2013/14 Season

1st Team 5 - 0 Enfield Old Grammarians

Our best performance this season

The conditions were awful - cold, wet and windy. The referee looked at 4 different pitches before deciding on the 5th pitch available.

The start of the game was very open to say the least. Within 30 seconds Michael Proctor was through on goal, chipped the keep but narrowly missed the goal. Within the next two minutes Grammarians had two 1-on-1's which Alex our stand in keeper from the 3rd team saved.

After this crazy opening 3 minutes, we settled down and started playing. After 15 minutes, an attack by us saw the ball deflect out of the penalty area. Simon Jones instantly brought the ball down and lob the keeper from the corner of the penalty area-1-nil.

We started imposing ourselves on the game and within 10 minutes a square ball from the left back was cut out by the alert Tom Dodd, who then cut in on goal and passed the ball into the bottom right hand corner - 2-nil.

We carried on pressing and a few chances came our way that went begging. Alex our keeper went down ill and was substituted after 35 mins. This did not alter our tempo and we carried on cutting out their attacks, switching play and probing. The only negatives was that we did not score during this period to kill the game off.

Half Time came and we basically just kept warm and reiterated our game plan.

The game resumed and the tempo dropped a little. We got caught offside about 6 times and some strange infringements were also given. All this resulted in the game slowing down and providing Grammarians much needed respite. A couple of sporadic long balls and attacks from Grammarians kept us on our toes. But collectively the danger was always cut out. Special mention goes out to Mod who on any other week would have won man of the match. He was instrumental in protecting the back four and setting up attacks. He along with James Dennis and Michael Proctor dominated the centre of the park with quick one touch passing and combinations.

They tracked in pairs and closed the opposition down by doubling up and regaining possession.

An attack down the left saw a cross half cleared only for James Dennis to bring the ball down and rifle in a shot which the keeper could only parry. Simon Jones followed in and let loose a stinging follow up shot which the keeper again pushed over the bar. There was constant threat and Grammarians did well to keep the score down.

The 3rd goal came from their centre midfielder and play maker getting harried off the ball by Michael Proctor. He turned, looked up and fed Doddsy. Tom Dodd cut in and passed the ball into the goal - 3-nil. The 4th goal came from Simon robbing their full back and cutting in on goal. He clipped the ball over to the far corner of the penalty area where Tom Dodd chested the ball down and half volleyed the ball into the bottom right hand corner - 4-nil (and a great finish).

We started picking Grammarians pockets which ensured that the tempo was high and that they didn't have any peace.

With about 5 mins to go Joe Ayling nicked the ball off their winger, ran down the wing, cut in and rolled the ball across the edge of the penalty. To cap off a great team and individual performance, Doddsy was on hand to dispatch home a vicious low drive through a crowed penalty area and beyond their keepers reach - 5 - nil.

Their was still time for more goals and the best chance of these fell to myself. I received the ball on the left hand side, looked up saw that I was almost 1v1 with their centre back and decided to see if the 'old dog' still had that lighting speed......Anyway I knocked it pass him and we entered a sprint in on goal - i won! Unfortunately my composure was not quite there and I stabbed the ball wide of their goal and on rushing keeper.

Special praise has to go out to all the players collectively, as from the sidelines the pitch did not look that bad! The style and level of football played by the team was that of a team playing on a firm and flat surface. But coming on as a sub and playing on this surface, that should have been postponed in all honesty, highlighted just how well the team did collectively in tough conditions.

We're building up a 'head of steam' an chasing down the leading teams. We just have to win every game now to get in contention for promotion.