2nd XI Match Reports

Old Westminster Citizens 2 - 3 Broomfield 2 28/02/04

It was to be the last big adventure of the season for the Broomfield team as they ventured into South London. After the last debacle when we kicked off an hour late we all left on time making sure that lightning would not strike twice. Richard tuned his state of the art satelite system into the ground address, Gary re-did the knowledge for the trip and we even employed some South London trackers to make sure we would be ok. Everybody was there with plenty of time to spare.....except Gary and Richard who took a new route......via France, thus . we kicked off late again with a referee who was famously ignored by the Samaritans for having a bad attitude, things did not augur well for the Brooms from the lane.

The game began and Brooms were quickly in full flow playing some decent football with Gary running the midfield like a general and it wasn't long before Joel put us one up with a cool finish from a Carlo pass. Within ten minutes it was 2.0 after Gary put Joel through again with the pass of the season, picking it up in midfield and threading it through the Citz defence like a surgeon,Joel made it look easy and we were flying. Citz began to put us under pressure with strong runs from midfield and Adam who was having another excellent game was keeping us alive with some excellent saves and organisation, however even he could not stop the Citz scoring to make it 2.1 after some strong midfield play down the left, an area not helped by Peter Kirk having a cheat who did not go with him once during the game, an area that we have struggled to sort out all season, we are just too honest, well all of us except Fod who has been known to go through some of his letters every now and then when times were rough, looking for a spot of change or a giro.

Half time came and Brooms trooped off very happy for some wise words from Mick and some Kennady quotations to keep the morale up. Gary was having a blinder but he sacrificed himself to allow Ian Monk a chance to play. We were under terrible pressure as their midfield took a grip and it was only through fantastic defending from Neil, Dean and Andy T that we kept the lead. However a good team can win ugly and it looked all over when the "Love Daddy" Joel scored again to complete a fine treble after some good play by Richard "The Navigator" Wescott.

Much respect goes out to my South London Brothers who did not give up the fight and started pushing everybody up in an attempt to score. The plucky Brennan was fortunate not to give a penalty away when he took the striker's feet, knees and midrift away in a last ditch tackle, but the referee ruled that I got the ball, and I agreed after the game that he was right, as I scrubbed his back and gently toweled him down. Back to the game it was all hands on deck as we battled the Citz and after some sloppy defending(not from the defence mind) it was 3.2, the ball going in between more legs than Paul Hamilton on Viagra.Mick and Gary roared us on and it was similar to that scene in the second Lord of the Rings film at Helms Deep as the Citz were coming at us from all fronts but we stood firm.

We all battled from Louis in the middle to the brilliant Adam in goal, the ref blew, the game was over, another game that Fulham Youth also known as Alexander Park have to win, as they attemt to catch us to win the league. Not far away a small figure stirred in his drunken stupor, unbeknown to him, a smile appeared along his sleeping face, it was our beloved manager Fod, not with us due to excessive celebrating, his team had won, again. Just a jovial, bubbly postman but The Broomfield seconds love him.

As we left South London for the last time this season one could hear them sighing with relief, well you could if you blocked out all the sirens and the gunfire, and the drug dealing, and all the other stuff that "sarfff Lundun" produced, Ahh yes I remember it well. Roll on the Lyonians for the team of the year, if the league was won on spirit and commitment alone then the Broomfield seconds would have the trophy already.

Up The Brooms !!!!!!

C.B.

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Broomfield 7 – 1 Southgate Olympic 21/02/04

One of those days when we looked like scoring every time we attacked, and literally did.

Steve Carrington (2), Richard Wescott, Peter Kirk, an og and Lee Knight (2) were on target as we overran Southgate at the back to notch up our biggest victory of the season. To be fair to Southgate, Adam Bishop did make four outstanding saves to keep us in it at critical times of the match, but they really did catch us on fire attacking wise.

Steve Carrington, back from his cameo role in the first team, was back to his lively best and caused Southgate’s defence no end of problems. Carlo covered every blade of grass, and Dean got forward from left back and drove in quality cross after quality cross with a left foot that seems to have improved the balance of the side.

Our goal difference is improving after every game, and we can only wait and see if our dodgy Christmas and New Year form will cost us dear in our promotion push, with the young and talented AP side having so many games in hand on us.

A.T

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Old Westminster Citz 1 – 3 Broomfield 14/07/04

A nightmare journey meant the 2nd team were late in arriving for this game, which was always going to be a difficult encounter against a very committed OWC who beat us comprehensively the last time we played.

The referee decided it was only going to be 30 minutes each way, and it was backs to the wall stuff early on as OWC were clearly pumped up and seemed to be first to everything. However, Broomfield withstood the early onslaught and took the lead when Peter Kirk stabbed the ball home from close range following a scramble in the box.

Second half saw Brooms increase the lead when Carlo Fiorentini scored from close range after a deflected free kick, and Joel Regisford netted a penalty to make it 3-0. OWC did manage to score a consolation goal but Broomfield held firm at the back with Adam Bishop in commanding form in goal. Andy Tomaso tried his best to get knocked out again when he decided to head Neil Donovan’s head instead of the ball, but alas, it wasn’t hard enough to have Richard Wescott push him around in a wheelchair again in the local hospital.

A really gritty away performance that more than made up for our poor showing against OWC earlier in the season.

A.T.

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Broomfield 5 - 2 Old Parkonians 22/11/2003

It was a typically wet day as the Broomfield seconds ran out on to their reserve pitch at Hazelwood. The pitch was in great shape as according to Andy T, it had been specially looked after by Fod's new brother, the parkie. Maybe it was because of this that Fod turned in a dynamic performance from the word go. The game began slowly with both sides guilty of shocking football, each time we started to play things looked great but our final ball was shocking. However before we knew it Carlo put us ahead with a superb header from just inside the box and we then entered a dazzling ten minute spell which saw us go 3.0 up after two further goals from the weasel Carrington who along with Jamie was having a blinder, battling back and being creative. Parks were shell shocked and looked pensive as they went off at half time. The football was good with a slow build up and we even listened to Mick for once by going backwards to play football.Kaz was knocking some sweet balls off the side of his foot as he broke in his Tesco Predators and all and sundry were looking comfortable on the ball. Gary was having a blinder at the back, it seemed his anger management classes were working, constant calls to Mike Tyson, Vinny Jones and the Rock looked to be working when alas, a stray punch to the face of a Parks player broke the spell after a late tackle that almost caught Gary's tackle. There was only one card to get and the Brooms were down to ten. Rich filled in at the back next to a superb but subdued Brennan and after a mishap he knocked into his own net, Rich that is. Oh no!

Were the Brooms about to be pegged back. No way son, up stepped Jamie to power in a beauty from just inside the half way line. Then under a lot of pressure we were hit again , Parks finally using their last man properly to make it 4.2. There then followed a bizarre moment when Neil who had a blinder despite his dress sense threw a ball to Adam, who was actaully fixing the net at the time, he just made it out to clear, but at least he was there because we did actually lose him for the half time talk.

The game was finally over when Rich ran the full length of the pitch , beating six players before shinning a shot over the keeper for Neil watson to score on his debut. 5.2 and the game was won. It was a happy Fod in the bar as he commented on his excellent play, as Gary rang his therapist, as Kaz polished his boots, as Adam ate his fish and chips and as Neil read his Millets catalogue. Three more wins is the aim before Santa empties his heavy sack, let's hope they get what they wish for. Good luck to to Andy T who begins his work as Ronnie O' Sullivans body double in the forthcoming picture "ooh Ronnie lay me out on the baize" it is christmas and he does need the money. The last word of a great day goes to our Guru, our guide, our motivator Mick Young who when asked about the game replied "Does anybody know anything about radiators ?" The adventure continues November 29th.......

CB

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Broomfield 5 - 1 Old Lyonians 01/11/2003

It was a lovely wintry day as the Brooms hoped to continue their excellent recent form with a win over Lyonians at Hazelwood. Fod named a strong side with a few changes from last weeks win over Kew. Lyonians began well and the Brooms looked as if they were still in the car until someone noticed that we were at home. It was all scrappy until Steve Weasel Carrington made a superb interception for Joel to put us into the lead with a superb chip from the Brennan book of skills he recently purchased. Slowly Carlo, Jamie(weasel no 2) and Kaz began to take hold of the midfield and the football began to flow like a fine wine.

Brooms were playing from the back through Neil and the Likely lads Gary and Andy. As they played Gary and Andy reminisced about the old days, the Blitz on London,Churchill and World war 1, during their teens, many a bombsite was visited and the two chums chatted gaily together. A spark was needed and young Clyde Brennan gave it with a powerful headed goal from just outside the box, rising above four defenders to put it in. 2.0 and the boys were taming the Lions. All the good football needed an end and Joel got his second after more great weasel work from Jamie. Mick gave us some excellent advice at the break and Fod gave Rick his chance to shine in midfield. As usual the team listened to Mick and we quickly let in a goal, for which Brennan was blameless. Paul Beethoven Dorling then kept us in it with a fine stop, were the Brooms going to throw it all away ? Up stepped Joel to beat 6 players on a mazy run that began in his own half to complete his hat trick. The football was confident all over the park and many an onlooker were astonished at the pace and culture of the football. Rick looks quite a find and it is great that Andy T has finally found a friend at the club, especially as the Samaritans so recently threw the phone down on him and got a restraining order out. However this does not affect his heading which was tested in the last minute when the Lyonians keeper dropped the ball on his head and then left the goal. 5.1 and the Brooms were sweeping all before them. As we left the Hazelwood field of dreams to head for the luxury showers Fod was clearly seen contemplating the 4 other players available for the next game, it is a nice problem.

Fod has been a revelation this season, both on and off the field, he brings up memories of famous leaders like Hannibal, Churchill and Barry Fry, his part time studying of a psychology degree is also helping as one remembers his motivatory words at Alexandra Park early in the season " Lads they are only a young side, 14 or 15, so intimidate the little xxxxs and kick em in the xxxxxng air" spoken like a true scholar, roll on the season.

CB

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Broomfield 3 - 0 Kew Association 25/10/2003

Scorers: Darren Barnes, Own Goal, Chris.

Our unbeaten league form continued with a 3-0 home victory over Kew at Hazlewood on Saturday.

Despite having half a team struggling with injuries and flu symptoms, we managed to compete with a lively and well prepared Kew side. The first half saw us enjoy some neat flowing attacking moves, only for us to seem to want to walk the ball into the net when perhaps a couple of first time shots might have seen us score earlier than we did. Kew on the other hand, despite some good approach play, never really threatened Adam in goal in the first half.

A ten minute period before the end of the first half saw us pile on some pressure, and just after Andy Tomaso hit the post, Darren Barnes turned in a deep cross with a superb looping header over the Kew keeper for us to take 1-0 lead into half time.

The second half saw us grow stronger, and cause more danger to the Kew defence. We added to our lead when Steve Carrington escaped from the Kew defence and saw his cross deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Kew defender. We put the game beyond doubt in the final ten minutes when a bad ball out from the Kew defence was picked up by Chris who calmly picked his spot.

A good performance which saw Jamie Bricknall put in a fine performance at wing back and Carlo Fiorentini perform and admirable job switching to right wing back at half time. The team continues to make good progress.

AT

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Old Finchleans 1 - 0 Broomfield 18/10/2003

A small pitch and two extremely competitive teams saw Broomfield 2nd XI lose a scrappy game 1-0 in the AFA cup.

It was not a game for the football purist, or the faint hearted, as neither team allowed the other any time or space on the ball. Tackles flew in from the first minute and it was clear that free flowing football was not the order of the day. The only goal was scored in the first half, when a free kick was launched deep into our half, and the lively Finchleans forward just got to the ball before Adam Bishop to nod it into the net.

We could have equalised on a couple of occasions when Steve Carrington hit a first time volley over the bar and Neil Donovan hit a shot that grazed the top of the crossbar. However, Adam did keep us in the game in the second half with a top class save from a well taken Beckham style free-kick.

A frustrating game for us, in the sense that we could not really put our foot on the ball and pass it like we have done recently. Credit must go to Finchleans however for denying us the time and space to do that. A tight game against good opposition two divisions above us which underlines the progress the 2nd XI have made under Fod’s guidance this season.

A T