Linford Wanderers 0 - 3 Oaks Athletic

Two goals from Sharpy and one from Al wrapped up a satisfying win in a game where our superiority in defence and the clinical finishing of our front two was the telling difference between the two sides. The funny thing is that Sharpy suggested we shouldn’t even play this game given the fact that an official referee had not been assigned! As it was the guy from Linford Wanderers was fair, and did a much better job than the man in black last week.

For the first time this season Milesy had the same 15 players to choose from, and the team was largely unchanged apart from the re-introduction of Eye-Ball and a starting place for Bill who had impressed when coming on as a sub last week. Bill was sporting yet another pair of football boots in an attempt to prove that the reason he keeps falling over is down to inadequate studs (your not fooling anyone Bill!). The full starting line-up was as follows:

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

pppDeano (RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Eye-Ball (LB)

pNathan (RM) Gollum (CM) Stu (CM) (c) Bill (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Sharpy (CF)

subs: Parker, Jimmy, Aaron

The game started following a respectably marked two minutes silence in memory of all those who have sacrificed their lives in times of war. Linford started the brighter of the two teams, but for all their possession they simply couldn’t find a way through with Rob and Milly not giving their front two an inch. In contrast Sharpy and Al were winning the majority of balls played up to them, and were getting good support from Nathan and Bill, who won the free-kick that led to the opening goal of the game.

Stu’s free-kicks are an equally dangerous weapon as Nathan’s long throws, and having already hit the post with one effort Stu whipped in a perfectly weighted free-kick from the left hand side which was met by Sharpy at the back post to head home from 6 yards. 1- 0 to The Oaks.

The rest of the first half continued in a similar vain to how it had started, with Linford having most of the ball, but not achieving much. You always want to get that second goal to settle the nerves, and Sharpy duly obliged when following good link up play with Nathan and Al he beat the keeper to the ball and finished from close range with a well controlled volley. We all know that Sharpy was developing a phobia of the six yard box, so hopefully today’s two goals will have put this hoodoo to bed.

We were delighted to go into half time with a two goal lead, and winning or losing the match would be down to us battling together as a team and getting in any tackles in the penalty area before Eye-Ball got anywhere near them. Linford did create chances, but these tended to be restricted to long range efforts which very rarely found the target.

The strength of the Oaks squad this season was demonstrated when Milesy made three changes in the second half; with Parker replacing Deano – who by this time had sobered up enough to realise he was still injured and as Milesy had left his hipflask at home he was unable to continue. Aaron replaced Bill, who had given it all for the cause, and Jimmy replaced Gollum whose back had given up on him. The fresh legs gave us an extra boost, and when Al found the net via the near post from a tight angle the victory was sealed. The main aim was now to get our first clean sheet of the season, which we subsequently did, and was just reward for an excellent defence display.

We played to our strengths in this game, and I don’t think there are many teams who have a full squad of players who are prepared to get stuck in and battle for each other. So provided we all turn up with our right heads on there should be many more victories to come.

We’ve got a couple of weeks off, but still check the blog as hopefully we’ll have some updates from our Australian delegation – have a great time lads and see you in four weeks.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sun 30th Nov - TBC

Goal Scoring Chart: