06/03/2007

2nd XI

Saturday 18th March

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 2, Old Lyonians 2nd XI 1. S.A.L.

Old Lyonians H Won 2-1 Scorers Roberts, O.G

Team - Beridge,Hogan,Roome,Graham,Didori,Roberts,Sol,Griffiths,Ayo,Rochester,Lowe.

Frankly an abortion of a game, windy, bobbly bouncy pitch,players turning up late or not at all. Sharing a dressing room with a slightly manic Tenysonian 3rd X1 prior to their victorious cup final win over Owens (well done lads!).All strange stuff.

Very little football played by either side but Lats got home with yet another super strike from a steve free kick from untold yards and an o.g as anthony pressured their defender into slicing one ofver his advancing keeper. Lyons pulled one back with a free kick that missed everyone bar their centre forwards wispy locks.

Defence was solid, one very tidy save from nick, played a bit of nice stuff second half but all in all a forgettable day where only the three points mattered.

Mom - Tes by a mile.

One game to go a win would see this side go W9 D3 L1 for the last 13 games, a record to be proud of and a great springboard for next year.

Saturday 11th March

Old Westminster Citz. 2nd XI 1, Old Latymerians 2nd XI 3. S.A.L.

Westmister Cits A W 3-1 Scorers Roberts, Regis, Lowe.

Team - Berridge,Hogan,Graham,Roome,Didori,Sol,Ayo,Roberts,Griffiths,Regis,Lowe - Sub Carr.

Back to full power with the exception of anthony Lats produced a performance against almost champs cits which banished the nightmare of a week before. As usual we got there with only 8 ready to start and the ref in a particularly picky mood ensured that we couldn't wait for 3 of the lads to get changed. Still we hung on for 5 minutes unmolested and started to settle once we got 11 on despite steves protestations that he was going to lose his lunch.

About 10 minutes in we went one down to a bizarre goal as a nearpost cross somehow sqeezed past nick off me and possibly their number nine. Third umpire would be required but I suspect I could claim an o.g.

>From then on we played our best stuff of the season growing in confidence and creativity as sol and ayo got at them out wide and the stregth of Dan and genie gave us options all over the place. We should have been level with chances missed and nick produced a great palmed clearance to keep us close until steve conjured up another beauty from his locker, a top right hand corner free kick from the narrowest of angles and that was the last action of the half.

Within minutes of the restart we were ahead as sol, genie and myself worked space down the left and as i laid it in to Dan he spun off his man to fire home. For the next 20 minutes it was about their goalie keeping them in it as he made great saves from Dan, Genie and Ayo and genie fired over from 6 yards.

Finally with about 20 to go we got the third as ayo tormented his way through again and crossed for genies to apply a tidy finish. Given the work the front 6 had put in it's no surprise we tired a little and Cits pressured us for the last quarter but I think I produced their best effort slicing a clearance almost over Nick for a second og but we were always solid at the back.

Andy came on for genie for the last 10 minutes and produced the comedy moment as when approached by a rampaging Cit he was told by Larry to 'stand him up!' but proceeded to stand on his own shoelace and was snipered from the bushes.

All in all very pleasing stuff and much encouragement for next season it would seem.

Mom - 3 good saves and above standard whinging from nick, Ayo and Sol in particular frightened them to death but big Dan was different class today, deserved more than the one goal.

 

Saturday 4th March

South Bank Cuaco 2nd XI 6, Old Latymerians 2nd XI 1. S.A.L.

4/3/06 South Bank Away L 1-6 Scorer Roberts (pen)

By the sounds of things I'm glad I wasn't there. Shambles from start to finish with half the side turning up late and the chaos continued pretty much unabated for the afternoon. We went one up through steves pen but found ourselves 2-1 down at half time through a deflected goal, i don't know too many details.

Couple of glaring errors, another deflection and some breakaways and there you have it, stuffed royally and deservedly by all accounts by a solid if unspectacular oppo, some days says the song....are better than others!

Mom - jointly John and Adam Banks who helped us out this week due to cry offs and evidently were the only ones not to blame, thanks lads.
 

Saturday 18th February

Ibis 2nd XI 0, Old Latymerians 2nd XI 3. S.A.L.

Ibis away won 3-0 Scorers -  Sol,Roberts,Lowe

Team - Berridge, Roome, Hogan, Didori, Coppock, Ayo, Roberts, Griffiths, Solomon, Rochester, Lowe - Subs Regis, Graham, Sampson

Nosebleeds all round as the 2's chalk up another win and bound up the table like a frisky gelding. In truth this was much closer than the scoreline suggests with Ibis being one of the leagues better organised sides and on another day they may have come away with something but not today.

As is often the case we started slowly and looked lethargic with little off the ball movement and were forced to concede chunks of posession to our oppo who were controlled and patient. Though there weren't any glaring chances or difficult saves for nick there were a few occasions when the defence had to step in with some lively challenges to keep it level, whilst we managed the halfs best chance when genie was denied one on one with the keeper.

This appeared to be a mirror image of the game at home where ibis nicked a one nil deserved win but this team has moved on a mile since then and it's no surprise we haven't lost with steve ayo and genie in the team and it was these fellas who provided the difference again.

Having held strong in defence we took the lead after an hour with steve picking out sol with the pass of the season some 60, 70 yards which dropped right on his thigh without him having to check his run. The keeper got a hand to Sols effort but not enough to keep it out and were werew ahead and not a little relieved.

>From then on we gradually took over, Dan came on for Anthony and Matt for Tes who'd picked up yet another knock with an elbow to the neck (why can't the lad pick up normal injuries? i has to be neck, bollocks, ears...anything but legs?). Two became three with the unusually quiet Ayo coming alive and skinning the centre half which brought a blatent trip and steve slotted the penalty. Genie, not looking totally recovered from an ankle knock finished the scoring however with a typical neat turn and shot. Ibis best chance was a looping header against the bar but were were out of sight by then and in the end getting stronger which is the hallmark of this team.

Nine unbeaten now and it would be great if we could remain so for the last four games but there are some tough ones to come. Stay fit fellas!

Mom - All the back 5 deserve a mention for the clean sheet, superbly marshalled again by Larry 'indian summer' Hogan. Sol worked his socks off all game out of position and thoroughly deserved the goal but steve, though probably not his best showing was the difference between the teams and gets the nod.

Comedy Moments - a trio to day, take your pick;

my clearence into mattys bollocks which rebounded and knocked me dizzy. Judging by his histerics this was nicks choice but what must matts knackers be made of?!!.

'Bloke on line' decided me getting tangled up the the wilfreds (titus for the younger cockneys out there) whist retrieving the ball was pretty amusing despite the lurid lacerations to the legs received.

Nothing to do with the game. Another Donism as he described Martin Cox's jewellry thus..'any other ref would have had a problem with it, Pete, he's covered in earnoses and you're gonna have to tell him to tape em up' Never mind i'm sure he's good enough to be able to play without hearing or smell!

 

Saturday 11th February

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 6, Lloyds Bank 2nd XI 1. S.A.L.

Scorers Rochester (3)Regis (2)Roberts.

Team - Berridge, Didori, Coppock, Hogan, Roome, Sol, Griffiths, Roberts, Ayo, Rochester, Regis - Sub Genie

A win at least as comfortable as the scoreline suggests and the young thrusters and gnarled campainers that make up the 2's stretch their unbeaten run to eight games as Lloyds crumbled under the onslaught.

Much of the prematch was spent deciding whether half the side were actually fit enough to take the field and in the end genie pulled out to allow Dan Regis to start. Sol was late so we kicked off with 10 but were comfortable until his arrival.

Pace as ever was our key weapon as Dan, Tony and Ayo continuously found there way through and behind the defence and we went 1 up as Tony ran through and rifled home a beauty from outside the box, the same guy added a second from close range after good work fron Dan.

Then the days comedy moment came after my speculative cross was dropped by the keeper and Tony pulled it back for Dan, no more than a yard out from the empty net to incredibly cushion the ball over the bar...marvellous material. Chances came and went as Dan got the byline on a couple of occasions and could have pulled back for Steve and Tes but we were creating which was the important thing. Also I manged a shot that was so weak it was nearly a fortnight but I least i finally had one. Nothing too worrying at the back for us other than the odd touch of complacency but in truth Nick was not troubled.

Second half saw us dominate further and Lloyds decided the ref was just not on their side as they bemoaned every decision that went our way and not theirs. The right winger was extremely put out that his team could only attack down their left but it didn't occur to him to actually go and play over there (probably fancied his chances more against me without the ball than dozie with it!). And so we pressed on and let them combust.

Brilliant work from sol led to the third as his shot was only parried to Dans feet and steve got the fourth as he was set up from 10 yards to beat the keeper with ease. Tony completed his hattrick after a comedy defensive mix up as they cleared aginst each other and the ball dropped to tony a couple of yards out. The sixth was a gem as Tes added hitherto unseen distribution skills to his repetoire to pick out Dan who lobbed the onrushing keeper.

Six could really have been double figures with steve as ever the puppeteer and ayo beating people for fun. Genie came on for Tony who been kicked and grown a second knee on his right leg and could have had one himself despite not really being able to run. Finally Lloyds got their consolation with a neat finish as we took the foot off and they had a few minutes of pressure.

I believe on this form we're as good as anyone in this league but there are tough games to come with Cits and Southbank away. Promotion is certainly beyond us after losing the first seven but it's enjoyable to be involved with this bunch now and the mix of old (back four aged 150 including dozie!)and young is just about right. Onwards and upwards!

Mom - Steve is without doubt the best player in this league never mind our team and Tes had a cracking game. Defence not troubled enough for the award this week so it goes to Anthony for his hatty. Everyone played well though.

 

Saturday 4th February

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 2, Old Parkonians 2nd XI 2. S.A.L.

H Old Parkonians Drew 2-2 Scorers Ayo, Roberts(pen)

Team - Berridge, Roome, Hogan, Bohane, Didori, Griffiths, Roberts, Regis, Ayo, Rochester, Lowe - Subs Adcock, Carr.

I guess if you play this game long enough you'll live to see anything and I must admit to having to leave this report a few days before deciding what to say. The sense of injustice however is till hanging over me as I remain convinced that Lats were thoroughly shafted out of a deserved three points.

This was a game between two of the leagues in form sides with us both unbeaten in about half a dozen games or so and it was tight from the off with them giving us little time to settle but neither side created much until we went ahead through nice work from Dan on the right who crossed for Ayo to slot home his first goal for the twos. Then the fun began.

A hadbags session started from an incident that I can't recall and ended with Dan being sent off for supposed violent conduct but we'll have to wait for the report I guess. It seemed to me he was trying to separate others but as one of the parks lads ended up on the deck it was viewd as a straight red and with 20 minutes gone we were in trouble.

As is often the case a side who's down to 10 and feels hard done by is often galvanised and lats proceeded to put intheir gutsiest show of the season frustrating parks who enjoyed territory as you would expect but got less and less imaginative as the day went on. Tes and Ayo constantly broke up their midfield and the defence ate up everything else. When we needed a break steve let loose ayo, anthony and james to give us some breathing space. Nick made a crucial one on one save from Larrys only mistake all afternoon but other than that they were restricted to long range shots.

Midway through the second half we got an unexpected bonus went ayo ran through their defence and was taken down for the pen. Not even a yellow i think even though he himself expected to go as he said in the bar afterwards. Nonetheless steve slotted it and had daylight.

Credit to Parks who never threw it in and they kept at us with a bit more flair through their sub but we held on until 3 mins to go when the roof caved in. Parks pulled one back as a cross to the far post found their sub unmarked in what looked like a position a yard or so offside but his cross was slammed home unmolested and for the first time in the match they believed they could get something....and how they did. From another cross we scrambled away a corner which resulted in the ball somehow looping up and over nick in slow motion and was deemed to be just over the line before larrys clearance from the excellently placed ref. No quarrel with that however....how on earth he didn;t notice that both nick and ricky were left in a heap by onrushing parks desperate to get a touch I will never know and in the cold light of day this remains such a blatent case of obstruction and the lads understandably went bananas. As I say the ball looped in untouched when all nick had to do was reach up and catch it, but it's hard to do that on your arse.

So with no time left but to restart it was over with some parks afterward offering apologies and us barely able to credit that all our graft had been undone with the ref saying 'sorry, that's football'. Sour grapes it will sound like but it's hard to accept that even now. That said we must apologise for the way the ref was spoken to during and after the game, whatever our sense of injustice we cannot get stuck in to officials in the bar and abuse them when i'm sure he was giving what he saw. The poor fella looked extremely shaken and couldn't wait to escape and this is not the image of our club, which has always been extremely hospitable, that we want to portray. We will however appeal against Dan's red.

A shame because up to then the most enjoyable game against always tough oppo and we must put it behind us and take the positives into next week which were many. Better than a boring nil-nil I guess!!

Mom - Excellent show from everyone but stand outs were anthony for his endless work rate up front on his own after the sending off but Larry was simply exceptional this week and his reading of the game was as faultless as i've seen from a sweeper in years. Not ball for an old fecker!

Saturday 28th January

Kew Association 2nd XI 1, Old Latymerians 2nd XI 1. S.A.L.

Team - Berridge, Hogan, Graham, Beavis, Roome, Sampson, Griffiths, Roberts, Solomon, Ayo, Rochester - Sub Didori

Shambolic would be the best way to describe our preparation for this game with practically half the side turning up late, some even with the aid of sat nav! Dozie bless him lived up to his nickname by oversleeping after a nightshift and didn't make it much before half time so the injured Matt Graham ended up playing the whole game. All in all it's amazing we didn't lose.

Kew were a million miles from the side we stuffed pre xmas with about three of the side present from that game and with us missing the 'aarons' this was a much tighter affair. They dominated much of the first half with the wind behind them as we struggled to get it down and play at all. In the first minute I cleared off the line and Matt did the same barely a minute later and Nick palmed wide after the bounce almost caught him out. Lats best chances came through the pace of Ayo and his crosses gave Graham two good headed chances which could have put us in front but we got to half time square in a scrappy but exciting session.

As usual and with a strong breeze behind us we had a much better share of the spoils in the second half. Ayo headed over from six yards and graham and anthony went close with rasping shots but Lats finally took the lead after an hour with the remarkable roberts emulating his feat from the week before in beating the keeper from fully forty yards with a totally deliberate chip/lob. However our lead lasted barely 10 minutes when we for once let the little guy up front get a yard behind us and he cut inside to finish well at the near post.

>From then on Kew enjoyed the territory but we had the better chances with Ben blazing over when through and Anthony stoped one on one with the keeper. Finally Dozie who'd come on for me for the last 15 just couldn't fashion a shot from another Ayo cross and we finished up square in what was prettty much a fair result.

Hard to begrudge Kew their point, playing still without a clubhouse and struggling for players we were a touch suspiscious that there may have  been a few ringers with the 1's not playing but it seems at last they are getting continuity in selection, something which we know all too well about. Clearly they are not bottom of the league material and are arguably the strongest side we've played in our 6 match unbeaten streak, good luck to em. As for us we could have taken three points with some sharper finishing and we'll be hoping for genies swift return. Tough one against Parks next week and get your arses in gear early as the rugby is on!!!

Mom - I could give it to Steve every week but it has to be Matt, another rock like performance at centre back despite a knee injury. Great effort from everyone and Anthony and Sol had particularly good second halves. Defence was solid and Ayo a real handful again.

Saturday 21st January

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 3, Southgate O. 2nd XI 0. S.A.L.

Southgate Olympic H Won 3-0 - Scorers Roberts(2) Lowe

Not a great deal to say about this pretty turgid affair other than that we won. This was by far the poorest we have played since the cits game and every credit must be given to southgate who never gave us a moments rest despite playing all game with only 10 men, a curious reversal of the fixture at their place when we had the same problem.

We never really got going at all first half, sluggish and sloppy at times whilst the oppo got stuck in a kept the ball well. Nick made a terrific one on one save to keep us level and we cleared desperately a couple of times but we held out and eventually the halfs only touch of class from either side broke the deadlock as Ayo cut inside his man and placed the pass perfectly into steves stride as he made a difficult finish look easy with a curling shot on the run into the bottom corner.

Second half we weren't much better though solid enough at the back. Southgate came at us all the half going close with a couple of headers and bringing another smart save from nick as he tipped over. Any other lats keeper and it would have been 1-1. Eventually though with the extra man we steadily dominated. Ayo skinned his poor marker time after time and linked up with steve and anthony but we couldn't put them away and with 10 minutes to go and genie, sol, and matt struggling with knocks it looked like we may have to hang on.

Fortunatly steve had other ideas as he chipped the keeper from miles out and debate raged long into the night as to whether it was a cross or shot but frankly I was too relieved to care. This at last seemed to break southgate and with a couple of minutes left great work from Anthony and Ayo left genie with a simple tap in for three.

Possibly a little harsh on our oppo who are a tough outfit, cheered on though by serious earache material on the line who gave poor paul with the whistle no rest and conducted a running slanging match with just about anyone and particularly graham. Now our graham is young enough to learn but these boys should know better. Painful.

MoM - Nick deserves a nod for his two saves but Ayo was far and way the best player on show leaving all of us thankful we weren't marking him and feeling a twinge of sympathy for their left back! Class.

Saturday 14th January

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 4, Broomfield 2nd XI 2. S.A.L.

Team - Berridge, Roome, Beavis, Graham, Didori, Sampson, Griffiths, Roberts, Ayo, Rochester, Lowe - Sub Carr

A hard fought but in the end comfortable win for the new look two's as they stretch their unbeaten run to 4 matches with threee victories. High flying Broomfield had tanked us 7-1 earlier in the season but not this line up who are clearly now a match for the very best in the division.

Broomfield began as befits a top of the table side and passed it around us for half an hour as we had our customary slow start, we definitely need a warm up before kick off!

Brooms could have gone one up when a very tight offside was brought back and justice from their point of view was done as they went one up after a disputed goal a few minutes later. Nick seemed to catch a cross cleanly but a challenge from their smallest player dislodged the ball and he swept it home as it dropped. Now of course nick debated the system in a rational and adult manner using words even I hadn't heard of whilst brooms seasoned centre forward entered the debate from the half way line and suggested with much glee that a tall strapping lad like nick might have done better to hold on given the size of his opponent...we could have been watching newsnight such was the cut and thrust of argument.

Still we slowly got back into it, steve went close from a free kick and at the death of the half we got level as genies shot was brilliantly cleared off the line and the resulting cross was tapped in from an inch by graham.

Second half i'm happy to say was a much more one sided affair as we created numerous chances and converted three, genie beat the onrushing keeper with a deft chip after having missed a couple of one on ones. A neat move with myself anthony and genie set up steve for a very sexy lob from 25 yards and the scoring was capped off as genie was upended after some neat skill in the box and he converted the penalty himself.

Meanwhile at the back the return of Matt Graham had shored us up nicely and he had an immense game on return. We were only beaten deep into injury time as graham was converted into the crowds over by the corner flag and as everyone stood waiting for the whistle the ball was crossed in and put away. The ref didn't see it which of course is fair enough.

In the end the scoreline could have been wider if we'd been more ruthless and on occasion had just got our heads up to spot men in better positions but who's complaining when you win against a top three team. Brooms are still a good side and a measure of their frustration showed as their sub/manager brought himself on and promptly started a mass brawl/showing of finger accessories which reminded me of midweek trips to firs lane some 10 years ago when it felt like playing millwall without the security. Still all twas forgotten and no-one got sent off. Another big test against in-form Southgate next week boys, get a good nights kip!

MoM - Great game from Matt on his return and tes is fast growing into the captain role with another dominating show, but genie again gave us that cutting edge and gets the sparkly badge this week.

Saturday 17th December

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 5, Kew Association 2nd XI 1. . S.A.L.

Scorers - Lowe 2, Samuel 2, Rochester

Sorry it's been a while putting the report on but festive season and all that. Great way to end the year with a scoreline that did not flatter us at all despite a wobble early on in the second half. Tes was made captain for the day and clearly this has worked so where possible the change will be permanent.

Honestly lats could have had double figures with just about everyone missing chances. Aaron Samuel gave us the lead with a sweet left foot volley and genie (as aaron lowe is now known genie = genius i think, not unwarranted on this showing) skipped past a couple and finished neatly with the outside of his foot. We had so many options going forward it was embarrasing but our style of play does leave us exposed at times but really Nick had very little to do in the first half.

We talked about giving them no encouragement at half time but of course this went to pot as we fucked about at the back, gave the ball away and a speculative shot took rather an embarrasing bounce over Nicks hand to put them back in it and they had  a dangerous five minutes culminating in a point blank header missed which should have brought them level.

With this escape we sorted ourselves out and laid seige to the kew goal for the rest of the game. Aaron got his second after a pinpoint through ball from Graham and our fourth was started right on our own goal line, went through at least six players for Anthony to side foot home, easily our best team goal of the season which was then trumped by the best individual goal as genie went through about five on his own, round the keeper and in. Hard to find any fault with this showing and with players coming back from injury the side can only get better....maybe I can finally get to drop myself!

Looks like our next match is against league leaders Broomfield, by now our results should be getting some attention so this will be a great test of how far we've come.

Happy New Year Guys!....bring em on.

MOM - Ayo and Aaron Smauel had their best games yet but Aaron Lowe was the class act on show today.

Comedy Moment - Has to be Nick overhearing their dressing room saying 'should have had more shots, their keeper was pony!' and proceeding to rant about the score and how equally 'pony' they were with Paul quietly commenting that 'they have got a point mate'....

Saturday 10th December

Old Lyonians 2nd XI 2, Old Latymerians 2nd XI 2. S.A.L.

Scorers - Rochester 2

Team - Berridge, Dardagan, Carr, Beavis, Roome, Samuel, Griffiths, Roberts, Rowley, Rochester, Ayo, Sub - Lowe.

In the end a little disappointing we didn't sneak the win after dominating the last 20 minutes but after being 2-0 down we can't complain. Lats dominated the early exchanges whilst Lyons were down a man but we looked slow and tentative as though expecting the good performance against Lloyds to repeat itself without us actually doing anything. Players started to get niggly with each other and the oppo and all in all it was a half to forget. Lyons defence restricted us to long range efforts mostly from steve who has quickly become the focal point of this team, and our makeshift (again) defence was stretched on the break with their number 8 increasingly dangerous.

We went in one down thanks to a scrambled goal which nick almost saved with his leg. I didn't see any of this however as i'd blocked the first effort with my bollocks and was in a damp heap wishing for death.

Seconf half was much better as we got off each others backs and on with the game. Paul and Aaron linked up nicely with steve and tes and Lyons got increasingly physical with at least 3 ending up in the book. Despite this we went 2 down as 8 got his deserved goal beating nick low down at the near post. It could have been all over as the same guy missed a glorious chance from close range but we escaped and stormed back. We brought Andy off (steady...) and went 3 up front with Aaron Lowe causing immediate problems and suddenly things started to run for us.

Anthony up to now had got little change out of their back four but as we piled it on the ball broke to him in the box and he calmly passed it in. From then on shot after shot rained in but it looked like being a frustrating day until Anthony again found room to pick up the rebound from (i think) steves shot to put us level. Ayo missed a close header late on which perhaps would have been harsh on lyons but this side are growing in belief and are not giving up and so the draw was fair as we finished much the stronger.

Great fightback lads, big one against Kew this week so lets keep it going.

MOM - Has to be Ben who dealt with their big quick number 8 pretty well, some great tackles that kept us in it. Good second halves for everyone, especially Paul, Aaron, Tes and Greg.

Comedy Moment - My bollock bashing apparently, bloody good effort to hit 'em in that weather.

Saturday 26th November

Lloyds 2nd XI 3, Old Latymerians 2nd XI 6. S.A.L.

Team - Berridge,Hogan,Carr,Didori,Roome,Rowley,Griffiths,Steve,Ayo,Samuel,Rochester - Sub Aaron.

Finally! A win for the fast improving seconds over mid table Lloyds and a performance which was a pleasure to be involved in. This side has been promising this in small patches the last few weeks and at last it all came together, particularly in a blistering 15 minute period in the middle of the second half.

Lats made all the early running and despite a minor altercation between Tony, Aaron and their keeper, (apparently the keeper fell on Tony, and was a big lad we settled down and pinged it about better than at any stage of the season. Steve on debut for the twos must get the award for 'where the feck has he been?' as it soon became obvious that when surrounded by half decent players he could make the game look very easy. Most good things went through him and Lloyds struggled to keep up.

We almost went one down when with an attempted headed clearance my spine turned to bubble wrap and I succeeded in deflecting the ball straight, luckily, at Nick. Then we got the goal our possesion deserved as Aarons shot was saved only for tony to slot home, we could have had two or three more as tony was inches away from aarons cross, ayo rounded the keeper only to be robbed before shooting, steve drilled a free kick just over and the keeper made a good save again from tony. All good stuff but as has been our way we got punished for switching of for a split second and their seven ran on to a through ball and fired past nick who very strangely was stood about a foot from the right hand post, clearly disorientated from a heavy bout of pre match chundering. Either that or a magnet secreted in the post had latched on to the bolt through his neck....

Second half, all very positive during the break, paul had to go off with a 'clicking knee' whatever that may be and was replaced by aaron II who immediately looked the part. Ayo went close with a header and aaron I brought another good save out of the keeper, however we went two one down as we failed to clear and an intricate move and spanking finish taught us the value of playing safe. 1-2 though became 2-2 as aaron II slipped his shot under the keeper after a neat pass from steve. Minutes later we were behind again, failing to get rid of a corner and the ball was stabbed in from close range but levelled straight away as aaron I rounded off a lovely move with (i believe)his left foot.

>From here on it got silly, steve scored from about 35 yards with a shot that had more moves than Chico from the X-Factor, then Nicks huge clearance forced the full back into a backpass which eluded the keeper and tony was alert enough to follow up and tap home. Finally aaron two got his second after some sweet one touch stuff as he rounded of tony's perfect through ball.

Despite the carnage Lloyds were still dangerous and we got a bit gung ho but Tes and Dozie had massive games in breaking up the play whilst Andy, looking like a hobbit trying to mark their massive centre forward, Larry and myself kept it as safe as we could and we got through without further alarm.

Nothing but praise for the guys battling qualities this week against a solid lloyds side, but a word of caution as there are better organised teams around and we must learn to keep our shape when we haven't got the ball. All in all though, a very good day and if our attacking play continues to match this few teams will stop us scoring.

MOM - Reluctant to pick anyone out as everyone had their best games so far, Dozie was immense filling in at centre half and tony got reward for his graft the last few weeks but have to give it to steve who was the real class act on show, well done mate.

Comedy Moment - Wasn't really that funny at the time but nick puking in the car park almost led me to call the guiness book of records for quantity of fruit flavoured liquid expelled in one go, truly astonishing.
 

Saturday 19th November

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 0, Ibis 2nd XI 1. S.A.L.

Team - Berridge,Hogan,Beavis,Sampson,Roome,Griffiths,Didori,Rowley,Samuel,Rochester,Ayo - Sub - Barbian

Another disappointment for the two's but a much better performance and in the end we were unfortunate not to come away with a point. Yet again a makeshift back four with myself moving back to left back (you never escape your roots) and Larry, now looking like a cross between Neptune and Oliver Cromwell, at right back with Ben sweeping behind a very frustrated Graham. Still, the decision to go four at the back worked as we had a much beter shape about us.

Finally we looked partly organised even managing a warm up and we started very brightly, lots of movement and new boy Ayo (no idea how to spell it sorry)looking particularly dangerous and Dozie winning everything in midfield but our final ball was lacking again and aside from Paul's fairly tame free kick I can't remember the keeper making a save, but then neither did nick apart from one great interception which only he could have reached.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the second half but the winner came as we gave it away on the right and their big number 10 escaped graham for the only time in the match to steer home a low header.

To be fair Ibis were just a bit smarter than our young guys and we're still trying to do too much on our own. Ayos comfortably saved shot was the nearest we came to a goal despite lots of posession and when one last game of pinball in the box after ayos great run ended with the deflection just going wide it was all over.

Good thing is these guys will quickly learn and surely it won't be long before our first points, i'd like to register a few before the bus pass kicks in!

Mom -Dozie, new lease of life in midfield, did everything right. Ayo and Tes were also excellent.

Comedy moment -probably 'mr injury' Tes getting hit in the cobblers. Sweepstake open on how the poor sod manages to hurt himself next week after concussion and a split lip in the previous two games.

Saturday 12th November

Old Latymerians 2nd XI 0, Old Westminster Citz 2nd XI 5. OB Cup Home

Team - Gladders, Hogan, Donnelly, Dardagan, Sampson, Beavers, Roome, Griffiths, Rochester, Didoli, Samuel.

Once again the wheels came off after an encouraging first hour against the only side in the league with 100% record. A sloppy goal and a blistering free kick saw us two down at the break but Aaron had hit the bar and Anthony up front was still having no luck. I managed one shot but it was weaker than a graham norton handshake so we went in two down at half time, oblivious to the carnage ensuing on the third team pitch.

Simply put they were better organised and moved the ball quickly. We tried to play too much individual stuff which is understandable as we hardly know each other at the moment such is the state of the club. This will improve if we can keep these lads together.

A mixture of mistakes at the back plus a couple of tidy finishes gave a slightly flattering scoreline but they were clearly the better team. Again we had good chances in the second half but were luckless again. Im confident this side can do good things but we need to get know each other pretty quickly.

Comedy moment was Aaron shouting 'come on old man get rid of it innit!' and about 5 of us looking round guiltily....I think it was aimed at Larry though as he replied 'the ball keeps coming back innit'...ah the blending of generations.

Mom - Hard pick but Tony Rochester on another day would have had three and was very unlucky so he get s the nod with Aaron and Graham not far behind.