MATCH REPORT: Merton-Upon-Caterham FC 3-0 AFC Horley After last weeks surrey cup agony, Merton were keen to get back to winning ways and continue their 100% record in the league with a 7th straight win. With their closest rivals Godstone not playing, this would be Mertons game in hand and would give them a chance to open up a 3pt gap at the top. Part time chairman and full time gangster Eltijon Bulku was unavailable but his influence was felt as his insistence that his players actually turned up in time for a warm up this week seemed to be adhered to. It was rumoured in the press that Eltijon had sent threats to the players family members to ensure that they turned up on time, and further rumours that he sent a horses head to Sean smith (a consistently late attender) to enforce his message. With all players turning up at least 30 mins before kick off it was a refreshing surprise. Wenham and Harry were unavailable, whereabouts unknown, though the reports are that Wenham was knee deep in clunge and Harry was trying to pull him out. Glenn and Dean were both absent through injury, though again reports circulated that Glenn was in fact brushing up on his black belt in marshal arts and practicing a move whereby he decapitates his opponent. Scotty Hastings was available for selection again, and even the elusive connor hayhoe turned up with most of his kit. The Legend that is Kieran Hayhoe, having heroically captained the Merton Rugby 2nd team to a 1pt win over local rivals Mitcham yesterday, once again took the captains armband and really made it his own, by paying for it at his local sports direct. indeed some would say he embodies the spirit and passion of this great club, but as I am Kieran, I dont want to be biased so ill say no more. He led out the team as follows: Damo in goal, Pete at right back despite his online video humiliation last week, Craig dropping into centre back along side Kieran with Liam left back. Sean and Dan Rowley made up the Centre midfield pairing, with Bailey, Hastings and Kingston taking up the three attacking midfield spots behind Bullen as the lone striker. Merton started calmly and confidently, pressing and harrying the opposition into mistakes and then knocking the ball about well themselves. Liam Hayhoe impressed with his link up play with Bailey down the left, offering a persistent overlap with pace that the opposition struggled to deal with. The defence were looking very comfortable in general and the midfield was doing a great job of protecting them and then spreading the ball left and right. Despite the impressive start Merton were failing to take the initiative in the form of a goal. Scotty Hastings with one of the first chances of the match looking good but swerving over, and similar long range efforts fromSean, Bailey and Rowley in-swinging from the left just went wide of the post. Bullen who had bribed the manager to be put up front missed the best chance of the game when the ball was played into him 6 yards from goal and he smashed the ball straight at the keeper. Aside from that miss Bullen was doing well on his own, proving a great target, laying the ball off either side to the onrushing midfield and bailey had a great chance with a 1 on 1 that the keeper was equal to. The goal when it came was a thing of beauty; a great team move. The ball was won on the right hand side of the Merton defence by Pete and Craig, the ball falling to Rowley who took a beautiful first touch before flicking it over his midfield counterpart with Gazza like arrogance before sending a 30 yard pass to Bailey down the left, whos first touch was equal to it, he stood his defender up for a few seconds then whipped in the perfect delivery for Dave Kingston to meet with a thumping header back across goal and into the corner of the net. Merton lead 1-0. The first half saw more of the same from merton; comfortable and controlling, without managing that crucial second goal. 1-0, half time. At half time Thumbwood and Connor came on for Rowley and Sean Smith in centre midfield. Merton started slightly shaky but their defence and midfield weathered the storm before controlling the rest of the match. with Pete deserving high praise for his solid display on the right and Craig attacking every ball that came within his vicinity and winning it every time. Connor set about winning the ball in front of the back four and distributing it calmly to Thumbwood to spread the play to the wings. Merton pressed for the second goal and it came with a corner, expertly delivered to the back post by Bailey, for the unmarked Bullen to power in a header for 2-0. Merton were in cruise control now and despite some injury disruptions in the form of Thumbwood and Hayhoe, and some shuffling around of positions, carried on their control of the game, with Damo coming out to claim anything that did come his way. chances fell to Sean, Dave, Kieran and Craig, who despite hitting good shots saw them blocked by the opposition defence. Dan Rowley tried a speculative strike from 25 yards that looked like it was flying into the top corner before the keeper pulled off a stunning save. The third came with a cross from dave to Bailey who caught his shot well from the left hand side of the box and it was heading in before it caught a deflection off the Horley defender and so will go down as a Bailey goal. There was still time for a number of chances, the standout being Scotty Hastings trade mark run from deep in midfield, ghosting past two or three players to find himself 1 on 1 with the keeper, only to smash his shot a couple of feet over the bar. Merton saw out a comfortable 3-0 win to take a 3pt lead at the top of the table but wont be getting carried away at this early stage of the season; after all its 0-0, so from the off boys, lets box em in. All day. MOTM: Pete was very, very close to getting this award as he was absolutely solid for 90 minutes without putting a foot wrong, but Craig just piped him, with an even more impressive display at Centre back. Attendance: unknown Special Mention to Damo Smith: its his birthday and no one knew or said anything, I bet you all feel bad now dont you? happy birthday Damo, you old lobby bastard, here, have a clean sheet.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 15:16:16 +0000
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