Good citizens of Planet Earth, your wait is over. Here is the weekly roundup
of what happened on our green and pleasant pitches. Well Larpent anyway. The
forecast hadn't been particularly inspiring as rain was on the agenda.
However the wind (possibly a remnant from last week) continued to blow all
day and kept us dry at least. Thank you Suzanne Charlton, now on with
football related stuff. This is roughly what happened in approximate order,
so make of it what you will. Enjoy ....
Round 16 v Endeavour Hills
Venue:- Larpent Dome (would have been sponsored by Virgin, but we couldn't
find one)
Weather:- A bit blowy, with a slight chill, tending to fresh. Good for
kites.
Reserves
Result ... 2-1
(Halftime score ... 0-1)
Scorers ... Dean, Metin
The lads were looking to get back to winning ways after last week's setback
over in the city. All was good at training in the week and there was a
player surplus, so a couple of the lads took advantage and had the weekend
off. We welcomed back Metin into the squad after a couple of months away and
Anouk was back after a couple of weeks off sick. So with a full squad and
the best blend of youth and experience, the Green army took centre stage
ready to resist the Endeavour Hills challenge.
With teams on the paddock, it was only the ref who was missing. Anyway.
Louie stepped in again at short notice to take charge of the proceedings.
And so the game started and most of the first half was a pretty scrappy
affair. Whilst not being unduly challenged it was the visitors who took a
surprising lead. The ball was lost in midfield and Adebayour was sent clear
and rasped a low shot into the bottom corner. Alistair was left flailing at
fresh air. This really was the only time in the half that Theo, Anouk and
Josh had been under any pressure.
The coaching brains trust had the lads lining up in an attacking 3-5-2
formation and once things settled down, the home side looked the most likely
winner, even going in at halftime a goal down. Yureshan was dominating the
right hand side and Peter was closing and chasing everything in the middle.
Best chances fell to Lloyd and Dean, and Met came close with a header late
in the half.
Petey was replaced at halftime by the effervescent Sean Weston and, with
Murray, began to control the game more and more. Finally the pressure told
on the young visitors keeper as Metin pounced on a loose ball to stab home
the equaliser. More and more chances came the Waverley way and Dean stepped
up to grab the winner. Deserving nothing less, the reserves once again
showed the character required to grind out results. A very good team
performance without any individual standouts. However Theo marshalled the
troops superbly at the back as well as rising to the challenge of taking on
the captains responsibility in the absence of Dan and Bill.
A top effort lads and now consolidated in the top 6, a push in the final
weeks would see the boys still have a crack at a top 3 spot. Some crucial
games coming up, so everything to play for. Last word was left to Dan as we
found him playing with his new whiteboard. "This whiteboard's great" he
said, in a dignified Alex Ferguson manner. We agreed, it did look great, so
we left him playing and went off to check out the seniors.
Seniors
Result ... 0-0
(Halftime ... oddly enough 0-0)
Scorers ... minimal
Next onto the green pastures of Larpent dome, were the seniors and with
Steve at the helm were looking to grab a long overdue win. This was a clash
of the cellar-dwellers with Endeavour the only team below us in what is
proving to be a competitive league. Anyway, the seniors were relatively
unchanged from the previous fixture, however Micky V was back in the squad
following suspension, Greg's dodgy hammy was on the mend and Nanos's "mojo"
was making a guest appearance. The starting XI looked solid last week, so
changes were positional if anything.
Quick word on the ref. He had to be one of the nicest gentlemen we'd ever
met and his pleasant demeanour carried onto the pitch as pretty much most
things were let go. He took the saying "let the game flow" to its ultimate.
Anyway, nice bloke and someone who probably started refereeing in black and
white.
Was there a game going on? Yes there was, and for a bottom of the table
clash, it was a good quality game for the most part. The Endeavour side was
a shadow of the team that leaked 5 against us last time and their defence
like ours was as solid as a rock. Tony G has made the sweeper role his own
and has formidable allies in Ian and Julian. None of them taking a backward
step in defence of their lines. Their reward was a clean sheet and richly
deserved too. Steve S also playing his part in providing a platform for the
rest of the team.
It was up front though where the improvement in the team has been
noticeable. Steven H and James have added the pace and determination and
gave the visitors a torrid time for most of the afternoon. How they didn't
snaffle at least one chance nobody knows. Pressure was all on Endeavour and
at least 2 chances hit the woodwork (or aluminium as the case maybe).
(Late breaking news ... Swann takes the last wicket and England win
the second test by 115 runs. Freddie Flintoff with a superb 92 for 5 takes
the man of the match award. Shut the door on your way out Ricky.)
Back to the main event. Playing with the wind in the second half and into
the scoring end, surely the breakthrough would come for the Waverley boys.
Steven won the ball out wide on the right and beat one man then put a
delicious ball into the box. James stretched yet couldn't quite get his toe
onto it, with the goal at his mercy. The introduction of Greg for a battered
Sav and Micky V, on for Prashan, taking up an unaccustomed spot at left back
didn't unsettle the team either, as they continued to push forward.
The youngsters Matey, Steven and James all gave performances belying their
tender years. Matey especially on the right ran up and down all day making
sure the team always had an outlet. The late introduction of Nanos to the
fray couldn't get that late dramatic winner and the score board remained
untroubled.
Ultimately a frustrating day considering the number of chances created,
however the team is starting to take on a solid look and is becoming
difficult to beat. Two games unbeaten, now time to find the back of the net
and get a few wins. Great to see the seniors finally playing and acting as a
team. 7 games to go and 10th place is beckoning. Keep the faith boys.
of what happened on our green and pleasant pitches. Well Larpent anyway. The
forecast hadn't been particularly inspiring as rain was on the agenda.
However the wind (possibly a remnant from last week) continued to blow all
day and kept us dry at least. Thank you Suzanne Charlton, now on with
football related stuff. This is roughly what happened in approximate order,
so make of it what you will. Enjoy ....
Round 16 v Endeavour Hills
Venue:- Larpent Dome (would have been sponsored by Virgin, but we couldn't
find one)
Weather:- A bit blowy, with a slight chill, tending to fresh. Good for
kites.
Reserves
Result ... 2-1
(Halftime score ... 0-1)
Scorers ... Dean, Metin
The lads were looking to get back to winning ways after last week's setback
over in the city. All was good at training in the week and there was a
player surplus, so a couple of the lads took advantage and had the weekend
off. We welcomed back Metin into the squad after a couple of months away and
Anouk was back after a couple of weeks off sick. So with a full squad and
the best blend of youth and experience, the Green army took centre stage
ready to resist the Endeavour Hills challenge.
With teams on the paddock, it was only the ref who was missing. Anyway.
Louie stepped in again at short notice to take charge of the proceedings.
And so the game started and most of the first half was a pretty scrappy
affair. Whilst not being unduly challenged it was the visitors who took a
surprising lead. The ball was lost in midfield and Adebayour was sent clear
and rasped a low shot into the bottom corner. Alistair was left flailing at
fresh air. This really was the only time in the half that Theo, Anouk and
Josh had been under any pressure.
The coaching brains trust had the lads lining up in an attacking 3-5-2
formation and once things settled down, the home side looked the most likely
winner, even going in at halftime a goal down. Yureshan was dominating the
right hand side and Peter was closing and chasing everything in the middle.
Best chances fell to Lloyd and Dean, and Met came close with a header late
in the half.
Petey was replaced at halftime by the effervescent Sean Weston and, with
Murray, began to control the game more and more. Finally the pressure told
on the young visitors keeper as Metin pounced on a loose ball to stab home
the equaliser. More and more chances came the Waverley way and Dean stepped
up to grab the winner. Deserving nothing less, the reserves once again
showed the character required to grind out results. A very good team
performance without any individual standouts. However Theo marshalled the
troops superbly at the back as well as rising to the challenge of taking on
the captains responsibility in the absence of Dan and Bill.
A top effort lads and now consolidated in the top 6, a push in the final
weeks would see the boys still have a crack at a top 3 spot. Some crucial
games coming up, so everything to play for. Last word was left to Dan as we
found him playing with his new whiteboard. "This whiteboard's great" he
said, in a dignified Alex Ferguson manner. We agreed, it did look great, so
we left him playing and went off to check out the seniors.
Seniors
Result ... 0-0
(Halftime ... oddly enough 0-0)
Scorers ... minimal
Next onto the green pastures of Larpent dome, were the seniors and with
Steve at the helm were looking to grab a long overdue win. This was a clash
of the cellar-dwellers with Endeavour the only team below us in what is
proving to be a competitive league. Anyway, the seniors were relatively
unchanged from the previous fixture, however Micky V was back in the squad
following suspension, Greg's dodgy hammy was on the mend and Nanos's "mojo"
was making a guest appearance. The starting XI looked solid last week, so
changes were positional if anything.
Quick word on the ref. He had to be one of the nicest gentlemen we'd ever
met and his pleasant demeanour carried onto the pitch as pretty much most
things were let go. He took the saying "let the game flow" to its ultimate.
Anyway, nice bloke and someone who probably started refereeing in black and
white.
Was there a game going on? Yes there was, and for a bottom of the table
clash, it was a good quality game for the most part. The Endeavour side was
a shadow of the team that leaked 5 against us last time and their defence
like ours was as solid as a rock. Tony G has made the sweeper role his own
and has formidable allies in Ian and Julian. None of them taking a backward
step in defence of their lines. Their reward was a clean sheet and richly
deserved too. Steve S also playing his part in providing a platform for the
rest of the team.
It was up front though where the improvement in the team has been
noticeable. Steven H and James have added the pace and determination and
gave the visitors a torrid time for most of the afternoon. How they didn't
snaffle at least one chance nobody knows. Pressure was all on Endeavour and
at least 2 chances hit the woodwork (or aluminium as the case maybe).
(Late breaking news ... Swann takes the last wicket and England win
the second test by 115 runs. Freddie Flintoff with a superb 92 for 5 takes
the man of the match award. Shut the door on your way out Ricky.)
Back to the main event. Playing with the wind in the second half and into
the scoring end, surely the breakthrough would come for the Waverley boys.
Steven won the ball out wide on the right and beat one man then put a
delicious ball into the box. James stretched yet couldn't quite get his toe
onto it, with the goal at his mercy. The introduction of Greg for a battered
Sav and Micky V, on for Prashan, taking up an unaccustomed spot at left back
didn't unsettle the team either, as they continued to push forward.
The youngsters Matey, Steven and James all gave performances belying their
tender years. Matey especially on the right ran up and down all day making
sure the team always had an outlet. The late introduction of Nanos to the
fray couldn't get that late dramatic winner and the score board remained
untroubled.
Ultimately a frustrating day considering the number of chances created,
however the team is starting to take on a solid look and is becoming
difficult to beat. Two games unbeaten, now time to find the back of the net
and get a few wins. Great to see the seniors finally playing and acting as a
team. 7 games to go and 10th place is beckoning. Keep the faith boys.