Match Report

Match Report by Peter Joicey

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

UFF AND AT ‘EM

Ed Uff made a man of the match display from the substitute’s bench as he scored the killer fourth goal and set up two others in the League Cup semi-final against Division One side Worcester Park. The tie was played at Chessington & Hook FC. Uff was introduced as a twelfth minute substitute after Steve Allison, playing at centre back, picked up an ankle injury making him a doubt for the rest of the season. Joicey shuffled the pack with Cian McGuire dropping into the back four and striker Joe Kubik dropping into midfield allowing Ed Uff to partner Matt Belk up front. Mike Breen set the OBC on their way midway through the first half after a clever through ball by Uff. Breen turned provider in the second half as he clipped a through ball for Belk to run onto and chip the advancing keeper. Horner quickly made it three after quick thinking from Uff on the wing. Worcester Park scored a consolation goal that took a deflection off Andy Cochrane to give them some hope but the big striker Uff killed the game when he bundled in the fourth from close range.

After the disappointing defeat at Park Boys, where the OBC did everything but score. The players were in determined mood to put OBC into their second cup final in successive seasons. There were no new injuries from the Park Boys game so Matt Custance continued in goal. Alex Whelan was brought back in at right back with Andy Cochrane partnered by Steve Allison at the heart of defence and skipper Alex McGreevy continued at left back. Charlie Horner was pushed into the wide right slot with Mike Breen and Cian McGuire paired in the centre with Dean Barrett playing out wide left. Up front were Matt Belk and Joe Kubik. On the bench were Mahf Chowdhury, Emmett Shingler, Joe Chun and Ed Uff.Being deemed the away side, Old Boys Clapham played in all white.

The game kicked off and OBC had the ball in the Worcester Park net within thirty seconds. Charlie Horner bundled the ball in at the back post but the centre back scooped the ball out of the net with his hand and put the ball out. Referee Andy Flynn despite seeing it gave a goal kick. It was the most unbelievable decision of the season. FIFA can’t bring in goal line technology soon enough.

OBC had good early possession and created chances for both Mike Breen and Dean Barrett but neither good get enough power on their shots to seriously trouble the opposition keeper.

Steve Allison was forced to withdraw after twisting his ankle whilst making a tackle. The early change saw Ed Uff introduced up front with Joe Kubik dropping into midfield and Cian McGuire dropping into central defence.

It was Ed Uff’s delicately cushioned pass to put Mike Breen through on goal where he expertly controlled the ball and calmly tucked a fine low drive into the back of the net. 0-1 Breen’s 3^rd goal of the season on 22 minutes. It was a goal scored straight off the training pitch.

The game was a full bloodied affair with both sides being strong in the tackle and unlike the Park Boys game it was OBC who won most of the second balls. Referee Andy Flynn seemed a little indecisive and was starting to wind up OBC players but Joicey the lads to focus on the game.

Worcester Park did manage to put OBC under sustained pressure as the half drew to a close. Andy Cochrane managed to slice a ball backwards and fortunately the dipping effort fell the right side of Matt Custance’s cross bar. Custance was then called into a brave point blank save from the resulting corner as the pacey Worcester Park forward looked certain to score in the crowded penalty area. The snap shot was parried low at the striker’s feet where the ball fell back to the striker whose follow up shot was cleared by the excellent Alex Whelan on the line.

At the other end Joe Kubik hit a rasping drive from the edge of the area after being teed up by Matt Belk. Kubik’s effort went narrowly and powerfully over the crossbar.

At half time Joicey praised the players saying the work rate was excellent but urged them all to stop being distracted by the lack of decisions going our way, getting on the referee’s back would do us no favours. Joicey also told the strikers to watch their position on the pitch when the ball became active as they often started in an offside position but collected the ball on side. Joicey said that everyone was playing well especially Andy Cochrane who was commanding at the back and Dean Barrett who was working his socks off whilst being up against a decent full back.

The second half kicked off with OBC in control but you got the impression that the opposition may have underestimated us somewhat. A pretty even opening fifteen minutes was broken when Mike Breen chipped an excellent through ball for Matt Belk to run on to. The big striker waited for the advancing keeper to come before deftly lifting the ball over him and into the net. 0-2 63 minutes gone Matt Belk’s 24^th goal of the season.

Worcester Park were shell shocked. They’d come out expecting to score, they did not expect the OBC to double the lead. It got worse for the Division One side when two quickly became three. The Worcester Park back four went to sleep from a quick Ed Uff throw in on the right wing. Whilst they all stood motionless calling for an offside flag Charlie Horner raced through untroubled and calmly slotted the ball in off the far post. It is pretty well known that you can’t be offside from a throw in. 0-3 Charlie Horner’s 9^th goal of the season on 65 minutes.

Worcester Park tired to fight back as OBC started to look a little complacent. A needless free kick was given on the left hand side for obstruction. The indirect free kick was floated in and Andy Cochrane mistimed his header and it glanced in off the centre back into top corner giving Matt Custance no chance. 1-3 on 67 minutes. The goal was a disappointment as the back four were playing immensely. Alex McGreevy ensured that the back four were on their game with good suggestions and positive encouragement as the skipper lead by example. Cian McGuire and Andy Cochrane were like a pair of Colossus’. Alex Whelan let nothing through all game as Worcester Park could not break through.

The goal stirred the OBC back into action as Joe Kubik and Mike Breen rolled up their sleeves and dominated the central midfield. Ed Uff was played through by Matt Belk and Uff steadied himself and shot powerfully against the keeper which was spilled back to the big striker and Uff made no mistake with the rebound and buried the ball into the back of the net. 1-4 76 minutes gone. Ed Uff’s second goal of the season.

Joicey introduced Mahf Chowdhury and Emmett Shingler for Charlie Horner and Dean Barrett on the wings as both had worked their socks off to stop Worcester Park from getting down the wings.

Worcester Park started to try efforts from long range and one excellent effort rattled the top of the OBC crossbar but apart from that the two quick strikers never were given a decent chance in the second half.

OBC nearly added a fifth goal when Matt Belk’s thumped free kick was well saved by the Worcester Park keeper. The ball spilled to Charlie Horner’s feet at a narrow angle but the keeper showed good reflexes to stop Horner from getting a tap in.

Belk then was denied by a soft decision when through on goal as the Worcester Park fell over when challenging the big striker. Belk was not happy and let the referee know his feelings and was fortunate not to have been booked.

The referee blew his whistle after six minutes of stoppage time, due largely to having to fetch the ball in the dark. The result is one of the best in the club’s history and we will now face fellow Division Two side NPL (National Physics Laboratories) in the final at Croydon Athletic on Thursday 28^th April.

Next up in the League are NPL at the excellent West Molesey Recreation Park. It’s a double header and there are six points at stake. If we win both games OBC could go second with many games still in hand. OBC have to treat the games in the same manner as we treat this game, with focus, vigour, discipline and creativity. Look at the table lads before the game and see what it could mean for both sides. Be up for it and be ready!

Peter Joicey
06.04.2011

		1. Custance

37. Whelan	2. Cochrane		14. Allison	3. McGreevy

	18. Breen		20. McGuire
12. Horner				10. Barrett
	9. Belk		8. Kubik