Oaks Athletic 10 - 3 F.C. Deportivo Thurrock

Happy New Year All!

Do not adjust your monitor, The Oaks did indeed return to winning ways thanks to a 10-3 victory in a match that no one expected to take place due to the heavy frost which showed no signs of thawing. However, one man had a funny feeling in his bones (possibly transmitted by his tag) that the game would go ahead, and he promptly bagged himself a double hat-trick. To mark this feat Milesy has shown great generosity in allowing Sharpy to keep the match ball for a week (if he retrieves it from Harriers) – what a guy!

I don’t think I can remember a game where there has been so much to discuss (or forget if you are a Deportivo player). Even when you put the ten goals, Sharpy’s six, and the frozen pitch to one side there are still enough talking points to ensure my fingers have well and truly thawed out by the time this report is finished. I’ll start by highlighting the significance of this game; The Oaks were on a three game losing streak, which started when we lost 4-3 to the same Deportivo (the league’s bottom side) in our worst performance of the season. The two games that followed saw much better performances against one of the top sides in the league where individual errors were the difference between winning a losing.

Milesy had already broken the news to Neil before the game that he would be sitting out at least the first half due to his recent loss of confidence and form when it transpired that, in addition to the lose of Captain Stu to injury, vice captain Nathan was also unavailable due to an injury picked up the previous day. This meant that, not only were The Oaks missing two of their most influential players, but they also only had 12 fit (ish) players to choose from. Parker’s talents could therefore not be spared in goal and Neil was handed his doggy life. In doing so he didn’t sulk or kick up a fuss, he just pulled on his gloves and went out with the look of a man who knew he had been handed a chance to prove himself.

The absence of Stu and Nathan (and the continued absence of Gollum) also gave Bill, Parker and Jimmy rare starts and just reward for their commitment to the team and impeccable attitude. With the change in personnel came a change in formation, and Milesy went with the following 5-3-2 formation:

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

ppppppDeano (CB) Milly (CB) Jason (CB)

Parker (RWB)pppppppppppppppppppppEye-Ball (LWB)
pppppppppppppppRob (CM) (c)

ppppppJimmy (CM) ppppppppppBill (CM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaaAl (CF) Sharpy (CF)

subs: Aaron

The Oaks startly brightly but, just like the last time these sides met, struggled to deal with Deportivo’s height, and a long throw in was flick straight onto another players head and into the goal.


It didn’t take long for the scores to be levelled, with Deano leaping like a salmon to meet Al’s corner and head the ball against the inside of the post. The ball ended up in the back of the net with a bit of help from our old friend Aaron Kempster, but it would be cruel not to award this goal to Deano for such a fine header (plus when Deano and Robo-Rob tell you it’s Deano’s goal it really negates the need for the dubious goal committee).

The Oaks definitely seemed to adapt best to the frozen surface, which proved perfect for passing but not so good for standing up. Two players who really seemed to be relishing their place in the starting eleven were Bill and Jimmy. The first was doing a great job of breaking up play in the middle, and was linking up really well with Sharpy upfront. The latter was showing great composure on the ball and was finding space in the middle to make himself available for a pass time and again.

It was a through ball from Bill to Sharpy that lead to the second goal for the Oaks. Sharpy made good progress down the left, and when his cross was only partially cleared our regular poacher – Rob – was there to drive the ball home from 15 yards for his 5th goal of the season.

At 2-1 we were looking comfortable, but when a fluke deflection put Deportivo’s striker through to score (at the second attempt) we could be forgiven for thinking it was going to be another one of those games. The lead was restored when, once again, Bill played a good ball through to Sharpy on the left. Sharpy then left the centre back on his backside and this time when Deportivo failed to clear his cross Bill was on had to lash the ball into the top right-hand corner – a superb strike.

The goals just kept coming, and Sharpy finally got on the score sheet (sorry Sharpy you'll have to recount this one). There was still time for Deportivo to pull one back before half time, and again we should have made a better job of clearing the ball.

In only 45 minutes of football seven goals had been scored, and the 4-3 score line from the last meeting of these sides had already been emulated. I don’t think any of us would have expected what transpired in the second half. With Milesy imploring us to make the next goal ours Bill once again dully obliged with a low cross to the back post which was missed by a slipping defender and expertly put away in the opposite corner by Al.

At 5-3 we weren’t fully comfortable – only last week we gave away a two nil lead in a matter of minutes. Lucky for us Sharpy was on hand to well and truly settle our nerves. This would be a perfect time for a montage, but I’m afraid your going to have to settle for a quick low down of Sharpy’s five – yes five – second half goals.

Goal number two for the day game courtesy (yet again!) of Bill who was felled in the area to earn The Oaks a penalty. Unfortunately with only two goals between the sides the shouts of “let Eye-Ball take it!” were duly ignored, and Sharpy slotted (or scuffed) the ball home from twelve yards. Sharpy’s movement was excellent all game, and he seemed to be able to stand tall as defenders fell about him on the tricky playing service. The hat-trick goal was a perfect example of this movement, with Sharpy latching on to a through ball from Al – who was doing some great work dropping deep. He nodded down the ball and unleashed a fierce shot that left the keeper rooted to the spot.

My account of the remaining goals may be a little inaccurate (there were a lot!). I do remember Al assiting with another, although some may interpret his pass across the goal from eight yards, after good work from Bill’s replacement Aaron, as a shot, and Sharpy’s total mis-cue – with the ball striking his standing foot and dribbling into the net - as “a little jammy”. The final goal of game also stands out for the quality little through ball from Jimmy on the edge of the box which was duly dispatched by guess who.

I can’t finish this report (although I really want to!) without drawing your attention to the second half clean sheet, and one particular moment that played a crucial part in this. I very much doubt that Deportivo’s midfielder has ever hit a ball better, and when he saw it flying towards the top left corner he must have thought – like we did – that the scores would be pegged back to 6-4, and Deportivo would be back in the game. Neil (a.k.a. the flying potato) had other ideas, and pulled off a remarkable save; tipping the ball onto the top of the bar and over for a corner. There were a few jaws being picked up of the frozen turf after that one!

Oh, and I should also mention the great attitude shown by the Deportivo players. They really didn’t get the rub of the green in this one, and although they were out of the game for most of the second half they still put in 100% are were unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal or two for their efforts.

I’m sure we all agree that this was the most fun we’ve had for a long time, and although we won’t get score lines like that every week (if we do you’ll be getting the scoring chart and nothing else!), but there is no reason why we can’t continue to enjoy each game as much as this one. Of course it’s more fun when we win, and we will win more often than not if we continue to display the team spirit and collective attitude we did in this game.

Eye-Ball

Next Game: Away @ Thames Rugby Club v Woodlands – 10:30 K.O.

Directions: (I won’t give the post code as the sat nav will take you into a dead end)

Passing Belhus park on your left: go straight over at the round-about, take the first left and turn right at the end and immediately left. Follow the road (Fulbrook Lane) round to the right and turn left at the end onto Garron Lane. Thames Rugby club is at the end.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=garron+lane,+south+ockendon&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title

Scoring Chart:

Perhaps we should start deducting goals for every booking – what do you reckon Sharpy?