|
Economicals 2nds
|
Date |
L/C |
H/A |
Opposition |
Result |
Scorers |
|
20/09/08 |
C |
A |
Lloyds
TSB II |
2-1 |
Bainsy (pen), Healy |
|
27/09/08 |
L |
A |
FC
Tilburg Regents |
0-1 |
|
|
04/10/08 |
C |
A |
Alexandra Park II |
0-1 |
|
|
11/10/08 |
L |
A |
NatWest
Bank II |
1-2 |
Nick |
| 18/10/08 |
C |
H |
Old
Minchendenians II |
2-6 |
Bainsy, Dave T |
|
25/10/08 |
L |
A |
Witan II |
4-7 |
Bainsy (3), Alex |
| 01/11/08 |
L |
H |
Witan II |
1-6 |
Drew |
| 15/11/08 |
L |
A |
Centymca
II |
4-3 |
Buttery, Will, Drew
(2) |
| 22/11/08 |
L |
A |
Sinjuns
OG III |
4-1 |
Bainsy (2), Healy
(2) |
| 29/11/08 |
L |
H |
NatWest
Bank II |
2-1 |
Bainsy, Buttery |
| 05/12/08 |
L |
A |
Old
Tenisonians III |
3-1 |
Nick 2, Healy |
| 17/01/09 |
L |
A |
Clapham
OX III |
4-1 |
Stanners, Bainsy,
Alex, Gav |
| 31/01/09 |
L |
A |
Marsh |
2-0 |
Nick, Bainsy |
| 21/02/09 |
L |
H |
Centymca
II |
6-0 |
Bainsy 3, Harry,
Buttery, Cooke |
| 28/02/09 |
L |
H |
FC
Tilburg Regents |
2-0 |
Bainsy 2 |
| 07/03/09 |
L |
H |
Clapham
OX III |
2-0 |
Alex, Stanners |
| 14/03/09 |
L |
H |
Sinjuns
OG III |
2-1 |
Bainsy, Gaz |
| 21/03/09 |
L |
A |
Suttonians III |
2-1 |
Cooke (2) |
| 28/03/09 |
L |
H |
Old
Tenisonians III |
4-3 |
Will, Bainsy, Cooke,
Gaz |
| 04/04/09 |
L |
H |
Marsh |
2-2 |
Stanners, Gaz |
| 18/04/09 |
L |
H |
Suttonians III |
3-1 |
Bainsy, Al Beats,
Healy |
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|
20/09/08 |
Team |
☻ |
|
|
Lloyds TSB II 1 Economicals II
2 |
| 1 |
Nick
Dimitriou |
|
Comics' first competitive
game of the new season saw a
confident side taking on the
crisis-stricken Lloyds in a
tricky-looking cup tie.
Initial concerns subsided
somewhat, however, when it
emerged the home team's
merger with HBOS had
thankfully not been
finalised in time to include
the 'extra' skills of star
striker 'Howard' in the
line-up. Comics too were
missing a rotund, talentless
fool with a stupid grin,
though in Gav's absence
brother Gaz did at least
make the bench. Comics were
also buoyed by the return
between the sticks of former
star keeper Nick the Greek,
consigning Healy's
pre-season poor impressions
of a keeper to the dustbin.
Sadly this gave new hope to
the latter's perennial poor
impressions of a centre
forward, more of which
later.
The visitors started much
the better side, though a
sustained period of
possession and a string of
set-pieces couldn't break
the deadlock. A high foot,
however, did manage to break
Beaton Junior's nose, an
injury which brought the
impressive Cooke off the
bench and into left
midfield. Lloyds missed a
couple of good chances on
the break thanks to some
distinctly sub-prime
finishing, before Comics
were awarded a slightly
contentious penalty for
handball in the box. Bains
confidently placed the ball
on the spot and captain
Taylor, exhibiting judgement
reminiscent of American
mortgage-brokers, confirmed
the decision. Dave's
team-mates, meanwhile,
mindful of the previous
week's horrific miss,
covered their eyes and
turned their backs. This
week's effort was arguably
worse than its predecessor,
though thankfully for Comics
the Lloyds keeper had the
decency to stay on the
ground after diving the
wrong way instead of slowly
getting to his feet, dusting
himself off, and
intercepting the ball's
geological progress
toward goal. Many glaciers
move faster.
|
| 2 |
Simon
Rowlands |
|
| 3 |
Al
Simcox |
|
| 4 |
Harry
Stoakes |
|
| 5 |
Ross
Harkness |
|
| 6 |
Tom
Stansfield |
|
| 7 |
Will
Taylor |
|
| 8 |
Paul
Taylor |
|
| 9 |
Al
Beaton |
|
| 10 |
James
Healy |
☻ |
| 11 |
Dave
Bains |
☻ |
| 12 |
Gaz
Russell |
|
| 13 |
Neil
Cooke |
|
Economicals held firm
until the break, an interval marking a number of
firsts for the 2s. It was the first time Gaz Russell had been
given a position possibly allowing for exploration
of the opponent's half, and certainly the first time
anyone in the team had ever heard anything remotely
resembling captain Taylor's ambitious '4-3-2-1
formation'. On further examination, however, it
emerged this was in fact a 'modified 4-3-3 system,
with the full-backs pushing on to make 5 in
midfield, except when they have the ball and the 2
wide strikers drop back into the middle to cover,
making it more of a 4-5-1, with 3 defensive
midfielders, playing deep, almost as auxiliary
centre halves'. Answers on a postcard please.
The changes, however, proved
inspirational, as Comics responded to the inevitable
confusion by running around manically in order to each
occupy their four stated positions simultaneously.
Lloyds too appeared perplexed by the new system,
adopting the quintessentially Italian response of
playing keep-ball at the back to preserve their 1-0
deficit. Unfortunately their passing proved almost as
shoddy as their mortgages, and the sensation of living
on borrowed time was all too tangible. Healy and Bains,
had other ideas, however, spurning a series of golden
opportunities to make things more comfortable, before
Gaz Russell, bravely venturing out of his own half in
open play, surged past two defenders down the right and
whipped in an inch-perfect cross that was impossible for
Healy to miss.
Before the inevitable
rearguard action could take proper shape, Comics
characteristically sought to make things 'more
interesting' by conceding a soft goal almost immediately
from the restart. 25 minutes of dogged defence and
sterling teamwork were seconds from fruition when Healy
(clearly disorientated by the tactical chaos around him)
uncharacteristically back in his own penalty
area defending a corner, tangled with a Lloyds man. The
ref pointed to the spot. The drained Comics players
stared down the barrel of extra time like condemned men,
knowing many of them would undoubtedly not survive
another 30 minutes of brisk jogging in the Autumn
sunlight. Up stepped Nick the Greek to remind everyone
why he plays in goal (but only sometimes, when he
doesn't feel like running), saving the worst penalty
anyone could remember seeing in, ooh, at least an hour.
To the victors then, the
spoils. To the losers the consolation prize of a staff
bonding exercise with Howard. Who gives you extra? Who
who who...?
|
27/09/08 |
Team |
☻ |
|
|
FC Tilburg Regent 1 Economicals II
0 |
| 1 |
Dave
Tanner |
|
Fresh from a superb
performance to win at
Lloyds TSB in the cup,
Comics' confidence was
high, no doubt boosted
by the sharp new black
and white striped Nike
kits sported by all.
Unfortunately, however,
the new strip did not
prove a lucky charm - an
insipid performance more
reminiscent of Newcastle
than Juventus left the
Comics still searching
for their first league
win of the season. In
truth the home side were
exceedingly poor, bereft
of invention or energy,
and exceedingly lucky to
sneak the win, even
against a Comics side
with Tanner in goal for
the first 45 minutes.
Comics rued a succession
of missed chances: Bains,
Tanner, Demetriou and
Healy all culpable for
some shocking misses -
the latter in particular
will have nightmares
about spurning a last
minute chance for an
equaliser. He might also
shudder at the memory of
his booking, ostensibly
for loitering with
intent over a fallen
opponent, though in
truth more than deserved
for a petulant afternoon
of backchat aimed at
referee and opposition.
The man in the black was
admittedly appalling -
his bizarre decision to
allow the home side to
field rolling subs
matched only by his
childish persistence in
using non-neutral
linesmen despite
repeated complaints from
both sides. No-one could
quite explain the point
of a neutral official
supported by two
exceedingly biased
and/or incompetent
assistants - least of
all the perennially
frustrated strikers.
Rowlands' late
complaints from the
touchline saw him
relieved of his duties
by the ref - toys thrown
vigorously out of the
pram he was now able to
concentrate on booking
Bainsy and looking out
for the waving flag of
his one remaining
assistant.
Perhaps the most damning
indictment of the
visitors' performance
would be the observation
that Comics were even
worse than the ref.
Still, the new kit is
nice.
|
| 2 |
Simon
Rowlands |
|
| 3 |
Gaz
Russell |
|
| 4 |
Will
Taylor |
|
| 5 |
Ross
Harkness |
|
| 6 |
Mark
Buttery |
|
| 7 |
Nick
Dimitriou |
|
| 8 |
Harry
Stoakes |
|
| 9 |
Al
Beaton |
|
| 10 |
James
Healy |
|
| 11 |
Dave
Bains |
|
| 12 |
Gav
Russell |
|
| 13 |
Jon
Killingley |
|
|
04/10/08 |
Team |
☻ |
|
|
Alexandra Park 1 Economicals II
0 |
| 1 |
Dmitris
Zografos |
|
Comics' cup run came
to a shuddering
halt, despite both a
resolute and
determined
performance and the
debut of a
goalkeeper (yes, a
real one). A
blustery day on a
hilltop overlooking
London was not well
suited to football,
but given the gulf
in class between the
two sides, this was
perhaps no bad
thing.
The first half was
marred by a shocking
injury to Cookie,
his dream birthday
week continuing,
with a horrific
broken nose ('not
the face, not the
face') following
swiftly on the heels
of burglary and a
broken wrist. After
Junior Beats'
similar facial
catastrophe two
weeks previously,
the Comics' pretty
boy ranks are
dwindling fast -
despite Gav 'Fatface'
Russell's perennial
pretensions to be a
ladies' man. (Ed's
note: Once I thought
I saw him being
hugged by a
beautiful pop star,
but it turned out to
be Cher in a repeat
of Mask.)
Some notable
performances from
Nick the (old)
Greek, the
ever-dependable Will
Taylor and a
rejuvenated Drew
(given a new lease
of life in central
midfield) were the
highpoints of a
hard-working
display, though set
pieces apart, in
truth Comics were
almost entirely
absent as an
attacking force. The
goal, when it came,
was a touch unlucky,
but in a spirit of
optimism it did at
least spare everyone
the likely tragedy
of Drew doing 120
minutes...
|
| 2 |
Al
Simcox |
|
| 3 |
Gaz
Russell |
|
| 4 |
Dave
Tanner |
|
| 5 |
Ross
Harkness |
|
| 6 |
Neil
Cooke |
|
| 7 |
Nick
Dimitriou |
|
| 8 |
Harry
Stoakes |
|
| 9 |
Al
Beaton |
|
| 10 |
James
Healy |
|
| 11 |
Dave
Bains |
|
| 12 |
Drew
Barrand |
|
| 13 |
Matty
Wright |
|
|
11/10/08 |
Team |
☻ |
|
|
NatWest Bank II 2 Economicals II
1 |
| 1 |
Dmitris
Zografos |
|
The
Seconds' run
of bad
luck
continued as they
went
from 14
confirmed
players
on the
Friday
evening
to 10
upon
arrival
at
Natwest's
ground,
the
relative
inexperience
of the
new
management
team
being
highlighted in
assuming
that
assorted
friends
of Cook
and
Stansfield
could be
counted
on
to turn
up. A
quick
flick
through Watson
Wyatt's
alumni
directory managed
to
rustle
up Pat
for his
second
appearance
in a
black
and
white
shirt.
Comics
started
brightly
against
the
league
leaders,
showing strong
commitment
across
the
pitch. Matty
and Pat
in
particular
working
tirelessly
up top
to chase
down
balls of
dubious
quality.
The
deadlock
was
broken
midway
through
the
first
half
when
Nick the
original
Greek scored
a
cracking free
kick
from 25
yards.
Just as
Comics
were
beginning
to look
comfortable
and in
control
they
gave
away a
goal from
all too
regular
sloppy
defending.
Simon
was
guilty
of offering
the
Natwest
winger
too
much space,
allowing
him
time to
turn and
smartly
shoot into
the
opposite
corner
of the
goal. As
half-time
neared
Comics
were
again
left to
rue a
refereeing
decision,
with a
penalty
awarded in
the
favour
of the
Natwest
striker
as he
turned,
kicked
himself
and
promptly
fell
over.
Although
Dimitris
saved
the
initial
penalty,
he could
only
turn it
back to
the feet
of the
oncoming
striker
who
tapped
in the
rebound.
The
second
half
again
proved
competitive,
but
neither
side
managed
to
produce
much in
the way
of
goalmouth
action
and a
credible
draw
might
have
been a
fair
result
for the
Comics.
Once
again
the
Black
and
White
Army
were
handicapped
by a
lack of
substitutes
and
unless
this
changes
they are
going to
be
punished
regularly
in the
last
third of
matches
as the
opposition
are
able to
bring
on fresh
legs.
|
| 2 |
Simon
Rowlands |
|
| 3 |
Gaz
Russell |
|
| 4 |
Dave
Tanner |
|
| 5 |
Craig
Harris |
|
| 6 |
Jon
Killingley |
|
| 7 |
Nick
Dimitriou |
☻ |
| 8 |
Tom
Stansfield |
|
| 9 |
Mark
Buttery |
|
| 10 |
Matty
Wright |
|
| 11 |
Pat |
|
|
25/10/08 |
Team |
☻ |
|
|
Witan 7 Economicals II 4 |
| 1 |
James
Healy |
|
Another
spirited
performance
against the
odds from a
depleted
Comics side,
who once
again were
made to pay
for a
shocking
turnout. No
goalkeeper -
again - and
10 men, and
we still
could have
won. That we
didn't was
purely and
simply down
to inferior
numbers.
Quite apart
from the
evident
handicap of
playing 90
minutes a
man down,
apparently
this referee
(see Tilburg
St Regents
report) sees
12 as the
minimum
requirement
for a game
of football,
thus
allowing him
to indulge
his
Premiership
fantasies of
having two
linesmen.
Quite what
the FA would
make of
having only
one
linesman,
namely the
home side's
substitute,
I'm not
sure. I
think I can
guess Alex
Ferguson's
response
though.
An open
game, played
on a
fantastic
pitch, gave
some clue as
to why the
home side
score - and
concede - so
many goals;
3-3 at half
time and it
could have
been more.
Tragi-comic
goalkeeping
errors were
to blame for
two of the
home side's
goals,
though
equally
kamikaze
defending
evened it up
for the
Comics. A
needless
penalty and
a gratefully
accepted
back-pass
gave Bainsy
two at the
break,
either side
of a
superbly executed
volley from
Beaton.
Bainsy
completed
his
hat-trick
shortly
after the
break with
the goal of
the game -
Healy (now
de-gloved in
favour of
Harris)
intercepting
a misplaced
pass in the
midfield
before
strolling
past a
couple of
defenders
and curling
a
defence-splitting
pass for his
strike
partner to
touch past
the
on-rushing
keeper and
tap into the
empty net.
|
| 2 |
Simon
Rowlands |
|
| 3 |
Will
Taylor |
|
| 4 |
Harry
Stoakes |
|
| 5 |
Ross
Harkness |
|
| 6 |
Neil
Cooke |
|
| 7 |
Craig
Harris |
|
| 8 |
Drew
Barrand |
|
| 9 |
Al
Beaton |
☻ |
| 10 |
Dave
Bains |
☻3 |
Comics proved unable to
hold onto their lead as tiredness took its toll - the
crucial fifth goal, however, was a farce that summed up
the inherent ridiculousness of the referee's insistent
reliance on one non-neutral linesman. The decision
wasn't even close - five yards at least - and the Comics
defence stopped dead when the whistle blew for offside.
Except it was the wrong whistle. The ref was nowhere to
be seen. The goal stood. Vociferous protests ensued, led
by the ever-polite Healy, who received a booking for
suggesting to the Witan captain that his gloating might
be a little misplaced, 12 men narrowly inching ahead of
10 (with no keeper) hardly evidence of the home side's
inherently overwhelming superiority. Despite the factual
accuracy of the claim, the ref was non-plussed, and
after further exhibiting his intellectual limits with
his utter inability to spell 'James' after five
attempts, waved the yellow card even after promising it
would be red.
The linesman's
utter incomprehension of the offside laws was confirmed
shortly afterwards when he inexplicably replaced Witan's star
centre forward (the worse of the two being the home
skipper, apparently earning the armband on account of
the size of his mouth rather than his talent) and spent
the remaining 20 minutes of the match standing so so far
offside that even the mole-like vision of the referee
registered the offence. Despite the exhortations of his
team-mates ("you were clearly offside, you're always
offside") he protested vehemently - the irony of a
linesman who doesn't know the offside rules apparently
not self-evident.
A great performance
from the 10 that turned up, but Comics still winless in
the league this season, and in some internal disarray.
However, next week's return fixture with Witan offers a
chance of redemption - and of vengeance. Provided we can
get a team together of course.
|
