Old Loughtonians Gunners 2 - 9 Southend 1st XI
Summer league came and went, and the first team had performed well, finishing fourth in an extremely competitive league. The Captain had had a chance to look at a few new players and the team were so keen, that they had been doing pre-season fitness training. Everyone was keen and things were looking good for the season ahead.
All that was left was for the Mens Captains to have their selection meeting to decide their teams and away we could go. The meeting proved interesting. Club Captain Andy "I'll have every side order possible and an extra naan bread with that" Poulain laid down the law, and the curries were ordered from the clubs new favourite restaurant the Shagoor (owned by newbie Syed's dad).
Keith selected his squad for the first two matches. Marcus "I'm still not talking to you after you stole my vice Captain" Watson went next, Cliff "I can't believe I'm getting all these good players in the 3's" picked his squad and Graham "Another Cobra please" Griggs got the 20 or so players that were left. Everyone was confident it was going to be a good season.
And then it went a bit wrong. A number of people who were supposed to be committed cried off, and the squad was hastily changed as late as the night before the first game. Stuart "I'm away doing my Duke of Edinburgh award" Jones, Ian "I'm working and can't make the start time" Crompton, Gareth "My dad's having a surprise birthday party (Happy Birthday Rex)" Ingram and Neil "I can't play because I'm going to the cricket at Nottingham the day before!!(surely the worst excuse ever heard!)" Utton were all unavailable. Nevertheless the squad was picked and turned up to Loughts early and eager to play.
Trouble was, the Captain had made a slight error and picked the best 11 players rather than the best team and realised that he had five defenders and only one forward to try and fit into a team, as well as no one for short corners at all. This led to a quick selection meeting between the Captain and his newly appointed Vice Captain Lee Styles (It's only taken me a year to persuade him) and the team was sorted. Another quick practice session on the Loughts training pitch and the short corner routine was agreed and we were ready to go.
Bart in goal, Philthy centre back, Steve and Lee alongside him, Chucky and James as water carriers, Barry right, Stress making his debut on the left, Rich attacking midfield with Christian and Keith (!) upfront. It looked OK to me.
The match began and we started strongly with Christian opening the scoring early converting well. He looks in good form I thought, he could get a few goals here if he continues finishing like that. And I was right - if he could have continued finishing like that he would have scored a few goals! Next up Keith scored his first, finishing well after a mazy run from his strike partner.
It was all going well and looked as if we were going to get a good few goals. Then they hammered the ball up to their big fella up front, a little bit of confusion in the D and all of a sudden they were back in it at 2 - 1. Southend carried on playing nice passing hockey and the chances kept coming. By half time we were 7 - 1 up. The goals If I can remember them were (in no particular order) as follows:
Keith - back post sniff
Mellish - Angry tackle at top of D going through a player, followed by another angry tackle and lastly an angry tackle to score past the goalkeeper. Surely the only person ever to score with a tackle rather than a shot.
Stress - Nice finish after winning the ball back hinself
Keith - calmly slotted past the keeper when clean through
Rich - cool reverse hit
Half time and all going well. Dont get complacent, dont get greedy and think you will score lots of goals and we will do OK. Well we didn't really listen and were nowhere as good in the second half as the first. We still controlled the game and scored two more through James Lockwood ("rammed" the ball home with a vicious slap hit no doubt taught to him at Essex!) and Keith again, scoring from an inch after Christian made a hash of yet another chance.
Team - Van de Velde, Styles, Lockwood J, Needham, Hayman, Mellish, Harvey P, Arnold, Jenkins, Puncher B, Hill.
Goals, Arnold 4, Jenkins, Hill, Lockwood, Needham, Mellish.
Man of the Match - Needham with 3 votes. 100% scoring record for the 1st team, 100% win record.
Burberry trousers - Jenkins. Untold missed chances
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