Meadhurst Vets vs Old Actonians

Sunday 25^th September 2005 Home  

Won 5 - 1  (HT 3-1)

A bad tempered match that few of the players (and none of the referees) enjoyed. Old Actonians were clearly struggling for players and aging bodies can’t deliver as they used too but growing old gracefully isn’t on the agenda apparently. No going quietly into that dark night for them, rather they would rage against the fading of the light. In short there was a lot of moaning.

Meadhurst didn’t distinguish themselves but the result was never really in doubt. From the moment Dave Ferguson headed a corner against the bar it was clear that Old Acts would not be able to contain Meadhurst and Andy Keywood’s crosses in particular. Sure enough Dogga and Dene headed in to give Meadhurst a 2-0 lead.  

Meadhurst still struggle with the early season problems of markers standing off their men, failing to keep possession and failing to use the width of the pitch all too apparent. This week we also defended far too deep compounding the lack of tackling. These faults combined to give Old Acts a goal as Neill was chipped by a cross come shot from the wing. Dene scored again just before half time - arriving late in to the box to drive Dave Ferguson’s cut back from the byline hard and low into the bottom corner. Really that’s just how it looked - and I don’t believe he used his shins at all. Of course scoring two goals doesn’t stop you getting substituted and he and a hung over and slightly sick Nipper departed at half time.  

The second half trundled along in a fairly tedious fashion. Brockwell was allowed time and space on the edge of the box to score a trademark goal and Old Acts conspired to score in their own goal but the abiding memory is of a constant drone of moaning and some slight relief when the final whistle blew. 

British Airways at home next week will be a different proposition.

Meadhurst Vets at Home vs Old Actonians 2004

Won 6-1

Meadhurst Vets are clearly the place to be on a Sunday morning. Not only did 16 turn up with their boots we had spectators without football boots too. The Old Actonians also turned up with 16 or 17 players and there was some confusion as both managers tried to arrange for only 11 each to be on the field of play at any one time.

Meadhurst set up in a 4-4-2 for the third game in a row (Jack has taken note of what happened to that nice Chelsea manager who kept changing things) but with several new faces including Adrian Shehan, aka Shagger, and Neil Cook, aka Nipper. What is it with footballers that they can’t stick with the name their mum gave them? 

 Meadhurst settled quite quickly playing some neat if not very penetrating football and generally having the better of the opening 15 minutes until we made the mistake of scoring. Dene intimidated the defender into passing between his goalkeeper’s legs and finished off knocking the ball in from 1 inch (if that) to prevent own goals going top of the Meadhurst scorers. 

After that Meadhurst for no good reason decided to let OA’s back into the game – a little to much ambition, a lot of not keeping our shape and some lazy passing led to some OA pressure, some corners and a powerful headed goal that knocked Fred over the line at the back post. Yes Fred Riddiford still graces the Meadhurst turf.  

Meadhurst steped it up a bit thereafter and produced some good saves from the OA keeper until Dene surprised the OA defender (and, it must be said, everyone else) with a sharp turn and pinpoint cross to Adrian who struck a fine volley. 2-1 to Meadhurst at half time,

It was all too much for Jack, who distracted by refereeing the first half, couldn’t calculate that with 16 players you have to take 5 off at half time to give every one a game and only managered to make four substitutions. Still being able to bring on Dave Ferguson, Carl Driscol and new boys Brian Smith and Andy Lee is a luxury not often had by a Meadhurst manager. Of course we took a minute or 15 to readjust and OA’s had the better start but fresh legs (mostly Dave Ferguson’s right leg) soon gave Meadhurst the advantage and with 3 goals from Dave and a debut goal from Nipper Meadurst ran out comfortable winners.  

Availability is less good next week as we face the challenge of British Airways at home but we hope for another good crowd to cheer us on.

Match Report 2003/4

Match Report 2002/3

Without doubt the best pre match performance of the year. It started badly on Thursday night when we only had 10 players (including Martin Atkins and no Dave Ferguson) to pick from. But things improved steadily and by Sunday morning we had 15 players fighting for shirts including two goalkeepers and a ref ! Such luxury – I now know how Sven feels. The game wasn’t bad either.

Old Acts are a good side with a couple of very tricky forwards and some very tall chaps who traditionally cause problems. After a lucky draw at their place last year we have adopted a 3-4-3 formation against them. While this leaves a few holes in defence where the fullbacks should be, it does mean that we have more men closer to their goal. It worked in the return fixture, which we won 8-2 and it worked this time as we went 2-0 up fairly easily (Barber and Baah doing the honours).

Always a mistake to get goals too early – we took our collective feet of the pedal. Diligent work from Atkins and Cozens keep the forwards under control (ish) and we ensured that most of the shots came from outside the penalty area. Glen Jones was looking good value in his debut in goal – slightly shocking after the Roberts era was the interest in collecting balls more than 2 mm from the goal line. However Old Acts, clearly offended by the early goals, forced a series of corners and just before half time (like 2 seconds) scored from an innocuous corner that Gary Seaforth made a complete hash of clearing. 2-1 at half time.

One never knows what to expect when Lovegrove takes the field, a quality hair do naturally, but in football terms - an enigma. Our other substitutes also had mixed fortunes. Huxley had, by his own admission, a Gary Neville sort of game last week but never put afoot wrong this week despite marking their best player. Initially Dene’s return to vets football was a trial and tribulation for all concerned. Our new forward line didn’t gel initially. We couldn’t keep the ball, spent too long in our half - and conceded the equaliser. However, Borg like, we adapted and shortly after put six passes together to score a good goal. Huxley, Frost, Lovegrove, and Winch combining in a move that anybody would be pleased with. Both John and Dene subsequently went from strength to strength and had excellent season debuts.

This settled us nicely and we had the game well under control, scoring again with Barber and Seaforth capitalising on defensive errors caused by good pressure. Perversely, a defensive error by Cozens gave them a consolation goal.

In a 3-4-3 formation the wide midfielders are the key as they have to cover the full back spots as well as the midfield. Tony and Rob were immense in these positions and either could have been man of the match. Tony was keener to get forward and had two goals to show for it but Rob’s coverage saved us regularly. Barber and Sage - joint men of the match.

Meadhurst 3-4-3

Jones (Doyle), Atkins (Huxley), Brockwell, Cozens, Sage, Barber (2), Frost, Seaforth (1), Baah (1) (Lewis), White (Winch (1)), Lewis (Lovegrove)

Old Acts 4-4-2

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Last modified: September 25, 2005