Old Boys Clapham 4-1 Battersea Res

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

MCGUIRE MARVELLOUS IN LAST GAME AT GARRATT PARK

Who needs a monster truck to do your digging when you have Cian McGuire? McGuire, a monster player, dominated in midfield before scoring with a fine strike at the end of the game to cap off an excellent all round performance. Battersea dug in and battled for every ball making it a far from easy afternoon at Garratt Park. Belk fired the OBC into the lead midway through the first half from the edge of the area and Charlie Horner continued his goal streak by doubling the lead midway through the second half. Joe Kubik fired in from close range with fifteen minutes to go. Battersea managed a conciliation goal from a well worked free kick to the back post which was headed in before Cian McGuire rounded off the game with his low drive into the net. OBC controlled the game from start to finish but made hard work of it as Battersea proved difficult to break down.

Manager Peter Joicey was left feeling disappointed with the 4-1 win the previous week against Battersea Res as the OBC raced into a 4-0 lead in the first half only to surrender the second half 0-1 to Battersea. In the week Jelle van der Zwet picked up a knee injury ruling him out for several weeks so the injured Marc Henderson was asked to play against Battersea. Matt Custance continued in goal. Alex Whelan continued at right back with Andy Cochrane coming in for Jelle van der Zwet to play alongside Marc Henderson. Skipper Alex McGreevy continued at left back. In midfield Charlie Horner looked to continue to his goal run having scored in the previous two games from the right wing. Cian McGuire was again partnered by Mike Breen and Dean Barrett returned to the left wing after recovering from an ankle injury. Up front were the deadly due of Matt Belk and Joe Kubik. On the bench were Mahf Chowdhury, Joe Chun, Steve Allison, Emmett Shingler and Peter Joicey.

Battersea went through three keepers last week and this week their manager played in goal. OBC had the better of the first ten minutes and had several shooting opportunities. Joe Kubik managed to break through the Battersea defence but his left footed shot lacked power and the keeper was able to make a comfortable save. A few moments earlier Kubik was unable to turn in Belk long throw in. Kubik was unable to connect his right foot with the loose ball and Battersea did well to clear.

Marc Henderson had to be substituted in the twelfth minute after a crunching tackle in the middle of the park. Henderson was carrying an injury from the Trinity game and this aggravated it making him a serious doubt for the Park Boys game. Steve Allison was brought on to play at centre back.

Then Matt Belk was played in on the right of the penalty area but Belk opted for power over accuracy and blazed a shot wide of the near post. Belk though did make the breakthrough when Charlie Horner played a ball inside from the right wing. The ball bobbled off a few defenders on the way and was collected by Belk. Belk just waited for his moment to release the ball and accurately put the ball beyond the keeper at his near post. An excellent finish from just outside the area. 1-0 Belk’s 22^nd goal of the season, 26 minutes gone.

Belk was in the thick of the action soon after as he was brought down in the penalty area as the Battersea defender clearly had hold of Belk’s arm but referee Vladimir Ninkovic waved away the big striker’s protests.

Cian McGuire was unlucky not to have gotten more purchase on a back post header as McGuire rose highest to head a Belk throw in downwards but the keeper was able to make a comfortable save.

Few chances were created in the remainder of the first half as Battersea worked really hard to protect their keeper. Battersea played with only one striker up front and as McGuire and Breen had the better of the midfield the back four had a relatively quiet afternoon with Alex Whelan, Andy Cohrane, Steve Allison and Alex Mcgreevy all looking decent.

Battersea’s only chance of the half fell on the thirty-eighth minute when Andy Cochrane let the ball bounce and then Alex McGreevy missed his kick which allowed the Battersea striker to run through on Matt Custance’s goal but the striker hit a rocket of a shot from the edge of the area that thankfully went a fraction wide of the post.

At half time Joicey said that the lads were scuffing their chances when perhaps they had more time and urged his players to show more composure but acknowledged that Battersea were making a real fist of it especially at the back. Marc Henderson wanted to see more balls played into the channels for Dean Barrett and Charlie Horner to run onto. Paul Lewis wanted more five a side passing football being played but Joe Kubik pointed out the Garratt Park was not flat and full of bobbles. Joicey said that he was worried about the sucker punch with so much OBC domination but little to show for it, the Battersea chance at the end of the half showed that they could nick a goal from nothing. If we got a second goal it would be hard for Battersea to come back from that.

The second half started with OBC looking more purposeful. Dean Barrett showed good skills to weave in and out between the defenders but he could not find the power or accuracy as he dragged his shot from the edge of the area.

Joe Kubik played an excellent ball to the back post from a McGreevy short corner where Belk powered a header wide.

Joicey brought Emmett Shingler for Dean Barrett on the left to add a bit more pace on the left wing.

Charlie Horner made the crucial break through when Emmett Shingler raced down the left wing and laid the ball off to Matt Belk. Belk turned and put an excellent low ball across the six yard box for Horner to roll the ball into the far corner and under the keeper. A good composed finish from Horner on 67 minutes. Horner’s 8^th goal of the season.

OBC continued to press forward and put Battersea under pressure. Cian McGuire was denied a penalty in the box when the defender came over the top of him flooring the big Irishman (see photo on website). Again the referee waved away the protests.

It was not long before OBC added a third when Belk knocked the ball down for Kubik to swivel and shoot the ball home from four yards to give the OBC an unassailable lead. Kubik’s 12^th goal of the season on 75 minutes.

The hard working Charlie Horner was replaced by Mahf Chowdhury.

Battersea won a free kick on the half way line. The ball was expertly delivered to the back post where the Battersea player rose unchallenged to plant a firm header past Matt Custance in goal. Picking the ball out of the net was Matt’s 5^th touch of the game. 3-1 76 minutes gone.

OBC still continued to press for more goals. Mahf Chowdhury shot wide from close range after a good ball by Emmett Shingler. Chowdhury was unlucky not to add to his impressive goal tally.

Shingler was causing all sorts of havoc. A good ball from Chowdhury on the edge of the area took a wicked bounce and hit Shingler in the arm. Shingler rolled the ball to Mike Breen who fired past the keeper but the effort was ruled out for Shingler’s hand ball.

The game was wrapped up in the 87^th minute when Cian McGuire thumped a drive from the edge of the area after good work by Mike Breen. McGuire’s 8^th goal of the season. A good win and a fine way to say goodbye to Garratt Park.

The result sees OBC move up to 4^th place with 3^rd place Park Boys being the opposition next week at Raynes Park. The week after we have the double header at Larkhall Park against 2^nd place NPL, so if we achieve maximum points in those games it would see OBC move up nine points and into clear 2^nd place with still many games in hand. It’s a big “if” but if we play like we did today and take our chances then we can take our chance to get promoted and then it’ll all be about hauling in league leaders Pilgrims West who dropped another two points today against second bottom Crescent Rovers. The league is in our hands and let’s grab it.

Peter Joicey
27.03.2011