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 Economicals 1sts
Captain: Gareth Carter                 07752260051                     
League table                            Black and white striped shirts, black shorts, black socks

 

Date L/C H/A Opposition Result Scorers
16/09/06 L H Old Tiffinians 1-2 Loz
23/09/06 L A Old Challoners 1-4 Vini
30/09/06 L A Old Danes 2-1 Barney, Vini
07/10/06 C A Fitzwilliam OB 4-0 Callas, Mikey T (2), Coops
14/10/06 L H Sinjuns OG 0-1  
28/10/06 L A Old Ignatians 1-1 Stelios
04/11/06 C A Old Wilsonians 1/4-1/1 Dean
11/11/06 L A Enfield OG 0-1  
18/11/06 L H Old Danes 1-0 Vini
25/11/06 C A Parkfield 4-3 Vini (3), Dan Stanton
02/12/06 L A Old Tiffinians 0-2  
09/12/06 L H Glyn OB 2-0 og, Dan T
13/01/07 L H Old Ignatians 2-2 Dan T, Dean
20/01/07 C H Salvatorians 3-2 Barney, Loz, Vini
27/01/07 L H Enfield OG 1-5 Mickey T
17/02/07 L A Glyn OB 0-4  
24/02/07 C A Minchendenians 1-2 John Smith
03/03/07 L A Sinjuns OG 0-3  
10/03/07 L H Wood Green 2-1 Dean (2)
17/03/07 L H Old Challoners 4-1 Vini (3), Mikey T
24/03/07 L H Salvatorians 4-2 Dean (4)
31/03/07 L A Salvatorians 3-1 Dean (2), Paolo
14/04/07 L A Hale End 1-2 Mikey T
21/04/07 L A Wood Green 3-0 Paolo (2), Dean
28/04/07 L H Hale End 1-1 Ben

 

16/09/06 Team ☻     Economicals 1 Old Tiffinians 2
1 Pete Wright   The more cerebral among you will know about Pavlov's dog. Those more immersed in pop culture will know of Lisa Simpson's experiment, "Is my brother smarter than a hamster?" Just as the dog salivates pre-food, and just as Bart continues to touch the cupcake, knowing that it will give him an electric shock, so Vinesh will inexplicably march towards the penalty spot, despite knowing that only hurt and distress will ensue. Is it revenge for the last days of the Raj, or just a desire to dominate the pizza advert market? Who knows? What we do know, is that he missed, and the firsts lost. Loz scored on his return from injury, then got injured again. Will his backbone agony ever end?

What is it that makes a man so confident when it comes to fondling 40-year-old Morgan Stanley employees in broad daylight, a quivering wreck in the 12-yard duel? That is a question for someone smarter than this writer, someone who would use his knowledge to earn considerable wealth to impress our intrepid hero when he asks about salary.

2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Alex Scrini  
6 Joe Williams  
7 Mikey Turner  
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dan Stanton  
11 Gaz Carter  
12 Stelios Stavrou  
13 Loz Morgan ☻
23/09/06 Team ☻     Old Challoners 4 Economicals 1
1 Rich Gull   It is hard to know what breed of man finds his true calling in becoming a referee. How does one differ in their formative years that leads them to eschew more acceptable professions and pastimes for the opportunity to spend weekends conjuring up all the officious and bile-ridden cynicism one can imagine, and effect upon all around you an air of sheer incompetence and craven apathy?

I’m sure the gentleman who officiated in the game had a childhood very similar to my own, and that he also a school of some sort. Yet somewhere along the road our paths diverged and this gentleman spent last Saturday awarding and rejecting penalty shouts on the basis of nothing more than foggy-eyed capriciousness, and I along with the rest of the ‘Comics First Team were left ruing a most unflattering 4-1 defeat.

Vinnie (a career in finance from the day he was born) nodded home our consolation effort in a second half when the balance of play began to tilt slightly back in favour of the well-reared scions of the LSE, but ultimately it was the crass ineptitude of the referee that effectively killed off our fight back; one second half penalty added to another in the first half plus two other goals of variable virtue either side of half time to leave the scoreline distinctly over-balanced in Challoners favour.
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Matt Joy  
6 Dan Stanton  
7 Mikey Turner  
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia ☻
10 Freddy Salt  
11 Jimmy Little  
12 Matt Davenport  
30/09/06 Team ☻     Old Danes 1 Economicals 2
1 Pete Wright   The first win crept under our belt against an Old Danes team whose footballing skills were as well suited to their tawdry playing facilities as one might expect. Despite having taken the heavy tumble from the Premier League only a couple of months before, they were comprehensively outplayed and out-thought by the ever-dapper 'Comics. Unfortunately it was Barney who got the opening goal - sneaking in at the back post unmarked and nodding home from a quality Mickey T
delivery. Things didn't get any better as Vinnie popped up to double our lead after good work from Freddy down the left; Vin smashing home his second of the season from two yards after an amateurish parry from their goalkeeper whose agility all afternoon belied his frequent acquaintance with the plus size section of clothing departments. After that it became a little farcical as Pete refused to do what DT would tell him to and claim a high ball, much to the bemusement of all, and a primary school hoof over the top led to Old Danes pinched a
solitary consolation effort. First win of the season, and I confidently predict we'll win next week's game by four clear goals.  
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Matt Joy  
6 Dan Stanton  
7 Mikey Turner  
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia ☻
10 Freddy Salt  
11 Barney Singer ☻
12 Stelios Stavrou  
07/10/06 Team ☻     Fitzwilliam OB 0 Economicals 4
1 Pete Wright   The Comics marched on in the LOB cup with a facile victory over a Fitzwilliam side from two divisions and much class below. There was a whiff of nostalgia in the air, as late drop-outs meant a late call-up for ex-skipper Coops, who rolled back the years to inspire the troops. The aura from the twice championship-winning firsts' skipper invaded the team, as they swiftly abandoned their slick passing style for some old-school hoofing. Callas opened the scoring with a four-inch header after Coops had hit the bar for the second time. Mikey T added a second with another header, plus a third from the spot after midfield hard-man Stanton saw roles reversed as someone fouled him. Coops himself finished the scoring with a calm finish from Mikey's through ball. The excellence of the pass meant that he was awarded the second goal by the dubious goals panel, who promised not to commit to print that it was an own goal, preventing his feeble header from going off for a throw.
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas ☻
5 Gareth Carter
 
6 Dan Stanton  
7 Mikey Turner ☻☻
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Freddy Salt  
11 Chris Cooper ☻
14/10/06 Team ☻     Economicals 0 Sinjuns OG 1
1 Pete Wright   Another week, another poor refereeing decision, another
lamentably under-strength first team deprived of the points despite heroic a show of defiance. With only six first teamers available, the Comics' flagship side were left scratching around for players until Saturday morning. Boz, Rikos, Chris Wills, and Sam Lehmann joined newcomer Paolo in a patchwork quilt of a team, facing a team of rockapes from St John's OGs. All performed stoutly and aided in what, until an unfathomable error of judgement by the man in black, looked
like being a resolutely fought, battling draw. Unfortunately, we had a ref whose interpretation of the offside rule hinges on how much he wants either side to win. We were on the
wrong side of that unfortunate coin toss on Saturday and paid the price as, after 80 minutes of tenacious defending, hard midfield graft and some coruscating skill from Stelios and Paolo, one of their forwards 'ghosted in' from a full five yards beyond our back line and tapped home into an open goal. Being to refereeing what John McCririck is to sit-ups, this craven official upheld the goal, deaf to reason, and to
the irate First Teamers questioning his parentage. Despite having chances to tuck one in ourselves, the game was
beyond our reach from that point and the Firsts were left, not for the first time, ruing our considerable injury list.

It's tough at the top.
2 Rikos Leong-Son  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Boz Winstone  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Dan Stanton  
7 Chris Wills  
8 Stelios Stavrou  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Paolo Azzola  
11 Sam Lehmann  
12 Freddy Salt  
28/10/06 Team ☻     Old Ignatians 1 Economicals 1
1 Pete Wright   Saturday's game with Old Ignatians was an experience much akin to sleeping with your sister. Sure, it got the blood flowing and it was something to talk about, but ultimately it was a frustrating 90 minutes, and one which, when asked about afterwards, makes you want to cry. The Comics had the best of the opening fumbles, Stelios slipping through OI's defensive negligee to unleash a powerful volley past a poorly placed keeper from all of 30 yards. The Comics kept making the best use of the ball against a woefully disorganised opposition; Stelios getting another chance ten minutes later, and Vini being unlucky not to extend our lead. Webby marshalled the back four and kept OI's novel use of the kick and rush tactic firmly without result. However, as happens so often in such situations, the home stretch was a completely different kettle of fish. The swirling wind brought long ball after long ball crashing down on our rearguard, and we failed to get a hold of the game in the middle of the park. Eventually, after two off-the-line clearances from Paolo and Mickey T, they snuck one in at the back post and drew level, Pete left with no chance after an inviting cross was met by one of their attackers in the six-yard area. Either team might have snatched it at the end - yours truly being upended unceremoniously en route to goal, and a succession of Mickey T free-kicks failing to find the onion bag, but despite our first half dominance, a draw seemed the fair result.
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Boz Winstone  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Theo Ricketts  
7 Paolo Azzola  
8 Stelios Stavrou ☻
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dan Turner  
11 Mikey Turner  
04/11/06 Team ☻     Old Wilsonians 1 (1) Economicals 1 (4)
1 Pete Wright    
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Boz Winstone  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Theo Ricketts  
7 Paolo Azzola  
8 Stelios Stavrou ☻
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dan Turner  
11 Mikey Turner  
11/11/06 Team ☻     Enfield OG 1 Economicals 0
1 Pete Wright   On a piece of marshland, under a swirling cloud of sombre rain, amid a chilling breeze, the Firsts felt like conscripts in the Great War. The deep furrows ploughed into Enfield's turf evoked images of trenches, and the cold, soulless eyes of their players did little to add any cheer to a grey day. As the tenement plots sat quietly among the ruined debris of forgotten, little lives, the Firsts felt this was not their place. Far, were they, from the welcoming meadows and grassy knolls of Berrylands. Far indeed, from any semblance of humanity at all. In the gathering darkness a battle of weary attrition ensued, with Enfield OGs, hewn from granite and sired from hogs and buffalo, stumbling relentlessly through the bog, lumping their accursed bladder ahead of them. First to go was Taylor, who caught it in his rump after the bumpy
terrain claimed its first victim. It wasn't long before we were all shell-shocked and sodden. The brutes capitalised, and we, valiantly, succumbed. Alas, into the valley of death rode the First Team, plucked from their homes to travel to foreign fields; places like Enfield, Uxbridge, White City. When will the madness end?
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Dan Stanton  
7 Paolo Azzola  
8 Dean Taylor  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dan Turner  
11 Mikey Turner  
12 Freddy Salt  
18/11/06 Team ☻     Economicals 1 Old Danes 0
1 Pete Wright   A game in which we saw the best and worst that the First Team has to offer. From the sublime (a masterful, controlling midfield, with a well-martialled back four and pace up front) to the ridiculous (Loz's incessant diving mainly) in 90 minutes, and the Economicals Firsts sit among the upper echelons of the division, thanks mainly to some poor adding up by the league's compilers and our rivals having played about four games each. That said, you can only beat what's in front of you, and a second-half strike from Vini that finished off a dynamic piece of cut-and-thrust football from the Ones saw the Economicals do away with an opposition who made up for in inbreeding what they lacked in finesse. With a satisfying and hard-fought 1-0 in the bag it was unfortunate that the afternoon was spoiled by an unsavoury diving incident in which Loz Morgan, returning from injury, twisted himself into a crumpled heap after executing a graceful, agonising dive. Dismissing the mitigating factor of the opposition defender scything Loz down at the knee, the referee chose to book the floppy haired accountant - no doubt the correct decision. The Firsts role on - next week it's the cup.   
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Dan Stanton  
7 Paolo Azzola  
8 Dean Taylor  
9 Vinesh Karia ☻
10 Dan Turner  
11 Mikey Turner  
12 Loz Morgan
 
20/01/07 Team ☻     Economicals 3 Old Salvatorians 2
1 Pete Wright   It was a game of contrasts last Saturday as the Comics 1sts overcame their inherent inabilities and tip-toed into the semi-finals. The gritty determination and mud-stained dervishes of the Comics team clashed nicely with the effete Taylor cheering from the sidelines, for instance. Likewise, my own reprehensible display of remedial football stood in stark contrast to the general brilliance of Vin and Paolo. Still, one
swill-merchant does not a defeated make, and with a customary 50-yarder from Loz, a back-post tap-in from Barney and a swift turn-and-shot from Mr Karia, the Comics overcame their intellectually lightweight opposition. Having three players drop out before kick-off didn't phase us, and we
stole the lead when Paolo's nimble brilliance (incongruous amid the squalor that was the oppo's back four) and a scything ball across the goalmouth drew a finishing touch from Barney 'Who?' Singer. They promptly equalised when Callas and Webby were left isolated and a (lucky) through ball sent their one decent player in one-on-one with Pete, his finish a polar opposite of his general demeanour by virtue of
being acceptable in polite society.  The second half was a similar story, and the treacherous goalmouth led to them taking an undeserved lead, only for D-Unit's strength in the
air and Vin's agility and precision to bring us level. The masterstroke that won it came about when I removed myself from the action and let Paolo had a go. Almost immediately the sun shone again, and the Comics started passing the ball to each other and generally not stinking out the centre of the park. That said, it was my intelligent running that gave Loz the space to shoot/cross from 50 yards out. Vin's bustling distracted the two brain-numbingly poor Salvatorians defenders and when the keeper decided to let the ball trickle through his legs and into the net, it was game over.
2 Christian Papworth  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Loz Morgan ☻
7 Paolo Azzola  
8 Nick Green  
9 Vinesh Karia ☻
10 Dan Turner  
11 Barney Singer ☻
27/01/07 Team ☻     Economicals 1 Enfield OG 5
1 Pete Wright   There are, quite frequently, games where the scoreline does massive injustice to the losing side. Games where the margin of defeat is absurdly disproportionate to the level of superiority the victors enjoyed over the vanquished. This was not one of those games. Had it ended up 5-0 we'd have been lucky to get '0' but it's a measure of how infuriating we are that we can't even get that joke right at the moment, Micky T
spoiling the consolidatory jollities by netting a powerful header from 18 yards. Other than that it was back to the 'drunken village idiot' routine for many of the Firsts, led ably by me, playing like a cretin. DT and Paolo had their usual good games, rising like roses from the compost of organic detritus that was our short passing game, and although we continued to work hard and plug gamely away at the match, our first 45 minutes hard work were undone by some woeful play in the second. An 'A' for effort, certainly, but a cast-iron 'D' for achievement this week...technically, in the current educational climate, that'd be good enough for a GCSE in football, so let's see if our minor qualification is good enough to trump next weeks academic reprobates.
2 Loz's brother  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Loz Morgan  
7 Paolo Azzola  
8 Nick Green  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dan Turner  
11 Mikey T ☻
03/03/07 Team ☻     Sinjuns OG 3 Economicals 0
1 Pete Wright   At the outset of the 2006/07 season, one could be forgiven for asking what could possibly conspire against the Comics to leave them threatened with relegation, enmired in a dogfight for survival. Events, dear reader, events... With a lengthening injury list and some notable absentees, the Firsts congregated at Tooting Bec station shorn of DT, Stants, Christian and most of Pirate's talent - a harsh deficit in ability to make good but one which we made valiant strides in addressing. Celebrity ringer Taffy slotted in at left back as though second nature, and on-loan Raj comported himself admirably in midfield. A strong performance in the middle of the park from Mickey T and Crazy saw the Comics hold their own in terms of possession, and Vin and Tayls' pace and strength saw off what little footballing talent the Sinjuns centre-halfs had scraped together for the game. However,
failing to score was again our undoing, as Pirate wasted a good chance, and Vin was one or two inches from connecting with a driven cross from Tayls. In such wasteful scenarios are defeats engendered, and with three quick goals, Sinjuns saw off our lusty challenge, Pete pulling off a trio of mighty saves to prevent further embarrassment. It seems a lack of stamina or ability to see out a game have been the curse of the Comics season, but a swift return to fitness from DT and Stants for next week's match should hopefully see the Comics raising their game, and hopefully pulling us free of the danger zone.
2 Shiva Tiwari  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Craig Harris  
7 James Gray  
8 Raj Loyla  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dean Taylor  
11 Mikey T  
10/03/07 Team ☻     Economicals 2 Wood Green 1
1 Pete Wright   With seven games remaining, the sleeping giants of the Comics Firsts notched up one on their footballing bedpost with a deserved win against Wood Green Old Boys. The early flirting was all down to D-Unit's silver-tongued approach and silky passing moves, with Taylor supplying the first of two deal-sealers early in the first half, followed by a brusque and manful ravishing of the Wood Green debutante defence from a groping corner from Mickey T.

An earlier set-back as Callas' over-eagerness to slip the nuts in allowed the Wood Green striker through for a bit of one-on-one time with Pete was remedied by his masterful use of the ball during the final flurries, as the Comics saw out a memorable 2-1 tryst. Wood Green stayed around ours afterwards, and had some food, but we didn't really talk to them. It was all a bit embarrassing really. We promised we'd call them but, truth be told, I can't remember what their names were and, well, we're busy, you know? Plus, we don't want to be tied down to third-from-bottom position, really. I mean, there are other positions, right? Well, next week sees the Comics take their Karma Sutra of football to the sluts of Old Challoners. Will the measured, adroit technique of Webby come out on top, or will Taylor's fast-paced, bustling action* win the day? Only time will tell.
*Ed's note: In real life, Tayls failed to get it up with some posh bint at Si's engagement party.
2 Shiva Tiwari  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Gareth Carter  
6 Paolo Azzola  
7 James Gray  
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dean Taylor ☻☻
11 Mikey T  
12 Christian Papworth  
24/03/07 Team ☻     Economicals 4 Old Salvatorians 2
1 Pete Wright   Waterloo station
with everybody on time
Callas talks bollocks.

Arrive at home pitch
Seconds playing with our Pete
Old Salvs look ready

Game is underway
Mandy’s leg holding up well
for half an hour though

Fishlock in centre
DT shows us how it’s done
Taylor nabs two goals

Webby plays solidly
Defence is holding up well
Game in balance now

They get two lucky goals
We fail to clear some deep balls
Pegged back to two all

Masterful tactician
Puts Mikey in middle now
with Fishlock up front.

New players come on
We take control and take over
Taylor nabs two more.

Great result this week
with On Anon action after
Callas talked bollocks

Nothing for Vini
Goal drought not a waterfall
For kiddy fiddler
2 Shiva Tiwari  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Amol Mandrekar  
6 Loz Morgan  
7 Gaz Fishlock  
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dean Taylor ☻4
11 Mikey T  
12 Christian Papworth  
13 Matt Green  
14 Graham Jackson  
31/03/07 Team ☻     Old Salvatorians 1 Economicals 3
1 Pete Wright   Four victories on the bounce now for the carefree bachelors of the Mighty, Mighty Five-times-nightly First Team as we continue our rapid ascent from relegation danger to mid-table respectability. With Loz choosing to witness his beloved Arsenal embarrass themselves on Merseyside rather than turn out for us, and with Gaz Carter hobbling along the touchline, the Firsts were at full strength again and took the game to Salvs' from the first kick. After two stick-on penalty appeals were dismissed by the irresolute match official we finally pulled ahead after 30 minutes, with a bravura display of pace and power from Tayls to poke home our first of the afternoon. Old Salvs immediately raised their game - from 'dross' to 'poor' - though we weathered the sustained pressure with blossoming fortitude. They eventually equalised after a dubious penalty award (Pete almost keeping it out with an agile leap) but we redoubled our efforts and regained the lead through the Littlest Paolo heading high over their stranded keeper. Taylor finished off the increasingly one-sided affair with blasted shot that ripped through the underside of
the net and put the result almost beyond doubt. Playing the final ten minutes with ten men after Mandy pulled up injured, the Firsts showed an ever-burgeoning fighting spirit and redoubtable courage to keep our lead intact, and were thus rewarded with a fourth straight win lifting us provisionally to the highly respectable and eminently attainable fifth-from-bottom spot. Clearly, the glory days are back.    
2 Shiva Tiwari  
3 Simon Webb  
4 Pete Callas  
5 Amol Mandrekar  
6 Christian Papworth  
7 Paolo Azzola ☻
8 Dan Turner  
9 Vinesh Karia  
10 Dean Taylor ☻2
11 Mikey T