Woodbridge Formation  4-5-1

Team  

This match was due to kick off at 11.00am Sunday morning, but Hanwell asked if they could re-schedule the game for a 12.30 start due to another team playing on their pitch. We kindly accepted the bribe of free sarnies after the game, and agreed to their terms.

Unfortunately the early game overran by an hour due to the referee not playing 30mins each half as agreed, but the full game. This did not sit well when we were then informed that he would also be the ref for our game, and that he had close ties to Hanwell! But being a team who often face a dilemma or two (plus we’d already been sitting around for the best part of 2 hours) we agreed to play the game.

1.30pm Kick-off…..finally

Somehow, even after a one hour delay we managed to start with only 10 players, and without pointing anyone out -ELLIOT PORTIFIELD- (technically bold writing isn’t pointing…you need a finger for that) managed to slot himself into the right midfield spot.

Today marked the debut of our new keeper Tom *cough* who soon found out that life in the Woodbridge goal is never boring. Now he had some pretty big shoes to fill as the keeper of our previous 2 games only conceded 19 goals (yeah it was me, hence no match reports…I blame the defence). Tom acquitted himself well and was soon showing both teams how good a shot stopper he was. He also showed us how bad at goal kicks he was, as this duty fell to the centre backs. However as the game went on Toms confidence grew, and the next goal kick he took sailed over our heads and into the oppositions half (que gasps from all the outfield players who had never witnessed such a feat before!!!)

Half time and the score remained 0-0 with both teams carving out chances but failing to capitalise. As the game went on tempers began to fray and it wasn’t long before challenges became a little shall we say enthusiastic. Horror struck in the 70 minute when a shot was spilt by are keeper, and with the defence a little slow to react we found ourselves one nil down, and with a player hobbling of the pitch. Mark Reeves was replaced with Woodbridge veteran John Bullock who was soon stuck in, making many great challenges and interceptions.

Chances for Woodbridge went begging with Lewis unable to keep his footing, and several great saves from the oppositions keeper. In the 85min any chance for a revival was ended when a speculative high shot took a nasty bounce and looped over our poor stranded keeper.

Tempers frayed again when a poor challenge on Kevin Abbott saw him react badly (hand bags at dawn stylee) which saw both teams squaring up to each other. However the referee saw sense and a more or less well tempered game ended without either team receiving a card.

Final Score 0-2 to Hanwell Celtic, but the best performance from Woodbridge this season.

Man of the Match  - Michael Reeney for a superb game at right back.

Broadway Celtic II       8-2      Woodbridge Rovers

The sun was shining, the pitches amaculate, the players......well they all looked like they'd been pulled through a bush backwards. However as this was our first competitive game of the season, and with our 100% unbeaten pre-season (we didn't bother with a pre-season this year) we were filled with confidence.

Unfortunately this was mis-placed confidence soon realised when only 9 players turned up. At one point we seriously considered kitting up our manager, but as he's floating around his 60's we thought better of it.

Young Kevin Abbott kindly let us know an hour before kick-off that his car had blown up so he wouldn't be able to make it, and four other players are still missing without a trace.

Lewis against his better judgement rose up from his drunken stupour and managed to get his ass down to the pitch only missing 5 minutes of the game.

THE MATCH - Kick-off 11.00am

We burst from the traps early on, surging relentlessly towards the oppositions goal. Its a pity because we didn't have kick-off, so whilst we were all racing towards the oppositions end they were plonking the ball in the back of our net 40 seconds after kick-off.

Plan B

After the dreadful disater that was Plan A, are gallant leader of the day Emlyn Foody (Nigel Wood was on a charity walk, apparently we thought we were to and forgot to play) gave new instructions to the defence.

"STOP FOOKING AROUND YOU C*NTS etc, etc......."

We steadied the ship and launched another attack at their goal (this time with the ball in tow) Our first corner was headed on from the centre spot where it landed on Ollie's foot who unleashed a savage first time volley into the direction of the bottom right of the net. Unluckily there keeper pulled of probably the save of the season and palmed the effort around the corner post. The resulting corner led to nothing.

With the ground extremly dry we were suffering greatly from the bounce of the ball which kept looping over our defence. This inevitably led to Broadways second goal of the match. The ball was kicked from the halfway line and seemed to hang in the air forever until it landed on poor Ollie's head and leaving our keeper stranded (I'd say keep your chin up Ollie, but thats what lead to your own goal)

Broadways 3rd goal came about much the same way as the second. A bad bounce landing straight on their strikers foot and finding its way into the top corner leaving our poor keeper clutching at thin air again.

Up to this point the referee's descisions had all been in the oppositions favour so just before half time he decided it was our turn. Lewis's super long throw into the box was flicked on by Emlyn to Darren Price who brilliantly controlled the ball with his arm and lashed in our first goal of the game. Furious players surrounded the refferee to no avail, the goal stood.  

Second Half

More of the same from Broadway, ball over the top and within 15 minutes of the restart we were 5 - 1 down. This was the cue for Matt Gasgoigne to do a disappearing act on us (his wife's giving birth in 6 weeks and was going for a check up so I suppose we'll let him get away with just this once) Down to 9 players we decided that losing was inevitable but we were going to go down fighting. Chris Abbott won the ball to defence and passed to Mark Duggan on the halfway line who brillently hooked a pass over the top of Broadways right back (with the outside of his boot)releasing Lewis. Lewis charged down the left wing, skinned to defenders, cut the ball back across the 18 yard line for the on coming run of Mark Duggan, who smashed the ball along the ground and off the inside of the upright.

For 10 more minutes we caused Broadway all sorts of trouble. In response they brought on 3 subs (not really fair, they had more subs than we had players!), with fresh legs they easily picked off what was left of our tired reargaurd scoring a further 3 goals.

However there were many positives to be taken out of the game and with 5 players to return to the side for next weeks away game, we should finally be able to show what we can do.