Norsemen 5, League, Away, Lost 1-2
Team: Johnson, parsonage B, D Bryant, L Parsonage, Suant, Callow, Ruddling, Ricky Payne, D Gale, G Maybe, D Purdy
Scorers: Gale
Scribe: Callow
Another season and after reading the book “the Benitez way” apparently if you start the season strongly then you have more of a chance at winning the league. Genius. So like the big man himself I decided that might not be a bad idea. Against the backdrop of last season where four games came and went without any points id like to have started strongly. To be fare to all the lads out there we shouldn’t pick holes in something that revolved around most of us not playing together regularly. We started brightly and after some good forward link up play between players like Swaney , gale , and purdy we started to open them up. A couple of speculative shots and some good leg work from gale asked questions of a clearly strong Norseman back line. The game began to turn as the Norseman full backs began to push forward and unchallenged put some good crosses behind our back line that was clearly stretched. Pulling in our full backs to get 3 on 2 with there strikers only magnified the problem with there left and right wingers starting to get some joy down both flanks. 25 mins gone and a sloppy ball across the line were scrapped across the goal for Norseman to go 1 up. At this point it was really pleasing to see our team not drop but push on. We came forward and Gale’s pace consistently questioned the Norseman back line. 30 Mins gone and we came back into it with Gale tackling their keeper taking it past him and slotting it past him for 1-1. At this point we should have pushed our advantage, Gale going through on Goal again after good link up play with Purdy. If Only he took his time drew the keeper out and tried to go past him we would have been 2-1 up. Instead he decided to take a range effort that the keeper dealt with. Half time came and went and Ruddling replaced with Ricky Payne who came into the game and what was really pleasing for me put himself about, tackling and playing good short football. However 60Mins gone and ill hold my hands up. The corner came in and I was stood there thinking Christ that bloke look like rickets…When the Bald F%** rised like a salmon and headed in from 6 Yards. Again we pushed on through and chances fell to Gale who had a further one on one, which involved Swaney which the keeper saved well, and Purdy who was unlucky not to convert from a corner. The game descended into 9 men behind the ball from Norseman and some good attacking football from us but it wasn’t enough. Still I think there were some good positives to take from this game, with us looking strong on he ball. My criticism is in our defensive play as a team. From the front line through the midfield and right back to the keeper we need to focus on our organisation, to concentrate on our game and make sure we pressure the ball and don’t let the delivery of crosses come in unchallenged. Also don’t let me mark some bloke who looks like a younger betterlooking Ricketts!!!! See You all at training!!!!!

Old Parkonians 4, League, Home, Drew 0-0
Team: P Seller, D Bryant, R Browne, B Parsonage, Callow, Langdale, Weightman, gale, Swaney (cock), Purdy, Kevinininininovivcoiscbhj (goran), patel (fat), Harris (nuts)
Scorers: Gale
Scribe: Callow
I’m thinking time will tell whether games like this will cost us our season. I can’t fault much from today, a solid performance that gave me some positive things to think about ahead of the battle of Barnet. Again a solid display at the back with Bryant, parsonage (who under difficult circumstance still turned up to play sweeper), and the very impressive Rick Browne. My optimism for the season centres on these three players who put it all in today and gave few chances to a hard working Parkonians. Still the first half with regards to possession went to Park and with Langers and Callow winning most headers we played a long game centred on the hard work of Purdy and Goran. 30 mins gone and a quick free kick from callow put goran through who blasted his effort over. Another chance I think we should have taken. It was on the break that we really started to have some joy. Suant who run his socks off and without a moan defended and attacked with equal levels of effort put the ball across the face of goal for purdy to fire at the keeper. Suant followed up and I think was VERY unlucky not to score from 1 yard. When your not winning things like that happen. Second half began and again we struggled to cope with their impressive left-winger. Suant battled on and that for me is the first mark of a good club player. Still we pressed and some tasty chances insured. Some to Park and some to us. We pushed and probed and changing our forward line who worked incredibly hard today, for Patel and Darren gale with Pete Harris at Left wing back, still gave us very little in terms of clear cut chances. Still I will be positive and would like to say thanks to Ben Parsonage in particular for not only another solid display, but during very difficult circumstance. MOM for me was Browne, who gave their forward line nothing but grief. At last a defender that’s not afraid to play the game with a bit of bite in the tackle. Next week will be a challenge. Still I’m looking forward to seeing how far the fives have come.

EBOG 5, League, Away, Won 4-1
Team: Sterry, Parsonage B, Browne`eeeeeee, L Parsonage, Turner, Callow, Ruddling, Patel, Payne, K Nayee (nice cycling shorts), Purdy, Barron.
Scorers: R Barron, Purdy (2), Rudling
Scribe: Callow
Now I’m not one for gloating. I’ve been involved in three 4’s vs. 5’s. Lost the first 2-1 and came off the pitch with a fractured rib. Second game drew 1-1. Half the pitch chasing my arse around screaming blue murder. I’ve had a few people remind me of this over the close season and to be honest I thought that after the start the 5’s had made we might be in a bit of early season trouble. Selection was the usual banter. “Callow you should pick him, Callow He isn’t available, Callow you should drop yourself and play Patel as the play maker”. I listened to what had been said and promptly picked a team centred on experience. Players who don’t let you down when you’re playing a team unbeaten and flying high. I then spent the rest of the week worrying about the other team and who might cause us problems. Then I thought. Sod this Callow. You’ve picked a team who you think can win and sod the rest who tell you this and that. I pretty much told this to the team before kick off and I think if you asked every player today, they’d tell you the same thing…we were not going to lose.

We’d switched the formation to 4-4-2 and as per usual the first half was centred on our back two of Rick and Ben P doing fantastically well. The 5’s when they got the ball down looked dangerous, but time and again Barron held the ball up front for us and brought Ricky and Kieron into the game on either wing. Purdy who today had something to prove put himself about and kept turning there back line time and again. The first half had few chances with Callow heading the ball off a deflection that the 5’s did well to clear. A high challenge on law from Brownee left Law on the floor and some genuine concern from both sets of players. Still the challenges weren’t aggressive but competitive and as time and again we came away with the ball we really started to get some joy with Barron and Purdy.

Half time 0-0 and we switched Barron into centre mid with Ruddling up front. The game exploded. A game of chess in the first half it became he who shoots wins. Barron after a good delivery from Nayee rose like a salmon at the far post. 1-0. No sooner had we scored Law who today with Abas looked two players with great potential played a quick 1-2 and then slotted the ball home passed an unlucky Sterry. The game continued with a couple of one on ones saved well by our new keeper who flattened the pitch, the ball and any other player friend or Foe who was in his way. Fantastic. Still we pressed and after Patel came on and switched up front with ruddling replacing Payne at right wing, we started to really probe. A lovely Dummy by Nayee (please) who then ran on to his own through ball and passed it into the impressive Purdy who duly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 2-1. The 5’s lost a bit of their shape after that and we continued to press with Ruddling having plenty of the ball on the wing. The third was again a wellworked ball up front, Patel laying the ball off Purdy shrugging off a challenge and slotting it bottom left. The fourth was like who wants the ball most. Purdy and ruddling tackling each other to get the ball with ruddling then slotting it bottom left.

A good result today, but one that will mean nothing without a result next week. Still It’s always nice to walk up to Shane Khan who just smiles, gets in his jeep and drives on home. FOURS. …FOURS…FOURS…fours fours… fours ………

Norsemen 4, Home, League, Drew 2-2
Team:
Scorers: Penny, Barker D
Scribe: Seller P
Alan Drive had a christening for our brand new goalposts and special thanks must go to Vic Earwicker for his generous donation for these. The game was also the first official run out on the middle pitch to test out the new improved playing surface and after Ros took the requisite photocall the 4th’s under Sam Patel played a full role in a very committed performance in a spikey game against a strong Norsemen side. The 4th’s can count themselves a little unlucky to only come away with a point after playing the better football the majority of the game.

A much changed 4ths team started very brightly and soon went 1 up after Sam Penny intercepted a goalie’s throw out and finished incisively after ghosting past the defence. A bit of a defensive misunderstanding led to a rash challenge and the Norsemen gratefully accepted the penalty to make it 1- 1. Both sides worked hard to create chances although the hard ended in stalemate.

The second half began is similar fashion with a couple of meaty challenges being rewarded by Mr Warne’s yellow cards. Norsemen took the lead after a set piece led to a header being pushed onto the bar by Sam Patel and knocked over the line from a yard out. Despite this set back EBOG continued to press and eventually equalised with Darren Barker smashing home a volley after a long throw into the area. Pushing for a winner Ricky Owers had a great shot on the turn hit the Bar and Purdy nearly scored from acute angles on the left. A couple of yellows later and Sam P having a shoving match with a couple of forwards both sides had to settle for a point. The 4ths played some good stuff today with a stronger team than usual and some great performances throughout the side. Keep it up boys – Callow your playing for your place

Merton, AFA, Home, Lost 1-2
Team: SELLER. BROWN. PARSONAGE.TURNER (THE BEAST). CALLOW.GALE.SUANT.OWERS. MAYBE. PATEL. MAJ. HODGSON
Scorers:
Scribe: Callow
After a week off its not easy coming back to see a pitch that with stripes like that looks like its been sponsored by Adidas, and it was a very cold Glum day.
I thought this time last week I was out on the Craic and loving the Irish…Then I walked in to the changing room and forgot how beautiful Patel was…. What a vision…. Patel is so fat. Fatter than Caskie. Plus at 1-1 in the 1st ix the captain crap BOYCE gave away a penalty!!! haha
Anyway the game started with the 4’s playing 3-5-2, and the early exchanges pretty much spelt out what both teams were all about. They had a tall team at the back and midfield and up front they had pace. Long ball all the way. Us? Well we were trying to play short football and for long periods we controlled it and played it about and opened them up well. Maybe and Gale had a lot of joy down both wings and come 20 mins Maybe delivered a corner which curled and was going in. Maj tried to make sure and was unlucky to flick it onto the cross bar. But there simple method of long ball to pace is effective at this level and after playing it forward they drew an unlucky keeper out who duly punched the ball clear to one of there players who slotted it home. 1-0 down. One thing I find so effective about our team is our general attitude and when 1-0 down there was no sign of players hiding or getting to other players on there own side. We started to pass and hold the ball and a quick one-two released Gale who played an inch perfect pass to Suant who headed a beauty from the just inside the area which the keeper just about flicked over the bar. We continued to play football and although we were having some joy coming forward we weren’t hitting Patel and Maj nearly enough.
Half time and I reiterated that we had to play short against this team or defeat would be definite. We started poorly. In many ways not down to a lack of effort but players need to realise that you can’t play every position. I don’t exclude myself from that. In truth we couldn’t hold the ball and started hitting the long balls, which Merton dealt with easily. Then the hammer blow came as the ball was delivered quickly forward and there forward slotted it past Seller.
I could sense we weren’t going to improve in our current position and so I switched it to 4-4-2 and replaced Suant with Hodgson. Some players adapted to this quickly and got on with it. Others didn’t take kindly to it came out with comments about myself which is too harsh to mention, I wont divulge who it was because I’m bigger than that… Back to the game and we started to press but in all honesty players we paniced and started hoofing the ball forward. Still we had a few chances and with five mins left Rick Brown scored a sweet volley, which brought us back to 2-1. Come the end of the game a lot of our team had run as far as they could and we never got that final chance to score.
I’ve mentioned Attitude several times in this report, and I cant knock any of the player’s I’ve got in my side. However I’m very disappointed to learn that certain captains haven’t been so honest and showing the EBOG team ethic. I intend to highlight that at the next captains meeting. If captains can’t be honest enough to work with other captains then I will make decisions regardless of their comments or feedback as clearly it can’t be trusted. The leagues all that are left for us and with a few tweaks this team isn’t far away from turning draws and 1-0 defeats into wins.
Ohh and Joe Turner was the fat boy with the potty mouth. Thanks to R barker for the Patel comments.

Winchmore Hill 6, League, Away, Won 2-1
Team:
Scorers: Purdy, Ruddling
Scribe: Callow
A Game against Winchmore is never easy. Even if its there 6’s. The 4’s looked like they’d supped back on too much mulled wine and Brownee even looked like he’d stuffed the xmas turkey in his back pocket. This all without the fitness of Patel in the side. After a few dropouts and even more called up the 4’s looked like a different side and I decided with 4-4-2 much to the pleasure of fat boy turner who didn’t stop moaning. The first 15 mins of the game produced some good possession for the bogs as we continued to bring our right and left backs into the game and both carried the ball with confidence and purpose.
15 mins in and as is usual we started to take the long road. Constant passes over the top played into the hands of a good side like Winchmore, who play good football, and as our centre backs were pressed the ball over the top from Winchmore continued to trouble us. 30 mins gone and Ruddling and Turner started to come into the game. Particularly Ruddling who started stopping the ball, playing short football and bringing Suant and Nayee in to the game on either wing. After 40 mins a good move

Southgate Olympic 4, League, Away, Won 3-1
Team: Sterry, Brown, Bryant, Williams, Payne, Curtis, Maybey, Callow, Turner, Ruddling, Purdy, Owers
Scorers: Owers, Williams, Brown
Scribe: Callow
Week 2 of the new year and we’ve done Winchmore in second 2-1, and now we’ve done top of the league 3-1. The difference between now and a few games ago? For me it’s the performance of our Full backs and as hard as it is to say, our centre mids who continue to compliment each other. The game started relatively strongly for the bogs and I must admit I was surprised at the lack of talent on show from Southgate. 15 mins gone and a quick free kick from maybey dropped to Purdy who laid the ball off for Browne who slotted home from 6 yards. 1-0 the bogs. With a goal came confidence and the impressive Turner who hit every tackle today and in no short ways prevented an impressive midfield from playing football.

Still the game didn’t swing entirely our way and a tight performance from both sides led to a great chance for Southgate who drilled the ball at our keeper and Sterry reacted superbly to dive the opposite way and tip the ball up and then back into his arms.

The game didn’t really create many clear-cut chances and I think with the passing still not at a level I think most of us would be happy with the game descended towards half time. Unfortunately captain fantastic twisted his tree like leg and had to give up the ghost at half time. On came Alex Williams at half time at right wing and despite being an un-natural position for him, he really put in a display that suggested he wanted to be a part of the team. Still we lost a bit of our shape with the pimp of the pitch and with Ruddling dropping deep to cover and Browne eager to drive forward we soon found ourselves struggling. A great opportunity fell to Owers however who was unlucky to drill the ball at the defender. And with us still unsure of our shape Maybe who caused no end of problems today for there right back, went past player and keeper and was brought down for a penalty that should have been given.

Come 60 mins and quick few passes from Southgate opened us up and they gave Sterry no chance with a neat finish. Game on at 1-1. Still we started to sort out the middle of the park and started to press. A long throw from Browne into the oppo area led to a bit of a scramble. Pinging about the ball dropped to Owers who twisted and with a bicycle kick pinged it into the top corner. 2-1. For me we were in control from then on. Despite having all the possession they couldn’t live with Owers and Maybe who continually beat there players. With ten mins to go Curtis who again brought the ball forward with confidence laid it off for Maybey who went on a blistering run almost to the bi line, and with time a composure picked out Williams who slotted home confidently. Game over.

Despite a great win I was disappointed to hear the 5’s lost as well…. real shame. And once my little phone call to the AFA kicks in they’ll be looking at a relegation scrap. If any one wants it the AFA number it’s: 07111…- Shane Khan loves it. MOM today Maybey ( a display of confidence and team ethic.)…. FANTASTIC 4’S 4’S 4’S 4’S 4’S………….

Old Parkonians 4, League, Away, Won 3-0
Team:
Scorers: Owers, Purdy 2
Scribe: Brown
The team had done well in the last few weeks but in truth, and I hate to say it we have missed the passing of Patel in the centre of midfield. That said we started very well with good short passing, that led to a fabulous goal, the ball was worked wide and to the edge of the box & very much in the style of Dalglish Purdy span and slotted the ball into the opposite corner. If that was not strange enough 10 minutes later Purdy out paced their centre halves as he latched onto a quality pass over the top from Madge! Who did mention before kick off that since he has gone up to the 3’s he has learnt so much off Patel that he cant understand why Sam does not play higher. The third goal was one of pure class the ball was popped op in short sharp triangles which released Maybe wide who put ina peach of across for Ricky Owers to finish with a perfectly placed header.

In all honesty since the return of Patel the team has never looked so good! It should also be noted the young single men of the club are definitely lady boys! On a Friday night when they should be scouting for girls Joe “Bomb Head” Turner & Danny “Shrek” Pearce went to the pictures instead, we can only imagine it was to see Broke Back Mountain! Callow is now injured fro the rest of the seaon which is a blessing as the King Patel has retuned. Come on the 4’s