Old Boys Clapham 7-1 Supercala (CUP) Feb 2011

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

JOE CHUN INSTRUMENTAL IN OBC QUARTER FINAL VICTORY AGAINST TRINITY

Mahf Chowdhury slammed home his 11th goal of the season in the 88th minute to fire Old Boys Clapham into the League Cup Semi Final on 2nd April 2011. Chowdhury was introduced as a 75th minute substitute after Charlie Horner's overhead kick equaliser gave OBC hope that all was not lost. Trinity came from behind as Joe Chun hit a thunderbolt of a strike from twenty five yards to give the OBC a 25th minute lead but two high balls into the box either side of half time were not dealt with making it an absorbing contest. Unlike the Project Clapham game the week before, OBC had the better of the second half and finished strongly as both Chowdhury and Cian McGuire added steel and pace into the mix. Everyone worked hard for this classic win.
After the tale of two halves at Project Clapham the week before manager Peter Joicey had much to think about when preparing for the League Cup Quarter Final clash with Trinity. Old Boys Clapham were excellent in the first half racing into a 3-1 lead but surrendered that lead in the second resulting a in 5-3 defeat. This week Cian McGuire returned from his knee injury and goal machine Mahf Chowdhury was put on the bench in order to give the OBC some backup in anticipation of a tough second forty five.

A burst water pipe at Garratt Park meant that the tie was hastily switched to Trinity’s home ground becoming a 3.30pm kick off as the referee and players raced across South London to ensure that the cup tie went ahead.

Joicey started with Matt Custance in goal. Alex Whelan seemed pretty solid when coming on late in the second half last week and has looked good in training so Whelan made his first start at right back. Andy Cochrane and Marc Henderson continued at centre back and skipper Alex McGreevy continued at left back. Charlie Horner was pushed into midfield to give more strength on the right wing. Joe Kubik was moved inside to his preferred central midfield slot as Steve Allison was away. Johan Bakker who was excellent in the first half last week continued in the centre. Wide was left Joe Chun who was asked by Joicey before the game to prove whether he was a player good enough for Division 1 or would he be a player too good for but playing in Division 3 next year. Up front Ed Uff was asked to play as the lone striker once more with Mike Breen supporting where he could. The bench had much more punch this week with Mahf Chowdhury, Dean Barrett, Emmett Shingler, Mickael Nguyen and Cian McGuire all ready to come on if need be.

The game kicked off with Old Boys Clapham getting the better of the hosts. Joe Chun had an early run down the left where he in turn fed Mike Breen who crossed low across the box but agonisingly the ball could not be turned in at the back post by Charlie Horner who made an excellent run.

In the sixth minute Joe Chun thundered a shot from thirty yards off the cross bar as he gave Trinity a preview of what was to come a little later. Great skill and technique by the OBC player as the ball dipped viciously.

With Trinity pegged back in their own half they were forced into simple mistakes. The Trinity keeper kicked the ball straight at Ed Uff who had the whole open goal to his mercy from the edge of the penalty area but not realising he had more time, scuffed his shot on the turn and the ball bobbled just past the near post and wide.

Mike Breen and Joe Kubik had excellent strikes that grazed the outside of the post when put through by an industrious midfield. At the other end Trinity managed to get around the otherwise outstanding Alex Whelan and their winger delivered an excellent ball along the six yard box but thankfully the strikers were inches from making contact and the ball whizzed out for a goal kick.

OBC continued to dominate and possession was rewarded when Joe Chun picked the ball up on the left touchline where he stepped inside and unleashed a Pumphreyesque rocket into the back of the net. The ball dipped, rose and swerved giving the Trinity keeper no chance. What a screamer from Chun. 0-1 24 minutes, Chun’s 7^th goal of the season.

OBC continued to look for a second Mike Breen was unlucky not to score as he was put through by a defence splitting ball by Johan Bakker. Breen had been shelling efforts at goal in training that were flying in but on this occasion the midfielder could not find the finish and the effort went agonisingly wide.

Charlie Horner had the chance to burst through the Trinity defence when he looked to handled the ball to control it but the referee waved play on. Horner could have taken the ball on further but his shot was comfortably saved by the keeper from the edge of the area.

Trinity were struggling to put any meaningful attacks together so OBC helped them out by giving away silly freekicks around the centre circle. The first ball launched into the area met with a similar outcome as the week before. A long punt was tipped onto the cross bar by Matt Custance but it dropped down and may have gone in off the OBC stopper. Custance was furious with himself but a messy equaliser it was. 1-1 on 37 minutes.

The goal lifted the home side and they started to get into a good pattern of play. The OBC back four worked hard to ensure the home side were kept away from goal and the half ended all square.

At half-time Joicey said that the football at times was again excellent but Trinity did not seem to have the same fighting quality as Project Clapham and the game was there for the taking. Joicey told the midfield to stop giving away needless freekicks as all Trinity had in their locker today was the long ball; the hopeful hoof into the box. Trinity lacked pace all over the park and OBC should take advantage of that as OBC had plenty of pace on the bench. Joicey asked the lads, “do you want to be in a semi-final or not”? Joicey dared them to win because a good second half was needed now more than ever. Stirring stuff.

The second half kicked off in the manner of the last the half with both teams having roughly an equal amount of possession. Charlie Horner was denied by the cross bar as he got across his full back and thumped a shot off the underside of the bar which was cleared.

Trinity got their noses in front when Joe Kubik gave away a foul in the centre circle. A long ball into the box was charged at by the big Trinity players. Andy Cochrane and Charlie Horner reacted slowly to the Trinity tsunami as the players got between Custance and the ball and the ball was bundled in. 2-1 52 minutes gone.

OBC needed to get back into the game and quickly. Joicey brought Cian McGuire on for Johan Bakker in centre midfield. Joicey considered bringing on Chowdhury for Horner on the right but was glad he didn’t when thirty seconds later Alex McGreevy swung over an excellent left wing cross where Horner steadied himself and with his back to goal helped the ball goalwards and up and over the keeper with an expertly timed and executed finish. 2-2 61 minutes gone, Horner’s 6^th goal of the season. Game on.

The game became a contrast of styles as Trinity pounded the box with long balls and OBC tried to play the ball around the park. Ed Uff would do little layoffs for Breen, Kubik and Chun whilst Cian McGuire would try bulldoze his way through the opposition midfield. McGuire was excellent when he came on and really helped put Trinity back on the back foot.

At the back the defence stood up well to the challenge with both Cohrane and Henderson battling for every ball. Henderson headed ball after ball that reigned down from high above. Matt Custance tipped a close range drive acrobatically on to the post. Custance was instrumental again as he denied the Trinity striker when through one on one with. Great game changing saves from the OBC number 1.

With extra time looming cometh the man, cometh Mahf Chowdhury, Old Boys Clapham’s nuclear option. Joicey pressed his red button on the 75^th minute when Chowdhury was introduced for Alex Whelan and Charlie Horner dropped to right back.

Joe Chun had been excellent all game. Chun received a pass from Uff on the left and Chun raced down the left wing and put in the perfect cross as Chowdhury burned past the full back and slotted home with a low left footed drive that has become a trademark Mahf Chowdhury goal. 2-3 OBC, 87 minutes gone. Chowdhury’s 11^th goal of the season.

Trinity launched the ball into the box in search of an equaliser and Joicey brought Emmett Shingler on to waste time and the result was secured. A great game of football and a fantastic result meaning the League and Cup are all to play for. OBC are a club playing with confidence and skill to the extent that the OBC goal machine is giving nightmares rattles towards an exciting climax to the season. The sky blue tide is coming in and closing in on silverware, again.

Mahf Chowdhury has scored 11 goals from 4 starts and 7 sub appearances in 460 minutes of football, making it a goal every 41 minutes.

Next week we are back in League action against Battersea Reserves in Roehampton Vale.

Peter Joicey
13.03.2011