19.02.2012