Football Chiswick W4 London
Meads
Massacre League All-Stars
AFC Select Premiership Champions 0 Old Meadonians
5
In one respect
this headline is unfair. Whilst Meads, all pumped up and rightly proud
of their position as champions, were able to, and did, tear into the opposition,
the ‘Select’, representing the league, and needing to be on their best
behaviour, seemed to play in the more circumspect manner, possibly finding
it hard to answer ‘fire with fire’. On the one occasion that Colin Hawkins
was dumped the partisan crowd roared its disapproval.
Meads’ back four were, ‘comme d’habitude’, mean with the chances they
allowed to the Rep. side, helped out by the usual high work rate in mid-field,
which was inspired by Mr Perpetual Motion, Kevin Quinn, the calm and measured
promptings of Cap’n Jack Costello and ably abetted by Ben Fox and young
Rupert Cope. However it was the variety of Meads’ attacks, the speed with
which they developed and the ferocity with which they were delivered that
was the key to Meads’ success. I’ve seen angry wasps coming out of a nest
which was under threat that were more lethargic than the champs and quite
honestly the Reps didn’t know what hit them.
The pitch was a decent size, unlike the one at Donkey Lane the previous
Saturday and Hawkins’ acceleration and mesmerising dribbling and Ezra
Chapman’s ball-holding ability, strength and naked aggression up front
tore holes in a defence that looked what it was, a group of talented players
who had never played together. This is not meant to be a criticism of
the Select management, because they are doing a difficult job thoroughly.
Goals came steadily throughout the first half, the first after only five
minutes from Dan Salanson’s clinical spot-kick, courtesy of the first
of Hawkins’ many forays which was illegally ended. Next it was Hawkins
the provider as he put Jack Costello in on twenty minutes and then Barry
McGuinness who has been spurred to rejuvenation by the threat from new
entrants to the squad, frisked through the middle and released Chapman
with a message of doom for the Select.
HT Select 0 Meads 3
The second half was a triumph in the Roman sense, with Meads parading
their all round skills against opponents who had long since been subdued.
In the first half even fullbacks Salanson and McGuinness were prominent
in attack. Now they were joined in what had become a romp as Paul Smith,
John Pointon, Dave Butler, Dwayne Rhone and Ian Williamson came off the
bench. Len Wapshott put the final touch with five minutes to go but not
before Colin Hawkins capped his virtuoso display with a fine solo effort.
Finally thanks were given to Hanwell Town F.C. for hosting the match and
the evening was rounded of by the presentation to Jack Costello of a magnificent
silver cup donated by the league’s sponsors. Meads’ thanks are due to
Stewart Minors and Dave Harvey for their organising the league’s side
of things.
Team & subs: Needham, Wapshott K., Salanson, Smith, Wapshott L., McGuinness,
Costello, Fox, Quinn, Cope, Hawkins, Chapman, Butler, Rhone, Williamson,
Pointon.
Amateur Football Combination
Old Meadonians 3 Old Albanians 1
Fresh from
their euphoric win over an under rehearsed League Representative Team
at Hanwell Town in mid-week, Old Meadonians came down off cloud nine to
grind out three points from a run of the mill match at Riverside Lands
on Saturday.
Faced with a team who were content to pack their defence and let Meads
come to them the hosts felt unable to trust the surface enough to draw
the visitors out by playing the ball around at the back. Most of Meads’
progress came via strong running from wing backs Dan Salanson and Barry
McGuinness prompted by Jack Costello and Kevin Quinn in mid-field but
too often there was over elaboration at the front where Colin Hawkins
and Ezra Chapman seemed to be suffering from their mid-week efforts. It
was fitting that Meads goals, whilst resulting from sustained pressure
came from scraps snapped from lapses in the penalty area rather than open
play. The first fell to Chapman from ten yards mid-way through the first
half, the second to Hawkins who reacted quickly to a keeping error twenty
minutes after the restart and sub. Ian Williamson notched the third from
close in with twenty to go. Albanians had got an undeserved consolation
just before this. For Meads there was an outstanding contribution from
Dwayne Rhone in mid-field and up front later and an encouraging debut
from John Moffat. The visitors’ spoiling tactics, though perfectly legitimate
while they remained within the laws spilled over into confrontation late
in the game and this left a nasty taste in the mouth.
Team: Needham, Salanson, Wapshott, Smith, McGuinness, (Senat), Costello,
Rhone, Quinn, (Moffat), Cope, Chapman, (Williamson), Hawkins.
If you feel you would like to be a member of this progressive and friendly
club why not get in touch with chairman David Tyler on OMFCSlipper@aol.com
or visit their website www.omfc.co.uk
September 29, 2003