Club News

This club news bulletin board is written by Jeff Thomas. It consists of a summary of the previous Saturdays results and thus is a chronological review of the season and will usually be published on Monday along with any other news that is relevant.

If you have any news that may be of interest to your fellow club members then please contact Jeff.

Saturday May 10th

The final weekend of the season. The first team had a narrow and hard fought 2-1 win over Old Bealonians Reserves which secured the Intermediate North championship. The firsts had a good first half and went in to half time 2-0 up with goals from Adam McKinnon and Joe Deadman. However ten minutes from time Beals scored which was not part of the script and it was a nervy last few minutes but they held on cap a great season. This now puts them into Senior Division Three North and gives the club Senior status for the first time in six years. The fourth team lost 4-1 with Steve Clarke Johnson scoring his final and 46th goal of a remarkable season for him. This has been the highest number of goals scored since Terry Barry’s’ 60 plus in the 1980’s. The fifth team had a good 5-0 win over Mill Hill.

Mark Newman scored a hat-trick and his 36th goal of the season. Mark is very unlucky not to be receiving the club’s Golden Boot Award (which will go to Steve Clarke Johnson) and certainly, apart from one season, since my involvement with the club which is twenty years has such a total not won the award.

Finally, thanks for reading and until next season.

Jeff Thomas

Saturday May 6th

The first team had a top of the table clash verses Parkfield Reserves who are the only team who can prevent them from becoming champions and the only team to have beaten them in the league this season, way back on 20th October in a 4-2 defeat. It was a game that Parkfield needed to win and they did by a 2-0 scoreline.

Saturday May 3rd

The third team failed in their bid to beat Old Aloysians IV and thus are relegated to Division III after only picking up one point rather than the three that they needed in their 2-2 draw. James Miller and Vince Cruickshank scored one each. The fourth team lost 4-1 to Old Camdenians II. O’Shea Brookes scored their solitary goal. The fifth team played yet another double header. They lost the first game verses Wood Green OB IV 4-2. Mark Newman and Andy Middleton scored. They won the return game 2-1 with goals from Jevern Whistance and Richard Offord (see match report).

Saturday April 26th

Only two games were played at the weekend. The firsts had a spare weekend and the seconds finished some weeks ago. The third team did not play as Old Aloysians IV, who they have in their remaining fixture were playing Queen Mary College II who needed three points from this doubleheader to relegate the thirds.

Happily they could only secure one point which means that the thirds need to win this Saturday against Old Aloysians to stay in the division. Aloysians themselves need to win to get promoted so both teams have a great incentive to win. The fourth team shared six goals with Albanian V. Steve Clarke Johnson scored yet another hat-trick in their 3-3 draw. This was a good result as they were 3-1 down at half time. It was good to see Dan Jolley back in the goals with a hat trick for the fifth team in their 6-4 victory over Davenant Wanderers (see match report). There was also a rare brace for Richard Offord and one for Ryan Murray.

Saturday April 19th

The first team carried on their good form of late with a solid 2-0 win over Leyton County and are edging ever closer to Championship glory (see match report). It was a good win secured by goals from Ryan Murray and Joe Lusting in a five minute period just before half time which secured promotion into Senior Division Three North. This was see the club playing Senior football for the first time since the 2001/2002 season when with the merging of the London Old Boys League (our former league) and the Southern Amateur League to form the Amateur Football League we dropped into Intermediate North and have been there ever since.

The first’s next game will be against Parkfield who are the only team who can catch them so it should be a top game. The third team had a winner takes all game verses Ravenscoft OB with the loser surely being consigned to relegation. It ended 5 - 5 with four goals for Ryan Wood and one for James Miller. The thirds fate could be sealed by Queen Mary College who have a doubleheader verses Old Aloyians IV this weekend who themselves need victories to maintain their promotion challenge. One win for Queen Mary will see the thirds relegated but anything less than three points will see the thirds needing to beat Old Aloysians themselves to stay up in their final game.

It is that tight. The fourth team had a good 4-3 victory over UCL Academicals IV to erase any relegation worries (they are now safe) who themselves are relegated. Harley Moore scored twice and Darryl Marrius once. The fifth team played their second doubleheader in a row (and it may not be their last) verses Old Ignations V. They draw the first game 1-1 and lost the ‘return’ fixture 3-2. Mark Newman scored a couple and Jevern Whistance the other in the 120 minutes of football played. The Vets did not play and have one game left on May 3rd.

Saturday April 12th

Prior to their game against the first team Old Parmitarians II have been the whipping boys of Intermediate North having conceded 108 goals in their previous 18 games. As expected the firsts did not make their life any easier and thumped them 9-1 (see match report). They were 5-0 up at half time with two goals from Dave Burnage and one each from Ryan Murray, James Cook and Adam Hole. Parms pulled one back as the firsts took their foot off the gas but still scored another 4 in the second half from James Webster, Ashley Burnett and one more from James Cook and Adam Hole. The third team really needed to beat Mill Hill County to put a two point gap between them and fellow strugglers Queen Mary Old Boys but lost 4-1. Ryan Wood scored their only goal. A Steve Clarke Johnson less fourth team lost 4-2 to Enfield OG IV. Erkan Fadil and Harley Moore scored for the fourths. The fifth team narrowly lost twice to St Alban Rangers in their doubleheader. They lost the first game 2-1, Jevon Whinstance scored, and the second game 1- 0. The Vets lost 10-2 to St Margeretsbury Vets. Tom Barry scored one them.

Saturday April 5th

The first team extended their lead to 12 points in Inter North with a 6-1 demolition of Hale End Athletic II. Ryan Murray scored his 23rd goal of the season and there were goals for James Webster (2), Dave Burnage, Dan Morgan and Adam Hole.

Two wins from their final four games will secure the title. The second team shrugged off their disappointing defeat verses Enfield last week and did what they had to do by beating Old Parmitarians III to secure promotion to Inter North.

The seconds started the game by playing some very good football but it was a freak own goal directly from a throw in which opened the scoring. Parms then equalized and it was disputed penalty in the second half duly dispatched by Danny Nutkins which secured the all important victory (see match report). You may recall our first and second team switched over this season so this was a very pleasing outcome and full credit to Mark Buckley and his players. The third team had a vital win in Division II and beat Southgate County 3-2. Mike Strickland, Danny Rhone and Rob Lough were the scorers. This puts them back in the relegation mix and it’s any two from Egbertians, Queen Mary or Ravenscroft to go down. A win for the thirds this week would be very useful. The fourth team lost 4-3 to Old Aloysians V. The game was notable for Steve Clarke Johnson who scored another hat-trick which was his 41st, 42nd and 43rd goals in a remarkable season.

This equals the club goalscoring record of recent seasons held by Peter Thorpe from about 10 years ago but he still has some way to go to beat Terry Barry’s all time club record of 62 of about 30 years ago. The fifth team had a good win verses Leyton County OB III.

Mark Newman scored a brace which put him at the 30 goals mark for the season which is no mean feat (see match report). The Vets lost 5-0 to Brittania Vets.

Saturday March 29th

The first team continued in their quest for Championship glory with a solid 3-1 win over Old Buckwellians (see match report). Sean Baptiste opened the scoring before Bucks equalized. Dave Burnage then made it 2-1 from the penalty spot and Ashley Burnett scored a fine solo goal to secure three points. Three wins from five games will make the firsts champions.

It was winner take all for the second team who played Enfield OG III with the winners securing the Division One title. (see match report). Unfortunately it was not to be. Enfield scored early on in each half and despite going close on several occasions the seconds could not score and lost 2-0. However, if they win their final game verses Old Parmitarians III then they will secure promotion. A 12- 0 victory will secure the Championship!. The third team lost 2-0 to Old Minchendenians II. The fourth team played Albanian V and were quickly 2-0 down. However, they are nothing if not spirited and scored twice with goals from Mark Newman and a rare header (never had to write this before) from Paul Adshead in a 7-2 defeat (see match report). The fifth team played the club’s fourth semi final this season verses Old Minchendenians IV in the LOB Cup. It was a game that I would have bet somebody’s house on them winning with Minch one division lower and the fifths having been in good form of late. However, despite constant pressure and missing a host of chances they could only manage a 1-1 scoreline after 120 minutes and lost 5-4 on penalties which must be the most disappointing result of the season.

Saturday March 15th

There were three big games at the weekend and all went in our favour. The first team had a top of the table clash verses William Fitt who they beat first the time around 2-1 in a tight game with a last minute goal. It was not as tight this time as despite missing several chances they went into half time winning 2-0 after a penalty from Dave Burnage and another goal from Ryan Murray.

It was scoreless in the second half and the firsts were comfortable winners in the end. The second team had a key game verses Old Parmitarians III who were the only team who could secure more points than them.

After a tentative start the seconds went into the lead after an excellent header from Darren Moore from a Simone Grattarola cross. They extended their lead when Ewan Thomson scored from a corner and were solid until Tom White won a penalty which Darren Moore dispatched for a 3-0 final scoreline. With many of the third team away it was a scratch team who took the field verses Ravenscroft OB and they duly lost 6-1. Mark Newman scoring their only goal. The fifth team had their replayed game verses UCL Academicals V in the LOB Cup Quarter Final. The game was under appeal (it's a long story) but despite this it made sense to play the game as the season is running out. Happily it was a similar result this time with the fives running out 4-1 winners. Credit to UCL for not playing a loaded team as their third team has finished their season. Steve Clarke Johnson scored another hat-trick with Owen Scott a fourth. The fourth team and Vets did not play.

Saturday March 8th

The first team put some daylight between themselves and the chasing pack with a solid 4-1 win over Old Buckwellians (see match report). Ryan Murray scored four goals including three headers in a fine display. With Parkfield II recently having had points deducted the firsts are looking good for a top two finish but there is still some way to go. The key game will be verses William Fitt. It look like UCL Acedemicals II will be the likely Division I champions but with three points separating second and eight place there is everything to play for the second team.

They beat bottom of the table Wood Green PB II at the weekend 2-1 with goals from Dave Smith and Simone Grattarola (see match report). The results in their next three games will be crucial. Two wins out of their last three games will see them promoted whilst three wins will see them as champions. The third team had a very good result against top of the table Old Tollingtonians. In a game that they probably could have expected to lose they had a good 1-1 draw, Ryan Wood scored, which helps their relegation battle.

Grants Harris' new look fifth team had their first win beating Mill Hill County IV 2-1 (see match report) Jevon Whinstance scored both their goals. The Vets had a 4-2 loss verses Old Bealonian Vets. Tomas Szlacthta and Andy Williams both scored. The fourth team did not play.

Saturday March 1st

The sixth team were officially withdrawn from the league following the demise of the third team which resulted in our fourth, fifth and sixth teams all moving up one team and two divisions each. The first team just had the better of a seven goal thriller (see match report). With several players missing a draw would have been good result verses Aloysians III and leading 1-0 at half time after a goal from Ryan Murray things were looking good. However, by the 70th minute they were 3-1 down but goals from Ryan Murray, Ashley Burnett and an own goal secured a valuable 4-3 victory which increases their lead at the top of the table.

The second team had an emphatic 8-2 victory over Wood Green OB II which pushes them up the table. Ross Flanders scored his first hat-trick of the season while Danny Nutkins and Darren Moore scored two each and Tony Teece the other. In a very tight division winning their two games in hand would make a big difference to their promotion aspirations. The third team lost 4-2 to Southgate County III. It is a big ask for our new third team under Danny Rhone to escape the drop as he has inherited a very poor league position but we live in hope. The new fourth team under Andy Williams made the transition into a higher division smoothly this week against one of the divisions weaker sides and beat Old Bealonians IV 4-2. Steve Clarke Johnson scored a brace and Oshea Brookes and Jordan Morris chipped in with one each. Our new fifth team are now playing a couple of divisions higher and lost their opening game 5-0 to Laytmer OB IV (see match report). The Vets did not play.

Saturday February 23rd

This was our worst results weekend of the season with nobody winning!. An under strength first team with nine regular players absent played Old Meadonians II in the AFA Intermediate Cup semi final. They had an early chance to go 1- 0 up but failed to score. Meads then went onto win the game 3-0. The second team were a goal down with seconds to play against Old Bealonians when Simone Grattarola scored an equaliser to make it 2-2 having earlier come off the bench. The third team did not play and have now been withdrawn from the league.

The fourth team lost 3-0 to a physically stronger Mill Hill Village II.

The fifth team lost their first game for a while losing 3-0 to Kew Association VI in the AFA Novets Semi Final. This was no disgrace as Kew were the better side and the fifths have done very well to get this far. The sixth team played their first division eight fixture for a while having had to fulfill the third team fixtures recently (thanks lads) and lost 2-1 to Old Bealonians VI. Jevon Whistance scored their goal. The Vets lost 8-0 to a very strong Sandlers Draper team.

Saturday February 16th

The first team went top of Intermediate North for the first time this season with a resounding 7-0 win over Southgate County (see match report) who they beat 6-1 last week. In a one sided first half they were 5-0 up with goals from Dave Burnage (2), Adam McKinnon, Ryan Murray and Dan Morgan. They eased up in the second half when Joe Deadman and Ryan Forlan scored. The second team lost 5-1 to UCL Acedemicals which pushes them down the table but they have games in hand.

Darren Moore scored for the seconds. It was another Saturday and another defeat for the third team. An under strength team containing many players from our sixth team lost 6-0 to Leyton County II (see match report). The fourth team played a strong Civil Service V in the Senior Novets AFA cup which was the first of four semi finals that we will be playing this season (first and fifth team play next weekend).

Unfortunately they lost 2-0. The fifth team played a remarkable game against top of the table and undefeated Mayfield Athletic II (see match report).

They had a torrid first half and were 4-0 down at half time and seemingly out of it. Steve Patmore pulled one back early in the second half but when the fifths conceded a penalty it would surely be all over if they score. However, goalie Carl O’Neil saved it which was a pivotal moment in the match and they went onto win 6-4 with another three goals for Steve Clarke Johnson, a second for Steve Patmore and one for Erkan Fadil.

They are now 14 points behind Mayfield but have five games in hand so it will probably go to the wire. The sixth team and Vets did not play.

Saturday February 9th

The first team had a comfortable 6-1 win verses Southgate County (see match report). There was a hat-trick for Dan Morgan from centre half, a brace for Ryan Murray, which will stretch his lead as the first team leading scorer, and one for Dave Burnage. The second team had a very good win against Old Ignations II. Andy Middleton, Stuart Clive and Ross Flanders all scored with one in reply in a 3-1 victory which puts them right back in the mix. The third team did not play due to an internal communiaction breakground (it’s a long story). The fourth team lost 4-1 to Old Camdenians II. Anthony Peek scored their only goal.

The fifth team won their LOB cup quarter final 5-2 verses ULC Acedemicals which puts them in their second semi final of the season which has to be a club record. There was another hat-trick for Steve Clarke Johnson and one each for James Watson and Harley Moore. However, the LOB Cup committee has now deemed this game to be a friendly as the third team did not play (one of their weird and wonderful rules) which we are appealing against. With a possible further appeal to the AFA if we decide this tie could run and run.

The sixth team did not play. The Veterans had a rare outing and supplemented by some of the sixth team lost to a strong Trent park 6-2. Tomasz Szlachta and Jevern Winston scored their goals (see match report).

Saturday February 2nd

The first team progressed to the semi final of the AFA Intermediate Cup with a solid win over Wearside Rangers II. In a tight first half which ended 0-0 there was not much in it but the second half saw the firsts apply pressure and goals from Joe Deadman, a penalty from Jason Francis and a fine solo goal from Dan Massey sealed a 3-0 win (see match report). The second team lost 3-1 to UCL Acedemicals.

Andy Middleton scored their solitary goal. The third team lost 3-0 to Old Minchendenians II. The fourth team beat Latymer OB III 5-3 in a topsy turvey match. They went 2-0 up but were pegged back to 2-1 shortly before half time.

They then went 3-2 down when Latymer were awarded two penalties but finished running out 5-3 winners with two goals from Ryan Wood and one each for Vince Cruickshank, Mike Strickland and Anthony Storey. The fifth team are in the semi final of the AFA Intermediate Novets cup after winning 5-4 verses Old Actonian VI (see match report). In a game they seemingly had won easily after 80 minutes when they were 5-1 up with a hat-trick from Steve Clarke Johnson and a pair from Kemar Gordon, the wheels came off when their goalkeeper was sent off and they were pulled back to 5-4 which was the final score. The sixth team and Veteran team did not play.

Saturday January 26th

It looks like you can perm any two from three in the Intermediate North division as the Egbertians, William Fitt and Parkfield II seem to be the strongest teams to date. With that in mind results against the "lesser" teams will be important and the first teams game verses Leyton County OB was crucial as they are probably "the best of the rest". You may recall that Leyton pipped them for the second promotion spot on goal difference last season when the ones were our second team in Division One. In a tight game (see match report) the first prevailed 1-0 with a goal from Adam McKinnon. The third team stopped a run of six defeats with a creditable 1-1 draw verses Albanian.

Whisper it but we may have another cup final in our midst. The fourth team had a great result in the AFA cup quarter final beating Old Easthamians V 2-0 with goals from Graham Bass and Ryan Wood. This puts them in the semi final which will be the first AFA cup semi final for the club for many years. In addition we have the first team in the AFA quarter final (playing on Saturday) whilst the fifth team are in the quarter finals of both the LOB and AFA cups. The fifth team had solid victory verses Old Woodhouseians V winning 2-0 with goals from Steve Clarke Johnson and Daniel Steele (see match report). The sixth team almost scored double figures against Southgate County V beating them 9-1. There were four goals for Mark Newman, which leaves him two behind the clubs leading goalscorer (see scorers), a brace for James Crispin and one each for Richard Offord, James Hall and Lee Peters. The second and Vet teams did not play.

Saturday January 19th

All games were cancelled due to unfit pitches.

Saturday January 12th

Only three games survived the weather. The second team had a good victory over Old Edmontonians II winning 5-2 with two goals from Andy Middleton and one each for Mark Buckley, Tom White and Simone Grattarola. The fifth team came back from being one goal behind on three occasions to eventually beat Davenant Wanderers 5-3 (see match report in results an scorers section). Steve Clark Johnson scored four in this hard fault victory and Jordan Morris scored directly from a free kick. The Vets played Theydon Bois and lost 5-1. Tom Barry scored their only goal.

Saturday January 5th

The first team had a solid victory verses Old Woodhouseians winning 3-0 with goals from Joe Lustig, Jack Lustig and Adam McKinnon. The firsts did not play well but were 2-0 up at half time and added a third in the second half without really pushing themselves. The second team played out a 1-1 draw with Queen Mary College. Ewan Thomson scored for the reserves. The third team lost their sixth consecutive game but by all accounts things were better. They should have probably won this game having been 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go with goals from Dan Jolley and Sean Baptiste but it was not to be as Queen Mary II fought back and scored four late on without reply. The fourth team played top of the table and unbeaten Old Aloysians V. Ryan Wood scored a hat trick but still lost in a seven goal thriller with Old Aloysians winning 4-3. The fifth team won their ninth game in a row verses Wood Green OB IV in the LOB Cup which now puts them in the Quarter Finals (verses UCL Acedemicals V). Steve Clarke Johnson scored a brace which puts him on 20 goals for the season and there were goals for Kemar Gordon and Daniel Steele. The sixth team bowed out of the AFA cup losing 2-1 to Old Parmiterians VII. In a hard fought Mark Newman equalised in the first half with a good finish but lost the tie when a defensive mix allowed Parms to score the winner with five minutes to play.

The season so far (up to December 22nd 2007)

It has been a good first half of the season so far and generally our captains can be pleased with the way that their teams have performed.

You may recall that we realigned some of the club teams for this season and made last seasons second team our first team and visa versa. If you recall they won the LOB Cup and finished runners up in their division (North One) so it was a logical step.

Under Ramon Navarro the first team have continued where they left off from last season and are currently in third position in Intermediate North having played two games less than their rivals. It’s rather early days but the strongest teams seem to be our first team, William Fitt and Parkfield II. The firsts have also reached the quarter final of the AFA Cup, which for a club of our junior status is notoriously difficult to win. Their success has been based on a very solid defence who have only conceded seven league goals including two in their only league defeat. The only disappointing result was an early exit in the LOB Cup, which as mentioned earlier they won last season (albeit a different competition).

It’s difficult to gauge how the second team under Mark Buckley are really doing as they have played less games than everybody else. They currently lie in second last position but winning their games in hand (in some cases they have four games in hand) will push them well up the table. They can now concentrate on the league as they are out of both the AFA and LOB Cups.

The third team results under first time captain Skutt Hoare have been mixed which is a result of the kind of team Skutt can field and fielding anywhere near the same team as the previous week has been very difficult. If they can field their strongest team then they are very competitive. If they can’t then they are less so. They lost their first three games, won their next five but have since lost their last five games which has coincided with several key players being injured or unavailable. Hopefully can regroup and come back strongly in the New Year.

Danny Rhone’s fourth team are effectively a new team to the club this season and consist of several players from last season and some new players. After an initial settling in period they are performing well and recent results have been much improved and they are still in the AFA but out of the LOB Cup.

The fifth team under the captaincy of Andrew Williams have carried on their good form of last season when they won their division and after having lost two of their opening three games have since won their last eight games including good victories in the LOB and AFA Cups, where they are now in the quarter finals.

There seems to be several strong teams in this division (North six) and they will hopefully win their games in hand to stay in touch wit the leaders.

The sixth team under Grant Harris and ably assisted by Stuart Niall are having a good season and are right up there in the league in fourth position with games in hand. Again this is a tough division (North 8) with Old Edmontonians V undefeated and Old Minchendenians IV having only lost one game seemingly the team to beat. The sixth team are still in the AFA cup.

The Veteran team have played three games which they have lost including a heavy defeat in the AFA cup.