Stanford Wanderers 4 - 3 Oaks Athletic

A goal from virtually the last kick of the game prevented The Oaks from taking anything away from a game in which they would have taken all three points if they hadn’t been punished for a series of individual and team errors.

The absence of Milly (shoulder), Gollum (old age) and Deano (lavatory) meant Milesy was forced to do a bit more tinkering with the side, with Captain Stu partnering Rob at the back and Nathan moving into the middle with Eye-Ball:

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

pppParker (RB) Rob (CB) Stu (CB) (c) Jason (LB)

pJimmy (RM) Nathan (CM) Eye-Ball (CM) Aaron (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Sharpy (CF)

subs: Bill

The extra long warm up (it turned out to be an eleven o’clock kick-off) seemed to do the trick as The Oaks were definitely the quicker out of the blocks, and were out-doing Stanford at their own game with some good passing and moving. Jimmy especially was the catalyst for many of these moves, and seemed to be exuding confidence thanks to not being part of the last line of defence.

Much like when these two sides had met the week before The Oaks were kicking into a stiff breeze in the first half, and they again used this to their advantage to score the opening goal. This time though it was Al who brought the ball down and hit a cracking shot which dipped over the keeper and into the roof of the net. The initial reaction was that this was even better than Jason’s effort the previous week, but then we shouldn’t forget that Jason apparently hit his with his wrong foot. Anyway, who cares, The Oaks were 1-0 up.

1-0 became 2-0, again with some help from the breeze, when Nathan decided to ignore the usual game plan from corners to “stick it on Rob’s head” and instead swung it straight into the top corner.

They talk about football being a game of two halves; however, this game could easily be talked about in quarters. At 2-0 The Oaks looked comfortable, and definitely didn’t look like conceding. Unfortunately (again just like last week), a goalkeeping error by Neil – when a tame shot was palmed down and squirmed under his body – gave Stanford renewed hope of getting back into the game.

As much as you don’t want it to, these incidents always have a deflating affect on the team. Unfortunately it also shattered Neil’s already fragile confidence, and any subsequent ball into the box was met with panic by all.

The Oaks really needed to get to half time with their lead in tacked to allow time to get head straight and re-group, but this wasn’t to be. Failure to clear the ball (despite a number of opportunities to do so) following a disputed free-kick led to a tap in which put the scores level going into the break.

The second half was a much scrappier affair, and although the wind was again causing problems (this time for The Oaks), Neil didn’t have a save to make (in fact the two saves of any significance game from Nathan and Stu, both making superb goal line clearances.

Stanford took the lead midway through the second half thanks to a fortuitous bounce from a harmless free-kick which took the ball over Neil and into the net. The frustration at conceding this goal was enough to draw an expletive from Eye-Ball (sorry Nan), but The Oaks rallied well, and with the help of Bill’s fresh legs (well they were fresh for five minutes anyway), Stanford’s goal was put under renewed pressure.

When the equaliser came it was once again a goal of genuine quality, as a cross from the right was met sweetly by Sharpy at the back post, with the ball being slotted calmly between the keeper’s legs. Sharpy has been (at least joint) top of the scoring chart since the opening game of the season, and with Al bagging his eighth goal of the season in the first half he was in danger of being knocked off top spot. If this is how he reacts to this situation then lets hope others keep putting him under pressure at the top. Great goal Sharpy.

With the scores now level at 3-3 and 10 minutes to play, given the way the game had gone The Oaks would have happily gone away with a point, and despite one missed opportunity it looked like the point was in the bag. However, Stanford had one last throw of the dice, and when Parker attempted to block a shot when the ball was played into the box with 30 seconds to go the ball looped up off his leg and into the top corner. 4-3, and again The Oaks had been beaten by a fluke.

We deserved at least a point from this game, but alas it wasn’t to be, and our losing streak has now stretched to three games. Next week we meet the team against which it started, so it would be fitting if we could put it to an end.

Keep your heads up lads, we played well today, and if we consistently play like that we’ll get our reward. Happy New Year, and see you next week.

Eye-Ball

Next Game – Sunday 4th Jan 2009 - Home v Deportivo Thurrock @ Blackshots – 10:30 K.O

Goal Scoring Chart:

Oaks Athletic 1 – 2 Stanford Wanderers

After last week’s shambolic display we can be much happier with this performance. The way we conceded the two goals was still disappointing, but if it hadn’t been for their goalkeeper (and if the wind had died at the right moment), these two goals would have been no more than a consolation. On the plus side the memory of seeing Jason score from 25 (ish) yards has replaced the one of him wearing nothing but his lucky speedos (and I can sleep at night).

Milesy decided a change in formation may help, and called in Jason to replace the injured Gollum in a 4-5-1 set-up:


ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

pppJimmy (RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Deano (LB)

pppppppppppp Jason (CM) Stu (CM) (c)

Nathan (RM) pppppppSharpy (AM)pppppp Eye-Ball (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaappppppAl (CF)

subs: Parker, Aaron

There is no denying that Stanford are a good footballing side, and they definitely looked worthy of their lofty position in the league. However, their good passing triangles were largely ineffective thanks to the dogged work of Jason and Stu, who received good support from the rest of the side. Even Sharpy looked to be enjoying the challenge of supporting both the midfield in defence, and Al in attack – even if he was looking for somewhere to crawl and die after 10 minutes.

With both sides adopting a high line, and also both choosing to pack the midfield no one had much time on the ball. This worked to our advantage as there was no alternative but to look for the short, easy pass, and we started putting some good plays together although the final ball was still lacking at times. The high line also meant we conceded less corners which we were thankful to avoid after last week!

The first goal of the game could have gone either way, but of course can only go one way. This time it went the way of the Oaks thanks to that man in his lucky speedos. Having collected the loose ball following a good tackle by Stu, Jason connected sweetly(?) with his wrong foot from 25 yards and the ball floated over the helpless Stanford keeper and into the net. He’d better keep his eye on those lucky speedos as you never know what desperation will do to a man (and I want a goal!).

The Oaks were spurred on by this goal, and could have easily gone into the break 3-0 up if Al hadn’t been denied by the cross bar having expertly lofted the ball over the on-rushing Stanford keeper, and the scoring machine Rob hadn’t seen his effort superbly cleared off the line. As it was we had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break.

Unfortunately (as the final score line would suggest) the second half didn’t go quite as well as the first. The Stanford keeper may have been a bit disappointed with the goal he conceded in the first half, but he more than made up for it in the second with two amazing saves; the first from a point blank header by Sharpy, and the second denying Rob when Al laid the ball back to him in the box for what seemed a certain goal. If either of these efforts had found the back of the net that would have been game over.

The doggy life that these saves had handed Stanford, combined with the withdrawal of Jason and Deano (the first through fatigue and the latter thanks to a dead leg inducing collision with our petit goalie) obviously unsettled The Oaks, and Stanford took control.

I always think that being the goalkeeper is a thankless task, and that it is the one position where an error is hard to forget (as it is usually accompanied by the name of an opposition player on the score sheet). Neil has been consistently superb this season, and if the equaliser had come at 4, rather than 1 nil it probably wouldn’t even be worth mentioning that a tame shot was allowed to slip under his body. Now Neil is a big man (in character), and I’m sure he wont let this spoil his otherwise fine form.

Stanford now had their tails up, and The Oaks started to look a bit ragged. Still, we were keeping them at bay and Neil didn’t really have any saves to make. And when Stanford took the lead thanks to a fortuitous slice that gave Neil no chance we could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be our day. However, you make your own luck in this game and I think we felt that ours had followed Jason to the changing room. We weren’t able to respond and the score finished at 2-1 to Stanford.

We can take heart from the fact that this was a definite improvement on last week, and I for one am looking forward to have another crack at Stanford next week.

Have a great Christmas everyone and don’t put on too much weight (apart from Gollum).

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sun 28th Dec – Away v Stanford Wanderers @ The Billet – 10:30 K.O.

Here is a map showing the location of the Billet in Stanford. Basically turn right at the first round-about half way down the manor way, take the first left and then the first right:

<http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+billet+stanford-le-hope&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.598503,38.759766&ie=UTF8&z=15>

Goal Scoring Chart:

CORRECTION – I inexplicably awarded one of Robbie’s goals last week to an opposition player, so Sharpy and Al should definitely be worried!

FC Deportivo Thurrock 4 – 3 Oaks Athletic

In what can only be described as “a bad day at the office” The Oaks lost to the league’s bottom side, which only goes to show that no victory can be taken for granted in this League.

Perhaps the late kick-off – 11 a.m – was partially to blame given it inevitably meant many of our players had lost the edge that the previous night on the booze usually provides. Unfortunately Milesy didn’t have access to a breathalyser, and therefore had to rely on gut instinct in picking the following 11:

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

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

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

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Sharpy (CF)

subs: Parker, Jimmy, Bill

With no referee assigned the Deportivo manager took charge, and informed us he wouldn’t be giving any penalties – and we thought he was joking! The match couldn’t have started any better for the Oaks, as the infamous Aaron Kempster failed to hold a cross from the right, and Rob – still up from a throw-in – bounced for the easiest of tap-ins.

This early goal proved to be a mixed blessing, as we seemed to go to sleep for the rest of the half. Deportivo’s equaliser exposed unusual frailties from set-pieces which have never before been associated with The Oaks, and in particular reacting to the second ball. You could say it was unfortunate that on three occasions the loose ball in the box fell to a Deportivo player, but you could equally argue that we were guilty of only marking for the first ball, and fell asleep if the ball wasn’t going to be won initially by our man. I definitely learnt this lesson for the first goal as it was my man who slotted home when a free kick from the right was not cleared on the first attempt.

The Oaks could have been 2-1 down soon after when Gollum felled an opposition player inside the box; however, true to his word the temp-ref decided the offence had occurred outside the box and the subsequent free kick didn’t trouble Neil. Unfortunately the scores wouldn’t stay at 1-1 for long, as –despite Neil’s heroics which left a dent in his head and a bigger one in the goal post – a Deportivo player again reacted quickest when the initial goal bound effort from a corner was well saved by Neil.

The next two goals were the only ones of the game not to result from set pieces; firstly Al got the Oaks back on level terms when he collect a pass from Eye-ball, sending the defender the wrong way in the process, and fired a rasping low drive that was too good for Kempster. We were back on level terms for all of a minute as we failed to deal with a ball over the top, and the speedy Deportivo winger was allowed to apply a good finish passed the helpless Neil.
What followed is not worth dwelling on, but needless to say the temp-ref was nothing if not consistent as he awarded the Oaks a free-kick outside the box for a foul on Sharpy that occurred closer to the perimeter of 6 yard box rather than that of the 18 yard box. As it happened we really should have scored from the free kick, but unfortunately on one of the few occasions a rebound did fall to one of our players the shot was put wide.

We did finish the half on level terms thanks to an own goal resulting from yet another set piece, but despite the scores being level we were far from happy with our performance.

With the injured Gollum forced off a re-shuffle was required, with Parker coming on at right back, Deano moving to left back, and Eye-ball moving to the centre of midfield. The Oaks were more competitive in this half, but it seems that we had already lost the match mentally; mistakes started to arrive with alarming regularity and the whole game got a bit scrappy.

We had a couple of good chances to score, but when the sucker punch came mid way through the second half – Deportivo making it 4-3 from another rebound off a set piece – we couldn’t gain any momentum and really failed to put the opposition under any pressure. Despite this Milly came very close to grabbing us a point with the last kick of the game, but unfortunately his perfectly struck volley (you guess it from the second ball following a corner) was fired straight at a Deportivo player – who I bet wishes he hadn’t been in the way.

This was a disappointing result, but one that can be rationalised when you consider that this was only our sixth game of the season, and hopefully the upcoming regular flow of fixtures will help us individually and as a team.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sun 21st Dec – v Stanford Wanderers @ Home – 10:30 K.O.

Goal Scoring Chart:

Sun 7th Dec - Oaks Athletic 4 - 0 Linford Wanderers

Again just a quick post (more details to follow when I have time). The Oz boys returned for this game a few stones heavier and annoyingly tanned. It was a rusty but affective performance which saw the Oaks finish comfortable winners against 10 man Linford (yes Deano - they did only have 10).

A good headed goal from Rob settled the early nerves, and this was followed by an own-goal from another corner (your not have that one Al) to give the Oaks a 2-0 half time lead. The Oaks were more dominate in the second half and a converted penalty from Sharpy (which he also won) and a superb solo effort from Al wrapped up the match.

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

pppParker (RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Deano (LB)

pNathan (RM) (c) Gollum (CM) Eye-Ball (CM) Aaron (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Sharpy (CF)

subs: Jimmy

(No scoring chart til next week, but Sharpy id still top with 7, but Al is catching with 6.)

Eye - Ball

Next Match : Sunday 14th December v F.C. Deportivo Thurrock @ Blackshots - 11 a.m K.O.

Sunday 30th Nov - Oaks Athletic 2 - 3 Concept B (All leagues Cup)

Milesy must be given credit for getting a competitive team together for this game - which wasn't confirmed until the Wednesday before the match - especially given the Oz Boys were still away and yours truly was also unavailable.

More details (team, goal scoring chart etc) to follow, but the long of short of it was that a two nil half-time lead was lost in the second half to give Concept B an unlikely victory. Al assures me he got one of the goals and is trying to claim the other - although given the one he tried to claim last week it seems he can score without being within 10 yards of the ball!

Eye-Ball