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AFC Cubo 1-2 Reigate Priory

26/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Saturday 24^th September, 3pm KO

Starting Line-up: Gareth Stewart, Rob Sadler, James McGeown, Ed Jackson, Oli Watkins, Hung Nguyen, Ben McGeown, Ryan Shedwick, Michael Neal, Andrew Noble, Paul Every

Subs: Mark Sutton, Jonathan Patterson

Following last week’s clinical dismantling of Farnborough North End Cubo came into their fixture with Reigate Priory full of confidence, particularly given their opponents patchy start to the season. The absence of Northy, Clarky and long term absentee Billy meant that Ryan Shedwick was given his first start in the centre of the par, whilst James McG retained his place on the left wing.

The excitement generated by playing on the new pitch and posing for player profile pics belied a definite lack of energy in the Cubo camp in the warm up. In spite of this they found themselves a goal up within minutes of kick off. A strong header from Jim McG was helped on by Ben McG, releasing Every who cooly composed himself before slotting past the R-Priory keeper. 1-0 Cubo. A fantastic start for the home side which they were unable to kick on from. A series of casual errors by Cubo allowed R-Priory back into the game, with the long grass on the right hand side of the pitch resulting in players losing control of the ball on numerous occasions.

R-Priory’s use of a lone striker caused a re-jig of Cubo’s shape, something they struggled initially to implement with various free-runners feeding off the scraps of their useful frontman. At the other end another long ball almost undid R-Priory but MTM was unable to capitalise, flashing his strike just wide of the far post. Cubo continued to create good chances, particularly down the left side where Jim McG’s marauding runs were causing the away side problems. A few goalmouth scrambles aside Cubo were unable to work the keeper and paid the price for their wastefulness in front of goal when R-Priory equilised with their first foray into the Cubo box. A long throw from the left was met by the Priory right winger who rose unchallenged to head past Gaz and into the bottom corner. 1-1.

Spurred on by the goal and the amount of space on the ball that Cubo were granting them Priory were looking the more threatening side and had a great opportunity to extend their lead just before half time when the referee awarded them a penalty. A dumbstruck Cubo could only blame themselves for their failure to clear the ball on at least three occasions in the run up to the decision. The Priory right back stepped up and struck his penalty down the centre of the goal, and despite having launched himself to his right Gaz somehow extended an arm and a boot back to clear the ball to safety. A massive let off for Cubo and a big confidence booster for Gaz who has been going through a tough patch so far this season. Coming in at half time it was clear that Cubo needed an injection of urgency to wrestle back control of the game.

Having picked up a knock goalscorer Paul Every was replaced by Sutton who slotted straight in up front. The 2^nd half followed a similar pattern to the first with Cubo getting the ball in good areas before being let down by sloppy play and an over-eagerness to hit the ball long. The introduction of J-Patt at left wing back almost paid immediate dividends when he beat his man before releasing Sadler with a wonderful cross field pass. Sadler drilled a cross across the face of goal where MTM was unable to adjust his body to direct the ball goalwards and could only watch in despair as his effort looped high and wide. Cubo’s cause was further hampered when burly front man Noble was on the receiving end of some tough challenges that culminated in him being helped from the pitch. With no further substitutes available he was forced back into action but was clearly struggling badly.

A snatched effort from Mark Sutton that was pushed away by the keeper was the only time that the Priory defence looked unnerved and as the half wore on Cubo gradually ran out of ideas. Despite being given space to play time and again Cubo resorted to pumping aimless long balls up to the front three, which the Priory backline were more than capable of dealing with, subtlety and composure in the final third were notable for their absence. Cubo’s frustration at their inability to prize up the Priory backline was beginning to be reflected in their defending which was at times ragged and careless. A cheap free-kick almost saw Priory take the lead when the ball appeared destined for the top corner, only for Gaz to acrobatically (show-boat) tip it over the bar. As good a save as he has made in Cubo colours. The warning signs were there for Cubo but they weren’t heeded and another cheap free kick released the Priory centre forward into the box and his centre was turned in by the unmarked left winger to make it 2-1 with 15 minutes to go.

Cubo continued to press but were unable to create any clear cut opportunities and in fairness Priory defended their lead fairly comfortably, only another Gaz save from a one on one prevented them from extending their lead.

As the referee blew his whistle the sense of frustration was palpable. Despite Gaz preventing 3 goals with some super keeping this was a game Cubo felt they could have won. A lack of subtlety and thought in their attacking play coupled with a lack of concentration when defending cost the Baby Blue Army dearly. Priory will no doubt take great satisfaction from the nature of this win with their defensive organisation proving too much for Cubo to break down. Special mention should also go to Priory for the great spirit in which they played the game (going out of their way to congratulate Gaz on his saves from the penalty and free kick, not something the man himself would have been seen doing!).

Final Score: AFC Cubo 1-2 Reigate Priory

Scorer: Paul Every

Man of the Match: Gaz ‘Tommy’ Stewart

Match Report: Benny Mac

Farnborough North End 0-5 AFC Cubo

21/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Saturday 17th September 2011, 3pm KO

Starting Line-up: Tommy Stewart, Rob Sadler, Jim McGeown, Jacko, Oli Watkins, Hung, Ben McG, Michael North, MTM, Noble, Every

Subs: Chris Gray, Ryan Shedwick

Cubo embarked on their biggest away trip of the season with a casual jaunt down to Hampshire to take on bottom of the table Farnborough North End. A traumatic journey for 5 of the squad through parts of South West London that they’ll never want to see again (East Sheen) meant that they were unable to enjoy the 20mins of poncing round in front of the mirror in the new kit that they had been looking forward to all week. Their day only looked like getting worse when a pre-match downpour soaked all and sundry, ruining the immaculate look they had sported before leaving the dressing room.

Besides the aesthetic damage done by the rain it also contributed to a nervy opening period in the game, with both sets of players slipping round on the newly drenched surface. The ball was proving difficult to control and Cubo were struggling to put together more than a couple of passes before giving it away. Despite this it was clear that there would be plenty of space outwide to be exploited by Sadler and Jim McG, making his first start of the season in the absence of Pogo (sleazing) and Sutton (boozing).

The first goal of the game came from the most unlikely of sources when Hung first won a fine tackle in his own half before advancing up the pitch, playing a one two with Noble and chipping the keeper with the outside of his left boot. An outrageous way to score your first ever goal for the Baby Blue Army, though rumours that he meant to cross the ball refuse to die down.

The goal served to galvanise Cubo who began to move the ball with increasing confidence across their back three allowing Jim and Sadler were able to get forward into the FNE half creating some good crossing opportunities. The second goal followed shortly afterwards when Jim’s through ball sprung the FNE offside trap, releasing Every who saw the ball ricochet into the net following his challenge on the keeper. 2-0 Cubo. The goal appeared to completely dishearten FNE with recriminations flying around their backline, no doubt the product of the tough start to the season that they have had.

Cubo were swarming all over the FNE defence now and only some sloppy play in the final third prevented a third from being added. The best chance of the period fell to Noble when the big FNE centre half was adjudged to have handled in his own area when blocking a shot on goal, giving the man with the self-proclaimed ‘Best Shoulders in Cubo’ a chance to add to this seasons tally from the spot. Whether he was distracted by the referee asking him to replace the ball on the spot, the slight divot in front of the ball or the tightness of the shirt around his tensed (naturally) biceps, something clearly affected him as he slammed the ball against the cross bar and away to safety.

Cubo emerged from half time determined to turn the screw on FNE and made it three nil 5 mins into the second period when a free kick into the box by Jacko was headed into his own net by the FNE defender under pressure from Jim McG.

With the game pretty much safe Chris Gray and Ryan were introduced to the mix and the impact was immediate when Noble drifted into the area and slipped a pass to Chris Gray who drilled a finish under the keeper to make it 4-0 with his first touch of the ball. Cubo were now knocking the ball around with aplomb by this stage and only a questionable linesmans flag prevented Noble from getting on the score-sheet following a sweeping passing move. Noble’s troubles in front of goal continued when the ball was pulled back to him at the near post but he was unable to convert seeing his effort fly high and wide. Tommy Stewart in the Cubo goal had had a very quiet afternoon, only being forced into a save from a back post header which he confidently chested away.

With the clock ticking down Cubo were able to add a fifth when token Northerner Ryan carried the ball into the area, sold his man a dummy, before firing a deflected effort past the stranded FNE keeper. A first goal for the club and a worrying sign of things to come – centre mids who can beat players and score goals is not what this side has been built on.

Final Score: Farnborough North End 0-5 AFC Cubo

Goals: Nguyen, Every, Own Goal, Gray, Shedwick

Man of the Match: Hung – early contender for goal of the season and another impressive display of all action athleticism from the veteran defender.

Match Report: Benny Mac

AFC Cubo 3rd XI 3-1 Battersea Lions

19/09/201120/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: September 17th, 2pm KO

Starting Line-up: Bianchi, Revill, Rosoman, Jones, Dallamore, Hooper, Tett, Brain, Harding, Lendrum, Griffith

Subs: Ingle, Neville, Smith

The scene was set; the sun was out, the new kit had arrived and Henry had gelled his hair.

Cubo 3s took to the pitch on the back of a thrilling 4-3 season-opening win, full of confidence and with a strong team.

It was the 3’s first game at the fortress Barn Elms and it was a sell-out crowd; Lenny’s fiancée and brother boozing under a tree watching the rugby and Kilner Jnr, having a day off from his hectic badminton schedule.

The opponents for Cubo’s first home game was Battersea Lions, who finished third last season narrowly missing out on promotion.

The two sides differed in their approaches to the warm-up; the Lions opted for a varied selection of drills in carefully marked out areas, whilst the Baby Blue Army elected to walk around and complement each other on how good they looked in their shiny new attire.

Captain and club lothario Rob Jones lost the toss (deliberately, of course) and Cubo were forced to play the first half into the sun and the wind.

A lively start to the game saw Cubo playing some neat and tidy football in patches, but too infrequently, and it wasn’t long before striker Chris Lendrum’s girlfriend was engrossed in her wedding magazine and planning his plight from society.

The first real incident saw the Lions skipper attempt to thread a through-ball, only for Jones to cover across and draw the foul from the attacker. This sadly was the premature end to the skipper’s afternoon, as the awkward fall aggravated an ankle injury sustained in a pre-season friendly. This was a huge loss to the team, in skill, morale, bants and aesthetics.

Centre-midfielder Gregg Tett was forced to drop into to cover Jones at centre-back with Jimmy Ingle coming off the bench to play alongside Tom Hooper in the middle of the park.

Except from a few hopeful long balls from Battersea which were easily dealt with, Cubo began to apply pressure with the speedy Seb Brain especially dangerous on the right flank.

However, it was a swift move down the left with 30 minutes on the clock when the breakthrough came. Ingle, latched on to a Lendrum flick-on and broke into the box. The 29-year-old pulled the ball back perfectly into the path of Jordan Griffith who finished with aplomb into the bottom right corner for his second in two games.

Not content with a one goal lead, Cubo continued their high pressure game. Chris Revill, filling in at right-back, and Hooper both began to work well with Brain on the right wing, a combination that constantly created openings and half chances for the home side.

And it was five minutes before the break when Cubo’s intensity paid off. Lendrum, effortlessly controlled the ball in the box with his chest, flicked the ball over the on-rushing defender before striking straight at the keeper from six-yards. Fortunately, the ball fell kindly and the binge-drinking, chain-smoking, personal trainer toe-poked it into the roof of the net to double his side’s lead.

After a relaxed team-talk, partly because the usually irate and nonsensical captain Matt Turner was on a tennis holiday, the teams took to the field for the second-half. A calm start to the half was needed, but an early free-kick on the right-hand side was given to the visitors, and this rare opportunity was not wasted. A brilliantly low drilled cross was dispatched by the right-back, who was the most unlikely of sources as all he had done all game was commit foul throws with alarming regularity.

Lions then made a couple of substitutions, Luke Moore was brought into the attack and Gabriel Obertan on at left-midfield, whilst the love child of Andriy Voronin and Kerri Katona was moved to a more defensive role.

Dark cumulous clouds then ominously covered Barnes and strange things began to happen. Hooper was cautioned for dissent and Chris Harding made a slide tackle. The only thing left was for Andrew Rosman to score an overhead kick and then a black hole surely would have appeared in the centre circle.

Cubo then held strong during their toughest period, with goalkeeper Will Bianchi making some assured stops despite complaining with a back injury, which was clearly only aired to get Jones to rub Deep Heat sensually into those hard to get areas. Tett was also instrumental in keeping the score at 2-1, with some timely interceptions and key clearing headers. The 29-year-old, known for his beautiful teeth, had clearly put his first-half lovers’ tiff with teammate Rosman behind him.

Having endured and survived this onslaught, which included a disallowed goal, the Baby Blue boys began to carve openings with increasing ease. Brain, once again, found space, but this time opted to cut in on his left foot and whipped in a teasing cross which evaded both out-stretched strikers and hesitant defenders and found the far corner.

This was the cushion Cubo had been looking for and it led to a more relaxed performance over the last 25 minutes, where Griffith was only denied a brace from a superbly struck free-kick by an acrobatic goal-line clearance.

The last minutes were played out with ease by Cubo, and it was evident that everyone was thinking more about molten lava wedges and neatly triangled sandwiches and some solid pub bants.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 3rd XI 3-1 Battersea Lions

Man of the match: There were only two nominations with both Seb Brain and Gregg Tett receiving seven nominations each from the squad. So the deciding vote was cast by the ugliest member of Cubo – Ben Kilner – and he voted for Tett. Superb performances from both though.

Goals: Griffith, Lendrum, Brain

Yellow Card: Hooper

Match Report: Martin ‘Rob Jones’ Keown

AFC Cubo 2nd XI 1-0 Claremont AFC

19/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Saturday 17th September, 2pm KO

Starting Line-up: Neil Clark, Luke Haddon, Rick Utting, Pally, Alan Clarke, Trev, Denno, Salty (c), Bradders, Stevie T, Pete Hill

Subs: John Glenn, Andy Burt, Banksy

2nd XI Vs Claremont AFC — Denno gets his lean on

The 2s and 3s arrived at Barn Elms with the majority of the pre-match excitement focussed on the new kit. It was worth the wait, as was seeing Denno turn up with a 2 inch nail driven through the front tyre of his 1975 racer. It is special; from the sleazy red velvet Lotto patch all the way down to the padded white bit on the socks. Salty completed the look with a fetching white sweat band to win Barn Elms best dressed. The match was played on Cubo’s new pitch, staked out carefully before the game by Pally and Stevie. With a good trim, it will be lovely to play on, which bodes well for the passing game all three Cubo teams like to play (aside from the interference from the Oak at the far end which we have been assured will be cut back).

Taking to the field after a pre-match chat from Pally centred on concentration and getting the ball out to the wide men, Cubo started brightly, releasing Trev early on the left wing to run at the Claremont right back. With Trev linking up well with Pete, Claremont were immediately pushed onto the back foot, and after some nervous early moments from the keeper including a fumbled catch and some poor kicking, it seemed only a matter of time before Cubo went one-up. With Stevie winning nearly all flick-on’s for Denno and Pete to run on to, it was only some desperate last-ditch defending that kept the score level. A salvo of corners from Pete and Denno added to some long-range shooting from Trev kept Claremont on the back foot throughout the opening 30 minutes.

However, with the quality of Cubo’s final ball slightly lacking, Claremont began to gain a foothold, and Luke and Rick were called upon more and more as the half went on to support the excellent Alan and Pally in the centre. The first half finished level, with both sides feeling they could have perhaps done more with a little extra composure in the final third.

With the rain now hammering down, the half-time team talk was taken under the shade of a convenient tree. After Clarkey’s quite frankly pathetic tantrum: ‘onevoiceonevoiceonevoice’, the overall consensus was to keep playing the same way and to concentrate on keeping it tight at the back. With Banksy coming on for Pete, and Andy for Trev five minutes later, Cubo started strongly and exerted more and more pressure on the Claremont back three. Salty and Bradders were performing like a pair of dogs hunting in a pack, refusing to let Claremont play, and Rick and Luke were composed on the ball, feeding the midfield well with passes to feet. When Bradders released Andy down the left who turned his man, he was able to loft in a cross to the back post for Stevie to nod it in to a gaping net. 1-0 to the goodies.

Claremont still pressed and Clarkey was called into action 3 times in as many minutes, making three superb flying stops with no sign of chocolate wrists. It mattered not that all three chances were deemed offside, the saves were still made. Alan Clarke was again unfortunate to have what seemed from the sidelines a perfectly good goal disallowed following a superb leap from an accurate Denno corner. With ten minutes remaining, Glenn replaced Denno, and with Banksy holding the ball up superbly and occupying the Claremont defence almost single-handedly, the clock was run-down for a well-deserved and hard fought victory. With a week off next week, the 2’s can look forward to the rest of the league knowing they have beaten a team who twice caused problems in the corresponding fixtures last year.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 2nd XI 1-0 AFC Claremont

Man of the Match: the composed and hard-working Luke Haddon

Goal: Stevie T

Match Report: John Glenn

AFC Cubo 1-1 Bletchingley

18/09/201120/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Saturday 10th September 2011

Starting line-up: Gaz Stewart, Ed Jackson, Oli Watkins, Hung, Clarkey, Ben McG, Rob Sadler, Pogo, MTM, Noble, Sutton

Subs: Northy, Paul Every, Ryan Shedwick

Let’s get this out of the way straight off the bat. The girl Noble was strolling down to the pitch with was fucking amazing….slim, great rack, pretty face….shame she’s engaged to a rugby boy.

Cubo’s opponents had made a poor start to the season losing three of their first four fixtures, including a 6-0 hammering at the hands of Tooting Bec, so the boys in baby blue were confident of picking up 3 points, a confidence helped by the sight of a number of Bletchingley players puffing away on fags before the game. The late arrival of star centre half Oli Watkins and the ref did not prevent Cubo making a positive start to the game with Ben McG latching onto a poor goal kick before releasing Sutton down the right and his low cross only narrowly evaded MTM at the back post. Despite hailing from the ‘charming village of Bletchingley’ (www.bletchingley.org.uk) there wasn’t anything particularly charming about their football side….

Cubo took the lead when Clarkey latched on to a loose ball in the box before crossing for MTM to head home. 1-0 Cubo. With the wind behind them Cubo continued to create the better chances with first Oli putting a simple header (particularly for a man who bases 90% of his ‘footballing talent’ on his aerial ability) wide from a Mark Sutton corner before Sutts himself miscontrolled when clean through on goal. Cubo were managing to create chances without producing the kind of fluid football that they have shown themselves capable of this season and whilst Bletchingley did not look threatening it was beginning to look like their niggly antics were affecting Cubo’s game. Unable to move the ball as well as they have been, an element of frustration crept into the Cubo game, with the lack of a second goal contributing to an increasingly nervy display from the home side. Bletchingley seemed to sense this and began to play with a growing confidence, their tricky left winger beginning to see more of the ball in the Cubo half.

A series of Bletchingley corners were well defended by Cubo with Gaz claiming some good crosses but this good defensive work was undone by a complete freak of a goal. A punt upfield by the Bletch keeper was taken by a gust of wind and with the bounce surprising Gaz, looped into the net. 1-1. The lack of a second goal had come back to haunt Cubo and they now faced 30 mins of football against a pumped up opposition with the wind behind them. Every and Northy were introduced to add a bit of urgency to proceedings and whilst Cubo were still unable to find their rhythm they continued to create good chances with Clarkey and MTM forcing the Bletch keeper into two fine stops. The increased urgency from the home side was not unfortunately coupled with an increase in quality in the final third, Ben McG’s poor touch when running clean through from a fine Noble crossfield pass was symptomatic of Cubo’s day at the office.

An extremely disappointed Cubo side left the pitch feeling dejected, despite the point, knowing that given the chances they created this should really have been 3 points in the bag. Bletchingley have struggled this season and it is not difficult to see why given the opportunities they presented to Cubo, however they did a great job of unsettling Cubo from their natural rhythm and could well have nicked it in the second half had it not been for some excellent defensive work by Hung Nguyen to thwart a two on one situation in his own half. Attention now moves on to next week’s fixture against bottom of the table Farnborough North End where all involved will be hoping for a far more clinical display.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 1 Bletchingley 1

Man of the Match: Hung Nguyen / Andrew Noble

Goal: MTM

Match Report: Benny Mac

AFC Cubo 3rd XI 4-3 Merton Orient

12/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Saturday 10^th September

Starting Line Up: Will Bianchi, John Glenn, Andrew Rosoman, Dan Cucos, Mark Dallamore, Jeremy Lye, Chris Harding, Trevor Moody, Matt Turner, Jordan Griffith, Stephen Doherty

Subs: Edd Smith, Antonio Palacio

With a strong line-up boosted by Moody, and coming off the back of a win against the 2nds and a good performance in a friendly the previous week, the 3^rd XI went into this game confidently. Turner won the toss and elected to kick off. Cubo started brightly and applied pressure for 10 minutes, creating several reasonable chances that with a little more composure might have led to more positive results, Doherty especially unlucky after evading his marker at the near post.

Merton began getting into the game, as their centre-forward (normally at centre back) David Luiz/Sideshow Bob/Ray Parlour delete-as-applicable exerted more and more influence. Linking up well with their midfielders, Merton scored just after the quarter hour mark. Slightly rattled after their good start, Cubo conceded again five minutes later, leaving the team a lot to do to get back into the game. Gradually however, the impressive central midfield pair of Turner and Moody grew in stature. The wingers Harding and Lye, supported by strong running at the top by Doherty and Griffith created enough space for Turner to score after an strong solo run into the box. 1-2 at half time.

After a stirring (read aggressive) team-talk from skipper Turner, Cubo went out into the second half determined to win more challenges and compete more physically. After some good interplay between Glenn and Lye on the right, the ball was fed to Griffith who was felled by a pincer tackle from two Merton players in the box. Harding dispatched the penalty with aplomb low to the keeper’s right.

Although it looked like only one team would win, Merton managed to score after a quick throw in, Bianchi especially unlucky after making a fine initial save. However, with Dallamore completely dominating the previously influential striker, Cucos mopping up everything beside him, Merton had no way back and Griffith capped a fine performance with a virtuoso solo goal, finishing from an acute angle.

Substitutions were made, Smith coming on for Glenn on the left, Rosoman switching to right back, and Doherty swapping for Palacio, who came on at left wing with Harding joining Griffith at the front. With Lye now penning in the previously impressive Frodo-Baggins-look-a-like left back, shots and chances were being created freely by Cubo. However it wasn’t until five minutes before the end that Moody controlled a clearance 20 yards out and hammered a right-footed shot that looped over the keeper and into the top right hand corner.

The game finished 4-3, with any win on the opening day of the season appreciated. There was a lot to take comfort from. A new-look back line communicated well after the early goals, setting good lines. Griffith and Doherty linked well and Lye always looked to beat his man and competed well in the air and on the ground. Coming back twice from being goals down can only bode well for the spirit of the side, and with Jones due back for this week, the 3^rd XI will be looking forward to a good season. Props to Merton for being gentleman, and fair and honest opponents.

Man of the Match: Impossible to choose between Dallamore and Turner

Goals: Turner, Harding (pen), Griffith, Moody

Match Report: John Glenn

Battersea Old Firm 2-2 AFC Cubo 2nd XI

12/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Venue: RaynesPark

Date: Saturday 10^th September 2011

Starting Line-up: Neil Clark, (the new) Denno, Alan Clarke, Pally, Jim McGeown, Rick Utting, Seb Brain, Salty (c), Mark Bradley, Pete Hill, Steven Taylor.

Subs: Luke Haddon, Andy Burt.

And so it begins… Raynes Park has been the graveyard of many aspirations from disappointed Friday night doggers to a groundsman who obviously resents the very earth he helps to destroy year on year. As such it was a testing opening venue for the 2^nd’s against a newly promoted and confident Battersea Old Firm on a pitch not conducive for ‘lifestyle’ football with Cubo also battling bad memories of a litany of dropped points on this ground last season. The team started with a sweeper and 3 up top and whist getting to grips with the new system still dominated possession and enjoyed several promising attacks thwarted only by inconsistent final balls and/or a lack of supporting numbers from midfield. Stevie T playing as the spearhead and ‘go to ball’ from the wingbacks combined well to utilise the pace of Pete Hill and Seb Brain going forward. This was the pattern of the first 20 minutes with the Cubo defensive three looking solid and confident whenever the ball did come their way. Then disaster struck as Bradley was caught dwelling on the ball on the edge of the Cubo area and Battersea capitalised clinically to go one up against the run of play. The final 20 minutes of the half became a little scrappy with Cubo still seeing a lot of the ball but failing to fully get a grip on the game despite managing several more promising attacks down both flanks with Stevie T instigating these from his central position. However, failing to capitalise on these attacks Cubo were once again made to pay for their sloppiness and were caught by another well executed break-away after losing possession to go in 2-0 down at half-time.

Despite the scoreline the half-time atmosphere was upbeat and Cubo started the second half in a new 4-4-2 formation with Luke Haddon coming on to make an assured official Cubo debut. The scrappiness continued for the first 20 minutes of the second half as Cubo resolutely continued trying to play their style of football but desperately needing the break-through goal to trigger their comeback. This came from the most unlikely of sources when with slightly less than 20 minutes left on the clock Pally floated in a free-kick from just inside the opposition’s half which the Battersea keeper flapped into his own net under pressure from a melee of players. This was the spark Cubo needed and after several missed opportunities (and a few scares at the back as Cubo pushed on) the equaliser came from another new boy Andy Burt on as a second half sub who finished with a fantastic header coming in from the left wing to meet a cross from Salty. All of Cubo’s hard-work pre-season looked to be showing as their superior fitness saw them dominate the last 10 minutes with a handful of chances to deservedly win the game but once again a poor final ball or wasteful finishing were to deny them the 3 points. Despite their strong finish Cubo still had Neil Clark to thank for an excellent save from a rare Battersea break.

All in all a tough first fixture for Cubo produced many positives with the team strengthened in key areas and showing a gritty resilience and a borderline homosexual team spirit which offers great hope for the season ahead. The valuable point and good team performance should provide a good base to build from for the season.

Man of the Match: Alan Clarke

Goals: Pally, Andy Burt.

Match Report: Mark Bradley.

AFC Cubo 3-0 Oxted & District

12/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Saturday 3rd September 2011

Starting Line-up: Gaz Stewart, Jacko, Goughy, Hung, Sadler, J-Pat, Clarkey, B.McGeown, Noble, Sutton, MTM (c)

Subs: Bradley, Denno, J. McGeown

The official unveiling of Cubo’s new home pitch was put on the back burner due to issues with the staff at Barnes being grade A clowns. Luckily team DIY merchant MTM was on hand with the necessary rope and poles to get the pitch in order before the oppo turned up.

Some missing faces were compensated by the return of Goughy and Sutton to the starting line up and it was the combination of these two that created the first goal of the game. Oxted failure to clear their lines saw the ball fall to Sutton in the box who teed up Goughy for an exquisite side footed finish high into the far corner which gave the statued keeper no chance. The goal was just reward for the positive start made by Cubo who immediately appeared to have a physical edge over their opponents. Despite the restrictions imposed by the small pitch Cubo were still able to find space, particularly in the centre of the park where Oxted’s presence was inexplicably vacuous. Cubo added a second when Sutton, employed as a more orthodox winger, beat his man on the outside before delivering a pinpoint centre which was volleyed home with aplomb by MTM.

Cubo were dominating Oxted all over the park and made it 3-0 shortly afterwards with Sutton again providing the assist. A knockdown from Noble fell to Sutton whose shot on the turn was parried by the keeper into the path of the onrushing Clarkey, who was left with a simple finish into the unguarded net.

Much like Monday’s game against Abbey Rangers Cubo were unable to sustain an impressive first half performance and despite little being on offer from Oxted by way of attacking threat Cubo allowed their opponents a foothold in the game. An inability to hold onto the ball meant that the boys in baby blue were inviting pressure on themselves and it was Oxted who benefitted from the increasingly scraggy nature of the game, albeit without forcing Gaz Stewart into a save. The best chance of the half fell to Jim McGeown who saw his half volley drift wide of the keeper’s right hand post. The rest of the half was played out goalless to give Cubo a second clean sheet in a row and more importantly a second win of the season.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 3-0 Oxted & District

A good performance from Cubo albeit against opposition whose depleted side meant they rarely looked like threatening Cubo.

Man of the Match: Ben McGeown

Scorers: Gough, MTM, Clarke.

Match Report: Benny Mac

Abbey Rangers 0-0 AFC Cubo

12/09/201112/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Monday 29th August 2011

Starting line-up: Neil Clark, Sadler, Patterson, Jackson, Watkins (c), Hung
Nguyen, Ben McGeown, Ian Clarke, Chris Gray, MTM, Noble

Subs: Northy, Bradley, James McGeown

One of the implications of last years promotion is the guarantee of a game every
bank holiday Monday, something that will test squad availability given the jet-set life-styles of certain members of the club. Luckily for the gaffer a strong squad was available to pick from with Clarkey no.1 and Clarky no.2 coming into the starting eleven.

In contrast to Saturday Cubo made a bright start, with the quality of the surface
allowing them to move the ball around with confidence, allowing Sadler and J-
Pat to get in advanced positions in the Abbey Rangers half. Cubo were getting
particular joy down the right side but time after time the delivery into the box
failed to beat the first man allowing the aging Abbey Rangers backline to clear.
Some well worked moves created some good shooting opportunities but Cubo
were unable to fully test, their best effort an attempted lob from Clarkey which
was comfortably saved by Abbey Rangers stand in keeper. A couple of corners
aside the hosts had shown very little going forward and Clarky had yet to make a
save of note.

Cubo continued to press at the beginning of the second half but without the
fluency in possession that they had shown in the first half, and their failure
to score in the opening period was beginning to look like it might be costly as
Abbey Rangers grew into the game. The home side were centimetres from
taking the lead when an in-swinging free kick looked destined for the far corner
until Northy somehow managed to flick the ball onto the post and away. Whilst
Cubo could consider themselves lucky not to be a goal down from this it was
soon the hosts turn to be counting their lucky stars. First a header from Jim McG, arriving late at the back post, was cleared off the line and then with 5 minutes to go Chris Gray somehow put the ball wide from 6 yards out with only a defender on the line. To be fair to Chris, a man raised on the striking exploits of Dion Dublin and Noel Whelan is hardly going to have seen much decent finishing in his formative years.

Final Score: Abbey Rangers 0-0 AFC Cubo

Overall a decent point for Cubo following Saturday’s disappointing performance
and should draw confidence from the first half in particular where they played
some excellent football.

Man of the Match: Rob Sadler / Jacko (joint winners)

Scorers:

Report: Benny Mac

Membership 2011/12

08/09/201108/09/2011thomhoopsLeave a comment

With the 1st XI already 4 games in to the new season and the 2nd and 3rd Xi’s making their bow this Saturday, it is crucial that everyone makes an effort to pay their subscription fees as soon as possible.

There is an awful lot that needs paying for: pitches, kit, referees, competition fees, first aid, etc and a lot of this is covered by the very fair fees that are in place.

Fees will be as follows: