Mick Morris, Andy Crayden
Zafir Jamil (GK), Ronnie Forbes, Dominic Legister, Ewan Tocher, Charlie Hewett, James Bowen, Joseph Shepherd, Jack Harris, Alfie Jenner, Harry Morris
Pre-Season Training starts Sat Sep 1st, time/ venue to be confirmed.
A convincing result to end a fantastic season in our last seven-a-side match.The game started well with a great captains goal from Joe set up by a good corner from Alfie.Nice to see Harry back on the scoresheet with a real goal poachers hat-trick.The other goal coming from a neat shot by Ewan.Despite the game being interupted by lightning the boys all stayed focused especially Domonic who played with superb composure.
We can all take a break now but can also look forward to a new challenge,11-a-side football.If we play like we did today i'm sure we will have another great season.
WELL DONE TO ALL THE LADS.
Zafir-Some great performances between the sticks.
Joe-Defended with determination at all times.
Dom-All round ability and great skill.
Ronnie-Always gives 100%.
Ewan-9 League goals.
Alfie- Great passing skills.
Charlie-Brave tackling at all times.
James-Quick and agile.
Jack-14 League and Cup goals.
Harry-A real goal poacher.
This game proved to be the battle of the season for the boys.The way they all played was a credit as it was our most determined display of the season. To add to an extremly hard match matters went against us with both Domonic and Harry carried off in this physical but fair encounter.
All credit must go to Enfield as our best two games this season have come against them in which our lads raised their game another level to match our strong opponents.
Well done lads, which is more than you can say to that lot from WD18!!
If the boys played the whole match like they did the last 10 minutes we would have come away with the three points.After going behind to an early goal it took time for us to get into the game.The second half saw a dramatic improvement in particular some great passing from Alfie and a neat finish by James near the end to equalise.
The bottom line is we need to win all our remaining games to finish in the top two. WHERE HAVE I HEARD THAT BEFORE?!
A great result to complete the double over Bedmond and to make it now 10 games unbeaten in the league. Nice to see Zafir score his first goal of the season. A re-arranged formation to accomodate the loss of under the weather Harry saw a good all round demonstration of teamwork and passing.As ever well done Charlie for stepping in goal to perform a couple of terrific saves.
Bring on Enfield away next week.Aren't they second with us third? Sounds familiar, a massive game ahead. Like the Yellow Army our aim a top two finish to round of a great season.We will certainly give it our best and i hope they do as well!
An entertaining game in which we feel we should have come away with all three points.After a tense first half the second certainly belonged to us.We created several good chances but finding the net was not going to happen this Mothering Sunday.Joe and Dom were solid at the back as ever giving nothing away. Like Watford a well earned point this weekend!
After going a goal down in the first minute and in general a sloppy first half by the Hawks half time could not come quick enough.Two early goals in the second half saved our bacon in a much improved display all round.Nice to see Harry score again and as ever some good defending but still room for improvement.Back to the training ground
A well earned win against a very strong team.Special mention to Charlie, our deputy keeper for the day for a string of great saves and also to Alfie for a great display of passing and vision.Next stop "The Premier League"!
After 5 straight wins we have to settle for a draw.3-0 down with 9 minutes to go would suggest that once again we were the winners.As ever a great performance by Ronnie and well done to James for his last gasp equaliser.Like Watford we never give up!
Our first double of the season.Special mention to Ewan for taken his total to 5 against them.
Our best win of the season against a very strong unbeaten side.Joe at the back was superb.
A hard fought victory in horrible wet conditions,well done Ronnie first goal of the season.
A fine win to start the year with a cracking goal by Jack and a couple of great saves by Zafir.
Sated from a wonderful Breakfast of Parma ham, Parmesan Cheese, a little olive oil with anchovies and a rather tart Chianti, our early morning meeting at the Grove, with Fabio Capello, bolstered our confidence for the game to come. No we were not discussing the nuances of grass roots football with the Don, it just happens that Andy, now known as Gianfranco, happens to be loved up with an Italian bird, who has Mafia connections !. (more of this later).
A return to league football, saw us compete against a strong London Road side, who from the warm up, looked eager to give us a robust test. Despite playing with a man down, London Road more than made up for this with a strong physical presence, so much so, that I am sure I shared a pint with their Centre Forward the night before.
Conceding a goal in the first few minutes, through some sloppy midfield play, drastic action was called for and Gianfranco had no hesitation in substituting the entire midfield, whom looked like they were suffering from jet lag, due to the ten minute journey to St.Albans.
This certainly livened things up and, within minutes after some great interlinking play between Jack and Harry, saw Joseph nip in to claim the equaliser. Things now continued in the same vein, with their confidence restored the Hawks maintained a workman like performance, passing, moving and keeping a fluid momentum going, causing the opposition to tire and whilst Joseph was down from injury, Jack took advantage of a slow defence, to put us in front. A number of more halftime changes, saw the Hawks came out with all guns blazing and with `YoYo` Ewan, having dusted off his `Disco Boots`, eager to impress the loyal Wag following on the touchline, more goals were inevitable, Harry nicked one, but Man of the Match Ewan , went on to impress with a superb `hat trick`, putting the game completely out of reach for our opponents.
Well played Lads.
Gianfranco and myself, would like to wish all of our `Family`, the Mums & Dads, Players and their Siblings, a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Now, about that Italian bird, wait a minute, there are two blokes in sunglasses and overcoats at the door. I`ll get back to you.
To Northwood and yes Gobal Warming again!, minus 2 degrees, wind, rain, sleet and they say the ice caps are melting, tosh. To the football and no I am not coming over all self-righteous, become Reverend Morris, seen the light, touched by God, affected by the Spirits(maybe brandy) and yes my language can be colourful, my humour cynical, my morals suspect, I kick the Dog and I avoid the Congestion Charge, but despite being as popular as sand paper on a lap dancing pole, my sporting & fair play ethics are beyond reproach.
So to say I was a tad disappointed with the feast of abject inertia dished up by Northwood, is mildly understated.
A sad day for youth football
I would like to point out that under the guidance and philosophy of Andy and myself (god I sound like wegner), the Hawks are currently recognised by the WFL, as the most sporting team in their league. The trophy is in the cabinet.
For Wine, Women & Song, read Vodka, Sinning & just plain Wrong. Yes it was the quarterly meeting of Friends & Fathers of Nascot Wood on Friday the sixteenth, a bonding session for those who wish to do just that little bit extra for club and community.
To the football. Although we lost, the scoreline in no way reflects the true nature of the game. Apart from the goals conceded, the Hawks totally dominated and, with just that little bit of luck, would have run out clear winners.
The lads played fantastically well, with a sense of purpose and commitment which produced some scintillating football, great passing and awareness was topped off by plenty of goal mouth incidents and chances. We were particularly pleased with the way the team used many of the routines practised in training. The game was also played at a great pace, marshalled by the debonair Mr Tocher senior, who incidentally appeared to look the same shade of green as his favourite Tartan ?. (his he a friend of nascot wood)?.
One mitigating factor that contributed to the spurious scoreline, was definitely the weather, it was freezing. This brings me to mention the meeting of the so called Global Warming experts who convened in Valencia this week, first we had Chinese Flu,(20 million dead), then SARS, (15 million dead), then Foot&Mouth, (5 million dead), Bird Flu, ( 65 million dead), HIV, ( 100 million dead), The Millenium Bug, ( the world comes to an end), Blue Tongue, a Hole In the Ozone Layer, (the world ends again, but now has miraculously repaired itself), GM Crops, (we all eat ourselves to death) and Now GLOBAL WARMING, well I can tell the experts, that the Polar Bears in Radlett are dying, not from a Heat Wave, but bleedin Frost Bite.
Well Done Lads.
P.S. the next meeting of the Friends & Fathers is 21/12/2007, 7.00pm sharp.
With Rememberance Sunday respectfully observed, we looked forward to entertaining a lively Leverstock side in the third round of the Challenge Cup. It became quickly apparent that remembering was the key element displayed today, as the performance produced by the Hawks was sadly lacking in anything remembered from the training ground.
The positives from the game, a rousing Captains effort from Joseph and once again, continuing from last week, a superb solo effort from James “Twinkle Toes” Bowen and a resplendent referees performance from Mr B senior.
The negatives, slow in the tackle, very little passing and a total aversion to the physical aspects of the game.
Irrespective of enticing the wrath of the Health & Safety brigade, football is still a physical contact sport. Until we accept that, we have to be prepared to get involved and not be intimidated, we will continue to be beaten by lesser footballing sides, who will simply muscle us out of games.
A huge amount of time and effort, not to mention associated outer curricular activities are spent by Andy and myself to give these lads the best opportunities and facilities to make the most of their footballing education. In return all we ask is their commitment for two hours on a Saturday and forty minutes on a Sunday.
On today`s performance, all we have achieved so far is, one player who can take a proper throw in, one player who is prepared to head the ball and possibly only two or three who can execute a decent tackle. Most shy away from the ball and continue to turn their backs on the play. The occasional shot on target or neat sidestep is of no real benefit if we are all not prepared to put the effort in elsewhere on the pitch.
Any progress to be made must me constant and measurable, the lads must be made aware it is their responsibility to make the effort. They are now old enough to be accountable for any lack of commitment. Listen & Learn, or eleven a side football next season is only a remote possibility.
Congratulations to Leverstock and good luck in the next round.
Forget about November the 5th going with a bang!, the Hawks lit up the 4th with an explosion of goal scoring, the reverberations of which were felt all the way to Vicarage Road.
With the delirious home supporters breaking into a chorus of "we want ten", the footballing feast of fireworks served up by the Hawks was scrumptious. We had goals that consisted of a couple of "rockets" a "master blaster", two "crackers" and a "neutron bomb" of a goal by James Bowen, who not content with beating six of the opposition, went on to round three of his own players before slotting the ball home, with the niftiest of footwork, not witnessed since Fred Astaire with flinging Ginger Rogers all over Broadway. I am sure our referee, the ever impartial Mr Bowen Senior was heard singing "that’s my boy" for the rest of the game!
Marshalled by our Captain Joseph, all of the lads gave an impressive performance, despite Harry doing his impersonation of "Le Sulk" until he managed to score, everyone played with the determination and composure we know they are capable of producing. Well done lads.
A special mention also for Gadeside, who despite the defeat, continued to play in the most sporting manner.
The History of Football: Part Two
Determined to carry on from re-in acting highlights from yesteryear, (we have already had Bob Stokoe's pitch invasion), Andy this week gave us the infamous "Dentists Chair". Lying prone on the pitch, arms and legs akimbo, he was tonight Mathew, Paul Gascoigne, worryingly appearing to revel in being doused by a plethora of water bottles, from a manically excited team.
At home for our first league fixture of the season, saw us entertain Harvesters East in an eagerly waited start to the season proper.
Having seen the England Rugby team, lose the previous nights World Cup Final, the sight of the parents scrum round the kettle in the changing rooms' kitchen was a delight to behold.
The football produced though, was somewhat less delightful as we were guilty of contributing to our own downfall against a very mediocre Harvesters side.
Very little went right for the Hawks, as our overall performance lacked the creativity and discipline that we have produced in earlier games.
The first half was disrupted due to an injury to James who took a nasty ball in the face and he had to be subbed early.
Despite Harry pulling one back to equalize, the game passed us by, even though the introduction of Ewan on for the second half did liven things up, Harvesters went on to score another couple of scrappy goals to put the game out of reach. The one highlight was the masterful refereeing display from Mark Bowen, laid back and resplendently attired in sun glasses.
Back to the drawing board?
To the country and an early start for a visit to our farming friends in deepest Hertford. Travelling convoy style it was not long before one of the parents had a 'Penelope Pitstop' moment and the rest questioned my sense of direction as I led from the front.
Undaunted, we finally arrived to find a pitch that had obviously been marked out with someone suffering from an acute 'Tom Thumb' inferiority complex, as the pitch measured roughly 6"x10".
Unfazed, and with Andy adapting his tactics, the lads set about giving a master class in small sided soccer, In the most literal of senses.
Keeping the ball on the ground and playing some deft one touch football the Hawks controlled the game from the off. With a shoot on sight policy, the first to almost score was Zafir our goalkeeper with a neat chip from his own area???
Jack Harris broke the deadlock and went on to get another to give us a comfortable halftime lead. Hertford came out for the second half intent on making up the deficit with some robust football, not realising that Joseph, taking time off from his day job as an enforcer for the Sopranos, would be more than a match for any rough stuff. At one stage his body count was at least three of the opposition, all left lying wondering what had hit them.
Playing good football coupled with our sportsmanship in the face of adversity saw us go on to score three more times. Harris Morris continuing goal hanging brought him two poaches goals and a sublime jink, a touch of a shoulder dip and great finish saw Alfie Jenner, net the goal of the match.
Well done to every one of the lads for an impressive all round performance.
Accepting an invitation for a friendly game, it was off to the Moatfield for a lunchtime kick off against local rivals Bushey Rangers.
With a depleted squad, two players partying and one lending their support to their adoptive uncle, Harry Redknapp, it left us down to the bare bones for our encounter with a formidable Bushey side.
Any trepidation was dismissed as the Hawks set a blistering pace and quite frankly played the opposition off the park. Playing some neat football that produced attack after attack, it was not long before our forward for the day, Jack, popped up and slotted home for a deserved lead. With Joseph resembling an agitated "Chopper Harris" and Ewan gleefully assisting, very little got through our midfield, on the odd occasion Bushey did manage to threaten our goal, Zafir was in commanding form and confidently dealt with everything thrown at him.
Due to the relentless pace, the second half saw us start to tire quite drastically and miss many clear cut chances. Bushey, having the luxury of at least five substitutes and the impetus of fresh legs, coupled with the fact, that the referee obviously had Bushey Rangers FC tattooed on his arse, proved too much for the lads and they managed to take the lead just before the final whistle.
Not much to be disappointed about, if we can continue to maintain the level of football we are currently playing, things can only get better? (famous last words).
Well done lads.
To Northwood, for the lunchtime kick off against our old foes Eastbury Farm and the daunting prospect of attempting to play football on a pitch whose sloping aspect resembled the east face of Mount Everest.
Unperturbed, the Hawks set about their task with real gusto, determined to play a slick passing game to counter Eastbury’s more robust style of play.
It was immediately apparent that the more intense training sessions were paying dividends, as the whole team put into practise everything they have learned in the past couple of weeks.
Solid tackling and precision passing was the name of the game and Andy’s set pieces at corners and free kicks had Eastbury on the back foot for most of the game.
Tacking an early lead from a sublime goal by Harry Morris, who tucked it away from the most acute of angles, was only a taster of what was to come.
Despite a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Eastbury to equalise the Hawks completely dominated the play and with Jack Harris wearing the Captains arm band and raising his game to another level, there was only going to be one winner.
The second half saw Jack completely control the game, with his endless running and enthusiasm he dictated all our attacking moves and even got back to defend when needed. With Eastbury conceding a free kick just by the half way, there was only one player to take it, step forward Jack. With pin point accuracy, Jack planted the ball in the top corner giving the stunned goalkeeper no chance. Five minutes later after a goal mouth scramble, who popped up to secure the points with his second goal, Jack.
With the supporters now delirious, the highlight to the afternoon was Andy Crayden re-enacting Sunderland’ Bob Stokoe legendary one man Wembley pitch invasion circa 1970’s.
Well done to all the lads for a great game.
Our new home was the venue for Sundays fixtures and a warm welcome was extended to the hawks by Radlett Cricket Club, or their first home game at their new abode. An air of professionalism surrounded the ground. Stewards (me) overseeing parking, tickets checked by security (Andy), an early inspection of the pitch by our groundsman, home and away changing rooms, showers, toilets, no dogs mess, no broken glass, no snotty nosed council officials. Hot and cold running tea and coffee was on hand for the spectators, sadly the delivery of Pukka Pies failed to materialise, so they had to make do with prawn sandwiches.
With the mums swooning at the presence of a sun tanned former Dutch international footballer in the crows, dispensing autographs as if his life depended on it, the dads were swooning at the prospect of the bar being shortly opened. Me and Andy were swooning at the prospect of playing Hadley.
Always a pleasure to entertain Hadley, the game went much as expected. Hadley with a strong physical presence in the early stages were well matched for much of the first half, with their goals coming from some sloppy marking on our behalf. Our back pairing Ronnie and Ewan snuffed out most of the opponents attacks, which helped us to launch our own counters, for some great end to end stuff. The injection of some fresh legs at half time. Jack, James and Dom (who all incidentally had been on night manoeuvres for Baden Powells finest) brought us right back into the game, with Dom scoring a great predators goal and jack rattling the woodwork with an amazing shot from distance. Unfortunately James suffered a bit of a knock and with the rest of the lads tiring, Hadley managed to score again and bag the result. I must also mention Zaf who had an absolutely blinder between the sticks.
Not much to be disheartened about this performance, much improved on our last game with the lads showing an awareness which has been lacking. If we can tighen up our marking, improve our passing and be a little stronger in the tackle, we should gain the confidence to keep a consistency to our game.
Well played lads.To St.Albans Rangers, for the first game of the season. With expectations running high after an impressive pre-seaon, the following match turned out to be possibly one of the most dissapointing team performances we have yet to witness. suffice to say, we are unable to make any further comment.