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

Division One

WESTSIDE RES 0-6 OLD BOYS CLAPHAM FC

Walsh 26,
Breen 53,
Belk pen 58, 67, pen 81, 90

Oberon Playing Fields, Raynes Park

Geoff Ellis Premier Shield R1


1.45pm  kick off

ref: V. Ninkovic

Man of the match: 40. Mark Kelly


BELK HITS FOUR

Line Up: Harman, Horner, Idjiwa (Barrett 74), Kelly, Henderson, Walsh, Kubik (Chun 68), McGuire (Peters 57), Dundas, Belk, Breen

Matt Belk hit four as OBC steamrollered Westside at Oberon Park. Belk had a first half to forget as OBC clocked up chance after chance before Ian Walsh’s smart finish from Marc Henderson’s sublime defence splitting cross field pass. A halftime lead from a solitary goal was scant reward for the effort being put in this afternoon. OBC were better in the second half, much better. Breen finished in style after a perfect through ball from Joe Kubik. Belk then made it three from the spot as substitute Adam Peters was tripped in the box. Belk added a fourth with a good finish off both posts. Belk tucked away a his third and OBC’s fifth when Ian Walsh was felled in the box before Belk wrapped up proceedings with a powerful header after an excellent Dundas cross from the left. A mouth watering quarter-final tie at Garratt Park awaits as OBC take on Norton on 18 February 2012. All leave is cancelled!!!

Manager Peter Joicey was without centre back Grant Burke who had a recurrence of his rib injury and was rested for the game. Right back Alex Whelan was away at funeral. Steve Harman continued in goal. At right back Charlie Horner was asked to deputise for Whelan. The in-form Marc Henderson was partnered by Mark Kelly at centre back and Idjiwa Ajido continued at left back. Ian Walsh was moved wide right as Joe Kubik retained his place in centre mid as a result of his man of the match performance against Shaftesbury Town the week before where Cian McGuire continued alongside him in the centre of the park. Andy Dundas took up his usual position on the left with Matt Belk partnered by the inform Mike Breen up front. On the bench today was Adam Peters, Dean Barrett and Joe Chun.

It was OBC’s first ever visit to Oberon Park and as it turned out the former school playing field of Adam Peters and Jamie Bradley. Westside were buoyed from the 1-0 win against Kerria Knights the week before so this on paper was not expected to be a straightforward tie as OBC beat Westside 6-2 and 6-4 in Division Two last season. The game kicked off with quite a strong cross wind which favoured OBC and the home side opted to kick into it for the first half. OBC should have opened the scoring with our first effort on goal as Mike Breen missed a glorious chance at the back post thanks to a wonderful piece of football from Charlie Horner and Ian Walsh on the right. Walsh dispossessed their midfielder and Horner beat the full back before hitting over a perfect cross for Breen to miss from four yards.

Breen then had the chance to atone for his miss when he was put through on goal and dinked the ball over the advancing keeper only for his effort to be cleared off the line by a covering defender. Two great chances in the first five minutes.

Matt Belk then had a glorious chance to open the scoring on eleven minutes when he was clean through and with only the keeper to beat but Belk from six yards and the goal at his mercy fired gratefully into the Westside stopper’s arms.

Cian McGuire had a power header tipped onto the cross bar from a Belk throw in on twenty minutes. Belk then had a goal ruled out when he outmuscled the centre back and coolly slotted under the keeper but the referee ruled that the centre back had been felled too forcefully by the big striker.

OBC were in full flow with the midfield winning every second ball with Joe Kubik and Cian McGuire effective in closing down the opposition midfield. Marc Henderson and Mark Kelly were miserly this afternoon at the back and it was Marc Henderson who showed great vision to pick up the ball  in his own half and hit a forty yard diagonal ball to pick out Walsh on the wing and Walsh fired home his 7th goal of the season off the post and crossbar and in as the wind helped take the ball over the line as Breen was on hand to make sure. 0-1 OBC on 26 minutes.

OBC continued to press and create chances but Mike Breen and Matt Belk seemed to be having an off day as good opportunities were spurned in the final third.

At half time Joicey said he was not happy that the midfield and defence were doing so well carving out fifteen chances but that we had just one goal to show for it as the strikers were letting the side down today and it was not the expected standard on show today. Joicey reminded Belk and Breen that we had Dean Barrett and Adam Peters on the bench so firepower was ready to come on if we continued to misfire in front of goal.

With ten minutes to save his game it was Breen who dully delivered as he tucked home a fine effort under the advancing keeper thanks to a perfectly weighted through ball from Joe Kubik. 0-2 Breen’s 9th goal of the season and third in successive games whilst playing up front.

With the goal Joicey brought on Adam Peters for Cian McGuire with Breen dropping back into midfield. The change brought and instant dividend as Peters controlled the ball superbly in the box and invited the challenge. The defender was done and sure enough placed a late mistimed tackle on Peters just inside the box. Up stepped Belk and fired into the top corner with a thumping penalty on 58 minutes. 0-3 OBC.

Belk made it 4-0 when he was put through by (?) and held off the centre back and hit a low firm drive off the far post, along the goal-line and in off the other post. 68 minutes gone.

Dean Barrett & Joe Chun were introduced for Joe Kubik and Idjiwa Ajido on 74 minutes.

Ian Walsh was felled just inside the area as he sidestepped the defender neatly and like Peters earlier invited the poorly timed challenge. Up stepped Belk to fire into the roof of the net for his 5th hatrick of the season.

The game was wrapped up by Belk on the stroke of full time when Andy Dundas whipped in an superb ball from the left and Belk unmarked planted a firm header beyond the keeper for his fourth and OBC’s sixth of the game. Belk’s 29th goal of the season just 8 shy of equalling Dean Barnes’ record of 37 goals which was scored in the 2007/08 season.

A very effective second half and a very good win which means we play Norton at Garratt Park on Saturday 18th February 2012. Next week OBC are in League Cup quarter-final action at Larkhall Park against Division Three side Norbiton Dragons. Also in League Shield action today was Old Boys Clapham Reserves as they had to rely on a stunning Alex McGreevy freekick to book their place in their quarter-final against Destiny Academy with a 3-2 win over Epsom Athletic. The other goals scored by Mahf Chowdhury and Steve Allison.



Peter Joicey
21.01.2012
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
07736309442
 
 
 
 
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(Man of the Matches: 1XI: 40. Mark Kelly & 2XI: 14. Steve Allison))