Amateur Football Alliance

Southern Amateur League

Ninth Eleven

Winchmore Hill 8s 4 Winchmore Hill 9s 3
Amateur Football Alliance Junior Novets Cup
Saturday 3 January

Last Saturday saw the 9s taking on the 8s in the long-awaited inter-club cup clash live from The Paulin. Goals from Shahel Khalique and Paul Cooper gave the 9s a well-deserved 2-0 lead at half-time after dominating possession in the first-half. A solid performance from the back four and good work from Chris Eracli in the lone ranger role up-front was complimented by Mike Sergeant intelligently spreading the play like a farmer delicately spreading manure over his crop.

The 9s continued to impress at the start of the second half and were rewarded with a third goal scored by Ben Jones following another successful attempt at the 'cross-bar challenge' from Sergeant. A controversial penalty, which was converted, then gave the 8s a route back into the game and this was closely followed by a far post header following a defensive mix-up.

Beard and Dwaah were brought on as the gaffer switched from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 formation in the hope of securing victory. Unfortunately, as nerves and a bit too much Turkey and Stuffing started to set in, the 8s headed in an equaliser to set-up extra-time and the prospect of penalties.

The first-half of extra time saw the 9s return to playing some good football although they were unable to convert.

In scenes more suited to Platoon than The Paulin, players began to feel the pain and bodies lay scattered across the turf through cramp. Both teams continued to press until play was temporarily halted following a brutal mid-air collision between the two skippers.

With penalties on the horizon, and players trying to put images of Waddle and Southgate to the back of their minds, the 8s broke away with four minutes to go slotting a simple pass through the 9s defence and forcing in a winner to secure a place in the next round.

A harsh lesson learnt for the 9s who, based on the first-half performance, deserved more.

Reporter: James Beard

Winchmore Hill 3 Kew Association 1
Southern Amateur League Junior Novets Cup
Saturday 6 December

Winchmore Hill nines took to the field in high spirits due to their recent run of good form. The team welcomed back Jamie Millard in goal and the defensive unit joked and planned before the kick off.

Alex Hendrick pre match talk built on the confidence gained from the past performances, Whinchmore Hill (Hill) opted for a 4-4-2 formation with emphasis on slick passing and playing down the flanks. Banter turned to the epic battle between Mike Sergeant, Tony Mackinnon and Chris Eracli for goal of the season; the saga continues. Sergeant led the warm-up starting with his usual fag, cough and weight watchers vanilla milk shake, a-la Smithy from Gavin and Stacey!

Hill notoriously slow starters were forced back on their heels in the early exchanges. Cool defending by Gary Cook and James Hall closed down Kew’s lively wingers whilst Paul Cooper used a combination of athletic speed, positioning and good technique in equal measure.

Passing the ball out from the back Hill began to play classic counter attacking football. Midfield dynamo Ben Jones master minding slick play in the centre of the park. Sergeant pulling the strings with accurate short and long passing; Tony Mackinnon coming of his left wing perch at will; ghosting infield pass the Kew right back on every occasion, leaving space for Hall to raid down the left with devastating effect.

Arron Lapompe’s rampaging runs down the right wing had the Kew left back bewildered, confused and screaming for help. Even with double coverage Kew had no answer to Lapompe’s winged wizardry. In the 15^th minutes Hill had their first chance, superb ball movement from Jones and Sergant allowed Beard time to skilfully turn and slip the ball between right and centre back to an on-rushing Mackinnon. He galloped into the box leaving defenders trailing in his wake only to have a sublime chip turned round the post by an excellent save from the keeper.  The onslaught continued in the 25^th minute Hendrick burst through Kew’s back line on the right flank after neat inter-play by Sergeant and Beard. His turbo charged sprint was matched by a text book low fizzing cross which managed to evade Beard’s desperate lunge. Hendrick sprung into life again picking up the ball forty yards away from goal and setting of on a swashbuckling diagonal run from right to left only to have his left foot drive blocked by a last ditch tackle from the Kew right back.  The resulting corner saw Cooper latched on to a defensive clearance and almost test the keeper with a crisp thirty five yard drive.

Lapompe continued to threaten the Kew back line, whenever he picked up the ball their defence seemed as water tight as a sieve. In the 30^th minute quick passing between Cook, Jones and Lapompe freed Hedrick, once again darting from right to left. He was brought down thirty five yards from goal. The ball was handed to Sergeant he placed it purposely on the ground, both hands cupping the ball. Stood tall and unleashed an audacious curling effort which searched for the top right hand corner until the keeper made an impressive save which kept the score level.

Kew rallied and the momentum swung again. Millard was called into action, with authority and quiet confidence he dealt with a high ball then a low drive which was hit slightly left of centre. The warning signs were there, in the 36^th minute disaster struck. A swift attack down the Kew left flank resulted in a clever cut back. Hell broke loose inside the box, Millard pulled of a reflex save but the rebound was gobbled-up by the lethal Kew centre forward.

Hill raised their game and minutes before half time the breakthrough came. Once again the excellent Lapompe surged through the Kew rear-guard, with the keeper advancing he gently rolled the ball passed the keeper’s outstretched left leg and Beard like all good strikers raced in for a simple tap in. The half time whistle blew and Hill had a richly deserved equaliser.

The half time change saw the power and intensity of Hendrick replaced by the guile and trickery of Eracli. The second half started as the first had finished, with Hill in the ascendancy. Jones turned from midfield master mind into midfield maestro. Playing neat one twos with numerous players and getting beyond Sergeant whenever possible. Hill were winning the midfield battle and Lapompe led the charge. Fantastic footwork and blinding speed dragged the left centre back and midfielder out of position allowing Cooke and Sergeant to wreak havoc with superb movement and short sharp passes. No sooner had Lapompe finished his outstanding cameo, Mackinnon came of his line and played in Eracli, his silky touch teased the centre back into an awkward lunge. Eracli shimmied past and sprinted towards goal only for his slid-rule effort to drift past the post.

In the 55^th minute Kew put together a swift counter attack only for Cooper to step out and calmly stroke the ball to Hall. Hall side stepped one challenge and barrelled on, he looked up and picked out Mackinnon who played a first time ball to the cutting Eracli. Mr E (Eracli) beat one then another, his footwork reminiscent of some the Pan Hellenic dances (Greek dancing). He dribbled into the now crowded penalty area and squeezed the ball into the path of Beard, who flashed a left foot shoot just wide of the post under immense pressure from two scrambling Kew defenders.

That was the last contribution from Beard as the goal scorer was replaced in the 60^th minute by Shahel Khalique. Hill reverted to a 4-5-1 formation, however their momentum did not slow. Kew’s sporadic attacks had become less dangerous and Hill pushed for the second goal. In the 72^nd minute Lapompe scored a breath taking goal which capped of a stellar performance. The move began deep in Hill’s half as Cooke broke-up a labouring Kew attack gave the ball to Jones who swiftly moved it on to Lapompe. He dashed in field pass the Kew left back with more twists and turns than an Usher music video. Then exchanged a neat one two with Eracli before delicately chipping the keeper.

Hendrick’s on the side line pointed to his head and shouted “focus”. Kew came roaring back like a boxer making a final stand. Once again level headed defending by Cooper stopped Kew in their tracks. Millard Marshalled the defence and came to collect when necessary. Khalique started to warm to the game as Hill once again counter attacked with pace, skill and accuracy. Khalique swift run only stopped by tenacious tackling by the Kew right back. In the 75^th Minute Leo Francis replaced the excellent Gary Cooke, with the now legendary Lapompe moving into right back. Kew also shuffled their deck and brought on another striker, changing their formation from 4-4-2 to 3-4-3. Kew’s last Harare was short lived. In the 83^rd minute Hill went on the counter after a Kew move ground to a halt.  The fleet of foot Hall performed his trademark side step and then passed the ball to Jones who took a touch before guiding it into the path of Mackinnon. His pass split the Kew right and centre back releasing Khalique who tormented the right centre back before dragging the ball passed him. Into the area he strode side stepping the keeper before unselfishly playing in Mackinnon to deliver the knockout blow.  3-1 it was and 3-1 it stayed the final whistle blew, while Hill bellowed their 3 cheers the opposition whispered theirs. Hand shakes all round for a game played in good spirit, Hill marched on to fight another day.   

By Leo Francis

Winchmore Hill 4 Old Finchleians 1
Southern Amateur League
Minor Section Division Four (North)
Saturday 22 November

The 9s headed into the game full of confidence following a fine run of form which has seen them win their last 3 matches and score 12 goals in the process. Set up in the 4-5-1 that dominated the previous match, Hill started brightly with the pace of Aaron Lapompe providing a constant threat down the right. The dominance paid off when Leo Francis was bought down following some good work in the box. Austin McCormack stepped up to drive the penalty past the keeper to his left bottom who managed to get a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out which ensured Hill went in with a deserved lead.

Half time changes saw Daniel Roche and Mike Sergeant introduced. It wasn’t long before the lead was double as an in-swinging corner was nodded towards goal by Paul Cooper leaving Daniel Roche with a simple finish with his head. Moments later the opposition failed to defend another corner as Tony Mackinnon out jumped and out muscled the keeper to powerfully nod home the third a la Maradona. Chris Eracli was introduced in the 65th minute and his perseverance paid off as game was put to bed when Sergeant reacted to a sloppy clearance from the opposition goalie forced by Eracli, with a sublime lob which the keeper could not manage to keep out.

Old Finchleians did grab a late consolation as the tricky left sided forward who’s skill and pace had been nullified for most of the game by man of the match Gary Cook managed to skip through the midfield and unleash an effort which swerved and dipped to leave keeper Jamie Millard with little chance of keeping a clean sheet.
 

Norsemen 3 Winchmore Hill 4
Southern Amateur League
Minor Section Division Four (North)
Saturday 1 November

Saturday saw the 9s making the short journey across the A10 to face local rivals Norsemen. Torrential rain and gale-force winds made conditions difficult but in true Winchmore style the lads turned out and put in a superb performance. A clinical finish from James Beard after 15 minutes following good work from 'Dell-Boy' Dwuah got us off to a great start.

The lads continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with a second goal thanks to an outstanding curling shot from Mike Sergeant. Rumour has it that both scorers were inspired by the Weight-Watchers discount promotion displayed outside the Norsemen club-house. Austin McCormack and Leo Francis were both unlucky with fine individual efforts before the half-time whistle.

Norsemen started to pile on the pressure and scrambled a goal back but a battling performance from Ben Jones was rewarded with a goal to make it 3 -1 to The Hill early in the second half. As conditions deteriorated, Norsemen managed to pull two goals back to make it 3 -3 and set up a tense finale. Step up second-half super-sub Mr Chris Eracli with arguably the best goal of the season so far, a superb left-footed power-driver which provided a fitting end to the match and was well deserved.

A special thanks to Tony McKinnon for turning out despite being brain-washed by Darren Brown earlier in the day. And well-done to Messer's Hendrick, Cooper, Hall, Cook and Lapompe for another solid defensive performance on a distinctly water-logged pitch, backed-up by the ever-reliable Jamie Millard.
 
I'm sure the opposition’s big number 5 can't wait for his chance to floor the gaffer at The Paulin following the 'committed' challenge we witnessed in the second half!

Winchmore Hill 1 Broomfield 2
Southern Amateur League
Minor Section Division Four (North)
Saturday 27 September

For Some strange reason summer now starts in September as for the second weekend it was blisteringly hot!

On the back of an unfortunate but deserved defeat to the hands of E.B.O.G's the week before, morale in the team was low, however a few new club players including Ivan mrk2 (Jamie Millard) helped to encourage the side.

After losing the toss we started with the sun in our eyes playing uphill at Firs Farm, and the away side took full advantage playing high diagonal balls for their wingers to run onto. Aside from this causing our players a hindrance, a lack of full match fitness and a gelling team combined with the searing heat lead to a few initial errors. And a swift move by Broomfield down their left flank lead to the opening goal of the game and our side ended the 1st half a goal down.

Motivational words were said by a few players and two substitutions were made as we took to the pitch a new rejuvenated team. After being dominated in the first half, it was our turn to use the sun and pitch gradient to our advantage, and with the energy from sub Alex Lodge our game improved dramatically. We equalised with a goal from Tony Mackinnon, who headed a delightful corner from Chris. E. We continued to press the opposition throughout the rest of the half and really should have took the lead with some skilful approach play from Ed Munoz and a header from James Beard which looked certain to go in but for a stretching Broomfield goalie.

A brief moment of indecision resulted in Broomfield’s second goal, with a long ball over the top putting our defence and keeper under pressure, it was a Broomfield player who got to the ball first. The ball went over our keeper and into the back of the net, with agonising slow motion. With only 8mins left to play we kept knocking on Broomfield’s door until the ref blew for full time. The frustration from the team was evident as we knew we deserved at least a draw!

Although another early season defeat we aim to be like Manchester United and once a few results come in I feel we can start to steamroller other teams and possibly challenge for promotion!

With thanks again to all those who played.