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Veterans
VETERANS
TOURNAMENT WINCHMORE HILL Sunday
4 October
WINCHMORE HILL B VETS REPORT
The Winchmore Hill Veterans tournament took place at the Paulin
last Sunday. Seven teams playing a league format, 15 minute games
with 9 a side no offside’s on the three main pitches.
Vets B 1 South Woodham Ferrers 0
The B vets
started their campaign against South Woodham Ferrers for the fist 5
minutes or so the B Vets came under sustained pressure with a
deflected shot cannoning off the Winchmore post. As the game wore on
Winchmore began to find their feet and with a few minutes remaining
Ben collected, the ball in the middle of the park ran towards the
edge of the box and rifled a shot into the left hand corner of the
goal. A few minutes of pressure on the Winchmore goal was dealt with
quite comfortably and the B vets got off to winning start.
Vets B 0 Old Woodhousians 1
Next up were
strong favourites and previous winners of the tournament Old
Woodhousians. As in the first game the B vets came under sustained
pressure in the first part of the game, it wasn’t until a penalty
was conceded that that Old Woods had a clear chance. The penalty was
fired into the top left hand corner leaving Murf with no chance of
saving it. Winchmore struggled to get their passing game going
however a few half chances were created but Old Woods always looked
a threat on the break and the game ended in defeat.
Vets B 2 Dog & Duck 0
After
suffering defeat, the lads needed a quick victory to restore the
momentum and after a few words of wisdom from Frank Alf Ramsey
Randall the B vets came flying out of the blocks against the Dog &
Duck. A flowing move starting in their own half by Big Jim Webb and
John the Coach was headed in by Ben following a great cross from the
right, an early lead was secured. Just a few minutes later a
rampaging run down the right by Mad John led to a mistimed challenge
in the box and a penalty was awarded. Phil the Moaner stepped up and
dispatched the ball into the back of the net. With Mus The Engine
running the game in the middle of the park the B vets looked
comfortable and with Murphy’s huge goal kicks creating havoc on the
edge of the Dog & Duck box Eric Couldn’t Hit A Barn Door With A
Banjo squandered a couple of one on one chances and the game ended
in a 2 0 victory.
B Vets 1 A Vets 0
The big one a
must win game for both teams in relation to the tournament and
bragging rights in the bar. Another stirring team talk from Frank
Alf Ramsey Randall sent the boys out in good heart even though Long
Haired John a pillar of the defence couldn’t start this one after
getting full blooded shot in the wedding vegetables in the previous
game. The game started with immense pressure on the B vets goal but
cometh the hour (well 15 minutes) cometh the man, as Murf the Cat
produced his finest goalkeeping display, crosses were dealt with,
corners were punched and goal kicks cleared the half way line. Two
outstanding saves one a reaction save at his near post and another a
Banks like effort, as a Mark Pritchard header that was heading for
the corner was somehow palmed away with the cat at full stretch,
kept the B Vets in the game. With the outfield players, giving
everything a free kick was awarded to the B Vets outside the box and
Ben stepped and powered an unstable shot into the corner. Cue panic
as the A vets tried to get back in the game but with the whole team
defending like Trojans and Murf the Cat in goal there was only going
to be one winner the final whistle came and a stunning victory was
achieved.
Vets B v Garston
After victory
over the A vets and following other results the B vets were now
right in the mix and a win over pre tournament favourites Garston
would put the B vets in a strong position. The belief flooded
through the side and the game started with both sides feeling each
other out, the B Vets were more than holding their own, Murf the Cat
was barely troubled. Then with a few minutes to go the back three
decided it was their turn to get on the score sheet as a move
including long haired john and Mo found the feet of Phil The Moaner
out wide a cross was whipped into the box and their was Big Jim Webb
to head the ball home. Sustained Gartson pressure failed to
materialise and the B Vets had done it again.
B. Vets 2 High Lane 1
The last game
and a victory would secure the tournament and this added pressure
seemed to have an affect as the B Vets started slowly with passes
going astray wrong options taken etc, then disaster struck a ball
was whipped across the six-yard box and High Lane took the lead. Was
the hard work all for nothing? Would heads drop? The word chokers
loomed large. However the B Vets came out fighting and went looking
for the equaliser, Ben got the ball and fired a shot over the bar,
High Lane pumped a ball over the top but Murf the Cat was alive to
the situation and raced off his line and cleared the danger. With
minutes, remaining the ball was worked to Ben who approached the
edge of the box and let another one of his unstoppable shots into
the corner and The B Vets were back level. Time was slipping away
and then in the final moments Mus the Show Stopper picked up the
ball took aim and fired a last minute fairy tale winner into the
roof of the net. The final whistle went and the B Vets had done it,
team work, effort and no little skill had won the Trophy !!!!!
Final
Table
1.
Winchmore Hill B Vets
2. Old Woodhousians
3. South Woodham Ferrers
4. Winchmore Hill A Vets
5. Garston
6. Dog & Duck
7. High Lane
The Heroes
Player,
Physio , Tactical Genius Frank Alf Ramsey Randall
Captain Big Jim Webb
Goalkeeper Murf The Cat
Players Long Haired John, Mad John, John The Coach, Eric Couldn’t
Hit A Barn Door With A Banjo, Mus The Engine, Phil The Moaner, Mus
The Showstopper, Ben Hot Shot Hamish, Mo The Dynamo
Winchmore
Hill 2 Dog & Duck 2
Veterans Friendly
Sunday 27 September
Another Jekyll & Hyde performance from B vets saw a them secure a
draw against the Dog & Duck. Winchmore started the game well and
created some good goal scoring opportunities, which were squandered;
this was to become a feature of the game. The Dog & Duck (Fielding 3
players from Winchmore Vets) were gradually finding their feet
however; there was no real threat on the Winchmore goal until midway
through the first half when series of corners led to The Dog & Duck
opening the scoring with a scrappy goal at the far post. Winchmore
continued to apply pressure for the rest of the first half where a
lack of composure in front of goal led to the Dog & Duck going in
at half time 1 0 in front. Half Time Winchmore Hill 0 Dog & Duck 1
A tactical switch at half time saw Jim Webb move from Centre Half to
Centre Forward to add his considerable physical presence to the
forward line. Murphy swapped his position in goal with Muss to
replace Jim at Centre Half. Injuries forced the Dog & Duck down to
10 men at the interval. In act of sportsmanship, Winchmore allowed
them to field a non vet for the second half to keep the game 11 v
11. The second half continued in much the same vein as the first
with Winchmore dominating possession and squandering chances. The
equaliser finally arrived as the Dog Duck were opened up and Andy
Dundon steered the ball home. Instead of going on to win the game
disaster struck as from probably only their second attack of the
half The Dock & Duck’s non vet used his pace to get free and despite
Muss in goal valiant efforts put the Dog & Duck into the lead. This
led to an all out Winchmore attack and finally after a good ball
from Mo at right back Jim Webb used his bulk to cause chaos in the
Dog & Duck box and Muss Tahir arrived to sore the equaliser. There
was still time to secure the victory but the Dog & Duck goal
continued to lead a charmed life and the match ended 2 2. All in all
a disappointing performance and result and as my old school reports
used to say could do better.
A special mention to Micky, Frank and Chris for turning out for the
Dog & Duck.
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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