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Veterans
Winchmore Hill 3 Virtual Goldfish 1
Vets
Friendly
Sunday 16 November
A Hill performance so lacking in purpose that it flattered Goldfish
into thinking they could get something from the game - they came
very close too! Not so much a case of underestimating the opposition
but perhaps overestimating ourselves – no we can’t ping 30 yard one
touch passes about the field and then expect our forwards to chase
hospital balls into the boot of their central defender or a
goalkeeper quick of his line.
We can play short passes
and keep the ball when we choose to be patient and use the width to
our advantage but those occasions were too few.
Midway through the first half their lone forward was brought down in
the box and a penalty awarded without protest which was duly
converted. The desire to equalise immediately and failing to make
any real headway added to the frustration of the half and the mood
at the break was sombre.
The second half continued in much the same frustrating way with Hill
having most of the possession but gifting it away when it mattered.
Finally, after 80 minutes we got the breakthrough with some swift
short passing leading to a first time shot from Mus finding the net.
Two goals quickly followed as Goldfish tired and one or two seemed
to get fin-rot. Okay, it was a lousy Hill performance in terms of
creative, passing football, BUT heads didn’t drop, the opposition
only had one real scoring chance in the whole game (and that was
from the spot), we continued to chase everything until and the goals
finally came and levels of fitness are improving. We can beat
ourselves up over obvious errors or we can build on the positives
that even this game had to offer.
Honourable
mentions; Murphy for his “I saved you lot” – second half save of the
century and Frank for another rousing half time speech.
The Phantom
Fullback
Norsemen 1 Winchmore Hill 5
AFA Veterans
Cup
Saturday 1 November
If the Hill Vets B team was a kitchen implement it would be Parmesan
cheese grater – rarely used to good effect, no apparent sharpness, a
certain roughness on close examination, certainly full of holes yet
fully functional when called upon to get the job done. And so it was
that a Norsemen side so full of promise in the opening 20 minutes
were picked apart but half time by a Hill side who finally found
their passing feet. Jack opened the scoring running on to a through
ball played from our keeper just outside our own box and with
confidence increasing two goals followed from Eric and Bas. The job
was seemingly done but Norsemen to their credit didn’t lie down and
continued to threaten in the second half – the pressure was absorbed
by the fitter looking Hill side who then extended their lead with
goals from Jason and Frank. Frank may now have achieved some sort of
record as the oldest scorer of a goal in a cup game anywhere in the
world ever! Norsemen pulled a goal back from an in-swinging corner
into a crowded box late on which was the only time they outwitted
Peter in goal.
Honourable mentions go to Andy who, despite only having one calf,
contained their tricky winger, Bas for reinventing the role of the
outside left, Ibs for being strong in midfield until his hamstring
told him otherwise, Trevor for sticking his leg in (and leaving it
there) where/whenever it mattered and Peter for flinging himself
about in front of goal with no regard for his personal safety.
A quarter final awaits.
The Phantom Fullback
Vets Tournament
Sunday 5
October
0-0 A team in blue
0-0 A team in yellow
0-3 Lost A team in
red
0-3 Lost Another
team in red
Okay, the overall result doesn’t look
impressive but the only real problem this side has is stage fright
in front of goal. Confident ball control and clean striking of the
ball on other parts of the pitch become squirming, wriggling,
skidding, slicing ball contacts when the oppo net becomes the
intended destination. The build up play for the most part was
patient and purposeful with John, Mus, Taylor and Frank linking up
well with Hibbs Gaggo and Byron in midfield and both Andy and Ben
getting some useful balls into the box. It’s true we may have lacked
the legs to get men forward when needed but so did our opponents –
unfortunately in game three we faced a very talented centre forward
and a dodgy penalty. We weren’t necessarily “robbed” but the score
flattered the oppo. We needed a win from our last game to get
through to the semi-final – perhaps our enthusiasm to score left us
exposed at the back, perhaps we were knackered or perhaps two hours
of torrential rain had persuaded us it was time to head back to the
Ladies changing room – either way we made a dignified exit from the
tournament. Overall the passing was good, the commitment was there
and the squad never caved in at any time – good signs for the
forthcoming season.
Honourable mentions for John who ran
miles, got forward and back and tackled fiercely, Taylor who was
never passed and when he was he clattered the forward off the ground
by over a metre! That’ll learn ‘im! Ben who made himself available
up and down the entire right side of The Paulin Ground, Gaggo and
Andy who fought tirelessly up front. Oh, and the keeper wasn’t bad
for the most part either!
The Squad;
Peter, John, Taylor, Frank, Hibbs, Mus,
Byron, Andy D, Gaggo, Ben
The Phantom Fullback
Waltham Abbey 3 Winchmore Hill 2
Veterans Friendly
Sunday 28 September
Hill’s opponents lined up with a distinct weight advantage and a
modest claim that they only expect to last “half an hour” but the
early stages saw both sides passing the ball well through midfield
but Hill, especially, were ineffective with the final ball into the
box. Even when the ball found it’s way to the head, feet, chest of
our strikers we failed to finish.
Abbey then brought on a first half sub who’s injection of pace
quickly earned them a free kick outside the box – the resulting
attempt on goal wriggled free from Murph’s grasp to put Abbey ahead
against the run of play.
Hill’s continued midfield dominance then led to a perfectly weighted
shot from Fraser, cleverly disguised as a cross which fooled the
keeper who could do nothing but say, “Doh!” as the ball sailed over
his head. 1-1 at halftime and a mystery why we weren’t three ahead.
The second half substitutions together with the fatigue of aging
limbs saw a chasm open up in the middle of the field which Abbey
were first to exploit - but the gods of redemption smiled on Murph
and he parried a dipping shot over the bar. Murph was then beaten by
a “floater” only for another divine intervention to guide it onto
the crossbar.
Almost immediately, back at the other end, Byron and Mus combined
well to employ the “we’ll walk it over the line if we have to”
school of attacking football to put Hill 2-1 up. Within five minutes
Andy has to watch their nippy super sub run on to a lofty long ball
who then only needs one touch to put it past Murph who the gods have
now well and truly abandoned.
With fifteen to go and Abbey growing in confidence Hill give the
ball away cheaply and concede a third goal from possibly Abbey’s
only real opportunity inside the box.
Jim re-shapes the side and takes on attacking duties himself with
Mus moving into central defence – the tactic almost works
immediately as Jim comes a close second in a one on one with the
keeper and soon after hits a beauty which takes the paint off the
top of the cross bar.
Honourable mentions to Jim – rock like in defence, Hibbs – confident
distribution in midfield, Byron – creative for 90 mins, Taylor –
made himself available all over the pitch and John (Longhair) -
excellent timed “last man” tackles.
Squad: Murphy, Andy D, Jim W, Hibbs, John (Longhair), Byron, Taylor,
Fraser, Frank, Mus, Trevor, Ben, John, Mo, Mick, (apologies for
incomplete names and any omissions).
The Phantom Fullback
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