Old Boys Clapham 6-0 Balham FC

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

OLD BOYS CLAPHAM FC 6-0 BALHAM FC

Belk 5, 63, 74
McGuire 12
Walsh 61
Kubik 84

Larkhall Park

2pm kick off

ref: M Sullivan

Man of the match: 6. Hendo

BELK BLASTS LEAVE BALHAM IN BLAZES

Line Up: Harman, Whelan, Idjiwa, Grant (Kelly 62), Henderson, McGuire, Walsh, Kubik, Dundas (Shingler 68), Belk, Barrett (Chowdhury 60); subs not used: Joicey, Lewis

Matt Belk grabbed at a hatrick at Larkhall Park as Balham turned up in festive mood by offering Belk a weak pass to the keeper which calmly slotted away in the fifth minute. Cian McGuire doubled the lead on twelve minutes with an overhead kick from Belk’s cross. Dean Barrett and Ian Walsh had the opportunity to put Balham out of sight before half time but the opposition keeper made a number of good saves. In the second half OBC stifled the opposition before Joicey made his changes which resulted in an instant reward as sub Mahf Chowdhury hooked the ball back to Walsh to bury from six yards. Matt Belk added two more goals, one from a delightful cross from Andy Dundas before Joe Kubik made it six thanks to a Marc Henderson knock down. The result puts OBC up to 2nd with two games in hand on Balham who lead by just a point in Division One.

After last weeks entertaining draw against former club Norton FC it was the turn of league leaders Balham FC to try beat an OBC that had not been defeated in nine previous games. Balham were four points ahead but had played two games more so anything but a win would dent our championship push. A win for Balham would have given them a healthy cushion going into Christmas. Joe Kubik was promoted from the 2XI after his goal scoring performance last week and was played in the heart of midfield with Cian McGuire as Mike Breen was away. Balham has gained a reputation for having good wingers so Ian Walsh was asked to play on the right to snuff out any threat from the wing. On the left wing Idjiwa and Andy Dundas would be a formidable pair to break down for any player and so they had the task of stopping them on that flank.

The game kicked off and it was Balham’s defence that came bearing gifts as the side seemed to knock the ball across its back four for no other reason than to try look and good. Their play was pretty and pleasing on the eye but it was only a matter of time before they would be pressed into a mistake. In the fifth minute a weak goal kick was collected and returned by the centre back. The pass was woefully under hit and all Belk had to do was pick his spot from ten yards and he made no mistake by rolling the ball past the keeper. 1-0 Belk’s 21^st goal of the season.

OBC quickly doubled our lead through Cian McGuire’s spectacular overhead kick. The ball was played in by Belk from the right where Dean Barrett looked to be in the best position to knock the ball in but made no contact six yards out but McGuire was well placed to volley home for his 6^th goal of the season. 2-0 12 minutes gone.

Balham tried to play their football on the ground which is nice to see but their lack of penetration was noticeable as Steve Harman did not have a save to make in the first half. A Harman kick out was not dealt with and Balham worked the ball well around the area but a fizzing shot that flew wide of the target was the best the league leaders had to show for their efforts.

OBC should have extended the lead further in the closing stages of the first half as Dean Barrett unfortunately took three touches before shooting down the keeper’s throat from six yards. Barrett can’t buy a goal at the minute.

Ian Walsh had a fine low drive that was pushed around the post for a corner and as the half drew to a close. Walsh had a good low drive that was spilled by the keeper but he made a good recovery to stop Barrett having a tap in.

At half time Joicey said a third goal would kill the game and that we just had to keep on playing with the same tempo and that Balham knocked the ball over to the number seven and he seemed to be their creative player so Idjiwa and Dundas were encouraged to keep him quiet. As a result of Balham’s inability to combat Kubik and McGuire’s power in the middle of the park which would mean that Balham when they had the ball they would go back under pressure to the defenders than rather than play the ball forward as their front men hardly had a kick all afternoon and looked off the pace. OBC knew that Balham’s back four were prone to mistakes so we would get more chances in the second half.

The half kicked off the and the first chance fell to Dean Barrett as the full back was dispossessed and then Barrett turned the centre back in and out before unleashing a shot that was well saved by the keeper. The action was to be Barrett’s last as Joicey chose inject some more pace by introducing Mahf Chowdhury who had grabbed himself eight goals in the 2XI.

The change brought and instant dividend in that it was Chowdhury who stopped the ball going out for a goal kick before knocking it back to Walsh to bury for his 5^th goal of the season on 61 minutes. 3-0.

Centre back Grant Burke had been excellent with Hendo at the back but Burke wanted to be withdrawn so that his rib injury did not flare up and on the third goal Mark Kelly was introduced at centre half.

Matt Belk headed home his second goal of the game thanks to a wonderfully timed cross from the wide left position. The ball was floated into the danger area and was met by Belk who timed his run to perfection giving the centre back who was marking him and the keeper no chance. 4-0 Belk’s 22^nd goal of the season on 63 minutes.

Balham did manage to register a shot on target in the 68^th minute but a looping shot was comfortable for big Steve Harman who showed good solid hands to deal with the situation in an afternoon where he had little to do.

Belk completed his hatrick with just over ten minutes to go when he was put through one on one with the keeper and he made no mistake once more to apply a fine finish after substitute Emmett Shingler had hounded the ball from the number seven and linked up with Walsh who put in a great ball in for Belk to convert. 5-0 74 minutes gone.

Ian Walsh(?) rattled the foot of the post with an effort before Joe Kubik wrapped up the game after Marc Henderson knocked down a Belk throw in for Kubik to bundle the ball home on 84 minutes. Kubik’s 4^th goal of the season.

In setting up the goal Hendo suffered from cramp and was removed to avoid injury so OBC saw out the last five minutes with ten men but made no odds as Balham still could not get the ball off the Old Boys in blue.

Balham blamed the pitch for the loss so we look forward to playing on their pitch (Wimbledon Common Extensions... hardly Wembley) for we love nice pitches.

The result puts Balham in a perilous position as Norton and Pilgrims Well look ready to pounce as the three sides below them including us and even Kerria Knights in 5^th look well placed to overtake Balham. Balham face much improved St. Andrews and Norton in the new year whilst OBC will have just one league fixture in the first five games of 2012 if we win in the next round of Surrey County Cup. As a result of the cup fixtures pile up it is likely we won’t be in the top two positions for some time, but like last season we finished strongly and there is every sign that this could be the case this time around too especially as we have the added depth of an efficient 2XI side to call upon.

The first fixture of 2012 sees OBC play Real Holmesdale in South Croydon in the Surrey County Cup Round 4. Real Holmesdale had their game called off for the second successive week meaning they will not have kicked a ball in anger since the first week of December so hopefully they’ll be a little more rusty than us after plenty of Christmas Turkey.

Elsewhere, OBC 2XI made it a club record 9 competitive wins in a row as Jamie Bradley bagged his first goal for the club in a 3-2 win at Norbiton Dragons in the Surrey County LJ Cup Round 3. Andy Cochrane and Matt Fairbrother were the other goal scorers.

2011 has been a great year for the club. One league title, cup runners-up, League top goal scorers’ award for 2010-11, Club Secretary Award for yours truly and Fair Play award. The stats don’t lie either played 42, won 30, drawn 6, lost 6. Thank you to all of those that have participated and everyone at the club wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year for 2012. OBC will return.

Peter Joicey
18.12.2011