Match Reports November 2010

Sunday 14th November 2010

League, Purley Way

Banter Central FC 4 - 1 Real Madras
Hughes (4)

Banter: Doc; Vidic, Tino, L.Dancer; Ridders, Fintan (J-Dot, 70), Gillardino, Hughes (Boma, 75), Cling; Baird, Brownie

Phil Hughes’ goals from midfield gave Banter a comfortable win in the end, but it was a game they were forced to work hard for and answered that call superbly.

Real Madras have always been an organised, hard working side and always a pleasure to play against in a sporting sense, whilst difficult to beat in a competitive sense. It was fortunate then that with boundless energy, Banter hit the ground running with an early goal when a mix-up between Brownie and Hughes saw the latter take over and loop an early, left footed shot over the unsuspecting Madras goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

Banter continued to press high up the pitch and defend as a unit when on the back foot. It allowed the home side to keep the game tight and pick off their opponents on the break, which Baird and Brownie did in abundance with some good hold-up play and interchange. It allowed a few half chances and some openings where the final short was not forthcoming.

Baird might be worth an assist for Hughes’ second goal, despite Madras perhaps having a case for offside. A ball in behind the Madras backline had them at sixes and sevens, with Baird walking away from it and Hughes reacting quickest to move out to attack it. Baird appeated to intervene by getting in a defenders way as he tried to get back to stop Hughes, who calmly stroked the ball into the bottom corner. Quite whether the defender was legitimately blocked off, or whether he conveniently wanted to be blocked off such was how far behind Hughes he was is questionable. The 2-0 score line though, was undoubted.

Banter controlled the play for long spells thereafter, holding onto possession and shutting down quickly to not allow their opponents any time to settle, it brought another opening when Cling picked up a loose ball and found Brownie, who fired the ball across goal for Ridders to tap into an empty net, but with the ball skipping up off the surface it somehow managed to evade the wide man and go out. It looked like a chance that could’ve been more costly. Madras certainly had their chances, with Jim having to block one shot superbly inside the penalty area and a couple of headers from corners flying wayward. The home side forced a move down the right hand side which broke down when a ball over to Ridley was cut out, which allowed Madras to break forward and find themselves outnumbering the Banter backline to cut back and for an advancing midfielder to finish inside the area and make it
2-1.

There was a worrying spell for the home side immediately following Madras’ goal, Hughes conceding possession immediately from kick off might be about the only mistake he made all game but it lead to an opening which Madras fired wide. Doc lost his footing on one long ball which meant he could only watch the final touch go beyond him, but Vidic was easily covering and the ball bounced wide anyway.

Banter were let off on this occasion and it was the only time in the game that the standards slipped, with the home side regaining control soon before the break and Hughes completed his hat trick – his second of the season - when he latched onto a loose ball after Cling's corner was cleared, to drive the ball into the bottom corner. Brownie had a great chance to extend the lead further when he rifled a shot toward goal having beaten his marker, but the ball struck the top of the crossbar and went out. Banter lead 3-1 at the break.

The second half had a slower tempo, which despite all the pace Banter have throughout the side, suited them down to a tee as it allowed a more controlled build-up and no silly mistakes. Madras had chances and on two occasions certainly, Banter have their goalkeeper to thank that Madras didn’t get back into the game. The first save was a powerful drive into the top corner, which Doc pounced for and somehow managed to get both hands up to catch and hold onto. What looked like a ball that getting any fingertip to would be an achievement, he made it look effortless. The second was a fantastic reflex save from a header which he tipped over the crossbar at the last second.

Hughes went and helped himself to a fourth goal, finishing coolly into the bottom corner in similar fashion to his second. It was his 10th goal of the season.

J-Dot replaced his brother, Fintan, with 20 minutes remaining and Boma came on in place of Hughes, who with a slight calf strain was no longer worth the risk. Boma got into the box for three efforts, the first was offside, albeit nicely struck when it did fall to him, and the third was a more difficult effort with his back to goal which he fired just wide. All three were met with screams of joy by Adkins on the sidelines.

Banter kept composed and organised to see out the game and win 4-1.

Man of the match: Phil Hughes. An inspired performance follows a determined effort the week previous and a purple patch in front of goal. He gets into wonderful positions and controlled play expertly for long spells, here. He has long been encouraged to go for goal more often without the need for being overly selfish, we’re now presumably witnessing the rewards of that. I’d say this was the best win and by default, our best performance of the season so far. Madras didn’t play badly, but we did play well. In summary, against Woodmansterne we were a bit lucky and sloppy without the ball, against Addiscombe the game was over with 20 minutes gone and despite some champagne football, cannot be considered a well worked win because of it. That work ethic here must not be overlooked – we’re a very good team when it’s there, but like every side at this level, we’re no better than average without it. If you don’t buy the ticket, you can’t win the raffle. A point continuously repeated, sometimes to remind everyone we should more often, sometimes – like this occasion – to prove why it works. Hughes’ first goal was struck well enough, but he’s hit them better, lets say. But he gambled on the early shot where he could have given a sideways pass which came to nothing. Same goes for the third goal, hit from the edge of the area because, well, why not? One such individual did do a lot of moaning about it to ensure it happened, but the shutting down by the forwards across the backline is so important and it worked fantastically, despite the calls for more of it. If it doesn’t give you a direct chance, you can bet it presents a team-mate with the ball or at worst forces a poor clearance out for a throw or goal kick. Oh and that moaning individual was me, obviously. But it’s only because I care. This was also our best defensive display of the season so far. There were one or two moments where I think Madras could’ve done better, but undoubtedly we were much more committed than we have been at times this season and organised much better. At one stage in the second half, a Madras forward remarked to his team: “Give me something to work with, give me something to chase.” That’s testament to a stingy defence which was first to everything, as well as a forward and midfield line that allowed very little to pass through. Where back-up goalkeepers go, we’ve done alright with Doc. If either of those two chances in the second half had flown in, you wouldn’t blame him and that represents the fine margins in football which might have been unfair after a good team performance. Fortunately, both were exceptional saves. The league is extremely tight and this win ensures we’re absolutely entitled to believe we’re one of the teams that could be up there at the end of the season. Results have gone our way elsewhere with quite a few draws; we must carry on the momentum and win our games in hand. Next time anyone flips a coin to decide anything for you, be very clear what “winning the toss” actually means by the adjudicator. Before kick off it felt like losing.

Sunday 7th November 2010
Surrey Junior Cup, Trenham Drive

Banter Central FC 5 - 7 AFC Surrey [AET]
Hughes (2), Brownie, Fintan, Wilkes

Banter: Tino; L.Dancer, Doc (Baird, 46), Wilkes; Cling, Fintan, Gillardino, Hughes, Ridders (J-Dot, 65); Brownie, Wommy

Another of those strange games brought to Trenham Drive. Of the two matches Banter have played on the pitch directly outside the clubhouse (the show pitch?), it’s brought 22 goals and position changes galore, I couldn't count how many. The first game refers to the victory over Carlton in January, of course.

The game was moved to a 12:30pm kick off on the Friday and by 12:40pm there was still only one team and no official out on the pitch. But when the game eventually did get going, there was no doubt who started the stronger; an intense warm-up proving vital for Banter to get off to a quick start. Able to find space and create openings, the home side moved the ball around swiftly and got their opening when Legend Dancer lofted over a ball for Hughes to bring down on his chest and fire in past the goalkeeper. It was wonderfully taken and a well deserved lead.

Banter’s performance noticeably dropped off soon after though, perhaps a bit too long spent in the pub the night before in some cases for Banter; an area where AFC Surrey were clearly going to hold an advantage as most of the side aren’t old enough to drink yet. They took full advantage of Banter’s kind nature, bundling the ball through from for their centre-forward to finish well to equalise. They scored a second soon after when a shot from outside the area was allowed to come in too easily and Tino spilled what you would normally call a routine catch but for the fact that catching isn’t much of a routine for someone who isn’t a goalkeeper, but it did allow Surrey’s forward to snatch at the rebound and make it 2-1.

It seemed that every foul the away side gave away was apparently either down to the referee’s incompetence or Banter’s softness; at one stage everyone was reminded that “this is a contact sport”. Except that any tackle on the away side got a rather different reaction altogether and there seemed a disbelief that nobody in a blue shirt had been booked to match their own captain. There’s a name for this behaviour, I just can’t think of what it is. Anyway, AFC Contradiction managed to avoid giving away a penalty despite a late challenge on Wommy inside the penalty area, which not only was adjudged to not be a foul but also met with abuse and calls for a dive by many, except he who committed the foul and clearly injured the Banter striker, of course. Wommy went off but returned for the second half as the scores remained 2-1 until the break.

Doc was unable to continue thanks to the late kick off and a prior engagement getting in the way, so it left Banter fielding a defence with none of their recognised central defenders from last season. Baird moved into the middle of defence and he quickly found himself on the back foot as AFC Surrey scored immediately to make the scores 3-1. Banter pressed and pulled one back when Wommy found Hughes inside the area, who took his chance superbly again.

Continued mix-ups and a carelessness in possession led to disappointing 4th and 5th goals to give AFC Surrey a three goal advantage. J-Dot came on to replace Ridders and Baird swapped positions with Cling, which was probably the turning point. Baird was given plenty of freedom with which to attack i using his fresh legs and he caused Surrey's right-back a host of problems. He delivered several crosses and should have had a penalty when he was brought down inside the penalty area. One of these days he’ll rightfully win one.

Banter continued to plug away and with less than 10 minutes remaining, Wommy latched onto the ball down the left to cross for Brownie to head in at the far post. Surrey would feel it was no more than a consolation and based on the verbals at the time they most certainly did, but Banter had a desire to carry on and see how much further they could push it. Cling swung in a corner which was partly cleared befor Fintan smash the ball first time at goal through a bundle of players and into the net to make it 5-4.

Leaving just one back for every set piece and crowding the Surrey penalty area, a long ball was pumped into the box and again only part cleared for Baird to head back in and Wilkes to chase to stop it going out for a goal kick, he looked up as the goalkeeper came towards his near post and hit the ball into the far corner from the most outrageous angle to equalise. Where comebacks go, it’s barely been as late or dramatic in a Banter game.

Extra time saw Surrey score immediately as Wilkes had a swing and a miss at a through ball which the #11 beat Cling to and finish clinically. Banter threw everything at their opponents, dominating the chances and sending several shots over the crossbar. Brownie had a good chance one v one which he hit on the half volley and saw it well stopped by the goalkeeper. In the second half, J-Dot had a golden opportunity to make it 6-6 when he was sent through on goal but he blazed his shot into the clouds.

The game naturally opened up and AFC counter-attacked down the left in search of the 7th goal, swung in a cross which Wilkes kindly headed in for them to kill off the match. Quite a spectacle had to end eventually, it did so as Surrey won 7-5 and advanced to round 3.

Comments:Big praise for the comeback, at 5-2 the game looked dead and was described by one Surrey player as a “spanking” as Banter were getting “wound up”. He soon shut up when it went to 5-4 and their captain (on a booking) had to be substituted at such a crucial stage. He had to look on as it went 5-5. Also praise for how patched up the side was. Is Tino 4th or 5th choice goalkeeper? Cling is presumably 7th or 8th choice to play at the centre of defence and without many of its familiar faces, it was difficult. It was a conundrum which we got right eventually and really got at them. Disappointing to eventually lose, but I don’t believe league games go to extra time. Consider that a point snatched from absolutely nowhere with 3 goals scored with about 9 minutes left on the clock. We can really draw on that experience (excuse the pun) and give ourselves belief in future.But… First half we were very laboured. Our movement wasn’t smart off the ball to receive a pass and when we did try and pass it we were thinking a hundred moves ahead instead of keeping hold of it. Sometimes lofting it over the top aimlessly, sometimes hitting their full-back where we’re so eager to play the ball into space for someone to chase that it’s swung out of our possession. Off the ball we were what I would call “generous” in our marking, easily described as lazy in periods. The amount of times the ball dropped to an opposition player when his marker (our player) was 5-10 yards away was unacceptable and we didn't seem to communicate with one another to sort it. These comments were quite clearly echoed by some of the frustration showed at the interval. We asked for more passion, more commitment and harder work rate. We got that in spells in the second half and we were the better side for the majority of extra time.Our cavalier approach might bring goals, but it’s also seeing us ship way, way, way too many. More than ever, on average. Concentration is a big thing and being determined to not finish second best to every challenge or in every move is key, as well as defending from the front and all putting in a shift. If you’re unsure, put your foot through it. You can actually read that statement as a forward or defender: at goal or away from your own goal. Some teams have players that do this 10 times out of 10 and whilst I wouldn't encourage that, they do seem to actually get results. But as a defender, don’t risk it. We played several passes across our own goal or held it too long in deep areas in this game. It cost us at least once. Fintan described his goal as a bit lucky given the crowd, but as was seen with Brownie's header against Santos, if you don't buy the ticket you can't win the raffle. Sunday League keepers are not Julio Cesar. They're not even Julio Iglesias.Three league home matches to come. We need to be ensuring we lose none of them. Easier, done, said, than.