(This match report is biased, one sided and probably inaccurate)
League Cup Round 1
OLD BOYS CLAPHAM RES 0-3 OLD BOYS CLAPHAM
Barrett 11, 48
Belk 66,
Half time 0-1
Larkhall Park, Stockwell
2pm kick off
ref: Vladimir Ninkovic
Man of the match: 1XI Dean Barrett & 2XI Alex Perry
2XI Line up: Custance, Harvey, McGreevy (c), Cochrane, Fleming, Chowdhury, Gill, Perry, Donald, Arthur, Ennis
1XI Line up: Harman, Whelan, Dundas, Burke, Henderson, Breen, Walsh, McGuire, Horner (Shingler 63), Belk (c), Barrett
Man of the match Dean Barrett grabbed a well taken brace to give the OBC first team breathing room after a spirited display and contest by the second eleven. Down to the bare bones, the lads that played rolled their sleeves up, dug in and gave it right good go. Barrett opened the scoring against the run of play on eleven minutes when an Ian Walsh shot from the edge of the area was parried into Barrett’s path by Matt Custance and the young striker tucked the ball away neatly. Mahf Chowdhury, Jordan Arthur and James Ennis all have efforts fizz narrowly wide and they were unlucky not to have been given a penalty when the ball struck Grant Burke’s arm in the area. The tie was effectively killed off by Barrett shortly after the restart as he smartly controlled the ball and smashed the ball the past Custance in goal. Matt Belk added a third with a back post header after another terrific corner from Andy Dundas. A good game and a tricky second round tie at Division Two side Trinity is scheduled for 05 November.
Manager Alex McGreevy was down to the bare bones against the first team as a remarkable 23 players were not available. Matt Custance continued in goal. Andrew Harvey, Andy Cochrane, Tom Fleming and Alex McGreevy made up the back four. The midfield was Mahf Chowdhury right wing, Josh Gill being partnered in central midfield with Alex Perry and Leroy Donald returned to the left wing. Up front were Jordan Arthur and James Ennis.
For the first team Steve Harman continued in goal. The defence was unchanged of Alex Whelan at right back, Andy Dundas at left back with Marc Henderson and Grant Burke continuing at centre halves. Across the midfield Mike Breen continued wide right with Ian Walsh and Cian McGuire continuing their central midfield partnership and Charlie Horner was selected to play on the left wing as Joe Chun had rolled his ankle in training. Up front Matt Belk returned to lead the line and Dean Barrett was given the nod ahead of Emmett Shingler who remained on a sparse bench.
The game kicked off in an unseasonally warm mid-October with crystal clear blue skies over Larkhall Park. It was the Reserve side that opened the most brightly and James Ennis forced the first corner of the game of the covering Marc Henderson. Alex McGreevy’s low inswinging corner was cleared at the near post by Andy Dundas.
The breakthrough came in the eleventh minute when Ian Walsh shot from the diagonal edge of the area. The shot was saved by Matt Custance in goal but the loose ball fell to Dean Barrett to tuck the ball home as the defence claimed for offside. Barrett’s 8th goal of the season.
Mahf Chowdhury then had an excellent opportunity to level the scores on fifteen minutes when he was freed on the right of centre of goal by an expertly weighted through ball by young Jordan Arthur. Chwodhury bore down on big Steve Harman’s goal but could not find the finish as a well struck effort fizzed wide of the near post.
At the other end Cian McGuire got a head on a Belk long throw but the big Irishman’s header looped just over Matt Custance’s crossbar.
James Ennis put himself about up front for the Res and he did well to fashion a snap shot after some more good play from Jordan Arthur. Ennis’ shot flew narrowly wide of Harman’s post.
Moments later Ennis continued to be a nuisance in front of Henderson and Burke as he got a shot away on the turn but again could not find the target.
On twenty-eight minutes Matt Belk rolled the ball into an empty net when Matt Custance mistakenly thought that referee Vladimir Ninkovic had awarded a freekick for offside. Ninkovic waved play on and Belk rolled the ball in. Ninkovic said “if this had been a proper game then he would have allowed the goal.” It seems that even the referee did not think kindly of the League’s cup draw.
At the other end the Res side continued to try and carve out chances. Jordan Arthur hit a stinging drive from a narrow ankle that had Steve Harman parry into the ground where Alex Whelan cleared.
What was evident was how hard Josh Gill and Alex Perry were working to snuff out the threat from Cian McGuire and Ian Walsh. Perry played the ball around very well and Josh was his usual tidy self.
In the forty-first minute Alex McGreevy’s side had a shout for a handball as Grant Burke appeared to control the ball with his arm in the area but Ninkovic waved away the protests.
As the half came to a close Andy Cochrane was forced to clear a Mike Breen drive off the line, the rebound fell to Dean Barrett but his clearance was blocked by Tom Fleming. The half-time whistle was blown.
The firsts tried to geer themselves up as the bulk of this afternoon’s effort was coming from the second string. Joicey said that the firsts looked dangerous in possession and were making the more clearcut chances but the Res side were working hard and would feel that they are still in the game. Joicey felt that a second goal would kill the tie as a contest.
The second half kicked off and Dean Barrett doubled the lead on forty-eight minutes when he was fed through on Matt Custance’s goal by Matt Belk. Dean with his back to goal waited for the right moment to turn and expertly fire past the onrushing Matt Custance. Barrett’s 9th goal of the season.
The pressure continued to build after the goal as Mike Breen and Charlie Horner set up Ian Walsh to fire from the edge of the area but the effort went narrowly wide of Custance’s right hand post. Moments later Breen won a freekick on the right hand side of the area and a neat pass was squared to him to pull the trigger but Custance was equal to it and acrobatically tipped the effort over the crossbar.
On sixty-three minutes Emmett Shinger was introduced for Charlie Horner on the left wing.
Cian McGuire found himself one on one with Matt Custance but Custance got out well and blocked the shot, the rebound fell kindly for Dean Barrett but Barrett hit his effort high over the bar. A bit more composure and he’d have had a hatrick today.
The firsts were not to be denied as Barrett forced another corner as the Res could not get out of their own half. Andy Dundas whipped a ball to the back post and Matt Belk was on hand to power a header past Custance to make it three nil. Belk’s 11 goal of the season.
Emmett Shingler had the opportunity to make it four but he could have squared it to Mike Breen when he should have but ran on and when he should have shot he tried to square it Breen but the ball was awful and a great opportunity was wasted.
Matt Belk thought he had got himself a brace when he cut inside from the left and unleashed an exorcet that shaved the post when it looked a certain goal but it swerved at the last second to deny the big man.
At the death Dean Barrett had the chance of to complete his hatrick but headed wide after freeing himself of the attention of Andy Cochrane. That first hatrick is still elusive for our number ten.
The game ended and it was a good fair contest which I am sure both sides will build upon.
Peter Joicey
16.10.2011
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