Ware Vets 4 Knobs 11 (eleven)

A game fought fairly and sportingly as the first autumn weather showed its paces. Nice pitch, wide and flat if a little slipperry in the beginning.
We had 12 and supplied the referee- me. Dave, brother of Paul Burlingham, deputised in goal. He had little to do.
An early lead, Gerry sidestepping home to convert an errant Andy cross shot. Gerry soon added the second, a cool low finish. Then it all got a bit hazy. Vinnie, from centre half, was threatening from all our many corners. Poor Dave never got a sniff, mind was there any helpful calling?
We were patiently stroking it around the back waiting to probe the easiest line of attack and this approach together with a positive employment of the width gave us many chances, many of which were spurned. Nevertheless we arrived at half time 5-0 up, probably through 2 further goals from Andy and one from Vinnie, the latter a surge from the back offering support into their six yard box and finishing in five a side style. A great diagonal cross from Jamie arrived on Gerry's head, unmarked and six yards out, but he wasted the hattrick chance by ear lobing wide. Where they did manage to compete (ie get near) we were stronger, quicker and hungrier. Tackles and interceptions from Darren and Joel in midfield, towering headers fromVinnie and piranha interventions from Tony meant they didn't have a chance. John Boyle, class at full back both defensively and going forward.
Second half came the rain and though we scored a paltry 6 we somehow conceded 4!
Andy must have scored another four since he ended up with six. Jamie scored two. One of the goals was a lovely move out to the left which saw Jamie take one touch to cross low into the six yard box where Andy was steaming in to convert. Were they getting a bit of joy when skipper Dave banished himself to the sidelines? I'm not sure. I felt they were fortunate to get four so little of the game did they enjoy. The first they sidled or stumbled in from the left, someone swung a fortuitous swiping leg at the ball and it squirmed in from the narrowest of angles. Was that 7-1? They were then given a soft penalty when Vinnie headed onto his own arm- no opposition really near him- but hey was that 8-2?
A big guy got on the ball and put his whole roast beef and yorkshire pudding into a 30 yard rocket which took off in the strengthening wind and flew into the top corner. Was that 9-3? Their fourth came from another penalty. As our fullback Ian was tripping over, he mounted the lad in front of him exhibiting 10 degrees of difficulty and down they both went. Inelegant, painless but fortunately no penetration occurred. I think that was 10-4 from the ensuing spot kick.
One memorable sight was of of Vinnie dribbling from our penalty area to theirs before his tired shot was saved. What a slalom. Dave had two chances to make his mark but skied one and had one saved. Their keeper played quite well. Should have been 20, could have been 30 but such things NEVER happen. Lads were happy with three points and 11 goals- not so happy with the goals against.
Chris Cox also played (well) and gave me a lift home to my door after we'd slurped in The Victory pub, Ware. Catering at the Lytton was again discussed informally. Will we get in on a rainy, cold day? Sundays are difficult days there! Disaster is forecast.
Next week we entertain newcomers Welwyn, a tasty outfit according to my spies, but I gather they were held to a 6-6 draw by Harpenden in their opening game.
Toodle pip.
Jeremiah


  

Knobs 2 Old Owens 0

They could not get a team together and so the game was cancelled.

2-0 league win to the knobs, both goals scored by me and 2 assists for uncle Phil!

Saints 1 Knobs 1 - report by Gavin

On a beautiful day, the league season got under way with a competitive draw in St. Albans against a Saints team that had a few new faces but rarely troubled us.  A squad of 12 ventured over to the Old Albanian pitches led by Chairman Al.  Unfortunately late withdrawals from Twiggy and Ron (we hope Maggie is okay) meant that under the intense sun, it was going to be hard work.

Gavin went in goal at half time and it was an error by him that led to the Saints goal.  A cross came in that was parried on to an on-coming striker who top-armed it in to the net.  It wasn’t long though that we got an equaliser.  Some lovely inter-play from Joel, Jamie, Bully and Chris Wilson led to Vinny being through on goal and he tucked it away neatly.  What a good finisher he is.  Chris Griffiths got injured halfway through the first half after a brave clearance and had to come off but we finished the half stronger with a lovely passage of passing that created an opportunity for Joel that was missed.  An appeal for a penalty had been turned down after Vinny was fouled by their goalkeeper and they had a goal disallowed for offside, which was marginal.  Overall though it was an even half.

The second half continued in a similar fashion with midfields dominating posession but without any end result from either side.  Chris Griffiths went in goal and produced one exceptional save that kept us in the match.  Gavin had one saved and missed a couple of opportunities.  Bully got himself removed from play for a little bit as he hadn’t followed the code of conduct as stated in the changing rooms beforehand.  The game finished a draw and that was it.

Reflections on the match – defencely we looked very solid although the full backs probably need to cover the centre halves better, depending on what side the attack is coming from.  Ali is clearly the man to use if there is a centre forward that needs to be man-marked.  Going to a 4-4-2 formation wasn’t that bad.  We looked solid in midfield with Chris Wilson dominating and Gerry chasing down everything.  Even though Garston gave us a kicking, it did show that we should have patience in build-up play and when we did that yesterday, we looked really good.  However, passing around the back four is okay but there are times when you do need to ‘get rid’.  Also having a big man and a fast man up front has potential.  The back-line struggled with the physicality of Vinny and this created more opportunities for Gavin.  Tony marshalled the defence well but it is vital that Brendan or whoever is playing full back holds the line that he requests.  And as of last year, we need a goalkeeper…but apparently this is being resolved next week.

Remember – presentation evening on Friday and Old Owen’s at home on Sunday.  Have a good week everyone.

Knobs 0 Garston 7

A fine, warm morning. Thirteen make themselves available. The might of 'one or two away' Garston for our first fixture, then 35 to go. Isn't it exciting, is it fuck!
Ron back as manager until someone else steps forward and takes over a good little set up for Vets football. A nice pitch, repainted changing rooms, burgers free after the game at the Lytton, courtesy of Alistair's negotiations. Dressing rooms unlocked and locked, courtesy of Alistair, dressing rooms and corridor swept after the game, courtesy of Alistair, keys collected before the game, courtesy of Alistair and kit taken home after the game to be washed , courtesy of Alistair. Who is this guy Alistair? He scored nine goals at 5 a side Thursday night! He missed one today but, our season's first chance. Yet he had a very sound second half stemming the Garston attacks. Sounds a great guy.
Does he do tricks?
Anyway with the seson barely underway Garston inexplicably found themselves 6 up!
We were too fit for our own good. If we had realised early on that we could not match them fitness and football wise we should have retreated into a shell. The shell being the goalmouth. Defend very narrow with maximum numbers of bodies, 10,  leaving Gavin to roam free. Give them all the space on the pitch in front of us and wide and simply defend the crosses with bodies and guts. No we were fit enough to go and challenge them in parts of the pitch where we just could not match them and we paid the price. Hands up if you were miles from the action when the converted crosses went in?
Second half much better. Till the last moments it was 0-0, pride more than salvaged against a fitter, younger, far more football savvy side. Then a freak ricochet led to a final goal from close in.
We, as expected, did manage some decent, good on the eye attacks but they could and did defend  very ruggedly.
Well played, Paul, in goal, not an error! I thought Ali and Steve in midfield showed class, Tony excellent at the back. Chris G  and Darren dogged in midfield when their turn came, and Alistair committed in his stint at centre back. All the others, Richard, Phil, Brendan, shot over from inside right position when playing left back!, John Twigg, Gavin, got some shots off under pressure, sounds like someone's sex life, Gerry all had their moments.
Only person to get the whole 90 minutes? Gavin. All others took their substitutions and turns on the bench without demur.
Lytton Arms packed, we sat outside and awaited the grub. A tad too long? People do tend to drift away.
Next week Saints away in first league game.