The glorious Indian summer saw some approach to form. Several players looked a bit fitter despite Friday's celebratory exertions.
Gavin left the Station on Friday night, back in the fold, he'd be there, he wasn't. John saw him Saturday and he was keeping himself for next week. Pity, he was earmarked today for a half of endeavour outfield and a half in his favourite position, goalkeeper. As it was noone wanted the gloves, so, never one to let the team down I took on the role- nice new jersey mind.
Kicking uphill against the wind and into the sun first half we played reasonably well. (The sun went in second half). We took a quick lead when Andy rounded the keeper to net. I could see things would only go awry if they started centreing and shooting. I did tip one deflected shot onto the bar but thereafter seemed to forget where my hands were and what they for. It's quite hard trying to save every shot with your feet but hey I tried. They equalised when their bustling centre forward was allowed too much room for a shot which unerringly nestled in the corner of the net- why didn't I dive? They swiftly took a lead, a ball from the left, such a small pitch, smuggled back to the left where one of the two waiting predators volleyed home. I like to think Trevor would have saved it. New player Gary was showing promise on the left but became more influential when he moved inside and upfront. Chris Wilson was buzzing in midfield, now for a passing improvement, John Boyle was having a season debut game of solidity, but needs matches and a resolution of his pinged leg. Darren at full back, keeping away from M. Boyle's Friday weekend benders and John's lagers over the back fence, was back to his youthful best.
Chris Cox was bustling and playing football on the ground and all was better. But we didn't win so not really good enough.
Second half, Darren H on for Brendan. Do you play in goal Darren?- ~#****ck **shit~*&. so I continued, I only arsked.. We defended comfortably second half. Had several chances, loads of attacks. Their keeper made some terrific , match saving saves but near the end we equalised. A Bully corner, at last headed goalwards by Gary and swept into the net by Chris Cox.
An 8-4 game for us ended 2-2.
Get Trevor!!!! Very important.
The Crown pub at Aston End was very pleasant.
(Brendan was late, but in time for kick off. Darren H was very late and missed the team photo just before kick off in the NEW KIT. For the record.)
Better than previous weeks by a long chalk but disappointing that we didn't wallop them. A good spirited game, no hastle. Next week Goldings at home. Someone remind Alistair, Goldings!!!
LOL whatever that means.
Goodbye Sir Ronald
Quack quack
Sunday 25 September 2011
Sunday 18 September 2011
Knobs 0 Old Owens 6
Lovely day, good turn out in the pub, general bonhomie so that's great.
Too much pre match merriment, get serious chaps because results are not terribly encouraging.
Choose a plan of play and stick to it for at least 15 minutes. THE PLAN, apart from the quick out ball when you have Andy, Gavin or a fit again Matt playing, should be an endeavour to win the ball and play some sort of passing game with it, but a passing game with a modicum of control.
Playing quick passes comes later. To begin just receive the ball, control it then pass it and hopefully move to a new receiving position. (Perhaps that's asking too much but is something to work toward!) Something simple is amiss because we are not individually that bad. It can't be just bad luck. Yet in 3 games we have been unrecognisable and have been stuffed. We gave it away far too many times through wayward, rushed, over hit or under hit passes. Whatever football we managed today looked strained, nay constipated. If we strung 3 or 4 passes together it looked
amazing- amazing that it could have actually occurred! They, in contrast flowed. They looked different class and yet they were the usual Owens side bar one quite skilful midfielder. They also, as did Saints last week, foraged, pressurised and closed down very well. We did not.
Good points were Trevor caught many crosses and saved us with blinding saves. The woodwork had a positive game for us. They also helped by missing a few. We had a couple of shots wide from distance and Chris Cox had an early sidefoot cleared off the line. Aught else?
Twiggy had a good 90 as linesman. Ron reffed. Bloke kept calling me 'dipstick'- what can you say? We lost all our balls up trees or damaged by the pumpsman.
This week's list of participants- Trevor
Alistair, Brendan, Tony, Dave
Darren A, Chris W, Steve B, Martin
Matt, Chris C subs: Paul, John. Darren H failed to show.
This week sees a day of golf, where every hole isn't a goal, on Friday, followed by an evening of merriment in the evening in that theatre of mirth the Station Hotel. Knobs 25th celebrations start here.
Next week another league game away to mighty Shephall in the new kit. Please bring your commitment. Howay the lads!
Too much pre match merriment, get serious chaps because results are not terribly encouraging.
Choose a plan of play and stick to it for at least 15 minutes. THE PLAN, apart from the quick out ball when you have Andy, Gavin or a fit again Matt playing, should be an endeavour to win the ball and play some sort of passing game with it, but a passing game with a modicum of control.
Playing quick passes comes later. To begin just receive the ball, control it then pass it and hopefully move to a new receiving position. (Perhaps that's asking too much but is something to work toward!) Something simple is amiss because we are not individually that bad. It can't be just bad luck. Yet in 3 games we have been unrecognisable and have been stuffed. We gave it away far too many times through wayward, rushed, over hit or under hit passes. Whatever football we managed today looked strained, nay constipated. If we strung 3 or 4 passes together it looked
amazing- amazing that it could have actually occurred! They, in contrast flowed. They looked different class and yet they were the usual Owens side bar one quite skilful midfielder. They also, as did Saints last week, foraged, pressurised and closed down very well. We did not.
Good points were Trevor caught many crosses and saved us with blinding saves. The woodwork had a positive game for us. They also helped by missing a few. We had a couple of shots wide from distance and Chris Cox had an early sidefoot cleared off the line. Aught else?
Twiggy had a good 90 as linesman. Ron reffed. Bloke kept calling me 'dipstick'- what can you say? We lost all our balls up trees or damaged by the pumpsman.
This week's list of participants- Trevor
Alistair, Brendan, Tony, Dave
Darren A, Chris W, Steve B, Martin
Matt, Chris C subs: Paul, John. Darren H failed to show.
This week sees a day of golf, where every hole isn't a goal, on Friday, followed by an evening of merriment in the evening in that theatre of mirth the Station Hotel. Knobs 25th celebrations start here.
Next week another league game away to mighty Shephall in the new kit. Please bring your commitment. Howay the lads!
Monday 12 September 2011
Knobs 3 Saints 5
First league game in the new extended league. Poor result but that only tells part of the story.
Some of our best players available but it might be said that not all were playing in their best positions. Dave will be looking for versatility from several players considering how well off we are at centre back and left back but that might prove problematical on this show.
First half we were behind 1-0 early on. Their pacy centre forward beat the offside trap to square across the goal where they attacked far better than we defended. First half two noticeable problems , we were very very narrow. The only person occupying any width was Andy in his peeling off runs at pace. Secondly when we were in possession we were in hot potato land. Few were comfortable on the ball, not helped by their more energetic closing down and harrying. Still 1-0 at half time and with a brisk wind behind us in the second half all was far from lost.
Second half saw them capitalise on their forward play better than we did. They had a centre forward who was hard to handle but we had Andy who was a bit tasty too at this level. Both scored hattricks. They went two up with a splendid individual goal from the number 9 who worked himself into a shooting position before finding the top corner from 20 odd yards. A lovely move between Darren H and Andy saw the latter reduce the deficit. I was linesman and their third was 3 yards off for which I flagged. The centre forward's shot being blocked and carrying forward to a man well offside but who finished easily. Explanation for the overrule? Several decisions were going against Saints. My view? This was because on several occasions they were offside but teams only remember the decisions that do not favour them. The difficulties of officiating! Anyway it was 3-1. An individual goal by Andy out muscling the keeper before lobbing home made it 3-2. Still in it. The number 9 added a couple to put matters beyond reach seemingly. Brendan was doing a Bambi on ice routine at full back culminating in a handball with hand swiftly placed behind back with probably 20 degrees of difficulty. The penalty was struck like an exocet but incredibly saved by Trevor. How did that stick? The last 20 minutes proved rousing for us but apart from another individual rocket for our third, by Andy, we just couldn't claw our way back.
Problem?
In a competitive game the irresolvable problem of giving everyone a fair share of the game rather than sticking with the likeliest personnel for the day. We had 11 players and 4 subs, including me. I'd love to play a whole game but know I am not as likely to contribute in a game such as this compared to a younger , fitter team mate. Mind on one's day you never know. To compete more equally in that game, a maximum of two subs would have been key in order to maintain vigour and continuity. Mind I'm available for all the games, I 'enjoyed' my 20 minute run out at the end.
It's Old Owens in the league next week so with a couple of games under our belts a more energetic performance will be expected. It was very obvious that we were not fit enough or desirous enough to support the speedy Andy when he want on the attack, we were very very stretched.
Nice in the pub, good turn out, Dave busy as a bee. Keep it up!
Toodle pip!
Ronald
Some of our best players available but it might be said that not all were playing in their best positions. Dave will be looking for versatility from several players considering how well off we are at centre back and left back but that might prove problematical on this show.
First half we were behind 1-0 early on. Their pacy centre forward beat the offside trap to square across the goal where they attacked far better than we defended. First half two noticeable problems , we were very very narrow. The only person occupying any width was Andy in his peeling off runs at pace. Secondly when we were in possession we were in hot potato land. Few were comfortable on the ball, not helped by their more energetic closing down and harrying. Still 1-0 at half time and with a brisk wind behind us in the second half all was far from lost.
Second half saw them capitalise on their forward play better than we did. They had a centre forward who was hard to handle but we had Andy who was a bit tasty too at this level. Both scored hattricks. They went two up with a splendid individual goal from the number 9 who worked himself into a shooting position before finding the top corner from 20 odd yards. A lovely move between Darren H and Andy saw the latter reduce the deficit. I was linesman and their third was 3 yards off for which I flagged. The centre forward's shot being blocked and carrying forward to a man well offside but who finished easily. Explanation for the overrule? Several decisions were going against Saints. My view? This was because on several occasions they were offside but teams only remember the decisions that do not favour them. The difficulties of officiating! Anyway it was 3-1. An individual goal by Andy out muscling the keeper before lobbing home made it 3-2. Still in it. The number 9 added a couple to put matters beyond reach seemingly. Brendan was doing a Bambi on ice routine at full back culminating in a handball with hand swiftly placed behind back with probably 20 degrees of difficulty. The penalty was struck like an exocet but incredibly saved by Trevor. How did that stick? The last 20 minutes proved rousing for us but apart from another individual rocket for our third, by Andy, we just couldn't claw our way back.
Problem?
In a competitive game the irresolvable problem of giving everyone a fair share of the game rather than sticking with the likeliest personnel for the day. We had 11 players and 4 subs, including me. I'd love to play a whole game but know I am not as likely to contribute in a game such as this compared to a younger , fitter team mate. Mind on one's day you never know. To compete more equally in that game, a maximum of two subs would have been key in order to maintain vigour and continuity. Mind I'm available for all the games, I 'enjoyed' my 20 minute run out at the end.
It's Old Owens in the league next week so with a couple of games under our belts a more energetic performance will be expected. It was very obvious that we were not fit enough or desirous enough to support the speedy Andy when he want on the attack, we were very very stretched.
Nice in the pub, good turn out, Dave busy as a bee. Keep it up!
Toodle pip!
Ronald
Monday 5 September 2011
KNOBS 1 Garston 7 - Report by Gavin Simpson
A new season begins and with it a new management team, new communication methods (I’m rather liking the texts), new organisation (with regards early putting up of the nets and team sheet in the changing room), new strip (to come) but sadly, on the evidence of Sunday, still dog shit on the pitch. I mean that literally but you can choose whether you use it metaphorically. It was tough. There are no two ways around it. This Garston match is a killer. The toughest match we play all year and I’m not sure it is healthy at the start of the season. De-moralising to say the least. HOWEVER…let’s take the positives. We scored a goal. We played some nice football (at times) in the second half and judging by those watching on the sideline we have strength in depth. Actually…just depth.
Playing our normal 4-4-2 formation, there was a debut for Barney. Hopefully he won’t be thinking it is like this every week. He looked a neat player when he had the ball. Sadly, hardly any of us saw enough of it in the first half. They kept hold of it well and we kept on giving it away. The first goal was a penalty as Dave handled it. The ball went past Paul’s despairing dive, struck the post and then went in. After that, the goals came along quite steadily for them. I think at one stage Andy had a shot. Bully definitely had a free-kick but I can’t quite remember any other highlights. Oh…Phil attempting to lob the keeper from the halfway line was a goodie but it sailed just over.
In the second half it was much of the same. Maybe there was a temptation to change shape but it never happened. We were over-run. Eventually we improved but that might be when they went down to ten men due to injuries. Finally we got a penalty in the dying-seconds of the game that Martin tucked away nicely. He’s a goal a game man! Well…for this current season at least.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. Back to the Station. No Royal Legion this year. What did the Station offer? I don’t know…I wasn’t there. Had peas on my knee at that point. Was it good? Were they friendly? Will they do food? It is the Saints next week. We know it won’t be as difficult and the cobwebs have been blown away, so come on…as they say in ‘Annie’ – you’ve got to stick out that chin and grin and say…tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow, tomorrows a day a way!!!
Playing our normal 4-4-2 formation, there was a debut for Barney. Hopefully he won’t be thinking it is like this every week. He looked a neat player when he had the ball. Sadly, hardly any of us saw enough of it in the first half. They kept hold of it well and we kept on giving it away. The first goal was a penalty as Dave handled it. The ball went past Paul’s despairing dive, struck the post and then went in. After that, the goals came along quite steadily for them. I think at one stage Andy had a shot. Bully definitely had a free-kick but I can’t quite remember any other highlights. Oh…Phil attempting to lob the keeper from the halfway line was a goodie but it sailed just over.
In the second half it was much of the same. Maybe there was a temptation to change shape but it never happened. We were over-run. Eventually we improved but that might be when they went down to ten men due to injuries. Finally we got a penalty in the dying-seconds of the game that Martin tucked away nicely. He’s a goal a game man! Well…for this current season at least.
Anyway, onwards and upwards. Back to the Station. No Royal Legion this year. What did the Station offer? I don’t know…I wasn’t there. Had peas on my knee at that point. Was it good? Were they friendly? Will they do food? It is the Saints next week. We know it won’t be as difficult and the cobwebs have been blown away, so come on…as they say in ‘Annie’ – you’ve got to stick out that chin and grin and say…tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow, tomorrows a day a way!!!
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