October 2008 Match Reports

Sunday 19th October 2008

League, Duppas Hill 1

Sanderstead Spitfires 0 - 3 Banter Central FC
  Warburton (2), Fintan

Team: Wuker; Boma, Tino, Bushy; Jewish, Fintan, Gillardino, L.Dancer, Cling (Hore, 80 mins); Wommy, Lee

The first win of the season and about time too. Banter began the game positively and worked hard throughout. The blues were getting the ball down and finding their passing range which saw it lead to the opening goal inside 10 minutes. Jonny Gill began the move and foung Cling, who played a neat one-two with Mick Lee, Cling advanced and cut the ball inside for Wommy in the penalty area, who finished very well into the bottom corner. An early lead and fully deserved. To Sanderstead's disappointment though, they lost a player to a rather innocuous challenge soon after, taking them down to 10 men. Barely 20 minutes had gone by when again a 50-50 challenge saw another Spitfire go down in pain. The home side were reduced to 9-men and that played an important part in the outcome of the game. Although Banter had more life and desire than in previous weeks, they were now being allowed to pass the ball around at will and to good effect. A long searching pass found Wommy in a dangerous position in the penalty area, he was challenged and appeared to be fouled, but a goal kick was given. Banter's second came from more hard work and harrassing from Wommy Gunnar Solskjaer, he beat the Spitfires' goalkeeper to the ball in a wide position, laid off for Jewish who sent in a perfectly flighted cross to Rod Fintan, who glanced his header past the defender and into an empty net. 2-0 and Banter were understandably in complete control. Sanderstead were not without their chances on the break away though, some long balls over the top were sometimes a struggle for the defence, Wuker was ready to clear up at all times. Banter took advantage of the numerical advantage for most of the half but allowed Spitfires to win a few too many headers just before the break, it was important that the blues didn't become complacent, which ultimately they didn't. 2-0 at half time.

The start to the second half was a bit slow from Banter, a few remained a bit quiet and eventually raised their game 10 minutes or so in. There were long range chances for Gillardino, Legend Dancer, Fintan, Jewish and Cling, the latter roasted his marker all morning much to the young lad in green's disappointment. A few sly comments crept in which was also a shame, particularly when there's seemingly always been a good relationship between the two sides over the last year or so. The referee also failed to spot one or two fouls going both ways, one on Cling down the left wing was borderline assault. Sanderstead's best chance came when LD was a little sloppy in midfield and let the home side counter-attack, Wuker was equal to the eventual shot on goal. There was another breakaway soon after too, which the big man in Banter's goal came storming out for, sliding in and winning the ball perfectly. A free kick 25 yards from goal was thumped in by Sanderstead too, but again Wuker claimed the ball well. Banter continued to create half-chances, a Jewish cross from the right hand side was missed by all, a ball sent in from Cling on the other wing seemed to only brush Wommy's lovely spikey hair. The 3rd arrived though when the ball was cleared to the left hand side of the penalty area, Cling brought it down and pushed a pass inside to Wommy, who opened himself up and swept the ball beautifully into the far side of the net giving the goalkeeper no chance. 3-0 it was and it was now about possession football and making sure Banter keep a clean sheet. Hore replaced Cling with 10 minutes to go, Lick Me briefly filling in down the left. The game finished and whilst it wasn't the greatest reflection on who was the best, it was still a very important Banter win and one to build on and take forward since from a Banter point of view, the job was done and in playing some confident football at the same time.

The ratings...

Wuker - 7 - A good solid game and well deserved his first ever (yes, first ever) clean sheet.
Boma - 7 - Looked far more composed first half than second but an all-round good display despite coming down with the plague.
Tino - 8 - Solid, very vocal and kept things organised.
Bushy - 8 - Stuck to his task and was allowed to roam forward more freely at times which was good. Left Bom & Tino exposed once, but overall excellent.
Jewish - 8 - Did everything that was asked of him, ran hard and offered a simple pass. Sent in a couple of good crosses, one of which we scored from.
Fintan - 8 - Worked hard, offered good support going forward and scored.
Gillardino - 9 - Never over-elaborates things, kept play ticking over and offered his availability throughout.
L.Dancer - 7 - Like Gill, offered his services a lot albeit less vocally. Caught once or twice from being too comfortable but overall very good.
Cling - 8 - Ran his marker ragged, tried to keep possession throughout and bagged a couple of assists.
Wommy - 9 - Man of the match. Worked hard for the entire game and was rewarded twice. His ability to beat his marker more often than not is incredible.
Lee - 7 - Dropped off to collect the ball well and tried to be direct in possession. At 11 v 11, they had no idea what position he was playing. Looking good.
Hore - n/a - Caused his usual problems for the short time he was on.

Sunday 12th October 2008
Surrey Cup, Surbiton Town

M Tennis 7 - 2 Banter Central FC
   Euro, Bushy

Team: Wuker; L.Dancer, Boma, Tino, Bushy (Pasty, 80 mins); Shannon, Gillardino, Euro, Cling; Wommy, Hore

A really rather gutless performance from Banter during a warm afternoon in Surbiton. A hangover is really no excuse, but there were clearly some whopper hangovers on show from those in royal blue. For most of the game Banter were 2 yards off the pace and very flat footed when receiving passes and marking the opposition. Some decent football was played when in possession, but when Banter didn't have the ball, Tennis walked through midfield and defence with regularity and ease. To give yourself a chance in winning football matches, all 11 players on a team needs to put 100% into their performance. Everyone just needs to try as hard as they possibly can. That's when closing the opposition down, tracking back to defend, getting forward to support front men, going up for headers and staying with your marker. If everyone can truly know they did all of these things, you are part way to getting something from a game. Honestly, it just works. But it can't be said of the majority not just today, but throughout the season so far. This is now Banter's worst spell since things started in 2007, not just in results but in performances. Curiously, there appears to be a confidence problem thoughout the squad - when Banter concede, heads drop dramatically, but when Banter score everyone lifts their game. This, you might think is part and parcel of football. It can be, but you need to block it out, get on with it and try and get back into the game. It happened when Banter went 1-0 down, a quick short corner was allowed to go and happen with freedom, the cross into the box was decent but there was then a free header at the back post, the Tennis player connected and scored. But Banter equalised when Hore's nod on to Euro saw him through one-on-one, the bobbly pitch seemed to get the better of the number 10, but he calmly slotted it away to make it 1-1. Banter's spirits were lifted and some decent passing began to materialise with Jonny and Euro really getting a hold of the game in central midfield. Then Tennis got the lead back and extended it further and that confidence evaporated once more - Wuker making a couple of errors he may want to forget very quickly. With the score at 3-1 when half time came around, it appeared like a game Banter could get back into with a bit of fight, but didn't. 4, 5, 6 and then 7-1 was the score as Banter allowed headed flick-ons, passes in and around the area with free shots, un-challenged crosses and half-arsed attempts to win the ball. Allowing the opposition to do all or any of these things with regularity is a sure fire way to get a thrashing, so it's no surprise the Monkey (sorry, FA) Tennis lads dished out just that to Banter Central. But it was the next goal that makes the confidence issue so puzzling. Legend Dancer picked up the ball at right-back, with Tennis holding a decent line to catch any straying attackers offside, Cling was knowingly in that position, so when LD's long and searching pass over the top came, up went the Tennis hands. Cling jogged back onside as Bushy timed his run perfectly to get in behind, take the ball forward towards the goalkeepers right hand post and finish beautifully into the top corner on the far side from a difficult angle. That made the score 7-2. Did it change anything? No, not really. With 20 minutes remaining there was no way Banter could score enough goals - whilst not conceding again - to get a result, all it did was narrow the scoreline. Yet with that goal, the good football, determination and positive attitudes returned. For a start, Tennis didn't score again. Then Banter had some genuinely decent opportunities to get goals. Some long rangers from Cling, Wommy and Hore along with two free-kicks which Tino scuffed from 25 yards and Cling skied when taking an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area from a back-pass. A goal that narrowed the scoreline from 6 to 5 goals behind made the difference? Perhaps it's just a coincidence, but it seems to be a pattern I've spotted and it isn't right. Banter should be determined and driven no matter what. Pasty came on in place of Bushy for the last 10 minutes, the score remained 7-2 and Banter were eliminated from the Surrey Cup.

Monkey Tennis (again, sorry, full of racism this report) were a good footballing side. They were also a genuinely decent bunch of lads. But even a bunch of lads who could have a bit of a joke and seem alright have to work their arses off and don't mind giving someone a kick up the air to let them know they're there. Does it need to be malicous? Most certainly not. But it does need to show determination and want for the ball. It's four games played and four lost. With the exception of the Oakfield performance - I think that was just hard luck - they've all been gutless performances where we've looked disorganised, unwilling to put the full effort in and ultimately a little uninterested. If Banter had worked harder than Tennis for 90 minutes, would the score have been 7-2? Er, no. Just think of that, more effort changing the scoreline of a game. Not Maradona being drafted in, or Sir Alex Ferguson on the touchline, just trying harder using exactly the same players. That's what makes it so frustrating, considering the two-touch passing is there when we turn to it and use it. That is the difficult bit and we might actually have it down if we try. Until we do, we will lose every single game this season. And I really don't want to go and do that.

Man of the match: Justin 'Euro Boy' Said. He was drafted into central midfield and had enough success to suggest that he could not only do it again, but also that he came away not having a stinking mare like most others. Offered simple passes, gave simple passes, won headers (yes, really) and worked harder than most. He's been massively missed and in the games he doesn't play - no matter who the opposition - he'll be missed again.

I'm not going to bother with ratings this week. I really don't think anything I write could help someone or make them learn from it. Quite simply, most performances stunk - my own featuring very high on a list of shitness - I'll just say that everyone in the squad needs to raise it.

Sunday 5th October 2008
League, Purley Way 12

Banter Central FC 1 - 2 Oakfield Manor A
Gillardino

Team: Wuker; Village (Pasty, 60 mins), Doc, Tino, Bushy; Cling, Gillardino, Rodber, Shannon; Lee, Wommy

Another week, another loss, another game where the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story. The difference this week being that Banter Central deserved something from the game and looked like a football team after the previous weeks' shambles.

The strong wind and horrible Purley Way slope was going to be a problem for at least 45 minutes, Banter opted to deal with it first half in a decision that appeared like a good one. Oakfield had most of the possession early on and had some sighters from the edge of the area as Banter made use of their width and quick passing to counter-attack. Wommy slipped Cling through to shoot inches wide early on, Tino had a free-kick saved shortly after. Oakfield took the lead rather bizarrely however, when some neat play down the left saw the ball laid off 30 yards from goal for an Oakfield defender to strike a very powerful shot which cannoned off the bar, down in front of the line and was blown into the corner by the huge winds. 0-1. Banter picked their game up for the remaining 25 minutes, Jonny and Rod began controlling the midfield and Shannon linked up well with the ever adventurous Bushy down the left as the blues took only few shots from the edge of the area. Banter quite literally weathered the storm in the first half and the possession dominance for half an hour was surely something to build on for the second half.

Banter began the second 45 minutes positively and with pace. Jonny Gill had a shot from the edge of the centre circle from kick off which the keeper struggled with and had to palm away for a corner. There were various corners from Banter all half, one which Wommy attempted to back-heel, another saw him rise and head into the goalkeepers arms, Gill and Shannon both saw headers go begging also. Oakfield did provide a scare when substitute Chris Brown spun in the area and smashed his shot wide - it won't be the last time you see his name in this match report either. Wuker was also forced to make a fantastic save down at his near post, a long ranger which he pushed out for a corner. The chances kept coming though as Gill, Rod, Wommy and Cling linked up well, each with efforts on goal. Banter got the equaliser when Gill's run was cut out and called for a foul, his free-kick was cleverly hit to the back post which Wommy ducked to see it fly straight in. 1-1 and game on. Banter Central debutant Mick Lee had a couple of chances to open his scoring account, one shot was well blocked in the area, another saw Wommy pull the ball back as Lee snapped at it on his left foot only for the keeper to save. There were many records to be broken on this day, Wuker's appearance in Baird's injury absence meant he became the lone highest appearance holder, a goal for Wommy would have put him level with Euro as the club's top goalscorer. Unfortunately, a goal for Wommy was not forthcoming. Of the various one-on-one's he had, the goalkeeper did well on most occasions, one seemed destined for the net only for the Oakfield number 1 to get a palm to the ball at the near post, another saw him shin the ball in what looked like a tap-in (he assures everyone it wasn't though), he had a great chance too when he rounded the goalkeeper and squared the ball, only for it to be blocked by a defender and fall back to him at the tightest of angles, his follow-up fizzed agonisingly wide. It was certainly beginning to feel like it might not be his, or Banter's day and that to not somehow score that second goal would see the blues drop two points, rather than gain one. But with 10 minutes to go and to the shock of everyone, a ball into the box fell to Mr Brown - a former college friend of many in the Banter squad - who spun and jabbed a shot into the bottom corner to score the winning goal. Banter continued to plug away as Wommy kept beating his marker to get in on goal, his pull-back didn't find Cling and Shannon's late effort was comfortably collected by the busy Oakfield goalkeeper. 2-1 was how it finished, an extremely disappointing result considering the football played, chances created (and missed) and all-round work ethic by a team who looked far more confident and alive compared with the loss to Real Madras 7 days previous.

How everyone faired...

Wuker - 7 - Could do nothing about the goals, made one fantastic save and his kicking was noticeably more effective than his opposite number in the first half, with the ridiculous winds coming at him.
Village - 6 - Dealt with his tricky marker well enough and battled hard, could open his mouth a bit more though and not just to eat a kebab. Scored his 3rd ever dis-allowed own goal with a glancing header, although in fairness he was obviously pushed in the build up and whistle did go. He also unknowingly wandered on to the pitch when he was linesman later on, in order to catch a ball that had never left the field. Classic stuff as always.
Doc - 7 - One of many who performed to a far better standard than in the previous game, did well in the air and on the deck and will be missed until his return. Ikea can still be fun though mate.
Tino - 7 - Always a calming unfluence on the back four and did his job just like Doc.
Bushy - 6 - Certainly not afraid to burst forward which is encouraging, can be a little lazy on his way back though, but a good performance and good to have him finally signed up properly.
Cling - 7 - Worked hard, created a few chances and had a couple of his own. Linked up well with Jonny & Wommy on many occasions.
Gillardino - 8 - Man of the match. A solid display which was as effective in breaking up attacks as it was bursting forward. Scored a clever goal too.
Rodber - 7 - Solid. Had room to create in the final third on plenty of occasions and worked back to stifle Oakfield when going the other way.
Shannon - 6 - Ran far harder and faster than the week previous which was great to see. A very solid game. Was occasionally isolated out on the wing in the second half, whether midfield or centre-forward is his strongest position still remains to be seen.
Lee - 6 - Had some chances and created a few as well, not afraid to work back and chase the ball but we'd all love to see him crack the ball on his left foot without hesitating in a match just like he does in training. A good signing this, good stuff to come.
Wommy - 7 - Lively as ever and gave the defence nightmares as usual. His mark might be an 8 for overall contribution and a 6 or less for his finishing though, he probably had 4,000 chances to score.
Pasty - 6 - Looked fairly comfortable as well as confident when he came on against the quick feet of Oakfield's left winger.

It was a genuinely good display from Banter, one which we could analyse forever but it really just wasn't to be. The two-touch passing practice at training looks like it's come good, some of the play in the last hour was fantastic. It's certainly a different feeling to last week's loss, since there is good to be taken from a hard-working performance like that. Surrey Cup match next week which should provide a test, but things came together well on the pitch in this game, let's just hope the other 10 squad members decide they fancy it next week. The biggest problem right now is that in 3 league games we've has 12 players each week, which for a squad of 22 and supposedly some very keen individuals is plainly not good enough.