1st XI Match Reports
BROOMFIELD 4 – 3 ALBANIANS – 17th November 2007
MIDDLESEX/ESSEX A F A SENIOR CUP
“BROOMS STAR IN MISSION IMPOSSIBLE GAME ”
Tom (Cruise!) Givens Broomfield’s Pin-up Boy on Saturday
The Blue Onlooker
WARNING AFTER READING THIS REPORT IT WILL SELF DESTRUCT
Cue well-known film theme tune – Blue Shirts on, Blow Whistle, lights, cameras, and action! Is your correspondent getting carried away with this supposedly factual match report? Probably, but this dramatic match was something of a Mission Impossible and The Great Escape all rolled into one, and hat-trick hero Tom Givens does have to mysteriously miss some games to work on film shoots.
Most of Broomfield’s attacking intentions where initially “liquidated” by a hard working Albanians team that once in possession played some of the best football seen at Hazelwood this season. It could be said that the first-half of the match was dull in comparison to the second but it was never the less full of good football with the buoyant away side deservedly coming in at half time with a one-goal lead from a penalty conceded by an anxious Brooms defence.
Things soon got desperate following their all too familiar lack-lustre start to the second-half, Brooms found themselves deservedly two-goals down after the perplexed home side failed to deal with a long throw-in. The Game’s plot began to quicken when with thirty minutes left on a “loudly ticking” match clock, when Givens pulled one back, firing home a fierce low cross shot following a fine mid-field move.
Disappointedly the game apparently looked “shot to pieces” for Brooms as Albanians administered what looked like the “coup-de–grace” with a well-taken goal to make it three-one. However the fuse taper to this explosive match was then well and truly ignited, when up strode Givens to deliver a goal of brutal power from an acute angle, which lodged ominously between the top stanchion and the adjacent net. Brooms smelt Albanian blood and ferociously attacked, “blitzing” the Albanian goal and as time began to ebb away, the hard working Scot Wallace seized on a loose ball outside the area to “rifle” in a classy equaliser. With Brooms spurning a series of good chances and everyone contemplating extra time the “Golden Givens” suddenly appeared in the dying embers of this memorable match to heroically force a loose ball over the line for an improbable winner.
So a happy ending to this particular football drama, with the lethal Tom Givens blowing away the smoke from his metaphoric magnum gun and disappearing into the club-house in the sunset, although some Brooms supporters say their matches should come with an X-rated certificate, as they are too scary.
BROOMFIELD 3 – 1 BROMLEIANS SPORTS – 10th November 2007
A F A SENIOR CUP
“BROOMS SHOW GOOD PROGRESS”
Danny Nelmes back in action for Brooms after serious injury
The Blue Onlooker
The feel-good factor was certainly in evidence at Hazelwood on Saturday where an improving Broomfield eased into the third round of the Senior Cup with a solid performance against Bromleians Sports from the Kent County League. Reasons to be cheerful were many-fold, particularly the early return of outstanding Centre-Half Danny Nelmes following a miraculous recovery from horrific injury and tragedy.
This was a game of contrasting football styles with Broom’s slick passing game pitched against Bromleians urgently direct approach. The beginning of the first half was a cagey affair with both sides sizing each other up for awhile, however gradually Brooms began to gain control and create chances which drew some outstanding saves from the away side’s giant Goalkeeper, but even his formidable stretch could not prevent the predatory Steve Holliday firing home a teasing cross from Tom Givens to see Broomfield come in one goal to the good at half time.
The predatory Steve Holliday bagged two goals on Saturday
As in previous weeks Brooms level dropped immediately after half-time and for the first twenty minutes after the restart, Bromleians where a threat and deservedly equalized when a route-one pass left a simple chance for the away team’s Centre-Forward, to score from close range. With the home supporters preparing for an anxious finish to the game, Brooms pulled themselves up by the ‘boot-straps’ and proceeded to played some scintillating football and deservedly went in front when a slide-rule pass from Jamie Wildman found James Jacobs free on the left. Jacobs clever cross picked-out Holliday who gleefully buried the ball in the away side’s net. From there on it was all Brooms so it was fitting that they scored a third from a corner, when Simon Pope hooked home a Jacobs’s header.
As they say ‘things can only get better’ the winning habit has returned, long term injuries are healing fast, new signings are gelling in nicely and the youngsters grow in stature by the game, is there, ‘any’ blue pessimists out there?
BROOMFIELD 3 - 3 OLD SALESIANS - 3rd November 2007
SOUTHERN AMATUER LEAGUE DIVISION 1
“BROOM’S SPLIT PERSONALITY ”
The Blue Onlooker
Unfortunately for home supporters Broomfield gave another of those ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ performances that have marked their games in recent times. In this game when they were good it was a pleasure to see their handsome passing game but at other times when hard- pressed by an unbeaten Salesians side, their game became strangely ugly and uncoordinated and in the end they escaped with a point, to possibly frighten their supporter on another day.
Tom Givens whose two goals ‘metamorphosed’ Brooms fortunes last Saturday
The first-half of this game’s story was mainly Brooms with the Old Boys providing little threat. An early individual goal from Tom Givens gave Brooms dominance and they created a series of further good chances from which they should have put the game out of Salesians reach, as it was, poor finishing again cost Brooms valuable points. The away side levelled on the stroke of half time when a long clearance found a forward in what looked like a clear offside position, to add insult to injury he then appeared to run the ball out of touch but with the referee keeping his whistle firmly in his pocket, a hesitant Brooms defence watched the resultant cross, sail over their heads to the only Salesians player in the box who scored with a fine header.
The late first half controversy seemed to upset Brooms and the football plot turned decidedly scary. For the next half hour Salesians out-fought them and deservedly took a two-goal lead with some clinical finishing, although it must be said both goals were a result of weak defending by Brooms. With fifteen minutes to go things looked gruesome for the home side but as if given some strange potion, they completely changed character again and had Salesians ‘on the rack’ with wave after wave of attacks. Tom Givens started the revival with a fine-headed goal and with further chances being spurned, a hero emerged in the shape the young Jamie Wildman who burst through the Salesian’s defence to score an injury time equaliser.
So a deserved point for Brooms but the spoils could have been greater if they had managed to keep their attractive footballing personality under control and to the fore. Their supporter will be hoping for a more consistent appearance in next weeks home AFA Senior Cup match against Kent County League outfit Bromley Sports (K.O. 1-45pm).
BROOMFIELD 8 – 2 SOUTHGATE COUNTY – 27th October 2007
MIDDLESEX/ESSEX A F A SENIOR CUP
“BROOMS SPARKLE IN GOAL SPREE ”
Broomfield FC, Middlesex/Essex Senior
Cup finalists for the last three seasons
The Blue Onlooker
Broomfield began the first round of this historic cup competition hoping to reach the final for a record fourth consecutive time. Judging by this particular performance, the omens look very good indeed. They gave their best performance of the season overwhelming a hapless Southgate County side that had to endure a second cup hammering in as many weeks.
Brooms opened in fine style, peppering the home sides goal and forcing a series of corners and desperately conceded free kicks, one of which the prominent Tom Givens headed powerfully home. A well-worked goal soon followed, finished eagerly by Scott Wallace. Brooms should have scored more goals before the break but the hard pressed home defense just about held together aided it has to be said by some lenient refereeing.
Brooms where caught cold immediately after half-time when County stole away to score. This stung Brooms who instantly replied with two quick fire goals from Wallace who was having a field day against a defense who where unable to deal with his talent. At this stage of the proceedings the floodgates opened and Brooms ran riot with further goals from Steve Holliday (2) Tom Fitzgerald and Wallace who bagged his fourth of the match. To their credit County kept going and where rewarded with a late consolation goal.
Tougher football assignments lie ahead but Brooms appear to be assembling a powerful team capable of challenging on all fronts.
BROOMFIELD 5 – 2 SOUTHGATE COUNTY - 24th October 2007
A F A SENIOR CUP
“BROOMS STAR IN A LATE SHOW ”
The Blue Onlooker
Broomfield progressed to the next round of this much-coveted Cup with victory over AFC League outfit Southgate County. The score line suggests a comfortable victory but it was only in the last twenty minutes of the game that Brooms surged decisively ahead to put a spirited County side out of the Cup.
County, whose more cohesive teamwork unsettled a lethargic Broomfield, shaded the first half. County scored two well-worked goals against a hesitant Brooms defense and had several other good chances to maybe put the game out of reach of the home side. As it was Brooms where given a lifeline just before half time when Tom Fitzgerald dribbled through the County defense only to be brought down inside the penalty area. Captain James Jacobs converted the subsequent penalty to make Brooms second half prospects look a lot brighter than they had for most of the first half.
The second half was a different affair with Brooms gradually pulling things together and then going on a goal spree in the last twenty minutes. The home side soon equalized when Simon Pope powerfully headed home an accurate Fitzgerald corner. With the next goal being vital it was Brooms who struck following good work from the improving Jamie Collins who won the ball on the halfway line sped forward to receive a clever reverse pass from Dave Townsend and then crossed for Rueben Wells to score the goal of the match. From then on it was all Broomfield and goals followed from Townsend and Jacobs to seal the victory.
By a strange quirk of fate these two sides meet again in the AFA County cup next week. It will be interesting to see how the two sides match up in the second game.
BROOMFIELD 1 – 3 NOTTSBOROUGH – 13th October 2007
SOUTHERN AMATUER LEAGUE DIVISION 1
“BROOMS OUT OF LUCK ”
The Blue Onlooker
Lady Luck seems to currently have no plans to visit Palmers Green as Broomfield’s catalogue of woes continue with five of the regular side forced to miss this match. They succumbed to the league champions in a game that could have gone their way if they had enjoyed a bit of Northborough’s good fortune during this match.
Defensive errors gifted the visitors an early two-goal lead, which was not really merited. Broom to their credit then proceeded to play some sparkling football, which had Notts on the rack for some periods of this game.
James Jacob scored from the penalty spot on Saturday
A Brooms goal seemed inevitable as a result of their attacking pressure, but some resilient defending and then Steve Holliday netting only for the the Linesman to rule offside (wrongly in the home sides opinion) kept the Nott’s goal intact until half-time.
A goal finally came just after interval when a desperate Notts defense conceded a penalty, which was converted by James Jacobs. Brooms came close to a deserved equalizer but the “rub of the green” just would not go their way and with spirits ebbing Notts broke and scored a killer goal close to the end to make the score line look somewhat flattering.
BROOMFIELD 1 – 6 OLD ACTONIANS – 6th October 2007
SOUTHERN AMATUER LEAGUE DIVISION 1
“BROOMS SNARED IN OFFSIDE TRAP”
The Blue Onlooker
With injury and non -availability taking its toll Broomfield where forced to field a much changed side from previous weeks, these circumstances also meant that only one substitute could be named which is really not good enough for football at this level!
In an even first half both sides had plenty of chances with Actonians scoring early and late following some sloppy work by Broom’s somewhat make-shift defense. However Tom Fitzgerald responded with a fine-headed goal from a searching Paul Allman cross.
Unfortunately Brooms had used their only substitute following an early injury to the hapless Danny Swailes and when Simon Pope pulled up with a back injury, they had to play most of the second half with ten men and conceded four goals in almost identical fashion trying to play a suicidal style off-side trap. Even with such heavy reverses Brooms were able to take the game to Actonians and created a number of good chances from which they should have scored.
BROOMFIELD 0 – 0 WINCHMORE HILL – 29th SEPTEMBER 2007
SOUTHERN AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1
“STALEMATE AT THE HILL”
Adam Bishop pushes away a Wayne Foley
free kick in Saturday’s drawn game
(Picture courtesy of Winchmore Hill Web site)
The Blue Onlooker
With both sides seemingly intent on pursuing a physical solution in order to force victory, supporters where unfortunately denied the usual football spectacle enjoyed in recent derby clashes. Broomfield forgot their football and for them their best route to victory thereafter playing a game that suited Winchmore Hill’s attributes far better.
The first period of the first half was Brooms best phase of the game when they moved the ball about creatively and gained early control. However following a succession of ferocious tackles, which left both Tom Niell and Simon Pope, injured the game swung in Hills favour. The remainder of the half was played in a direct fashion with midfield a battleground devoid of much football. Both sides best chance of scoring looked to be from the continual succession of free kicks and corners awarded by a hard-pressed referee.
Hopes of a better second half was soon dispelled as both sides continued in the same fashion as the first. If the game was to be decided on the number of corners awarded the Hill would have secured all three points, then again if it was on free kicks awarded to them, then perhaps Brooms would have taken home the spoils. As it was both sides defences where too good on the day with only Broom’s Tom Fitzgerald looking likely to unlock the Hill, his best effort hitting the foot of the post following a mazy dribble. Miss of the day fell to Rueben Wells flunking a simple second half header when it seemed easier to score.
Not a game for the purists this one especially when at the end of the match, watching the St Johns Ambulance stretcher off the match ball so hard and so far had it been kicked!
BROOMFIELD 1 – 1 CIVIL SERVICE – 22nd SEPTEMBER 2007
SOUTHERN AMATEUR LEAGUE DIVISION 1
“BROOMS TOO CIVIL TO SERVICE”
Adam Bishop and his defence in good
form on Saturday
The Blue Onlooker
Brooms first league effort of the season proved to be far too gentile to bring all three points and at the end of this game they deserved no better than a share of the game’s spoils.
Civil Service started the better of the two sides and for the first twenty minutes their lively forward line gave the home defence a thorough examination. Thankfully on the day the back line and keeper proved to be strongest unit of the Broomfield team.
Rueben Wells celebrates his goal
In the last phase of the first half Brooms enjoyed better possession and began to threaten and almost scored when the prominent Tom Given burst through the Civil defense only to be denied by a blocking save from their keeper. Brooms took the lead after a clever cross from James Jacobs was meet by Paul Allman who headed the ball into the path of Rueben Wells to fire home from close range. At this stage it looked possible Brooms could put the game beyond Civil with further good chances being kept out by their alert keeper.
The half-time break seemed to be to the detriment of the home side as after the restart they suffered their worst spell of the game looking tired and struggling to produce much creative play. Civil pressurized sensing they could get back in the game and sure enough a goal came when a midfield player was allowed to turn unchallenged in the Broom’s penalty area and volley home a smart goal.
With the game possibly slipping away from them Brooms made a tactical change, fortunately this did provide some much needed momentum and the game became more even. In the last twenty minutes both sides had opportunities to take all three points, Brooms best effort came from Josh Taylor whose stinging drive was just tipped round the post by Civil’s keeper.
Brooms could have hoped for a more inspired performance from their opening match but should give credit to an efficient Civil Service side that appeared to have improved over last season. For Brooms it is now a case of steeling themselves in readiness for next weeks derby clash with Winchmore Hill at the Paulin Ground. “Raw meat anybody?”