Old Boys Clapham 4-2 Old Plymouthians

Match Report by Peter Joicey

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

OBC SET UP TITLE DECIDER WITH A BRILLIANT 4-2 MIDWEEK WIN

Old Boys Clapham came from 2-1 down against a determined Old Plymouthians side to equalise in the 81st minute through an Andy Cochrane back post header. What a time to score your first goal for the club. OBC saw chance after chance go begging whilst Old Plymouthians took two well worked goals. Matt Belk gave the OBC a first half lead, after Emmett Shingler had an effort ruled out for offside. Plymouthians had a goal chalked off for handball in the build up before taking a 2-1 lead but back came the OBC. Cochrane's header looked as if it was never going to come and then within a minute Emmett Shingler headed in at the back post for 3-2. Old Plymouthians went in search of the equaliser but Shingler doubled his tally on the counter attack for an open goal tap in after Mike Breen had dispossessed the Plymouthians keeper. Next up is Westside at Raynes Park in the Division 2 title finale.

Matt Custance continued in goal. Charlie Horner was pulled back to right back as Alex Whelan could not get out of work in time for kick off. Andy Cochrane and Alex McGreevy continued at centre back with Simon Burbage continuing his excellent form at left back. Across the midfield Emmett Shingler started wide right after getting a timely brace against Ashtead on Saturday. Ed Uff was partnered in central midfield by Mike Breen who had shaken off a knee injury to play and Joe Chun continued wide left. Up front big striker Matt Belk returned to be partnered by the inform striker Dean Barrett. On the bench were Mike Nguyen, Peter Joicey and Paul Lewis.

The game kicked off with OBC looking assured. OBC managed to get the ball in the back of the net in the twelfth minute when Matt Belk played an excellent ball to Dean Barrett who took the ball down but blazed his shot at the keeper when he had all of the goal to aim at. The rebound fell to Emmett Shingler who was alert to poke the ball in but offside was given.

OBC continued to apply early pressure and Matt Belk was played through on goal by Mike Breen and Belk was able to place a firm shot low into the far corner as the Plymouthians keeper stayed on his six yard box. 1-0 17 minutes gone, Belk’s 29^th goal of the season.

OBC had the opportunity to double the lead when Emmett Shingler used his lightning pace to beat the Plymouthian full back and put a perfect ball across the six yard box for Dean Barrett. It looked a certain tap in with just the keeper to beat but again Barrett fired down the throat of the keeper.

Plymouthians then forced a smart save from Matt Custance as a good piece of intricate football allowed for the number 12 to fire a low shot from the edge of the area that needed an excellent reaction save.

Old Boys Clapham continued to create chances with Dean Barrett, Ed Uff and Emmett Shingler all wasting decent opportunities. When OBC played the ball around with pace it looked as if Old Plymouthians could be in for a torrid evening.

But OBC were made to pay for the wasted chances as Old Plymouthians started to come more into the game and played some good football. Charlie Horner had been playing right wing in recent weeks and looked a bit uneasy and was done by the number 16 who managed to weave his way to the goal line and he put an excellent low ball across the box which was turned in by skipper Alex McGreevy for his second own goal of the season. 1-1 37 minutes gone.

The half ended all square and manager Peter Joicey urged the players to take their chances. Missing chances was killing the defence as everyone was working really hard on for a striker to spank the ball without any thought or conviction. Dean was told to stop firing down the centre of the goal and put more thought into his striking. Joe Chun, Ed Uff and Mike Breen were reminded that they should not turn inside as it risked giving the ball away in dangerous positions and that they should just quickly release the ball to the nearest player rather than look to do Sky Sports passes as Old Plymouthians were more than capable of playing some decent football on this performance.

The second half kicked off and Matt Belk was played in on the left hand side of the area. Belk opted to lob the ball over the advancing keeper but the ball fell the wrong side of the near post.

Dean Barrett had a good effort well saved as he forced the keeper into a low smart save from the edge of the area and then moments later he rounded the defence and shot wide of the far post. It did not look as if it was the young striker’s day.

At the other end Old Plymouthians looked to attack Simon Burbage at left back. The number 12 made a turn on Burbage but used his forearm to help control the ball. Joicey waved the flag thinking the referee had seen the handball and the referee blew his whistle as the player smartly finished from twelve yards.
Plymouthians played with more confidence and began to apply more pressure. Again the number 12 forced Simon Burbage into conceding a corner and the ball was whipped to the back post where it was met with a quality header to give keeper Matt Custance no chance. 1-2 67 minutes gone. Was it going to be one of those days?

Joicey brought on Mickael Nguyen for Dean Barrett, with Emmett Shingler moved up front, Joe Chun moved out to the right wing and Nguyen taking up the left wing. Mickael Nguyen kept the ball well as he had done against Ashtead at the weekend and this helped OBC a lot as he linked up well with Mike Breen and Ed Uff in midfield who were really putting a shift in.

Emmett Shingler forced an excellent save from Old Plymouthians keeper from a narrow angle as OBC bombarded the visitors box with crosses, throw ins and corners. Old Plymouthians very much tried to hold onto what they had and they worked hard to keep OBC at bay.

Mike Nguyen had an overhead kick fly harmlessly over from ten yards as nothing seemed to be working but the breakthrough did come and it came from an unlikely source. Alex McGreevy whipped an excellent corner to the back post and Andy Cochrane controlled his header and planted the ball downwards and into the net for his first goal for the club and what a time to get it with just nine minutes to go. 2-2 Cochrane, 81 minutes gone.

Within thirty seconds OBC were 3-2 up as Old Plymouthians pushed every one forward. A quick counter attack had Plymouthians out of position and Matt Belk threw an excellent throw in to the back post where Charlie Horner guided the ball goalwards and Emmett Shingler nipped in at the back post to head the ball into the roof the net. 3-2 Shingler, 82 minutes gone. Shingler’s 13^th goal of the season.

Old Plymouthians were now in total attack mode and Matt Belk was pulled back into midfield to help put an extra body in the way. A long clearance up the pitch forced the keeper to come out of his area. Mike Breen nipped in between the keeper and the defence and knocked the ball out wide with much still left to do. With the keeper stranded he needed to find a white shirt and Breen delivered the perfect ball to the back post where Emmett Shingler used his pace to get on the end of an open goal tap in. 4-2 game over, 86 minutes gone Shingler’s 14^th goal of the season.

The final whistle was blown and the result marked a gutsy and brave performance. OBC rolled up their sleeves and kept on going and never stopped believing. A great win against a team that was hard to beat and played some good football in periods. If OBC beat or draw with inform Westside on Saturday then OBC will be promoted as Champions.

Peter Joicey
05.05.2011

		1. Custance

12. Horner	2. Cochrane		3. McGreevy	15. Burbage

	18. Breen		39. Uff
29. Shingler				35. Chun
	9. Belk		10. Barrett