Pre season 2010/11 Match Reports

Sunday 22nd August 2010

Friendly, Trenham Drive

Croydon Postal 2 - 4 Banter Central FC
  Adkins (2), Wommy (2)

Banter: Tyler; Doc, Tino, Boma (Jewish, 46); Cling, Wilkes, Hughes, Adkins, Baird (Goody, 40); Wommy, Brownie (Baird, 70)

An improved performance saw Banter cruise to second half victory in another pre-season friendly at Trenham Drive.

Following a good run out the week previous against AFC Hamsey, where a 0-3 scoreline put a dampener on a more than competent performance overall, this week Banter managed to create a lot more chances and score some tidy goals. A few key players were missing, but Banter were still fortunate enough to field a strong starting XI and have good cover ready to come on as well. But Banter made a terrible start to the game and Croydon Postal should have scored within 30 second of kick off. A lethargic Banter didn’t come out of the blocks and Postal carved into their opponents, playing the ball into the area where it was cut back for Postal’s #10 to shoot; fortunately he blazed a bread and butter chance high over the crossbar.
The warning signs were there but Banter continued to stay too quiet and too sloppy in possession during the early going and never really creating any chances in those opening 15 minutes. Postal took advantage of this and a typically long and high ball downfield from the goalkeeper was totally misjudged by Tino at the back, giving Postal’s #10 a chance to nip and finish well at the near post to put his side a goal to the good.

Banter began to pass the ball better midway through the half and opened up their opponents once or twice, too. Some good link-up play down the right side saw Wommy play in Cling Bak more than once to put some crosses in, the goalkeeper spilling one effort and Brownie not quite making his head onto another. Baird beat his marker more than once down the left and set the ball back for his midfielders but their shots were blocked as Postal continued to clear their lines, albeit with less and less conviction each time as the pressure mounted. Brownie had half a shout for a penalty when the ball was scrambling around in the area after two Baird crosses, the high ball was falling between the Banter forward and a Postal defender as he was being pushed off the ball, but it came to nothing as the ball was cleared to safety.

It was from the right though that Banter found a way through to get the equaliser, as Wommy held the ball and passed Cling in to cross, his delivery found Wilkes’ head, his attempt on goal looped back down as Adkins ghosted into the box to stroke the ball into the bottom right corner. The goal had been coming.
But Postal should have gone in at the break ahead, though. Some miscommunication at the back saw the ball bounce twice in the penalty area for Croydon’s #10 to have a shot on goal; Tyler saved superbly from close range but could do nothing to stop the rebound as an arguably easier chance than he missed in the first minute fell back to the forward, but he spurned the opportunity by smashing the ball over the upright as Banter could count themselves lucky.

If the first half was stop-start and on edge for Banter, the second half was anything but. A different side came out to play some glorious football and remain very committed to the task in hand. Dean ‘Jewish’ Yeoman came on for Boma at central defence, whilst Chris ‘Goody’ Goodenough remained in his position down the left having replaced Baird on the 40 minute mark. He put in a fine shift for the whole of the second half and managed to nullify any threat down his side with some well timed tackles and interceptions. Banter retained possession well, had good movement off the ball and encouraged one another far more, as Postal started to become a little agitated. Tyler made for a good last line of defence, coming to collect the ball on several occasions when it was hit long, whilst Doc, Tino and Jewish mopped up superbly from deep. The midfield linked up wonderfully, with Wilkes anchoring to allow Hughes and Adkins to dictate play as well as get forward into the penalty area and cause problems on several occasions.

Banter’s second goal came from a familiar position as patient build up paid off when a lay off from Cling to Doc saw Banter’s skipper on the day thread the ball into midfield expertly to find Adkins, he turned and played it forward to Brownie, who showed great awareness to pull the ball wide to Cling in a deep area, he charged down the wing and swept in a cross for Wommy to bravely gamble on and get to the ball just before the goalkeeper to volley in, as he took a whack in doing so. It meant his celebration was a weird hop and grimace, which I think could do with some work come the season start. Even still, a good finish and a deserved lead.

Banter were rarely troubled at the other end, some long balls were comfortably caught by Tyler and he continued to distribute it well. Postal were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal when Wommy made a clumsy challenge whilst tracking back, the resulting kick was blasted high and wide though as Wilkes’ wall did its job once again.
The all whites had some good chances to get a third goal, but managed to find it in some style. Tyler gave a short goal kick to Cling, who moved forward and played a one-two-and three with Adkins, he then worked the ball down the line to Wilkes, who spun his marker superbly and then moved it inside to Hughes, who travelled forward to the penalty area, committing one defender he slid Wommy in to the right, who drove the ball low into the far corner to finish off a wonderful team move.

Baird replaced Brownie up front with half an hour to go and Banter got more and more room in midfield when Postal opted to switch to a very attacking 4-2-4 formation. It meant that Cling and Goody were pinned back slightly, but able to break when their team did have the ball. The numerical advantage in midfield was paying off and Adkins had a half chance to finish off another well worked move, but he had his shot blocked on the edge of the area.
Postal’s attacking formation meant they had a few chances on goal, a couple of times from set pieces when they won headers that could’ve ended up anywhere, but they found a way through the middle as #10 was one v one with Tyler, he sold him a dummy to round him and tap in to make it 3-2. It was a potentially closer finish that it really needed to be and Banter soon opened the game up again when Adkins again burst into the box to meet a Baird cut-back and finish into the bottom corner. Banter’s second half attitude was excellent and kept going right to the end, though they had to rely on Tyler a couple of times when he made a good reaction save with his feet from close on and a glorious tip over the crossbar from a looping effort shortly before the full time whistle. 4-2 was how it finished.

Man of the match: Edd Adkins. Dead easy to award it to a double goalscorer, but Adkins linked midfield to attack excellently with Wilkes and Hughes. Good energy, good composure and two well taken goals to go with it. He promised about a year ago that he could get someone sent off that was only going to get a booking initially. I don't think he's managed it (does Portland in Leonard Vase count?), so until he does he shouldn't be near this award again. Thanks.

Comments and shizzle…

• We played much better than last week, created chances and played as a team for 60 minutes+.
• But we must not start slowly like that. We were a bit flat footed to start against Hamsey, but against Postal it was even worse. We let in a reasonably early goal anyway but they should’ve scored even earlier than that. If this is because of the warm-up or something beforehand then we need to sort it as individuals and as a team.
• “Because nicknames… are bad names”, maybe so. But whatever name you use, shout it when you call for a header and shout even louder to help your team-mates or to call for the ball. We’ll all shut up about this and stop boring each other once we’re louder than the opposition. It’s dead easy.
• Adkins said it first, but that’s to stop demanding everyone to “up it” all one after another and then noticeably remain quiet and lethargic again. If you think it or hear it, something has gone wrong with your own personal performance. Take responsibility, take it up a gear and find some composure on the ball and energy off it.
• Pasty said the next one and that was to not be so “on edge”. Once we relaxed and encouraged one another, we were a different side. Which leads onto…
• If someone is not running for a ball they could’ve got, not tracking back or not communicating; you may tell them so. If they misplace a pass or spoon a shot, chances are they didn’t mean to have such a Weston. Encourage and applaud what could’ve come off. Take the piss out of them later.
• A few of those comments could cloud a fantastic performance. It shouldn’t and won’t. But we may as well highlight it just so we can improve.
• The second half passing, movement and team play was fantastic. Unplayable, no matter how the opposition line-up. We’ve practiced hard on our passing and we should continue to do so as when we work for one another we carve through teams like a knife through a prostitute.
• “How many times have we seen him do that? Paul Scholes just ghosts into that box to finish it off. Take a boo, son.” – We’ve seen it lots of times, Andy. Adkins and Hughes did it plenty of times too and it brought great results. Do it more and you could get 10 each this season.
• Wilkes is a spoiler. He spoils the game. Fortunately he didn’t spoil ours. He’s also brilliant in the wall.
• The link-up between the wide players and forwards is going to be key. Wommy came wide and set Cling 2-3 times first half resulting in the first goal before darting into the box on his own mission; Brownie did the same for the second goal, as well as pulling out to help out Yellow Baird down the left on several occasions. When one forward pulls wide, the other should come very central as an option inside and then be ready if that to hit the box ready for a delivery. We seemed to do this well and it caused all kinds of problems.
• With practice and the newbie continuing to acclimatise to his team-mates, we should now be targeting more clean sheets. This will have a big say in whether we could be promoted or not. Postal and Hamsey will create and finish chances anyway, their records speak for themselves. But our backline is stable and we must remain organised so that in tight games we can nick it. Games like the 1-1’s vs. Santos or Madras or the 2-2 against Maple Tree where a two goal lead was held for a very long time. These are just examples.
• The season starts on 19th September. We will look to play another friendly before that, most likely on the 12th. Until then, let’s win over as many supporters as Manchester City.

Sunday 15th August 2010
Friendly, Trenham Drive

Banter Central FC 0 - 3 AFC Hamsey

Banter (first half): Tyler; Vidic, Doc, Boma; Ridders (Cling, 30), Hughes, Fintan (Wilkes, 25), Adkins, Baird; J-Dot, Brownie (Wommy, 30)

A good pre-season run out and for Banter, the first for the 2010/11 campaign. The later than originally scheduled kick off saw the poaching of a referee – many thanks to that man for stepping in at the last minute – as well as another familiar face on the opposing team, when Roy Hart stepped in to play for AFC Hamsey. Many a drunken ramble has seen Hart bleat on about playing for Banter, but his first game involving the club would see him scoring against Banter.

The two sides appeared to have swapped kits, if history is anything to go by. Hamsey wore all blue, whilst Banter were head to toe in white. The game was, as always, played in good spirit and the football itself easy on the eye, more often than not. Hamsey harassed and hurried Banter on the ball to begin with, which forced the home side into conceding possession more than once. Banter found their rhythm and passed their way out of trouble on numerous occasions though, spreading the play wide to get Baird forward to whip crosses in. His best delivery saw a neat exchange of passes with Hughes, followed by a left foot cross that fell to Jon Stewart to control in the penalty area; J-Dot failed to get his shot away properly as big Owen Rees scrambled and collected the ball well. It was Banter’s best chance of the half and was well worked. Hamsey’s first real chance came when an attack down their right found its way across the edge of the penalty area, where Andy Morris seemed to have as much time and space as he’d want to run into and strike at goal. He fired his shot narrowly wide as Tyler sprawled to keep it covered.

Hamsey were rewarded for their perseverance, energy and work rate when Banter conceded the ball cheaply to let the away side in to score. Baird’s fantastic challenge on Mike Chalmers saw the ball fall to Rob Fintan-Stewart, who moved forward and passed to Hughes, who in turn found Adkins. With little else on, he delivered the ball back to Fintan, who controlled, looked up and was dispossessed from behind when a Hamsey forward nipped the ball away. With the only ‘man on’ calls coming from the sidelines, Banter’s #4 had been robbed with barely any warning from his team-mates. A direct pass through found its way to Hamsey’s centre forward, who expertly finished into the far corner, a curling finish with the outside of his boot giving Tyler no chance.

With rolling substitutions allowed, Fintan, Ridley and Brownie all made way for Wilkes, Cling and Wommy between the 25 – 30 minute mark. Banter’s captain on the day, Phil Hughes, continued to spread the play well; he had one effort saved when he struck a half volley from the edge of the area. He was heavily involved in Banter’s best move of the half too, starting with Wilkes giving the ball inside to his skipper, Hughes found Cling in masses of space on the right flank, he took the ball on and cut inside his marker, finding Hughes again who sent the ball back down the left to Wilkes, his inviting cross was well delivered but cleared out, falling only to Adkins who hit a clean strike toward goal, which saw Rees tip over well. It was a promising move that saw everything Banter needs from this kind of system: good movement, controlled passing and in particular, central midfielders breaking forwards and getting into the penalty area. Adkins’ effort just one of many that forced a corner and could’ve forced a lot more. It was 0-1 to AFC Hamsey at half time.

Banter (second half): Tyler; Vidic, Doc (Adkins, 70), Boma; Cling, Wilkes, Fintan, Hughes (Baird, 75), Baird (Ridders, 60), Wommy, J-Dot (Brownie, 60)

With plenty of positives to take from the first half, Banter came out for the second period a goal down, but far more determined. Fintan rejoined the action in central midfield to replace Adkins, who took a breather. The home side started by far the better and played some very neat triangles in all areas of the pitch. Rather predictably, Hamsey’s defence was extremely difficult to break down; with J-Dot and Wommy forced to play with the backs to goal and invite team-mates in from deep areas, which they both did to good affect. Banter’s defence had also been a well organised unit, too. Boma and Vidic moved out with the ball confidently, whilst Doc marshalled centrally and was very dominant aerially, as we always come to expect. It left only some half chances from distance, which both keepers were equal to.

With the game becoming stretched, it was Hamsey’s fitness that looked the better. The opposition’s stamina being superior is not something Banter have normally been used to, but it was unquestionably apparent as Hamsey continued to pile bodies forward, break from wide areas and be the quickest to shut down when their opponents had possession.

AFC’s attacking threat down their left came good and presented them with their 2nd goal. Adam Mills broke from full-back, played a neat one-two with Dan Chalmers and proceeded by skinning his good buddy Fintan, who fell to the ground with his legs in the air, creaming himself as he made all kinds of noises at what he’d just managed to do to himself. Mills cut in and hit a powerful drive from the edge of the area, which swerved in the air as Tyler could only parry for Roy Hart to react quickest and latch on to finish into the corner of the net. Not even an egg chaser like Roy was going to miss from there.

Banter’s confidence took a dent and Hamsey had the better of the play for the remainder of the game. Hamsey added a third and not for the first time in this fixture, Mike Chalmers would score the pick of the goals when he got in first to a cut back from the right in the Banter area, striking a sweet drive into the top corner. It was a sweeping move from Hamsey, though its execution was made easier from pre-season rust on Banter’s part. J-Dot fizzed in a lovely long range drive when he had little else on, it crept over Hamsey’s crossbar narrowly. Vidic had a header from a wide free kick which he met very well, but Rees was again equal to it.

Doc had to leave the game early, so Wilkes dropped back and played in defence, whilst Hughes and J-Dot made way, which saw Adkins partner Cling and Fintan in the middle as Baird moved wide right, Ridley playing down the left and Brownie partnering Wommy up top. Banter had some more good efforts from distance, Adkins blazing one effort just past the post after a good spell of possession, but Banter didn’t trouble the centre-backs or goalkeeper enough on this occasion, as a goal was unfortunately not forthcoming. 0-3 was how the game finished.

Man of the match: Parin ‘Boma’ Patel. Very assured defensively and became more adventurous in possession as well. Full credit for being one of few to do the full 90, too.

A few comments…

• Some encouraging moments, but we were deservedly beaten by a well organised Hamsey side, even if on the balance of play it was fairly even. Good luck to them for the new season.
• We must throw more bodies into the box (from central midfield in particular) and we must shoot from distance more often. We got a lot better at it in the second half, but we should encourage one another to do these things a lot more and not just expect them. Don’t be fooled into thinking we don’t have players that can strike the ball, either. Our shooting isn’t off; it just needs the trigger to be pulled more often. For example, I also think we don’t communicate as often or as loudly as we could, but that doesn’t mean we need elocution lessons – just bigger voices more frequently.
• Communication was the issue for the first goal. We were moving the ball around well prior to that. It’s integral to good team play that we call for the ball and give clear instructions when releasing it. We proved the accuracy of our passing is good – and that’s the hard bit. The easy part is opening your mouth.
• More on our passing: it must continue. Short, simple and on the deck; long, wide or in behind the defence. Whatever the combination or variation, we showed some good glimpses of what we’re capable of and it makes practicing well worth it.
•Our fitness could do with some work. Not a problem, it’s pre-season. We have enough time to get really sharp as long as we all work for it, but flagging at the end of the game is not a lot of fun during an important league game. It’s such an advantage to have and we usually hold it.
• We must not go quiet or let our heads go down when we concede a goal anymore. We will struggle this season if we continue with that old mentality. We responded really brightly to Hamsey’s first and used it as a kick up the backside which was great (which kind of pisses on my point a little, so bare with me). I think when the second or third flew in and the result was gone, people became despondent. We’ve seen and reacted worse of course, but the result of a friendly isn’t that important anyway, so neither goal should’ve got us down because we can still play on, learn from it and see what we can get, using the time well to at least score some goals. But in any game, we’d all rather lose 3-1 than 3-0 and you never know, get 1 back and things can really start going your way.
• 0-3 feels like a harsh scoreline in a game that was a lot closer overall. Let’s build on it and make an impression in next week’s game, another difficult friendly against Croydon Postal. Well done to all, we put the effort in and it was nice to be back.