Whitewebs 3 Knobs 2

Another bruising encounter away from home against the White Webbs team saw us lose narrowly in a tale of two halves.  It hadn’t started well for the mighty KNOBS when Martyn failed to turn up with the kit.  He then had a problem with an oil light and for 15 minutes, the KNOBS team sat in the changing room, reminiscing about Tony being locked in a changing room and listening in on the opposition’s conversations.  Bully informed me that he heard the words ‘…don’t have a fight this week’ said to their guy with a cut above his eye.  He was also the guy who was drinking some bottled lager before the game on the touchline.  But hey…it takes allsorts to keep the Sunday Vets football afloat.  Anyway, Darren was in charge of the team but had instructions from Dave the manager.  So we started off with a 4-5-1 formation.  Unfortunately it wouldn’t have mattered what formation we played in the first half because there was (according to Darren) a distinct lack of energy and effort, hence the reason we let in 3 simple goals.  Dave (our new goalie) didn’t really stand a chance.  Gavin did have a couple of chances at the other end and their centre back certainly handled the ball in a goal mouth scramble but alas it wasn’t to be.  We did get a goal back though just before half-time when Tony passed the ball to Gavin on the wing, who cut back to Jamie, whose shot come cross found Brendan Wal. at the back post, who fired it home.

At half-time some stirring words were said and we came out with a bit more energy.  They also made some changes throughout the 2nd half that also helped us.  James was a commanding as ever at the back and they hardly had a chance.  We had a few before Gavin scored with an acrobatic finish after some pinball in the penalty area from a corner.  After that we had some chances to equalise, with Lee screaming through the middle only to be foiled at the end and James headed wide from a corner right at the death.  Other notable moments were Dan getting into a scrap with the centre-half at a corner.  It’s the normal centre-half who has a tendency to lose it a little bit.  Their centre forward was caught offside more times than I can bare to imagine and yet always insisted he wasn’t.  He also had a thing for saying the C word several times over.  Normally after James had nibbled at his ankles.  Brendan Wren added to our injury woes by turning over his ankle.  The final talking point was the almighty clash of heads between Martyn and Darren, which saw the former go off for a Terry Butcher bandage.  Darren’s was coming up nicely at the end of the game as well.  Both would have made a sight at the Spurs game they were attending afterwards…hopefully they were both okay but I’m sure the Spurs victory was a good enough medicine.

So that was it.  We had the opportunity to get the draw but if we were to be honest, they were better the team throughout, as they played some nice triangles around us.  We seem to lack that composure and accuracy at the moment around the pitch, struggling to string more than 5 or 6 passes together.  However, the 2nd half efforts were pleasing to see and delighted Darren.  As always, no game on Mothers’ Day and rightly so!  Come on KNOBS, go out there and give your mother a treat next Sunday.

Starting line-up:  Dave, Tony, Martyn, James, Brendan Wal, Brendan Wren, Jamie, Darren, Bully, Dan and Gavin.  Subs:  Chris Cox and Lee 

Knobs 2 Sandridge Rovers 4

This won’t take long.

On a beautiful morning, we played quite poorly on a bobbly picture.  There was a mixture of old and new faces and this may have contributed to what was a very disjointed performance.  They didn’t play that well but we probably deserved to lose in front of a record home crowd.  There was at least 16 there at one point and that doesn’t include the tennis players.

In the first half nothing happened.  Honestly…nothing happened.  We had no shots and they had one.  Maybe you could say that defences were on top.

In the second half, within a few minutes of the restart, Craig gave away a penalty.  Tony saw the red mist descend apparently but it was too late to do anything about it.  Brendan Wren’s first touch as the new goalkeeper was picking it out from the back of the net.  They then scored a second about 10 minutes later and it looked like the start of a proper collapse but unlike the mighty Spurs we battled on.  Gavin turned a defender on the half way line and threaded a lovely ball through the defence to Dave, who was rudely barged out of the way and so a clear penalty.  Bully stepped up and rolled it into the net.  Unfortunately though they went on to score two more.  Brendan wasn’t to blame I don’t think.  In fact at one stage, I’m sure he made quite a good stop when someone tried to go round him.  In the last minute, Gavin weaved some magic in the area to get to the by-line and cut back to Bully, who stroked home to score a second.  The only other moments of note were two strong runs and misplaced shots by Craig and Steve.  To be honest, we looked unlikely to score all match.  We never really turned their defenders, we never ran at their defenders and when we passed, it just bobbled up in the air and there wasn’t much that could be done.

So that was it.  The final score was 4-2 to them and it was well deserved.  We’ve got a few injury concerns at the moment.  Joel came off with a calf issue today and Dave with a groin injury.  This is where we need to see the strength in depth of our squad.  Have we actually got anyone coming back from injury???

Well played everyone.  As long as we all enjoyed it, that’s what counts.  I thought Nick and Martyn had a very strong first half.  Nick really pressurised their players but as he pointed out at one point during the first half, we didn’t do it as a team.  I think we need to be a little bit more compact at times.  But that’s just me.  It will be interesting to see what Dave thinks in the post-match interview.  Who can he trust to do a job in the team?  Who’s got the necessary desire to represent the KNOBS?

Team (as started): Gavin, Craig, Martyn, Tony, Dan, Gerry, Bully, Chris Cox, Joel, Nick and Dave. Subs – Steve and Brendan Wren

Knobs 3 Whitewebs 1

A mighty win from a team with verve, passion and energy. Welcoming back as manager that crafty old c....  cart horse Sir Dave Jordan, replacing Cymru bound Sir Ronald a newly vamped team showed their paces- actually trot, walk and stop, plenty of the latter but enough of the other to put this opposition in its place.
We had a squad of millions so much so that we gave them 2, including the returning from an annual sabbatical, Dave, Joel 's mate. Bad move many thought.  Yet we won convincingly so we do victory and magnanimity. Worra lot the Knobs are. My heroes.
Woody, the laughing cavalier foraged, fought, fouled and fullicked and was unlucky not to score on two occasions sending one shot crashing against the crossbar and just missing out with a chip, I'd have bet on him taking on that keeper and rounding him. Another break saw him haring to the byline before squaring, Gavin showed the value of a pair of legs that can move by keeping pace with the attack and nodding neatly home.  Woody was left hugging and caressing a sycamore tree for the next 5 minutes only prised away from it when Dave threatened to bring on a sub. We normally piss against those trees!
James had replaced an injured Jaimie and we were looking pretty formidable defensively as Tony moved out to full back. Early second half saw the equaliser as a cross from the right was smashed home gleefully by Dave . Aye aye what's happening.
We started attacking more and more and each time with pace and threat and it was only a matter of time before we would go ahead. This time time an interchange between Woody and Joel saw the latter 'purposefully' chip over the keeper from a position 25 yards wide out to the left. A Gavin run was thwarted but he reacted very quickly to regain possession and cross where Woody's head looped in the third.
Several penalty shouts went unheeded by a consistent referee, consistently clueless as to whether or not they were fouls never mind penalties.
Big Rob performed well on a rare outing in his debut season. He was strong and always involved. An enterprising bicycle kick was followed by  a surging run into the box which deserved better than his final lunging shot. Martyn had a peerless game at centre back and Stu performed well in goal. His save in a one v one with minutes to go was a good one and allowed us to trot out comfortable and deserving winners.
The 'crowd', one John Boyle, thought the game was shite I thought it wasn't bad.
Goodly turn out in pub. No opposition, they're all Spurs fans! So!
Next week Sir Dave pits his wit and vision 'gainst  Sandridge, recently beaten 7-1 home to Welwyn.
Join him on his amazing journey.