Year: 2014

The annoying availability issues that have been present since the start of the season finally caught up with Merton at the University of Westminster Sports Ground on Saturday, where they crashed out of the AFA Intermediate Cup to a strong Polytechnic side.

Despite the recent poor weather, the playing surface was fine but slightly heavy in places. Missing three of his regular back four, Merton manager, Ian Lewis in an attempt to combat the expected strength of the host’s midfield opted for a 3-5-2 starting line-up. However, within 90 seconds of the kick-off, he was forced to revert to a more familiar 4-4-2 formation after midfielder Ivan Gladkow had to exit the fray with a pulled hamstring. Moments later, Polytechnic opened the scoring with speculative 30-yard strike that seemed to catch Alex Herbert in the Merton goal by surprise. Undeterred, the visitors quickly hit back; Dave Hitchcock grabbing an equaliser with a well-placed shot following the host’s failure to deal with a cross to their far post. Although back on level terms, Merton continued to struggle with the physical approach of their division one hosts. And, they soon fell behind again when their hesitancy from a throw-in on the left, gifted Polytechnic the simplest of opportunities that their forward gleefully accepted. The hosts quickly extended theirlead, albeit rather fortuitously, from a shot that but for a wicked deflection, Herbert would surely have saved. On 25 minutes, another enforced change for Merton saw Graham Willgoss unable to continue due to illness. Despite this setback, the visitors reduced the arrears five minutes later through Will Taylor, who, latching onto a through-ball from Oliver Ross, cleverly lifted the ball beyond the advancing keeper. With half time approaching, Polytechnic restored the two-goal advantage from a free-kick, which their industrious number seven skilfully bent around the Merton wall and inside the far post.

The second half continued to see the home side on top and, they quickly increased their lead with a scrambled goal that Merton could and should have prevented. Then, approaching the hour mark, the away side again reduced the arrears when the Polytechnic defenders gave Jamie Clayton both space and time to find the back of the net with a 20-yard punt. If Merton were to have any chance now of turning the tie on its head then it was they who had to grab the next goal. And they went close, as first Paul Pearce saw his low drive turned around the post, and soon after, Taylor having a spectacular overhead effort saved. Unfortunately for Merton,when the next goal arrived, it came from Polytechnic; their centre-forward beating Herbert to a lofted crossand heading home into an empty net. Five minutes from time, the Polytechnic centre-forward completed the scoring when he muscled his way into the six-yard box and squeezed the ball past Herbert.

Whilst it cannot be denied the hosts were good value for their win, even they will agree that the final margin of victory was somewhat flattering. On their return to action after the Christmas break, Merton will be looking to get their league campaign back on track when, weather permitting, Old Stationers will be the visitors to Joseph Hood.

Report by:Harry Hood

It is always a difficult place to go and get something. As it’s Mitcham it’s the shortest journey that we have so it’s that always difficult and unpredictable local derby that is always fiercely contested. We had much the better of the game but the 3pts were never secure till the last 5 minutes. After only 10 mins andafter a few missed chances Chris Rayner won possession and rifled the ball home to put us 1-0 ahead. OWCs were a good side and dangerous on the break. Despite dominating we were not able to increase the lead till 20 mins into the second half when Pearcey finished really well from a wide position. Then we had a bit of a defensive gentlemen’s excuse me when we all marked the same person and their man slotted home to make it a nervy 2-1. Of course we then had the mandatory OWCs punch up and one of their lads (Essex’s bosom buddy – no surprise) was sent off for punching Ben, after fouling him rather badly. We continued to make and miss chances and their keeper (John Harmsworth ex Merton) made some good saves before Chris Rayner volleyed home unstoppably to wrap up the 3pts. A pretty good all round team performance and a welcome 3pts ahead of the 2s trip to Chiswick next week in the cup to face Polytechnic. That leaves the 2s heading into the new year nicely placed above mid table but with games in hand.

Report by:Harry Hood

By way of a change, and because we don’t actually have a match report of our own, you might be interested in reading Surrey Elite Intermediate League side Horsley’s report for this SCFA Intermediate Cup first round tie, which eventually went ahead at the Tom Field ground, following two earlier postponements and a switch of venues due to waterlogged pitches. The Surrey Elite Intermediate League is one of two feeder leagues to the Combined Counties League; the otherbeing the Middlesex County League, which is also a feeder to the Spartan South Midlands League. It is surprising; therefore, why Horsley do not enter the SCFA Senior Cup competition as do Merton’s first team. It cannot be denied that Horsley deserved their victory and to progress in the competition. However, the Merton players will recall the contest a little differently to the Horsley reporter, who fails to mention either Liam Palmer’s first half goal bound header that was destined for the back-of-the-net before being cleared off the line by an alert defender or, Palmer’s subsequent head injury, which saw him going off to Hospital after 45 minutes.

Harry Hood

The 1st team beat Merton 2-1 in the county cup on Saturday. After 2 weeks without playing Horsley’s display was very inept and no disrespect to Merton but we were not facing a strong side or our County cup run could have been over before it had got started. Right from the whistle we were slow to the ball and seemed to just go through the motions our passing was all over the place and commitment was poor. To be fair, though, we never found ourselves under any real pressure and we did score a good goal on 20 minutes, with the first bit of football we played. And, a cracker it was with Henzi running with the ball, before laying wide to Ashbolt who hit a first time cross for debutant Morley, stepping up from the reserves to beat his defender to the ball and bury it inside the near post. The team were already returning to the centre spot when the linesman, one of the Merton subs, stuck up his flag and gave offside. The referee amazingly disallowed the goal, it was an unbelievable decision as Morley clearly beat the defender to the ball and there was another defender further back. Anyway, as this has happened now 4 times this season we are getting used to it. Back to the game and we started the second half a bit brighter and slowly started getting good moves together but as in every game now we missed simple chances. We got our first goal after a good run from Lovell whose inch perfect cross was met by Willoughby, who controlled the ball first time and banged it into the net. This seemed to wake us up as we then made 4 or 5 chances, which brought a batch of good saves from the Merton goalie and a bit of bad luck with balls hitting defenders on the line with the goalie beaten. It wasn’t long before we scored our second when a good cross from Henzi found Lovell, who had the simple task of heading in from about 4-yards. Merton seemed deflated now and the game fizzled out until the last 3 minutes when Dark gave possession away on the edge of our area, allowing the Merton forward – who never stopped running the whole game – to get his reward with a well taken goal. We then survived a last minute scare as sloppy defending allowed their best player, the number 11 to toe poke a shot at goal that clipped the top of the bar. The referee blew for full time so through with a 2-1 win, although not a memorable performance. Okay, the aim before the game was to get through and we done this, but the players must look at their own performances. Yes, at moment we do have key players missing through injury but we need to step up if we reallywant to progress in this cup.

Merton booked their passage through to the fifth round of the AFA Intermediate Cup on Saturday, eventually overcoming State Street of the South London Alliance League in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. But, just howthey were unable to win this fourth round tie in normal time is a mystery, such was their domination throughout.

Despite the poor playing surface at Joseph Hood, which made passing difficult, the hosts were quickly into their stride, creating a number of openings but failing to capitalise as chances went begging. Enjoying both territorial advantage and having the better of the possession, Merton continued as the half wore on to press for the opening goal, although a combination of poor finishing, bad luck and the form of the visitors’ keeper meant that with half time approaching, and to the dismay of home supporters, the contest remained goalless. However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 43rd minute when the home side was awarded a fortuitous penalty; the ball having been driven at close-range onto the arm of a luckless defender. The resulting spot kick was expertly despatched by Oliver Ross to send Merton in at the interval one up.

After the break, the pattern of play pretty much followed that of the first half, with the hosts keen to push home their advantage and extend their lead. Again, though, despite the fashioning of a number of clear opportunities, they were unable to find the net from open play and, on the hour mark, they were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal. The visitors having won the ball in midfield, quickly worked it across the park to the left flank where it arrived at the feet of their winger, who, dropping his shoulder and cutting inside, unleashed an absolute screamer from fully 25-yards that beat the despairing dive of Alex Herbert. Merton recovered from this setback and they went close on numerous occasions to finding a winner, before Mr Rowley’s whistle sounded the end of regulation time.

Unsurprisingly, both sets of players tired during extra-time, with Merton though, still looking likely toprogress. However, to their immense credit, the visitors stuck manfully to their task, withstanding everything thrown at them to set-up a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

The excitement of the shoot-out began with State Street scoring their first penalty, which was followed by Graham Willgoss levelling for Merton. The visitors’ next kick was screwed wide of Herbert’s right post butIvan Gladkow failed to grab the initiative for the hosts when he saw his effort saved by the State Street keeper. The scores level, each team were successful with their next two kicks – the Merton penalties comfortably converted by Ross (his second of the afternoon) and Marc Wilson. Herbert then saved the visitors’ fifth kick, meaning Femi Arogundade was handed the chance to win the tie, which he did with a confident strike to put his team through 4-3 on penalties.

Next week Merton will face a tough test when they meet Horsley 1s at Joseph Hood in a rearranged Surrey County Football Association Intermediate Cup tie.

Report by:Harry Hood

Merton defeated Lloyds TSB Bank at Joseph Hood on Saturday to book their place in the fourth round of the AFA Intermediate Cup, where they’ll meet State Street of the South London Alliance League.

This eagerly awaited all-second division clash promised much for the players and spectators alike. However, due to a combination of the poor playing surface and blustery conditions, it turned out to be one of the worst games likely to be played in AFA competitionthis season. Coping slightly better with the conditions, the home side settled much the quicker and went ahead as early as the 5th minute, thanks to a Ben Cook opportunist effort. Cook, whom Merton manager, Ian Lewis had opted to start in a central midfield role rather than his customary centre back one, doubled his and Merton’s tally after 13 minutes. Despite being two down, Lloyds weren’t aboutto lie down and roll over and, but for a spectacular tip over his bar from Alex Herbert in the host’s goal, they would have pulled agoal back midway into the half. Buoyed on by this, the visitors increased the tempo of their play, appearing keener, sharper and generally more up for the challenge than they had previously. The away side’s resurgence saw the Merton back four coming under pressureforthe first time. And they quickly succumbed, allowing a Lloyds forward to leap unopposed to meet a cross and find the back of the net with the simplest of headers. Moments later, Marc Wilson restored his team’s two-goal advantage – the Merton skipper quickest to react as Lloyds failed to clear at their far post following a Chris Rayner corner. With half time approaching, Femi Arogundade met another Rayner corner, bravely heading home from a yard out to effectively end the game as a contest.

The conditions having worsened after the break meant the second half was a real struggle for both sets of players. Notwithstandingthis, Merton continued to create chances, although these were either too easily squandered, or dealt with efficiently by the visitors. So poor had the game become, the only incident during the remainder of the tie worthy of any note was match official, Mr Doe’s ruling out of a Rayner effort that seemingly had gone through a hole in the net. Closer inspection of the net by the Merton President, Terry Baker confirmed there was indeed a hole present and Rayner, therefore, could count himself extremely unlucky not to have got offthe mark for the season. Mr Doe finally brought an end to the proceedings, with Merton happy to have progressed after such a dire encounter.

Back to league action next week for Merton when they travel to the Muswell Hill Sports Ground to face early pace setters and tabletoppers, Crouch End Vampires. If they are to get anything from the game they will need to improve on their performance today.

Report by:Harry Hood

A share of the spoils at the GSK Sports Ground, especially when missing regulars, Olly Braid, Ben Cook, Chris Rayner, Will Taylor,Graham Willgoss and Marc Wilson would ordinarily be viewed as a point won. Merton, however, will see this as two points dropped, after they had fought back from a goal down to lead at half time, only then to find themselves on the receiving end of two poor decisionsfrom the match official, Mr Keane.

Despite neither team taking command during the early exchanges, it was evident this wasn’t the same BB Eagles outfit that had last week gone down by six goals to one at Carshalton. With the teams evenly matched, it was unsurprising the opening twenty minutes produced little in the way of goal scoring opportunities, although one speculative long-range drive did force Merton’s keeper, Alex Herbert to scamper across his six-yard line and acrobatically turn the ball out for a corner. The deadlock was finally broken in the 22ndminute when a ball down Merton’s right invited the Eagles’ winger to drive to the bye line and send over a dangerous looking cross that resulted in the ball deflecting off a defender’s boot and into the path of an advancing midfielder. The alert midfielder, despite not taking a touch struck a confident first time shot to finish from the edge of the 18-yard box. Undeterred by this setback, Merton quickly got a foothold in the game and they were soon on level terms – Jamie Clayton converting a free-kick on 25 minutes to open hisMerton account after Paul Pearce had been felled by the clumsy challenge of the Eagles’ centre-half. Ten minutes before the interval,the visitors deservedly took the lead after they won a throw-in deep in their opponents half. From the resulting throw, a neat exchange of passes saw the ball delivered into the feet of Oliver Ross who, having cleverly delayed his pass, set-up Jason Marsh who coollyslotted past the keeper.

After the break, just as they had last week, Merton took their foot off the gas, which saw the momentum swing slightly to the homeside. Although the hosts were now enjoying the lion’s share of possession, the away side always looked capable of containing them. And containing them Merton were, until that is the 58th minute when Eagles were handed a lifeline after they were awarded a soft penalty, the referee adjudging Merton’s left-back, Alex Morrison to have pushed an Eagles player from behind. The absence of any appeal from the hosts and the protests from the Merton players merely highlighted what was a really poor decision. The spot kick was expertly dispatched, putting Eagles right back in the contest. Moments later, still reeling from the injustice of the penalty award, the visitors were indebted to Herbert, who ensured the scores remained level with the save of the game – Merton’s custodian denying Eagles with an excellent reflex stop. The remainder of the game was played out with Merton defending an increasing number of attacks from thehome side but still themselves looking dangerous on the break. And it was from a break that Merton appeared to have been awarded a penalty when Ross was unceremoniously hacked down inside the area. Amazingly, though, the play was waved on with the referee indicatingsimulation. The outcome of this ‘simulation’ is that Ross will be out for at least four weeks with a metatarsal stress fracture. Thehome side again managed to breach the visitor’s defence late on, although the effort was correctly chalked off for a foul on Herbert who had dived at the feet of the Eagles’ striker before having the ball kicked from his grasp. Soon after, the shrill of Mr Keane’s whistle signalled the end of the proceedings and Merton trudged off feeling that yet again this season they hadn’t enjoyed an equal share of the rub-of-the-green.

Next up for Merton is the visit of Lloyds TSB Bank to Joseph Hood for an eagerly awaited all second division AFA Intermediate Cup third round tie.

Report by:Harry Hood

Having been on the road for the past two Saturdays, Merton this week were back at Joseph Hood for the first time this season, where they defeated a decent Weirside Rangers outfit by three goals to nil.

Despite both teams making a slow start to the proceedings, it was the homesters who looked the more likely to open the scoring, which they duly did after just 18 minutes. Will Taylor’s tenacious battling, allowing midfielder Oliver Ross the opportunity to bundle the ball over the line for his first goal in Merton colours. Ten minutes later, Taylor, who is currently in a rich vein of form, doubled the advantage with his fourth goal of the season. Merton continued to create chances up to the interval, with Paul Pearce going closest to extending the lead. The striker, though, saw his far post header hit the base of the upright.

After the break, and despite Weirside coming out stronger and seeking to find a way back into the contest, it was Merton again looking the more threatening. Guilty as the half wore on of spurning a number of chances, the hosts survived a scare at the other when Alex Herbert was called upon to make a smart stop during a ten minute purple patch for the visitors. In the closing stages, the home side continued to press and, with two minutes remaining, the points were finally secured when Pearce met Taylor’s cross to the far post, slotting home from close range.

Next week Merton welcome Royal Bank of Scotland to Joseph Hood for what promises to be a tough first round AFA Surrey/Kent Intermediate cup tie. Let’s hope the availability issues of the opening three weeks have abated, therefore, allowing Ian Lewis to select a strong line-up.

Report by:Harry Hood

A wake-up call. It won’t be the story of our season, but today Carshalton were hungrier, fitter and better organised. Credit to the opposition for taking full advantage as we gifted them four of their goals. Oaksey got his only mistakes for the year out the way (so consistently high are his standards), the midfield was out-jumped and defence was caught flat-footed from a straightforward goal kick (our own), and, in our eagerness to up the tempo we jumped in when it was better to stand off, eventually conceding a penalty (no names mentioned, Clowesy).

The positives, such as they were, meant that we kept working hard to create, despite being largely pennedback for much of the game. Ash, Jason and Femi were mostly isolated up front, and when our chances did come,their keeper was not found wanting.

The pick of the bunch was dug out by Chris Rayner, on as a substitute, who probed down the left and produceda first-time hooked cross that Ash made into our best chance of the game, directing a header low to the keeper’s right from 16 yards out – and forcing a fine save.

Fitness, focus and form must improve.

Team:Oaksey (GK), John,Clowesy, Clappers (Lofty H-T), Tilley, Woody, Will, Wilgo, Femi (Rayner 70),Ash, Jason

MOM: Jason Thomas

Report by:Graham Willgoss

As temporary custodians of the Olympic torch for a small part of the warm-up, we showed the Olympic spirit without really showing our class. The exception, in goal, was Sherbs, who stood up to everything Service threw at him and kept the ball out at times when he had no right to do so.

Despite the scoreline, this was a vast improvement on last week’s showing. Vanny (back from his wedding in Reading exodus) revelled in being back in the side, and was eager to make an impression. Tilley brought a greater unity to the midfield, and Ash and Femi were sharper up front.

After a deflected first goal, however, it was too often down to Sherbs to save us from conceding more. A superb reach to tip the ball on to the bar from a corner was followed by our last line of defence rapidly moving from his line to courageously smother the ball in a one-on-one. Football can be cruel (back to that score line later) – never more so when Alex dived low to his left to block the ball from close range, only for Service to follow up and knock it in.

Still, we made plenty of chances of our own. Vanny, switched to the right midway through the second half, almost made an instant impact when bustling down the wing and holding his man off before flashing the ball past the far post. Tilley had the ball in the net but his goal was incorrectly – and spectacularly unfairly – ruled out for ‘hand ball’ 10 minutes previously. Femi was unlucky not to do better with a long-range lob having spotted the keeper off his line. And no one could quite get on the end of another wicked Rayner cross. This was not a 4-0 game. Except it was.

Team: Sherbs (GK), John, Jennings, Marc Wilson, Browner, Wilgo (Clowesy 65), Woody, Tilley, Ivan (Rayner70), Ash, Femi

MOM: Sherbs

Written by: Graham Willgoss

As the cliché goes this truly was a game of two halves. Unfortunately we were so poor in the first half that the second half task was almost impossible but we did give it a good go.

We were so slow starting the game Weirside could have been forgiven for thinking we weren’t interested and after going 4-0 down in half an hour we almost weren’t. A combination of poor marking, slowness in the tackle, and basic errors gifted Weirside three of their four goals which to give them credit they finished very well. Finally pride, and a sense of injustice for an unpunished blatant Weirside headbutt, took over and we started to play with some urgency and bite and got a goal back through Jase just before half time. The second half was a completely different story and we spent the entire half camped in Weirside territory but could only score once more, through Jase again, for all our efforts.

The result was obviously disappointing but more so was the way we were able to dominate the second half showing that with some more quality and greater application in the first half the game could have been a lot different. Having said that I’m sure Weirside’s foot had come off the peddle somewhat at 4-0. A typical all energy display from Jason coupled with his two goals made him our man of the match pushed hard by a high impact second half substitute performance from Vanny.

Team: Oaksey (GK), John, Clappers, Marc Wilson, Will Low, Wilgo (Jonesy 80), Woody (Vanny 45), Tilley, Jase, Ash, Femi.

MOM: Jason

Written by: Clappers