Southend 1 - 3 Old de Ferrians
This fixture was always going to happen from the moment at summer league that I bumped into Mark Roberts. For those pople who don't know him he is the Old de Ferrians goalkeeper who used to play with Mellish and I at Rochford. "All right Mark, I didn't know you were playing for Old de Ferrians. Why don't you come and play for us instead, its much nearer and more fun?" "Maybe Keith," he said "but i don't want to go down in standard!"
That was it. Down in standard! It was like a red rag to a bull, we'll play you and show you what down in standard looks like!
So, big game day came and the lowly Division 2 South side turned up at Tommy Moore to play the mighty Division 1 team. Southend gave a debut to "Johnny 5" in goal as Bart Van de Velde was injured and welcomed Stuart, Puppy and Strawbs back into the team. The game began with Southend starting strongly forcing a couple of short corners, but unfortunately from one of them Old de ferrians broke quickly and went straight down the other end to score. Two more quick goals and Old de Ferrians had an undeserved three goal lead.
At three nil down, Southend were dealt another blow when schoolboy Essex star James Lockwood was forced off injured. Funnily enough I was reminded earlier in the day that James was still a schoolboy when his dad rang to say would I be at the school as he had to drop off James early, he didn't want to leave him on his own and he wanted someone to look after him. Aaaaah bless his little cotton socks. This, and the fact that we were outnumbered in midfield, led to a change in formation with the Captain deciding to play three at the back and an extra person in midfield.
The team responded well, piling the pressure onto the opposition, and creating a number of chances. Unfortunately a combination of good goalkeeping (you git Mark), lots of professional fouling (Did you teach Richo how to do that Dover or did he teach you?) and really poor finishing meant that the chances weren't taken. The game carried on like that and eventually Strawbs finally finished one, but in the end we couldn't get any more. The game finished when one of their players tried to run into "hard man" Rich Hill and ended up in hospital (Does that mean we win by forfeit?) with only two minutes left.
Chaps. I thought we showed that we can match a Division one team and that we should do OK when the league season starts next week in Div 2.
A few thoughts:
I think we'll do OK in Div 2.
We were a bit unlucky, our goalkeeper had far less to do than theirs. On another day this was a game we would have won. We missed a load of chances, and scored from none of our short corners. Our forwards are quality and I believe that week in week out we will have the best forwards on the pitch, but today we were off colour.
I'm not convinced that playing without a sweeper is the way to go, but i'll give it some thought.
Next week we'll have Gareth back and it will be interesting to see how we do.
Old de Ferrians will struggle in Div 1.
Never ever ever mess with Rich Hill.
I spoke to Dover after the game and he said he thought we were good, but we did get on each others backs a bit. He was right.
And Lastly
To Mark. I thought you played well and are a fine example of the great players that Rochford have produced.
You were lucky. Lower standard my Arse!
Goal - Strawbs
Man of the Match - Lee Styles
Team - 5, Arnold, Styles, Lockwood, Hayman, Mellish, Jones, Needham, Hill, Utton, Jenkins, Crompton
Burberry Trousers - James Lockwood - for giving the ball away for one of the goals. For going off injured and for not being allowed out without being accompanied by an adult.
Other nominations - Rich "hard man" Hill for sending someone to hospital and not believing he could possibly receive it for that, and Jamie McPhee for losing a child.
Southend & Benfleet 1 - 2 Basildon
The second friendly of the season, and still a bit of a mix of players. We are yet to play a game with our full team but it shouldn't be long now.
In general a very pleasing perfomance by the ladies 1s. After a loss last week we were hopeful of a draw against a side that plays in the prem, and it almost happened. A very strong start and suprisingly enough we were able to defend from our half way line. clearly the stronger team in the first half, we just couldn't find the goal. so no goals in that half.
We came out very strong in the second half scoring our first goal within 1 minute of the start, a superb goal by Naomi Barker. Basildon responded almost immediately getting their first goal by a short corner, and then getting there second from a scrappy mix only 5 minutes later. There really wasn't much lisa could have done to have saved it.
A real determined effort by the ladies to hold off another attack but the wind had gone from our sails, and heads were hanging low.We took the opportunity to bow out and settle on a 2-1 defeat. Not bad considering.
Team: Lisa Ballard, Sandy Revell, Emily Wainright-Lee, Anne Johnson, Nicola Coleman, Lora Sharples, Kendal Colman, Charlotte Rose, Chloe Harris, Naomi Barker, Chantal Heringer, Sarah Watkinson.
Goal: Naomi Barker
Ladies 3rd Team
Sat 16th September
3:30pm at Brentwood – Friendly
This was our first game of the season and we muddled together a team and overall it was a very good performance. The team worked well together and by half time the score was 1 all. Considering the Brentwood team is actually a division above us we kept up with them and gave them a good run for their money. The first goal was scored by Jodie Seymour so well done to her.
After half time we kept it strong, but went a goal down, but we came back with a goal from Stacey Chandler, which was well deserved. We played a very good game and there were many shots at goal and hopefully we start as we mean to go on.
Well done all
Team – Verna Scroxton, Lisa Ballard, Lisa Hockley, Christine Baker, Gail Swain, Alpha Thomas, Caitlin Meredith, Jodie Seymour, Nicole Kelly, Stacey Chandler, Emily Wainright-Lee.
|
