Aveley Academicals 0 – 0 United Ockendon

After conceding six the previous week, a clean sheet and a rare nil-nil draw felt like a vast improvement.  It was also probably a fair result as two well matched sides cancelled each other out in an uneventful affair, which was one for the defending purists.

The squad is really creaking at the seams, as was demonstrated by the fact we had to rely on Lee making an excuse to his heavily pregnant partner about us being short unless he got our (crippled) captain to the game, H battling through ninety minutes on one leg, and a rare appearance from Mir.  That was just to field a bare eleven, with only Eye-Ball in reserve who is strictly on flag holding duties until after the Bath Half Marathon on 12th March.

With the carefree approach of 3-5-2 working so well in the second half last week, Foggy took charge and decided to see if the Accies could start where they had left of:

Subs: Eye-Ball

In general defence was on top, but there were a couple of scares as United Ockendon looked to exploit the space down the flanks which was inevitable with the formation we were playing, despite Liam and James working their socks off to both get forward to support Mir and Terry in attack, and to get back and help out defensively.  Ockendon were denied by a fine save from Lewis with his legs when the attacker had time to bring the ball down and pick his spot from 8 yards. They did manage to get the ball in the net, but by this time it was Eye-Ball with the key intervention when the cross to the unmarked man in the middle came before Rob had managed to get goal-side.

Whilst the 3-5-2 does result in us riding our luck a bit in defence, it does appear to help with getting more players supporting in attack, and we created a few chances of our own in the first half.  A couple fell to Mir, with Blakey’s flick on catching him by surprise with the resulting header skewing wide, and a shot from a tight angle which went into the side netting.  A good interchange on the left led to Mir playing in Liam, but the defender did well to get across and cover.  The best chance was created by Lee, who sprinted to the bye-line before whipping in a knee high cross which was more-or-less met by James at the back post.  I say more-or-less, but with this being heavily weight to ‘less’ as his attempted to direct the ball goal-wards turned into a sliced clearance which would have been great if we were shooting the other way.

Foggy seemed to be enjoying being in charge, but his attempt to change the formation at half time, with the aid of some cones, was met with dissenting tones.  Obviously the crew did not share their captain’s ambitions and they opted for more of the same, which is exactly what they got.  There was good defending (including a vital and well timed sliding tackle from Luke just inside the area), the odd chance – Mir and Terry both attacked a near post header from James’s cross which was well blocked by the defender – and neither keeper was tested enough.

In the collision between Mir, Terry and the defender, Mir picked up a foot injury which meant Eye-Ball had to come on.  This resulted in Luke moving to the left and Liam going up top with Eye-Ball slotting into the back three.  With Liam providing a change in dynamic upfront we were able to get the Ockendon defence on the back foot and create some more openings, but our finishing just wasn’t good enough to grab the three points late on as we had last time these two sides met.

So we had to settle for a draw, one point and being happy with a much improved performance from last week.  Lee was awarded MoTM for a lung bursting display in the middle, where he worked his socks off to make up for H’s missing right leg.  To be fair to H, he did remarkably well to get through the 90 and picked up some votes as well.  There was also recognition for Blakey, who was rock solid at the back, where we looked a lot more organised thanks to his commanding presence.  DoTD went to Terry, who travelled 200 miles to Cardiff on Saturday only to find that the girl he was meeting no longer wanted to come out to play.  Which just goes to show you should stick to playing with the kids who live on your street!

Eye-Ball

Goal scoring chart

Thames Gateway 6 – 1 Aveley Academicals

The score line only tells half the story of this match; with that being the half relating to the first forty five minutes.  Actually the two halves are unrecognisable as being related to the same cold, dreary Sunday morning in February that so it’s probably best to treat them as separate events.

Half 1: Thames Gateway 5 – 0 Aveley Academicals

Shambolic just about sums it up, and I don’t think anyone who was involved would disagree with that assessment.  There can’t be any excuses, as the side that the Gaffa put out should have been strong enough to compete with any team in the Thurrock Sunday League – and has done on many occasions.

Subs: Eye-Ball, Terry

The Accies simply crumbled under the pressure exerted on them by a young, energetic side who wanted it more and could actually string a few passes together.  It’s hard to talk about our defending, because we didn’t really do any, as we either allowed the opposition a direct route to goal, or let them deliver and put away crosses and corners if not on the first attempt then on the second or third.  Clearances were either sliced back towards our own goal or hit against other men in blue.  In fact, our attempts to control the ball looked more like a clearance, and hardly a single pass went to its intended recipient – and that’s making a pretty wild assumption that the player passing it knew who he was trying to pass it to.

All this culminated in us being two nil down inside five minutes, four down in ten and five down within 20.  Personally, I felt physically sick watching on helplessly from the side line; I can’t think of many more painful experiences I’ve had to endure but I imagine those who have a friend who is a boxer experiences a similar feeling if they have to witness them getting beaten into a bloody pulp.  There was no blood spilt on this occasion, but the outcome was pretty much the same.

Having said all that, we did improve in the last 20 minutes of the half (or the opposition took their feet of the gas) and fashioned a few chances.  The best including a free kick from Lee which dropped just wide, a well struck volley from H which the keeper somehow spotted through a crowd of bodies and tipped over the bar, and a rasping drive from Bobby which unfortunately was straight at the keeper.

Half 2: Thames Gateway 1 – 1 Aveley Academicals

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and with the general consensus being that without making changes the game was as good as lost anyway, the Gaffa changed to a more attacking formation for the second half.  Blakey dropped into defence to form a three with Luke and Robin, and Terry came on for James to partner H up top – which was where Harry had been playing since his hamstring all but gave up the ghost five minutes into the game.

Whether it was the change in formation, or the realisation that we had nothing to lose, I cannot be sure, but the second half was infinitely better than the first.  The Accies started making and finding space on the ball, we looked more composed at the back, and passes started going to feet rather than away from them.  We even took the lead when a ball forward from Luke fell to H, who swivelled just outside the box and lift the ball into the far corner: 0-1.

Harry obviously thought he could score from anywhere now, but was soon brought back down to Earth as a similar effort had the wrong proportion of shin, and slid down his leg before flicking off his boot and well wide.

Such was the improvement in the second half that we definitely deserved to win it – and at least salvage some pride – but an awful decision from the referee saw him award a penalty (which was converted) for a foul by Blakey which was blatantly outside the box.  This was despite the huge crater that Blakely had left being inspected by the man in black, who was obviously still bitter about failing the forensic science entry exam: 1-1.

The lads kept battling to the end, but despite some late efforts from Liam as he looked to capitalise on the introduction of a substitute keeper (who wasn’t one), we just couldn’t rectify the damage done in the opening 10 minutes.  Still, the second half performance was enough to ease the pain induced by the first and we can at least go into the next game with our confidence somewhat replenished.

MoTM went to Harry, who battled on through injury, made a nuisance of himself upfront and deservedly got a goal for his efforts.  There was also a number of votes for Blakey, whose move to centre did a lot to restore some law and order to the defence (and there was a superbly timed tackle as well).  DoTD went to Lee, for squaring up to an opposition playing and telling him he was going to “end his life.”  A bit harsh that Lee, especially as his mum was probably watching.

So we know every week is going to be a battle now, as we move into the latter stages of the season, and injuries and availability really cause the squad to creak at the seams.  We’re going to need to show some resilience and grit, and I’m sure we’ll grind out some good results if we do.

Eye-Ball

Goal scoring chart

Palmers F.C. 1 -1 Aveley Academicals

January was not a good month to be an Accie, with three defeats, three cup knockouts and a long term injury to our Captain Fantastic.  It didn’t look like February was going to get any better, with our first opponents being the team who had humiliated us 6-0 earlier in the season.  If that wasn’t bad enough, Dale announced the night before the game that he was off to play with South Shell in Division Three, Bobby, Brian and James were absent and Lee was also struggling for fitness – and awaiting the imminent arrival of little Harry (naming subject to a certain player scoring a hat-trick).  So maybe we were due a healthy dollop of luck to top a performance that was bursting with heart, determination and pride, especially as the footballing gods were also ganging up against us by making us play out the last half hour with ten men.

It’s a credit to the players who have stayed loyal, despite not always getting the opportunities, that the Gaffa was still able to name two subs (although Luke A. turned out to be crocked as well), and also fitting that Terry and Scott in particular should be rewarded with a full 90 minutes.  Although I’m not sure Scott was quite as grateful as you might expect.  We were also boosted by the timely return of Tony, which gave us the opportunity to see the T’nT partnership in action as we tried our hand at 4-4-2.

Subs: Craig, Luke A.

Despite being outnumbered in the middle, Harry and Lee put in one hell of a shift to ensure the opposition didn’t have any more time on the ball than was necessary.  Liam and Scott pitched in to help by coming off their flanks when required, and Tony and Terry were a constant outlet and closed down the defenders to stop them from building from the back.  We were still a bit panicky in possession, with some players (yours truly being the main culprit) treating the ball like a hot potato that need to be discarded rather than a sweet orange that needed to be cherished (mmm… orange).

We could easily have gone behind during this opening period, but some resolute defending, including last ditch interventions from Blakey, Robin, Eye-Ball and Luke C., plus stout repelling of set pieces protected Lewis’s goal for the main part.  However, when we couldn’t prevent him being called into action, Lewis was more than capable of keeping the ball out of the net on his own.  His key first half contributions included diving to his left to tip a free-kick round the post, saving low at his near post with an outstretched left leg, and clawing the ball away when it appeared to have (almost) crossed the line.  With the defence playing a pretty good line, Craig was just as busy as the rest of us with the flag.  There was no way he could have told if the ball had fully crossed the line, and despite the whinging of the opposition groupies – who typically think offside is as easy to discern from the half way line as it is when in line with the back four some 25 yards away – he was honest with every decision and deserves credit for taking the flag when many take a step back.

There was nothing lucky about how we took an unexpected lead midway through the half; although the keeper cocked up when trying to clear under pressure from the left hand corner of the 18 yard box, it was brilliance from Tony to calmly collect the ball, take a touch inside and curl it, with his less favoured right foot, over the retreating keeper and intervening defenders and into the top right hand corner of the net: 0-1. 

After two games without a goal, this fine strike seemed to relieve a month of pressure as we started to play with more confidence and purpose.  We were threatening Palmer’s goal more, and their keeper had to be off his line quickly to deny Lee a chance on goal, and Terry did well to fashion an opening from Liam’s low cross but couldn’t get any power on an off-balanced shot.  Blakey had a goal-bound header fortuitously cleared and Luke C. was treating us to some of his marauding runs that have been missing in recent weeks.  Harry and Lee continued to play through the pain and seemed to be everywhere as, between them, they supported in attacks at one end and were making last ditch tackles at the other.  Palmers were still a danger in possession, but we made it to half time with no further incident (apart from the aforementioned offside-gate).

The half time team talk was a pretty pragmatic one; I don’t think we’d expected to be in the lead after the opening 45 minutes, and I’m not sure we expected to keep it up until the 90.  However, we were going to give it our best shot, and if lady luck was on our side you never know what might happen.

As it happened, there did seem to be some divine intervention, but we also worked hard enough to deserve the odd break or two.  Our opposition will be wondering how they didn’t win by a large margin, as they squandered chance after chance – which is in stark contrast to how clinical they were last time out.  They weren’t helped by Lewis being on top form, and being quick to collect any slightly over hit ball into the box – of which there were many.  However, they did find an equaliser as a result of an under hit goal kick which exposed the fact we were sitting too far up the pitch.  A Palmers midfielder was able to pick up the ball unchallenged and play it back over the top for the striker, who reacted quickest and slide the ball under Lewis: 1-1.

Despite Palmers’ dominance, out of nowhere the Accies created a chance that could have made the last half hour even more frantic than it was.  With Palmers committing men forward in search of the winner, Eye-Ball read and intercepted a pass just inside our half.  The ball looped up in the air, and the rejuvenated left back (now over the frightening first 30 min display) gave chase, challenging the centre back in the air and forcing him into an under strength back pass which Tony was onto in a flash.  He raced clear and, as the keeper came out to close down the angle, chose to try and play it round him into the bottom corner from 18 yards.  Unfortunately Tony’s aim was out by a matter of centimetres, and the ball skimmed the outside of the post and went wide.

It may have seemed like our luck had run out, as soon after Harry had to join Lee (who had already been replaced by Craig) on the side line with an injury.  With Luke A. somehow injuring himself standing around we had to play out the last 20-30min with 10 men.  It was backs to the wall, with everyone getting stuck in.  The defence were obviously busy, but they were ably supported by the midfield.  Scott definitely hadn’t signed up for left wing-back duties, but worked his socks off and Liam took on the lead role in the middle of the park with both starting centre mids being side-lined.

We were fortunate that Palmers were finding the target harder to hit than the proverbial barn door, as balls were poked wide from eight yards, and headers were put over from six.  But when they did get the ball between the sticks either a brave block was made or Lewis got to display his full range of skills to pluck, punch, kick and gather the ball out of the air.

The last ten minutes seemed to last a life-time, but when the final whistle eventually game it felt like a victory, as we had something to show for our efforts when everything seemed to be against us.

It’s no surprise that Lewis picked up his first MoTM of the season; his performances have been consistently good for a number of weeks and although he possibly had more to do than usual on this occasion, he was well up to the challenge.  Robin and Blakey also received a number of votes, with a special mention for Rob, who thought he was going to only last half hour as he was struggling with a heavy cold.  However, with others having doubts over fitness he wasn’t about to let the side down – we’d expect nothing less. 

Dale’s absence and eleventh hour departure made him an easy target for DoTD – well he’s never had one so it was about time! However, there was no ill feeling or anger about his decision, which I think shows his former team mates (who remain his friends) realise that he had already done more for the club this season than had been expected.  With the knowledge that he would be away until late November in Benidorm, Dale could have easily waited until his return to sign for a club.  But he committed himself to the Accies and gave us more than the eight or so weeks we were expecting.  At times, as another double hat-trick was completed, it felt like Dale was playing below himself, but over four and a half seasons and 90 appearances he ignored numerous advances and showed outstanding commitment and loyalty to the club.  Much like cricket, it’s hard to compare the modern Accie player with those who played before the meticulous recording of stats began, but I think it’s safe to say that Dale deserves Club Legend status as the most prolific striker club has seen, and who knows where we’d be playing now without so many vital goals (and numerous assists).  So I’m sure everyone will join me in wishing Dale all the best for the future, and hopefully we’ll get the chance to shake hands and say thank you in person.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 12th February - Away @ William Edwards School v Thames Gateway

Dale’s record (since 2012/13):

Goal scoring chart:

With Dale now out of the running, for the first time since Liam got within one goal of top spot in 2013/14 we have a proper contest for the Golden Boot.  Tony will be looking to make the most of the games in which he can play, but with Foggy’s knee not looking like it’s going to allow him to play any time soon, Lee and Liam look like the bookies favourites.

Gateway 3 – 0 Aveley Academicals (Division 2 League Cup)

I want to write this match report about as much as any team in the Thurrock Sunday League want to play against our opposition.  It is a shame to tar the whole team with the same brush, as they undoubtedly have some good players – and are not all pond life – but even these individuals have to take some responsibility for the company they choose to keep.

So I’m afraid that I’m not willing to waste any more breath (or any more time than I need to) to describe this game other than is necessary to constitute a formal record that it did, in fact, take place.  If you weren’t there, and you want to know the finer details of this encounter, you’ll have to buy someone from the team a beer and I’m sure they’ll be happy to tell you all about it.  If you did something in the game that you had hoped would be mentioned, put it on a postcard and I’ll happily add it in.

Subs: Terry, Scott, Craig

All you really need to know is that we bounced back from a poor first half performance in which we conceded the three goals which ultimately lost us the game, and were able to walk off at the final whistle with our heads held high.  We did create some chances in the second half, and although if these had been converted a comeback may have been on, we were really playing for some pride and each other.  We got stuck in and can be proud of the courage and determination we displayed.

Votes for MoTM were split between Eye-Ball, Brian and Bobby.  Eye-Ball’s contribution was recognised for stepping into Robin’s massive shoes when he was forced off following a nasty blow to the head, thankfully with no lasting affects – although maybe we wouldn’t notice.  Brian finally seems to be over his hamstring injury and was back to his best as he threw himself into every challenge and chased every seemingly lost cause.  Bobby has received a number of votes over the past weeks, and finally (and deservedly) won the award as he led by example in the middle; fearlessly putting in tackles where others wouldn’t dream of going, running himself into the ground and displaying the terrier like determination that has made him such a popular and valued member of the squad.  Although the unmentionables he was hollering at himself following a wayward cross field pass suggests he is also his worst critic.

A special ‘unsung hero’ award has to go to Lewis, who single handedly kept the score line looking mildly respectable with some fine saves, including at least three one-on-ones.   DoTD went to Lee, for a comical display of Sunday morning brain malfunction, as he went searching high and low in the changing room for his socks, only to finally have it pointed out to him that he was wearing them.  At least he had plenty of people to lead him out to the pitch.

So the result of three tough games since Christmas is that we’re out of all the cups, and with it being unlikely that we will challenge for the league title we’ve really just got to go out every week, take each game as it comes and regardless of how it pans out just enjoy ourselves and give it our all.

Eye-Ball

Goal scoring chart