Three goals from Rod Beya, two from Andy Barrell and one from Neil Hurst saw the Hill to a comfortable 6—1 victory against Enfield Old Grammarians at The Paulin on Saturday.

Enfield started strongly, putting in some physical challenges, and took the lead with a fine goal after ten minutes. The lead was short lived when Rod Beya slotted home from the spot after Hurst was pulled down. Minutes later Andy Barrell showed good control, sidestepped the keeper and scored to give the Hill the lead. Rod Beya added a third before the interval beating the keeper in a one-on-one situation.

Barrell scored again ten minutes into the second half with a delightful chip over the keeper and at
4—1 it was game over.

Beya completed his hat-trick and Hurst scored his first of the season from close range to complete the scoring.

With Paul Strouts back from injury for his first game of the season, the Hill’s midfield had some extra bite. Just for a change he did not collect a card, he’ll possibly get some for Christmas!
Next week the 1s are again in Cup mode with an away draw in the AFA Middlesex & Essex Senior Cup at Old Ignatians at Turkey Street, Enfield. The kick off is at 1.45 and parking is available at the School.

 

Senior Section Division One
No fixtures due to AFA Senior Cup

Senior Section Division Two
Only one fixture due to AFA Cup matches. In that game, Carshalton beat East Barnet Old Grammarians 5—3 at Beddington Park.

Senior Section Division Three
Two matches in division three—Lloyds TS Bank moved up to second place following  a 4—1 win against Southgate Olympic at Copers Cope Road (it’ll always be Copers Cope Road for Lloyds as far as I’m concerned!) Old Finchleians moved up to fourth place following a 5—0 win at Old Westminster Citizens.
 

Winchmore Hill have a successful history in the AFA Cup, particularly recently, having won the competition twice in the previous six seasons.  However, past glories count for nothing, and if anything, inspire opposing sides who visit the Paulin looking for an upset.  Enfield Old Grammarians were no exception.

Winchmore were forced into changes in wide midfield, with Poku injured and the glamour model Abi Seymour continuing his trial at Reading, though the latter was doing his best to avoid a home game against Aston Villa, in preference of Grammarians at the Paulin. Understandable.  Neil Hurst returned to the left, a position where he has notched a good percentage of his 50-odd goals for the club.  Declan made his first start on the right, and the returning Strouts at right back produced a brace – sadly, yet unsurprisingly, not on the pitch.

Hill started slowly and somewhat complacently, after the manager and captain had stressed the importance of a good shape, the team chose to ignore all the sensible instructions they had been given, and were ragged, flattering the efforts of a spirited Grammarians side.  The ball was moved too slowly and the work rate was poor, culminating in the visitors taking the lead in the tenth minute with a superb first time volley at the far post.  After a few Strouts-esque sympathetic shanks from Knights, and Cook soon realising that you can’t pass to the right back even when he’s in 30 yards of space, Hill began to settle into a rhythm.

Hill got back into the game when the wily Hurst used all his experience to win a slightly soft looking penalty after a burst down the left wing, and in the ex-skipper’s words: “I’ve seen them given, I’ve seen them not given.” Profound.  Beya duly converted, and Winchmore, now in the ascendancy quickly increased their lead with a tidy driven finish from Barrell after a good passing move, and Beya got his second following a move started by Strouts tackling with his head.  Oh, how we’ve missed him!  3-1 at half time, but far from convincing, too many players wasting possession and out of position gave the opposition a lot of ball in dangerous areas, fortunately, they could not make it count.

The second half brought a stronger display with a good shape and some better football.  The newly ‘slimline’ Barrell curled in for his 4^th in 3 games, an excellent return that has left his midfield partner Davison well behind in the scoring stakes.  This, however, is no surprise bearing in mind Davo is doing his finest Shane Foley impression, sweeping up behind Gyles and Cook at centre half on a number of occasions. 

Dominic Murchison was introduced on the right side of midfield, after Strouts’ legs gave up 70 mins into his solid comeback match.  This was enough time however, for the obligatory shank (left foot this time) impressively back behind himself in the penalty area to make sure the defence were on their toes – Gyles almost wasn’t and nearly tested Carter, but the danger passed.  Murchison immediately provided a reminder of what Hill had missed in Poku and Seymour, with blistering pace creating two good chances for the strikers.  Winchmore then started to produce the kind of football that has brought them so much success this season, with the best move of the match ending in the fifth and best goal of the match.  A link up down the left flank between Knights, Beya and Davison resulted in Knights reaching the bye line and driving across the box for Hurst to roll back the years and slide home.

There was still time for Beya to complete his hat trick in style, a positive first outing from Sureya, and then some extraordinary misses from Beya and McHale, which could and should have extended the margin of victory.

Overall, a satisfactory team display and
6-1 reflected Hill’s superiority with a solid central midfield performance from Davison and Barrell, and Carter’s excuse book getting thinner (the cross died on him, honest).  Tougher tests will come starting this coming Saturday away to Old Ignatians, and if this young side is to emulate some big Winchmore Hill names of the past then constructive advice and instructions must be adhered to, with discipline and hard work coming hand in hand with ability.  If this can be achieved, then this team can go a long way towards creating their own history.
 

This week’s hack has seen most things in 12 years of SAL football, but a trip away to Crouch End in the cup produced a game that none of us expected.

The game was delayed for the late arrival of Lord Gee from Tunbridge Wells who had no time to apply his deep heat as he strode on to the pitch to join his team mates. The gaffer went for the tried and trusted 4-4-2, with three subs looking forward to an afternoon of expansive football.

Unfortunately the pitch would not allow this, several days rain, two cross country races and some trail biking had created a challenging playing area.

Danny Putt started the afternoon in fine form, two minutes on the clock and a burst into the penalty area lead to a double tag team scythe which meant a penalty. Three minutes on the clock, the penalty missed, Putt off injured for Tony Kokkinos.

Twenty minutes in and the Hill have conceded as many goals in the match as they had all season.... 3-0 to Crouch End. Direct football, poor defending and good finishing contributed to the scoreline.

A post was struck by TC but the Hill had little answer to Crouch End who were out maneuvering and out muscling the boys.

The gaffer chose his words wisely and loudly as he made his point with the use of industrial language. 

The response was instant with Jamie and TC starting to impose themselves, Steve, Hassan, Al and Gee remembering how to defend and Ben and Jack working the Crouch End back four. You felt that a goal was coming, but ten minutes into the second half the Hill conceded a penalty. You began to feel that it was just going to be one of those days. But...Griff pulled off an outstanding save to stop a 4 - 0 deficit.

The final 30 minutes of the game and Hill decide to start playing. Ben plays in Jack  for a tap in. His reward - he is hooked by Frank for Henry who is making his second team debut.... Ben is then hooked by Frank for Nails.

The changes lead to more impetus and also means that Stuart Broad is pushed up front. His contribution so far, to miss a penalty and generally look fed up.

Suddenly he is seeing the ball and Broad plays in Henry to round the keeper and finish confidently. Tony K plays in Broad and he finishes from an acute angle. 3 -3 and the momentum has changed. 90 minutes are on the clock and the gaffer is urging us to finish the game off… 30 minutes of extra time would mean he missed his train to Cardiff. A midfield tussle and the ball breaks for Broad and he plays a defence splitting pass. A controlling touch by Naylor, a dink over the keeper, cue 14 man celebration by the corner flag.

Barely time for a restart and the game is over.. Hill have nicked it 4-3.

A few positive words from the gaffer and we exited Crouch End with another cup game to look forward to.

 

Winchmore Hill 5 Wandsworth Borough 0
AFA Intermediate Cup
Saturday 1 November

Your correspondent doesn’t ask much from a team:

1.       Polite responses to communication efforts
2.       Positive winning attitude
3.       Black boots to be worn by all players (without exception)
4.       A decent cup run.
5.       No one comes the Paulin and takes 3 points
6.       Please, please, please - some originality?

The centre pitch at the coliseum saw the Second XI in cup action in early November for the first time in Chairman Gyles lifetime.

A comprehensive performance by the Hill saw the boys depart the pitch at half time 1-0 to the good following a goal by man of the moment Stuart Broad.

Encouraging words by the gaffer whose hamstrings were tightening by the second saw the Hill take control in the second half.

Further goals followed for the excellent Dan Putt, Ben Turner and that man Broad again made the game safe. Griff, Al, Joe, Hass and Gee had an afternoon stroll with the keeper only having to make one save of note.

Jamie and TC were spraying the ball around the park…one such pass finding the gaffer who promptly attempted to nutmeg his marker. His marker won the ball then promptly nutmegged the gaffer…twice. Time to be subbed off and a quick 30 minute cameo for the returning Naylor.

A fine performance by the boys who continue to impress the packed touchline at the Paulin.
 

Old Finchleians 4 Winchmore Hill 5
Southern Amateur League
Junior Novets Cup
Saturday 8 November

On a cold, wet, windy day the Winchmore 10s travelled the not too far distance to Oakhill Park, the skipper via Oakwood & Barnet, missing our keeper but otherwise with the strongest eleven possible. The game as it turned out would be about finishing, had Finchelians taken their chances in the first 20 minutes Winchmore would have been trailing by 6 had Winchmore taken theirs in the second half Finchelians should have been 8 down and buried but neither side could or did capitalise on their periods of dominance which lead to the game being close.

The game flowed from end to end, attack after attack with little time to catch the breath, the Hill started with a firm backline of Adamson, Nicolaides, Behling and Fraulo (a cumulative age of 586 with two 29yr olds in there) who very soon were trying to catch the heals of the very mobile forwards of Finchleians and soon were 1-0 down this should have been more but they just could not shoot, the Hill then decided to take the game by the scruff of the neck and were soon 4-1 up, via a fantastic break away by Thorpe, a quick 2 from Martin, and a quick attack by Baker who was freed by a nice ball up the line by Fraulo (our very own version of YODA).

Half time came and went and soon Hill were up 5-1 after Cocoracchio turned neatly on the edge of the box and beat the keeper. This should of seen us home but after a couple more 1 on 1s we now could just not finish setting up what became a frantic end, the game changed with 25 minutes to go the Hill making their final substitution surrendered midfield and were soon swamped, 5-1 became5-2, 5-2 became 5-3 with what must have been the clearest handball ever to of been seen outside of the NBA, with 5 minutes to go Finchelians got the game to 5-4 and started looking for the leveller but it was not to come Hill stood firm and onto the next round we go to face Kew at home.

After the match tired bodies celebrated the win with a well earned beer and Vince WAS heard to say ‘play that well when 900 years old you be’.
 

Court Circular
News from the Tennis Section
 

Coaching
You can arrange private tuition or team coaching from Darren or Julian at:
Darren – 07960071478 or darenpla@hotmail.com
Julian – 07923 188437 or Iexcellinuk@yahoo.co.uk
 

QUIZ NIGHT
Friday 21st November
7.30pm start

Tables of 8 (roughly) £5 per head

American theme – a few days before Thanksgiving!!

Heads and Tails

Please let Gaye/Sue/Yvonne know if you would like a table (or to be put on a table)
 

 Tennis Annual General Meeting
Sunday 16th November 2008 at 1pm
Please attend as the new committee will be elected, you can have a say in what you want to happen, proposed new rules will be discussed
 

CHRISTMAS TOURNAMENT
Sunday 21st December 10am

Mulled wine and minced pies £5 entryPlease put your name on the list in the hut or let Gaye/Sue know

BRITISH TENNIS MEMBERSHIP
The LTA is changing the way they allocate Wimbledon tickets – you HAVE to sign up to British Tennis Membership. It is FREE till 2012.

Next year the club's allocation of Wimbledon tickets will be based on the number of our club members that have signed up to British Tennis Membership by the 30th November 2008. The tickets that will be distributed through the club ballot can only be allocated to members of British tennis.
SIGN UP NOW!!! How? (Click here)
It doesn’t take long!

WINTER LEAGUE TENNIS
If you are interested in playing some league tennis throughout the winter please let Sue, Gaye or Richard know (please state if you are interested in mens, womens, mixed or veterans) and they will pass your name onto the relevant captain.

WINTER COACHING PROGRAMME
There are now junior hourly coaching sessions running from 9am to 1pm on a Saturday.

The coaches are looking to initiate an intermediates/improvers session, possibly on a Sunday

The coaches are also looking to start a rotational team practice session on a Sunday afternoon/evening – ask them for details.

Remember, there is always one court allocated for coaching, which means if there is a winter league match there are no spare floodlit courts. Watch this space and look in the hut for details of coaching times and fixtures.