MATCH REPORT   14

7th December 2002

1st Team       NO GAME Reserve Team       NO GAME 'A' Team       Cottered Res.    3  -  5    John Warner 'A' Line up  -  G Downes, S Chapman, J Chapman, M Ridley, T Coull, A Payne, M Donnelly, S Summers, G McClair                     A Collins, S Radia        Subs   -    S McClair, G Moss M.O.M. - 1st  Andy Payne  2nd  Matt Ridley  3rd  Gary McClair Goal Scorers  -   Sunil Radia, S Summers, A Collins The A Team were dealt a double blow with both Martin Southall and Simon Benbow being required by the Reserve team for their game. Along with Ryan out injured the team were a bit thin on the ground, but the players selected certainly put in 100% effort. With Andy Payne handed the captain's armband for the game he inspired the team with his all-round performance that resulted in the Man of the Match award. The game started at a frantic pace that seemed to unsettle the A Team and within 5 minutes found themselves 0-2 down! The A Team soon got into gear themselves and started playing good football and soon had two good chances to score but squandered them. Then the team were caught napping again and Inter scored their third of the afternoon. All of a sudden the A Team found a second wind and pressurised the Inter goal and with some lovely quick passing, Alex Collins found space in the box to knock in the teams first goal, but from the kick off Inter immediately took the ball down and scored their fourth. The half time team talk was all about closing down the Inter players as they were beginning to argue amongst themselves and were definitely getting flustered by the teams hassling style of tackling. The second half started brightly for the A Team and the quick snappy tackling soon had Inter on the back foot which resulted in a booking for an Inter player after a diabolical tackle on Gary McClair. More pressure on the Inter goal gave Sunil Radia the chance to score the teams second which he did with style. By this time the A Team were passing the ball with confidence and style. A slick movement led to Steve Summers claiming his first goal for the A Team to make the score 3-4 and by now the team were all over Inter like a rash. Constant pressure allowed Sunil, Alex and Steve to all have one-on-one's with their keeper but were unlucky not to put them away which would have changed the score line considerably. After this Inter were using the long ball all the time and the inevitable happened, a quick ball over the top and an Inter player was first to the ball to knock in their 5th. The A Team kept on going forward but were unable to create any more clear-cut chances and soon after the Ref blew up for full time. This game showed the A Team that even without 3 players and without any Reserve or First Team players to assist, that with 100% effort all of the time no team is unbeatable.

MATCH REPORT   13

30th November 2002

1st Team       King Sports    4  -  0    John Warner    ( Herts. Junior Cup Round 2 ) Line up  -  I O'Shea, L Murton, G Murton, G Ellis, J Pearson, S Ferro, S Rudolph, J Cappalonga, Dan Beech                     R Sharpe, S Chapman        Subs    -    P Annis, B Walpole, C Casali M.O.M. - 1st  Rob Sharpe  2nd  Sav Ferro  3rd   Danny Beech Goal Scorers -   Two reserves were called up for this second round Junior Cup clash with the team travelling to Watford to play an unknown side. The team were short as usual and would have a big battle on their hands to stay in the competition. A big first half with both teams battling away for that extra advantage, the home team gaining the opening goal to go into the break 1-0 up. The team still battled hard in the second half but couldn't stop a good Kings Sports team from scoring three more goals and run out comfortable winners. Reserve Team       John Warner Res.    1  -  4    Hertford Heath Res. Line up  -  M Southall, M Gaskin, R Djemal, A Smith, M Nelson, D Coomes, R May, N Sharpless, A Djemal                    S Benbow, M Deville,        Subs   -    S Francis, S Montgomery, J Norris M.O.M. - 1st  Rob Djemal  2nd  Andy Djemal  3rd   Simon Benbow Goal Scorers  -   Simon Benbow Up against top placed Hertford Heath with still a few starters out was going to prove really tough. The team were short of Alex, Cappa, O'Shea, Letts, James, Jay and Fordy, but did have Sharpo back for just the one game. The team again started well and put a lot of pressure up front with Simon Benbow from the 'A' team getting stuck in, his persistant brought the first goal, being in the right place at the right time to tap in from 3 yards out. The Heath equalised on 35 minutes and both teams went into the break at 1-1. The shortage of players and also a few players not getting up for the challenge meant that Heath soon took the lead with their two quick strikers causing havoc up front. This pressure and speed and also having two first teamers meant that a tiring defence let in two lazy goals but couldn't do a lot about the third goal which was a classic. There were high hopes for this game, but a lack of commitment from a few players, plus the loss of a few others meant that the team couldn't get in amongst the top three and will have to settle for being in the chasing pack. 'A' Team       John Warner 'A'    3  -  5    Inter Res. Line up  -  G Downes, S Chapman, J Chapman, M Ridley, T Coull, A Payne, M Donnelly, S Summers, G McClair                     A Collins, S Radia        Subs   -    S McClair, G Moss M.O.M. - 1st  Andy Payne  2nd  Matt Ridley  3rd  Gary McClair Goal Scorers  -   Sunil Radia, S Summers, A Collins The A Team were dealt a double blow with both Martin Southall and Simon Benbow being required by the Reserve team for their game. Along with Ryan out injured the team were a bit thin on the ground, but the players selected certainly put in 100% effort. With Andy Payne handed the captain’s armband for the game he inspired the team with his all-round performance that resulted in the Man of the Match award. The game started at a frantic pace that seemed to unsettle the A Team and within 5 minutes found themselves 0-2 down! The A Team soon got into gear themselves and started playing good football and soon had two good chances to score but squandered them. Then the team were caught napping again and Inter scored their third of the afternoon. All of a sudden the A Team found a second wind and pressurised the Inter goal and with some lovely quick passing, Alex Collins found space in the box to knock in the teams first goal, but from the kick off Inter immediately took the ball down and scored their fourth. The half time team talk was all about closing down the Inter players as they were beginning to argue amongst themselves and were definitely getting flustered by the teams hassling style of tackling. The second half started brightly for the A Team and the quick snappy tackling soon had Inter on the back foot which resulted in a booking for an Inter player after a diabolical tackle on Gary McClair. More pressure on the Inter goal gave Sunil Radia the chance to score the teams second which he did with style. By this time the A Team were passing the ball with confidence and style. A slick movement led to Steve Summers claiming his first goal for the A Team to make the score 3-4 and by now the team were all over Inter like a rash. Constant pressure allowed Sunil, Alex and Steve to all have one-on-one’s with their keeper but were unlucky not to put them away which would have changed the score line considerably. After this Inter were using the long ball all the time and the inevitable happened, a quick ball over the top and an Inter player was first to the ball to knock in their 5th. The A Team kept on going forward but were unable to create any more clear-cut chances and soon after the Ref blew up for full time. This game showed the A Team that even without 3 players and without any Reserve or First Team players to assist, that with 100% effort all of the time no team is unbeatable.

MATCH REPORT   12

23rd November 2002

1st Team       King Sports  -  POSTPONED  -  John Warner    ( Herts. Junior Cup Round 2 )   Reserve Team       John Warner Res.    4  -  1    Roydon Crusaders   Line up  -  I O'Shea, A Gray, R Djemal, A Smith, D Coomes, J Cappalonga, S Ferro, I Fordham, J Clarke                    M Deville, S Chapman        Subs    -    M Gaskin, A Djemal M.O.M. - 1st  Mark Deville  2nd  Ian Fordham  3rd   Ian O'Shea Goal Scorers -   Mark Deville 3, Spencer Chapman The team was lucky to have a couple of first teamers to help out after their game was postponed. Sav and Spencer helped out with the Reserves getting close to being at full strength for the first time this season. This was pay back time for our defeat in last years Divisional Cup Final and the boys were well up for it. The game was fairly even for the first 15 minutes before Spenny latched onto a great through ball from Mark to slot home past a scrambling keeper. Roydon equalised 5 minutes later and then after an incident involving Spenny and a Roydon player, Spenny was deemed to have lashed out even though the referee admitted not seeing the incident. The team were outraged but couldn't talk the referee into reversing his red card decision. But this seemed to pick the players up and they started to win a few individual battles with tackles flying in everywhere, certainly Tex was lucky to stay on the pitch after a late challenge. They turned this pressure into a 2-1 lead after Mark finished off a fine move to crack home a superb goal. With the team coming out of the break at 2-1 up, they continued to make their pressure tell with Mark taking on four Roydon players before dummying the keeper and putting the team 3-1 up. He completed his hatrick soon after with another fine ball from Jim, he rounded the keeper and had a simple tap in to make the game safe. The team certainly faired well having to play 65 minutes of football with ten men against a third placed Roydon. 'A' Team       Deaconsfield    4  -  0    John Warner 'A'  Line up  -  M Southall, G Moss, L Murton, M Ridley, T Coull, G McClair, S Summers, S Radia, R Ackerman                    G Ellis, S McClair        Subs   -    S Benbow, G Downes, R Rooke M.O.M. - 1st  Matt Ridley  2nd  Troy Coull  3rd  Sean McClair Goal Scorers  -   On a pitch that had a surprisingly firm outfield and soggy goal areas the game vs. Deaconsfield went ahead, and with a few players missing due to work commitments, Simon taking a well earned first half rest as sub, the team still managed to put out a strong team even though the team had Lee Murton and Gary Ellis from the first team boosting our squad, you would not have known that this team were bottom. The team managed to play a normal style of passing football with Ryan Ackerman and Gary McClair getting down the wings whenever the team pressed forward supporting Sunil Radia and Gary Ellis up front, and Lee Murton and Matt Ridley settling down well together at the back with Martin Southall between the posts marshalling them. After the first twenty minutes it was still 0-0 and the team were definitely the better. They proceeded to let in two quick goals through not closing down quickly enough and allowing Deaconsfield time to turn and pick their spot. This is something that has plagued this team this season, but it is something that the players know and Ken is working on at training. Still, 0-2 at half time left the team feeling that they could get something from this game. With Downzy taking over in goal for the ankle injury victim Martin, the team started brighter in the second half and immediately closed down defenders and had another chance at goal that just went wide. After another couple of chances went begging the team were caught by a sucker punch and conceded a third goal from a quick breakaway. Putting Simon on for Steve in midfield gave the team a fresh pair of legs in the engine room and almost immediately paid dividends as he sent a through ball to Sunil who just couldn't keep his footing on the by-now very slippery surface and the move broke down. But the team kept on probing and chasing and hassling at every opportunity to put them under pressure to make a mistake which they did a few times, but by now the team were throwing caution to the wind with Lee making forages up front to help out and with 15 minutes to go they got their fourth. Still, it was a performance that showed that with only two first team players assisting 9 youth players this team can match teams in Division 3 and hopefully the team's first points of the season shouldn't be too far away!

MATCH REPORT   11

16th November 2002

1st Team       Inter    1  -  3    John Warner   Line up  -  M Southall, S Rudolph, P Annis, L Murton, G Murton, J Pearson, S Ferro, B Luscombe, J Cappalonga                     Dan Beech, S Chapman        Subs    -    G Ellis M.O.M. - 1st  Joe Cappalonga  2nd  Billy Luscombe  3rd   Martin Southall Goal Scorers -   Billy Luscombe 2, Joe Cappalonga It was derby day at the Pound as the team travelled to local rivals Inter. Not a big fixture as far as the league is concerned but as every player in both teams knew, this was exactly the same as the local derby going on at Highbury :). Darren was in charge with Matt working. The team were short, just the one sub again and this showed early on as Inter went ahead after a fine free kick. But the team equalised after a goal mouth scramble saw Cappa in the right place to shoot home against his old club. Coming out of the break at 1-1, the team picked up the pace and secured a one goal lead after a great free kick from Billy, bit of contention as to who's goal it was as Spenny was close to the line when he tapped it in! Billy again secured the points for the team after another superb free kick from 23 yards out with just four minutes left on the clock. Reserve Team       NO GAME 'A' Team       John Warner 'A'    0  -  7    Ware Lions  Line up  -  G Downes, M Ridley, A Smith, A Gray, S McClair, S Benbow, S Radia, R Ackerman, G McClair                     A Collins, S Summers        Subs   -    M Donnelly M.O.M. - 1st  Simon Benbow  2nd  Ryan Ackerman  3rd  Sean McClair Goal Scorers  -   With Simon and Ryan carrying injuries this would have been the ideal game to give them a much needed rest but that was not to be. New signings Steve Summers and Matt Ridley made their full debut today and fitted in nicely. Ware Lions, who are top of the league certainly didn't start like a top of the table team. The team played passing football, again not helped by a stodgy pitch. They put together the first real attempt at goal when some last ditch tackling stopped the team from scoring. Another good move from the backs up to Alex Collins exposed their defence again, but a dreadful bounce just as he was about to shoot made the ball bobble just past the post. At times the team resorted to the long ball for the forwards to run on to, sometimes to good effect. The referee was just managing to contain a game that was played at full belt with no quarter given or expected, the 'A' team gave as good as they got but without the abusive language at the ref or whinging every time a Ware player was tackled. With Simon playing one of his tough tackling games in midfield, Sean McClair not letting the Ware forwards get away with anything at the back, ably assisted by Ryan, and Gary Downes performing well in goal considering the diabolical pitch in the goal areas. Just after the team had put them under intense pressure for 10 minutes they broke away and scored. Then another quick break caught the team out again and they conceded another goal. But the team proceeded to peg them back until just before half time when a good move by Ware resulted in a third goal just as the ref blew for half time. The second half continued in the same vein as the first. Another couple of goals gave Ware a 5-0 lead but they then seemed to sit back and the A's pressed even more and another couple of chances went begging for the front two. Then an audacious lob by Ryan on the touch line when the Ware keeper was out of the box just bounced too close to the goal and cleared the bar by a couple of inches with the Ware keeper nowhere to be seen! Tough tackling by both teams resulted in a needless foul on Ryan by the Ware no.7 who then started giving everyone and anyone verbal at which point the Ref had had enough and proceeded to book him, this only aggravated both sets of players for the final twenty minutes. Soon after this Tex came off after another masterful performance, but by this time heads were dropping and Ware knocked in a couple of late goals to flatter the score line.

MATCH REPORT   10

9th November 2002

1st Team       Greenbury    1  -  1    John Warner   Line up  -  S Bayford, P Annis, L Murton, G Murton, J Pearson, S Ferro, B Luscombe, J Norris, Dan Beech                     A Devine, S Chapman        Subs    -    D Clarke M.O.M. - 1st  Paul Annis  2nd  Gary Murton  3rd   Billy Luscombe Goal Scorers -   Adrian Devine 2 Matt was also short of quite a few players, starting as the reserves with a bare eleven. He needs to get key players back from injury if they are to start salvalging their season. The game was a very even affair and pressure was put on both ends. No goals after 60 minutes until Sam clashed with a player in the box and the referee gave a penalty which was cleanly put away. The team battled well and got their just reward with a cracker from Adrian, who shot low and hard into the bottom left hand corner from just outside the area. With a full squad this team would do better but as is the story with the club as a whole they need their players back. Reserve Team       John Warner Res.    1  -  2    Little Munden Res.   ( Quarter Final Reserve Cup )   Line up  -  I O'Shea, A Gray, M Gaskin, R Djemal, A Smith, D Coomes, R May, I Fordham, A Djemal                    J Clarke, M Deville,        Subs   -    M.O.M. - 1st  Rob Djemal  2nd  Andy Djemal  3rd   Mark Deville Goal Scorers  -   Rob May Yet again the frustration of players missing and still four out through injury meant that the team had a bare eleven to face a team top of Division One, a full division above. With Axe and Ben still injured, and Cappa, Jay, Nelson and Monty not available, the team started with a bare eleven, not good news. The potential of this team showed again in the first 70 minutes, up against better opposition everyone battled well and created far more chances than their opposition. This pressure showed after just 20 minutes after good possession in midfield, found Rob May alone on the edge of the box to fire an absoulute superb strike into the top right corner. Still with 20 minutes to go the team were on top but signs of fatigue seem to creep into the back four. This pressure told 18 minutes from time with a tired back four letting a lone striker run though clean on goal to beat a flailing O'Shea. Then 6 minutes later they scored the winner after another mix up at the back. This team have still got a decent season ahead of them but must get their missing players back very soon. 'A' Team       John Warner 'A'    2  -  12    Lea Valley  Line up  -  G Downes, G Moss, T Coull, A Payne, M Donnelly, S Benbow, S Radia, S Thomas, G McClair                     A Collins, R Ackerman        Subs   -    M Southall M.O.M. - 1st  Troy Coull  2nd  Ryan Ackerman  3rd  Gary Downes Goal Scorers  -   Sunil Radia 2 Another performance with the team up against a physical Lea Valley side not being able to match them in the challenges, meant that they were always chasing the ball. But on a pitch that had puddles all over it, passing football was not easy to play. After a couple of mistakes and long balls again the team found itself 4-0 down, but kept on trying to out pass Lea Valley and eventually an interception by Simon who fed the ball through, found its way to Sunil who put the ball away with conviction. Then a quick break by Lea Valley found the players slacking and only a last ditch tackle by Troy, unfortunately clumsily and in the box which resulted in a booking for Troy and a penalty to Lea Valley, who then put the ball high over the netting behind the goal. But another charge forward by Lea Valley and the team found itself 1-5 down at the break. Changing formation to play with a sweeper, the team stemmed the tide for a while but constant pressure meant that Lea Valley were scoring regularly before Ryan played the ball over their back line for Sunil to run onto, hold off a defender, round the keeper and roll the ball into net to give us much needed confidence. But with Lea Valley making regular subs their pressure was constant and the team succumbed again to more goals, but they kept playing on until the final whistle came. With players missing from today's line-up it was an uphill struggle and with Simon and Ryan playing with knocks, it wasn't a bad performance overall. With new players signing in the next few weeks the squad should have a more balanced look about it.

MATCH REPORT   09

2nd November 2002

1st Team       NO GAME Reserve Team       NO GAME 'A' Team       John Warner 'A'    0  -  3    Thundridge Utd   Line up  -  G Downes, S Thomas, A Payne, T Coull, G McClair, S McClair, R Ackerman, S Rudolph, S Benbow                     S Ferro, A Collins        Subs   -    Gary Moss, Sunil Radia M.O.M.  -  1st   Andy Payne   2nd   Gary Downes   3rd   Sean McClair Goal Scorers  -   With no game for the 1st Team, the 'A' team called on two players to add experience to the Squad. Sav Ferro playing up front and Steve Rudolph slotting into midfield. The improvement in attitude and commitment by the 'A' team over the past 6 or 7 weeks has been phenomenal and for the first twenty minutes actually outplayed a well-organised Thundridge team. But Route One undone the team again, and a long ball by their keeper (aided by a strong wind), flew over the back line and their speedy forwards latched onto it and put it away for their first goal. The team were denied a clear penalty when Sav was felled by a hefty challenge in the box on the by-line, but to everyone's amazement (even Thundridge!!) the Ref gave a goal kick!!!! The team again matched them in every department on the field but just could not find the killer touch in front of goal and went into the break 1-0 down. The team started the second half the way they finished the first, using the wings to great effect and getting in behind their back line but again they were unlucky in front of goal when it mattered most. Another long ball from the back was put away for their second goal just when the team had two or three good chances before they scored. But again heads never dropped and from the kick off the team used the wings well and after a scramble in their goal area the ball was cleared up field. From a free kick just inside the half the ball flew across our goal and they had a two unmarked players on the back post and for one of them an easy tap in to make it 3-0. Late in the game a cross by Andy Payne zipped through a crowded penalty area and just went the wrong side of the post with no one on hand to touch it in. Two substitutions in the last fifteen minutes gave the team extra options, but they just could not get the all important goal to get something from a game that the team had actually dominated for large parts.

MATCH REPORT   08

26th October 2002

1st Team       John Warner    2  -  3    Watton   Line up  -  S Bayford, L Murton, G Murton, D Winger, J Pearson, M Blanch, Dar. Beech, S Ferro, P Annis                    A Devine, Dan Beech        Subs   -    Steve Rudolph,  Spencer Chapman,  Rob May M.O.M.  -  1st   Gary Murton   2nd   Danny Winger   3rd   Lee Murton Goal Scorers  -   Adrian Devine 2 The team were short of Billy and Barry, two key midfielders, but still had a fair team to face Watton. It was a scrappy, hard game in the first 30 minutes, tackles were flying in everywhere and it seemed Watton had come to spoil the game. They should have had a player sent off after just 15 minutes for deliberately kicking out at Danny, but the referee deemed the player just guilty of a yellow card! The team had plenty of chances up front with both Danny and Adrian going close, but the team needed to put the ball on the deck more which was proving difficult with so little space and Watton doing a good job of spoiling. On 35 minutes Watton scored from a corner with some bad marking at the back post and took this 1-0 lead into the break. Coming out after halftime the team tried to impose some authority on the game and play the ball more to feet, but it just wasn't working and after 15 minutes of the second half found themselves 3-0 down. Adrian got one back 20 minutes from time slotting home a good penalty and then followed it up 6 minutes later with a good left foot shot from the edge of the area, but the team couldn't find that extra goal to secure the point and the draw. Reserve Team       NO GAME 'A' Team       John Warner 'A'    3  -  6    Parklands   Line up  -  M Southall, G Moss, G McClair, A Smith, S Radia, R Ackerman, I Fordham, S Benbow, A Payne                     R Djemal, S McClair        Subs   -    Gary Downes, Mike Donnelly M.O.M.  -  1st   Andy Payne   2nd   Sean McClair   3rd   Gary Moss Goal Scorers  -   Ryan Ackerman, Sunil Radia, Andy Payne Bolstered by the presence of 3 Reserve players, the ‘A’ team faced Parklands. Their effect was clearly to be seen as the ‘A’ players played with confidence and gave as good they got. An unfortunate slip let Parklands score a relatively easy goal and then within two minutes they doubled their lead. The ‘A’ team sprung into action and for the next 30 minutes kept Parklands on the back foot but were just unlucky on several occasions in not scoring to get back in the game. Another goal just before half time gave them a 0-3 lead at the break. In the second half Parklands were out of the blocks immediately and with some strong tackles coming in, the team were knocked out of their stride and conceded another two quick goals to go 0-5 down. Some encouraging words from Tex at the back inspired the players and they started winning the 50-50 balls and pressurising their back line. We were then dealt two massive blows! with Simon sustaining a bad ankle injury and having to come off and a mis-timed tackle by Tex on a Parklands player running through on goal resulted in a Red Card for him. So the team had to reshape but soon got back into the swing of things. A good movement resulted in Fordy being hacked down in the box for a penalty, Ryan stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way for our first goal. A good clearance by Martin in goal with a flick on by Andy Payne and Sunil got in front of the defender to score our second goal. Andy Payne then drew the keeper out and calmly lobbed him from the edge of the box for the third after he latched onto another clearance by Martin. The team kept up the pressure on Parklands and could have had another 2 or 3 goals but for their keeper. With the team one player short and chasing the game this left large gaps at the back and they scored a sixth near the end.