Old Boys Cup 3rd October 2009 v Old Owens - Match report

Won 5 - 0
Scorers: Niki Heigho 2, Aaron Wilson, Eamon Meaney, Sonny Davis

Another week, another Cup game. At least this week it was at home so we didn't have to travel to the otherside of the world to play. We welcomed Old Owens who are a side in the SAL and usually quite strong.

The conditions were not ideal with a stong wind blowing from right to left along the pitch which would have some effect on the game.

This week our sqaud was depleted with many injuries and players away, so yours truly had to be put down as a substitute, and we called in Kevin Lyons to fill the left back position and Niki Heigho, who we hope will join us permanently, to play up front.

We started the first half kicking against the wind, and playing 2 upfront in a 4 -4 - 2 formation. As expected Old Owens were a good side and started winning the midfield battle and with the wind in their favour, had us penned in our half for the first 10 minutes. Because of this, we moved Pasta back to left midfield and Carl back into the middle, so that we had 5 men in midfield to try and win the midfild battle. It was going to be a difficult half, with the wind having a big effect and with the change, we hoped to keep a clean sheet for the first half and attack them in the second half when we had the wind in our favour.

Even with the difficult conditions we were lively up front and did create a couple of good chances in the half. Luckly for us, even with the ball mainly in our half most of the time, their forward, who had longer hair than me but was uglier, couldn't score in a brothell, so we went in at half time 0 - 0.

We changed back to 4 - 4 - 2 at the begining of the second half as we thought that with the wind we could now take the game to them.

The game was now more even but they still had more of the ball during the first 15 minutes of the half, but without really creating anything. With about 15 minutes gone Carl picked up the ball in Midfield and the passed to Niki who then flicked a through ball to Sonny who had only the keeper to beat. Just when we thought he had taken it to close to the keeper, Sonny slotted the ball passed him and into the net. Against the run of play, we had scored. 1- 0.

From the kick off we won the ball straight back, and a long ball to Niki was hit on the half volley and straight into the back of the net, Great goal. 2 - 0.

Old Owens then fell apart. Arguments started within their Team and within 5 minutes we had scored another 2 goals.

The first one was a through ball to Niki who slotted it passed the goalkeeper, and the second was similar with Eamon tackling their defender and taking it through to score. 4-0 game over.

Old Owens tried to get back into the game, but for all their huffing and puffing could not score as their forward line could not hit a barn door with a shotgun.

With about 5 minutes to go, Niki was through with only the goalkeeper to beat and was taken down. Penalty. He stepped up to claim his hatrick and put the ball to the right of the keeper. The keeper went the right way and made a good save.

3 minutes later, a good run by Pasta was rewarded with another penalty as their defender brought him down and Aaron stepped up and put the penalty away. 5 - 0.

Game over, just as I was about to come on!!!

A good result against a tidy team. We are now through to the next round and play Old Salesians III in the next round. From what I can see they are anoter SAL team and the game is to be played on 17 October at home.

Player ratings would have been higher this week, but you all took the piss out of my hair so I've marked you all down!!


Lewis 7 Steady game and a clean sheet
Kevin 7 Came in a did a good job. Ball was not on the left a lot
Aaron 8 Solid at the back
Andy B 8 Solid at the back
Ben 9 Worked hard and chased every ball
Carl 7 Second half display was excellent
Sonny 7 Quiet first half, but second half was good. Good goal
Eamon 7 Kept getting the tackles in all game. Good goal
Tom 7 Another good game
Niki 8 Great debut with two good goals
Pasta 8 Did not stop running and causing them problems

Man of the match - Ben O'Neil

Next weeks game is another home cup game against Hale End (LOB cup). I will let you all have details during the week.

John