Brit Academicals vs Catholic United
Division Three Cup Semi-Final
Sunday 16th Match 10.30pm KO
A damp and cold morning greeted the players at Victory Sports Ground but at least the rain had softened the pitch and given it some zip.
Something's never changed…..Liam didn’t even know it was a semi-final, didn’t know who we were playing and even went to the wrong pitch with the match balls…..obviously being sober didn’t help. Oh, and Randy Titt had a cold or something so couldn’t make it.
We adopted our league winning 4-5-1formation against Brit and within the first 5 minutes we should have been 2 goals up. We weren’t but the tone had been set. Liam, Jon and Mike winning the midfield battle, Mark holding the ball up superbly with Lee and Warren supporting from wide. Our defence were rarely troubled, even against the longest throw-ons in the world…ever!
When our defensive shield of Dave (the clown) Owens and Paul (the scythe) Cotgrove was penetrated, we had Mike Kenneally bravely rolling around on the ground coming to our aid.
We took the lead midway through the half when Lol fed the ball to Warren who slipped in Jon Short to put the ball in the far corner with his left foot.
We were dominant, nay rampant and at 1-0 up halftime came at the wrong moment. We lost our momentum and it seemed our desire. We were on the back foot for the first 20 minutes and it came as no surprise when they equalised following a breakaway.
Rather than look for self-pity, their goal seemed to energise us and once again we dominated and never looked back.
We took the lead midway through the half following a corner which their keeper (who has to be the most hated player in this division) dropped the ball and Dave Owens stabbed home from half a yard.
We effectively won the match with the goal of the game when Mark Hubbard collected the ball 25 yards out, turned the defender and fired into the top corner.
We missed several good chances after this, not least when clean through, Mark Hubbard had a lobotomy and instead of sliding Matt James in for an easy tap in decided to chip the keeper instead. Oh dear…..20 yards high and 20 yards wide.
With 5 minutes to go, Brit pulled another goal back to make it 3-2 but they never looked like scoring another….apart from when Matt Cotgrove cleared off the line, twice!!
A great game played very sportingly and nearly ruined by a referee who didn’t know his backside from his elbow.
So off we went to Wellstead Gardens for a beer or two…..only to find the gates locked and club shut. That’s Sunday football for you.
Another potential banana skin of a game, CUFC Vets had a must win fixture against lowly Ambleside at Cupids Country Club on the 'Postage Stamp' pitch - the pitch with a full yard and a half between the side line and the edge of the 18 yard box.
Over the last couple of weeks CUFC have struggled through games and ground out results - the scorelines may not have reflected this but certainly being involved has not been as easy as it appeared to be earlier in the season.
Within 10mins of the game starting the Referee incorrectly awarded Ambleside with a throw in level with the CUFC penalty spot - a scuffed shot came in and somehow found itself in the far corner of the net! 1-0 down.
From that point on CUFC played virtually the rest of the game in the Ambleside half and had at least 10 clear cut chances to score amid countless efforts off target - maybe the result of one of our strikers last drink being around 6am the morning of the match!
Eventually CUFC equalised with what appeared to be an offside goal, but all the same, very deserved - this just made Ambleside argue amongst themselves just as they did in the first games against us - quite amusing really!
So half time came and we all agreed that we had the upper hand and that Ambleside would come at us for 5mins or so then sit back for the draw - well we were nearly correct.
They pushed their left midfielder forward to present a three man attack when required which gave CUFC some problems at that back and really did pile on the pressure. With Ambleside becoming the dominant midfield shots came from well outside the box and before too long CUFC found themselves 2-1 down to a very upbeat opposition.
CUFC had plenty of possession again and worked the ball well from the back of the side through the middle giving the forwards a chance to shoot - albeit wide in the vast majority of cases.
Another long range effort beat the Keeper to make the score 3-1 with about 20mins left on the clock and Catholic were beginning to struggle. An unmarked header from a corner made it 4-1 and heads had clearly started to drop.
Throwing everything forward at every opportunity CUFC were awarded a direct free kick just outside the area which Captain Jon took - the shot looped over the wall and bounced in front of the keeper. Not too sure what happened there but the ball ended up in the net with Ambleside appealing for the goal to be disallowed as the free kick was indirect - the Referee correctly pointed out that he had told the keeper the free kick was direct before it was taken so the score stood at 4-2 with 8mins to go.
Alas, it was just not going to happen for CUFC and in the end loosing 4-2 to a team that we made look good is a great shame has ultimately put a massive dent in the chances of promotion this season.
However, to finish in the top half of the division after last seasons promotion is still a great achievement - this week was a case of complacency thinking that the result was in the bag because of the league positions of the two teams before the game.
Provided CUFC learn from this experience then maybe it was not a complete waste of time. With no fixture until March 9th, its a good opportunity for reflection throughout the whole of the squad.
| Scorer | Goals |
| Rob Pomroy | 1 |
| Jon Short | 1 |
Firstly, apologies that there are no photos this week - thanks to the Ref pulling out on Thursday and Ekco refusing to share the responsibility, Jason had to Ref the whole game and was therefore unavailable to supply any pictures.
That said this was always going to be a tough fixture - Warren had said 2 or 3 times this season that Ekco were the best side that we had played. This proved to be correct - the 1st 15 minutes of the game Ekco were the dominant side and caused us trouble right across the park.
Some superb keeping in goal by Mike kept them out as we gradually started to claw our way back into the game. Two or three periods of possession led to good efforts on goal in the Ecko half but the pendulum swung and we were back under pressure.
Ekco scored with 15 minutes to go but we held strong and rode our luck as Ecko twice hit the post with only the keeper to beat. We came in at half time feeling relieved that we only trailed by 1 goal and that if we got our act togther, we could get back into the game without too much damage being done.
The 2nd half started and we made a better start than the first half - Ekco continued to apply pressure on the break but we were the stronger side with Lee, Jon, Rob and Warren all going close.
Then an injury to the Ekco keeper stopped the game for at least 5 minutes - with play resumed we continued to apply pressure but got caught on the break and conceded a second. Heads started to drop but the spirit prevailed and eventually Rob got the opportunity to reply, making the score 2-1 with about 10 minutes to go.
With the game being played almost completely in the Ekco half the Ekco supporters started to question the time that the Ref was playing - they obviously were the brains of the outfit and couldn't remember as far back as their keeper's injury.
It was pointed out to them that the Ref was playing stoppage time and that they should stop their complaints. It was also highlighted to them that they had the chance to do a half and refused - its obvious now that this was because the person in question was too dense to be able to tell the time correctly, a view confirmed by more than one of the players he was supporting!!!
With Jason being undeterred play continued and as much as we tried we ran out of time and finished 2-1 losers to overall the better side - to a team that although physical, were a fair and good all round footballing side. In fact, a nice bunch of blokes - shame about their supporters.
| Goal Scorers | Goals |
| Rob Pomroy | 1 |
Well another week against on paper a beatable side but one we had to watch.
Left: Warren makes a run which Jon ignores in search of glory
We started well setting up a few chances in the opening spell and with about 15mins on the clock Randy Titt latched on to a through ball by the skipper, he beat the defender for pace and poked the ball in past the on-coming keeper.
Right: R Titt who has now scored 2 in 2 - God help us all !
The defender has now retired, put out to graze with the embarrassment of being slower than Randy. In fact, Ambleside are considering folding after this humiliation. One of the Ambleside defenders said he would have taken a 10-0 defeat instead of conceding against a Titt.
The game skittled by and the green machine were creating plenty of chances but not finishing them off. Midway through the half Jon Short calmed the nerves with a neat finish and we were two-up.
Below: Jason explaining his master plan at half time
Half-time came and went and the second half began in the same light, we created a hatful of chances but our usually reliable strike force weren’t firing on all cylinders this week.
Then from a break away a ball down the middle and their forward slammed in a good goal and suddenly it was 2-1.
A few nervous minutes went by before Shorty once again took us two up with a goal from a rebound off his own shot, he then made it 4-1 with a few minutes to go after good work down the left from Shane.
Right: The Cotgrove brothers witness a scene from Ballairo - Jon, Jon and Warren also amazed at the quality of acting ask after the game where they can get tickets for the next performance
So another victory and we go marching on, it could and should have been double figures but a win’s a win and the points are what matters first. Well done to everyone. Particular mentions for Cotters who was solid at the back on his last ever game, Randy for filling in admirably again up front and a Super Human effort from our skipper Jon Short who seemed to be playing in about four different positions.
| Scorer | Goals |
| R Titt | 1 |
| Jon Short | 3 |
With the vets pushing for promotion for the 2nd year running this was a vital game for us to get through against Laindon Athletic 
who are next to bottom of the division.
It was stressed before the game that this would be no pushover especially as we had 6 squad members absent this week through work, injury and skiing holidays (hmm!)
The signs were good before the 
game. Liam had a hangover and Randy Tit was 25 minutes late…..business as usual we all thought.
Yet again Jon Short managed to lose the toss, get the choice of ends wrong for Mike and then blame everyone else for his own shortcomings…….business as usual we all though.
Above: Reenactment of Dave Owens falling over the ball and tearing his ankle ligaments last week
Surely nothing could stop the mighty green machine now.
We started the game with a few players in unfamiliar positions due the absentees. Liam was centre back and Randy Tit was our target man striker.
Then we kicked off, the wind blew and blew and blew. We put one decent attack together ending with Mark Hubbard squaring the ball into the box and Randy running on to the end of it. Six yards out….he can’t miss. 
I couldn’t look and I’m sure I saw Matt Cotgrove looking heavenwards and praying.
Randy went with right foot, stumbled, stuck out a left leg. The ball hit his studs, confused the keeper and trickled over the line.
We were gob-smacked. Randy celebrated with his now customary Monastery of Sound jig.
The wind blew some more. Half time came and went but the wind stayed. I don’t think we crossed the half way line in the 2nd half but we stuck firm and defended like demons.
The final whistle came 5 minutes early cos I don’t think the referee could take much more of this skill-less game.
At the end of the day, all things considered, it was definitely a game of 2 halves but not quite a game of 90 minutes.
The sign of a good team is winning ugly and winning when playing bad. We ticked all the relevant boxes this week…..and have 3 more points in the bag. 
Right - 2 injured players (Rob & Dave) and a new injury in Mike supporting the team - now that's commitment
| Scorers Name |
Goals |
| R. Tit |
1 |
Our second game against Zeus in two weeks and we knew from early on it was going to be tough. 
Dave Owens, having heard the call for a team photo was in such a hurry to get his jacket off and claim a front row spot promptly trod on a ball and twisted his ankle, meaning we had our earliest sub situation of the season at -5 mins.
The team photo seemed to go well, I didn’t hear any arguing.
The game started and the first 15 mins we tried our best to give them the ball whenever possible, we then started to actually play to green and white shirts and discovered this was a much better idea. A great move rounded off by Liam scoring his 5th of the season and we were one-up.
A period of pressure from the green machine lead to a free kick just outside the box, which Rob bent round the wal
l to notch his 17th of the campaign, but unfortunately his morning was cut short we a re-occurrence of the hamstring problem.
Just before half
-time we scored our 3rd, Lee pouncing on a poor clearance from Zeus and lobbing the goalie from 20 yards, a great piece of skill and a great finish.
So, half-time came, we were all rightly pleased with each other being 3 up after a slow start.
The second half was a different story and we seemed to struggle with a resurgent Zeus who put us under a lot of pressure. Fortunately they only managed a single goal, due to a solid performance from the back line and the form of Mike between the sticks who made several excellent stops including a re-taken penalty save.
So not great bu
t 3 points none-the-less, which to my mind is the sign of a successful side.
If we can keep our heads in the weeks to come, encourage each other on the pitch, and play to our players at our pace we can win this league, we just have to believe it.
Goal Scorers:
| Scorer | Goals |
| Liam Coen | 1 |
| Rob Pomroy | 1 |
| Lee Lomas | 1 |
Well the weather held off and the game went ahead on Sunday morning much to the surprise of the Management Team who had told each other repeatedly all week that it would be off due to the amount of rain that we had already had!
Now we already knew that this would be a tough game, a potential banana skin in our quest for a top three finish, after the pre-season friendly that we had with Zeus where we lost 8-3 after being 2-1 up at half time.
They did not disappoint taking the lead after about 20 minutes when the Ref gave a free kick 5 yards outside the area for what could only be described as the opposition loosing possession - a decision that neither side appeared to believe but Zeus didn't let that bother them. 
Catholic duly responded after raising the tempo of the game and then deservedly went ahead after 20 minutes of superb play. Disappointingly, Zeus equalised shortly before half time to make the score at the break 2-2.
Right - Paul & Dave relax whilst the others get on with it
The younger half of the Management Team rightly pointed out that 'it wasn't pretty, it wasn't good but we were drawing' and had been the better team for large patches of the first half. It must be said, the author included, that a fair 
amount of criticism and arguing had been apparent during the first and had to stop. We were also party to, but not surprised at, a brief outburst from Mike the keeper who received a final warning from the Ref. When torretts finally took over he earnt his and the squad's first yellow card of the season.
Left - A happy Warren who scored
Changes were made at the start of the 2nd half, most notably with the introduction of an R.Tit at left back. The first 10 minutes or so were fairly cautious but then the flowing style and raised tempo saw the floodgates open. 
Liam Coen scored a goal that can only be described as 'One out of the Cantona archives' - the keeper was beat from 25 yards out and it was in as it left Liam's boot. With at least 2 howlers from the Zeus keeper Catholic found themselves 7-2 only for the big 10 to get his hatrick to make it 7-3 at the close.
Right - Liam and the big 10 who produced 5 goals between the two of them.
A very well fought battle but our hats to go off to Zeus who not only put up a good competitive fight but who are also a great bunch of blokes to play against - and have a beer with after.
So it was back to the changing rooms for a quick shower and then to the bar where Lee harped on about his towel being used whilst he was in the shower - don't know who would possibly have done that!!
Left - A brief moment of reflection
Anyway, I can't remember the order of the scoring but the scorers are as follows
| Scorer | Goals |
| Lol Blainey | 1 |
| Liam Coen | 2 |
| Lee Lomas | 2 |
| Warren O'Neil | 1 |
| Mark Hubbard | 1 |
Lol wanted it minuted that his goal, single handedly crafted, was the result of a 70 yard run, rounding three mid-fielders, two defenders and finally the keeper. It was a low harsh bullet to the bottom left hand corner of the net. I am sure that are a beer or two he will tell you all the truth.
Anyway, well done everyone - next game at home - Victory Sports Ground against Zeus again, Sunday 27th Jan 10:30 Kick off