Matches

Crescent Rovers 2-3 AFC Cubo

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Date: Sat 5th November 2011, 2pm KO

Venue: Wallington Sports & Social Club

Starting line-up: Jacko, Hung, Gough, Sadler, Hoops, Pogo, Ben M, Bradders, Ryan S, Daunter, MTM

Sub: Trev Moody

A recent report revealed that rugby clubs expect 25% of their squad to be missing due to injury at any given point in the season.  Obviously rugby clubs haven’t factored in accountancy exams and girlfriends needing to be taken to their first firework show in London (no names on that one – Joe ‘Diamond’ Darlington), otherwise this figure would have been significantly higher.  Still, at least we don’t have to deal with a load of flip flop, Jack Wills wearing posh boys p1ssing off to go skiing in the New Year….

With 10 players out and no regular keepers available Cubo were once again forced to juggle resources to get a full team out.  Jacko stepped in nets (the 3rd ‘outfield’ player to do so in the last 3 weeks) whilst Bradders, Trev and Hoops were brought into what was still a strong squad.

The change of fixture meant that Cubo faced the side that had comfortably beaten them 3-1 a few weeks ago back at Barn Elms.  If they were to get a result this time, much would depend on how quickly the new backline of Hung, Goughy and Sadler were able to gel as a unit.

Starting the half with the slope in their favour Cubo made the brighter start with the excellent playing surface facilitating some slick passing interplay that immediately saw Ben McG released in space outside the Rovers box, though his shot was too central to seriously test the keeper.  With both Daunter and MTM holding the ball up well Cubo’s midfield were being given the time to get forward and it was clear Rovers were struggling to pick the runners from midfield.

The first real chance of the game came when Goughy’s slide-rule pass bisected the centre of the Rovers defence, releasing MTM through on goal.  The Taff Target Man’s left foot snapshot looked goal bound as it flew high to the keeper’s right but somehow he managed to push it wide with an acrobatic save.  The pressure was mounting and Cubo got the goal they deserved when J-Pat put in a great corner which Goughy forced home for his third of the season.  1-0 Cubo.  Given the fitness regimes employed by some of the side it was inevitable that the Boys in Baby Blue wouldn’t be able to maintain the pace they had set in the first 20 minutes and so it proved.

A deterioration in the quality of passing and the work off the ball, which had been so impressive, slowed the more the home side began to dominate affairs.  Rovers right back was doing a passable impression of Cafu with his over-lapping runs and most of the danger was coming from his ability to create an overlap on Cubo’s left hand side.  The manner of the goal when it came was extremely disappointing from a Cubo perspective.  A rare decision to penalise a player for unsportsmanlike behaviour (Daunter screaming his name for the ball whilst 5 yards away from it) saw numerous Cubans preferring to argue the toss with the ref rather than get themselves organised defensively and this allowed Rovers to move the ball into the box where a rash challenge by Goughy gave the ref an easy decision to make.  The resultant penalty was stroked away confidently to bring the scores level.

Cubo continued to play the better football with J-Pat in particular looking dangerous whenever the ball reached him on the left.  A succession of crosses were well defended by the Rovers backline.  Just as Cubo looked like reasserting themselves they found themselves 2-1 down.  A lucky break from a deflection saw the Rovers right winger gifted the ball inside the Cubo box.  He composed himself well to cut inside a couple of desperate challenges before slotting home.  2-1 Crescent Rovers.

Coming in at half time Cubo had every right to feel aggrieved to find themselves behind in a half they had dominated. However as has been the case this season, they had brought most of the pressure on to themselves by giving the ball away sloppily in dangerous areas, a trait which has been punished far more often by the quality in the Surrey Elite.  Despite the scoreline the dressing room was confident that on the first half showing they had enough in the tank to go on and win this game.  The half time bravado was soon put back in its box when Rovers immediately won a free kick in a dangerous area outside the box, which Cubo only survived with some desperate defending.  Definitely not the start the gaffer was hoping for!

In a stark turnaround it was Rovers who were playing all of the football in the second half with both full backs now pushing on to good effect, stretching the Cubo backline.  Sadler, Gough and Hung were putting in sterling performances at the back but time and again dangerous balls were being delivered into the box and Cubo could consider themselves lucky not to go further behind on a couple of occasions when only wasteful finishing from the home side kept the score down.  The introduction of Trev into the midfield saw Cubo gain a better grip on Rovers marauding full backs and with a better defensive shape were able to put together some attacks of their own.  The first of these saw good link up play between Daunter and Ben McG release MTM through on goal.  Unfortunately for him the Rovers defender managed to make a great recovery tackle just as he was about to pull the trigger to put the ball out for a corner.  However Cubo’s luck was in as from the resulting corner the referee finally penalised the Rovers centre half for the wrestling which he had been guilty of all game and awarded a penalty.  Returning front man Daunter made no mistake with his pen firing high into the net to make it 2-2.  As Cubo had in the first half Rovers appeared to feel aggrieved that despite playing the better football it was they who had conceded.

With Cubo sensing an unlikely 3 points the game became extremely stretched with gaps appearing all over the pitch.  Rovers introduced the big striker who had caused Cubo so many problems at Barnes and he was immediately into the action.  Receiving the ball in the box, the ball appeared to be glued to his feet as he twisted and turned though some desperate defending saw a combination of Pogo and Goughy get the ball clear.

With only a minute on the clock Rovers again worked a good position down the right before the ball was drilled across the six yard box, ricocheting around the goal line it looked certain to end up in the back of the net.  With bodies flying in from every angle it was difficult to see what was going on until Jacko emerged with the ball in his hands.  Superb keeping from the stand in, showing great bravery with the studs flying.  Not content with this he quickly released Hoops who carried the ball forward before laying off to Bradders who in turn played the ball on to Daunter who was clear through in the right hand channel.  With a lack of match practice telling he didn’t have the legs to carry it all the way through, instead holding the ball up on the edge of the box before squaring to the supporting Bradders who curled a sumptuous finish into the top corner to leave the Rovers keeper rooted to the spot.  3-2 Cubo.  A brilliant break-away goal with a brilliant finish from the closet Gooner.

With less than a minute on the clock Cubo thought they had it won but there was still time for a sharp intake of breath as they gave away a cheap free kick 35 yards out on the right. With Rovers sending up their big men and introducing another big man from the bench the stage looked set for an almighty aerial defensive effort from the Cubans.  However, instead of putting the ball in the box the Rovers man bizarrely chose to try an inventive dink over the wall, which he over-hit, allowing Hung to gratefully shepherd out for a goal kick and full time.

Goals: Goughy, Daunter, Bradders

Man of the Match: Bradders

Match Report: Benny Mac

A fine win for the Cubans who made amends for the poor performance in the home fixture. The make-shift back line were impressive throughout and deserve credit for the way they kept their shape in their first game together.  Most pleasing though were the performances of the boys who came into the side, particularly Bradders who not only scored a belting winner but also put in a big shift in the centre of the park.

AFC Cubo 2nd XI 0 – 2 UCC Diaspora

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Date: Saturday 29th October 2011, 3pm KO

Starting line-up: Mango, Haddon, Alan Clarke, Pally, Rick Utting, Denno, Bradders, Salty, Pete Hill, Hoops, Stevie T

Sub: Seb Brain

On a roll from an unbeaten start to the season, the mighty Cubo came up against a resilient UCC Diaspora side; fresh from promotion from Division One last year and rolling along nicely at the higher standard. Discussion pre-match focussed upon Luke’s alchemy and Alan Clarkes estimation that if his lateness continues he alone will have contributed nearly £100 to the 2nds end of season bash.

With Haddon sporting a very nice new pair of boots (with his name cockily scribed along the side), Cubo started with the now standard 4-4-2. The game was evenly matched, and had a frantic pace, with Salty and Bradders fighting like teenage looters for the ball in the middle of the park. For the first time this season, Cubo hadn’t warmed up with the obligatory netball, and Denno wasn’t too happy with that. Just as the game was settling down into a steady rhythm after a high octane first 5 minutes, the Diaspora right midfield whipped the ball across to the penalty spot, and as Denno attempted to clear the ball, it kicked off ‘a massive divot’ and struck him on the left bicep. Penalty: Diaspora. Try as he might to guess the right way, the Diaspora spot-kicker placed the ball in the left corner, Mango dived the wrong way. 1-0 Diaspora.

Cubo then attempted the fightback, playing the ball nicely along the ground on the left hand side. Decent one-touch football, but never quite finding the killer pass that would open up for a chance to equalise. Even when the ball wasn’t on the floor, Cubo used the returning ‘big players’ of Thom Hoops and Stevie T up front to great effect, with balls flicked from one to the other and vice versa. A decent chance to pull level always on the card.

Midway through the first half, the first great Cubo flashpoint of the game. Unfortunately not in the oppo half. With the Diaspora number 15 proving a handful for the Cubo centre halves, as he was clattered to the floor under a cruching (yet wholey legal) challenge from Pally, he decided to have a good fondle of the ball while moaning like a bitch about what he saw as a foul. Cue a secondary challenge from Pally that looked likely to puncture the number 15’s balls. High, forceful, scary. Luckily for him, once the ensuing drama of the Diaspora players having their bit with the stricken Pally (for he got wiped out by a wave of Paddies), the referee was (possibly) poor and let Pally stay on the pitch.

UCC were clearly up for it now and 35 minutes in, the ball came to the advancing left back around 30 yards out. One touch, and without a Cubo player applying pressure, he struck it past the helpless Mango into the top left corner. For a man who has a bit of a temper when he’s beaten in five-a-side, let alone in full size goals, the strike left Nick speechless.

Half time. Two down, but playing well, and definitely still in it.

The second half proved to be much the same as the first, with Cubo winning the ball well upfront and forcing Diaspora to give away free kicks which Cubo never quite punished them with. A number of times, AC was able to climb above the Diaspora players in the box with a few headers flashing past the far post and crossbar.

Twenty minutes from the end, and Pally had to leave the field with his wrist proving too painful to play with. Seb came on, and Cubo switched to 3-4-3. An interesting back line of AC, with Rick and Luke either side of him. The game opened up. Cubo moving the ball well on the ground and finding the gaps with the extra player further up the pitch.

With the aerial approach working well for Cubo, two minutes from the end, a ball went up for Seb (admittedly not the tallest centre forward in the world). Wiped out in the air, he clattered to the floor face first. Cue the drama.

Knocked straight out, he lay on the floor, getting mildly slapped by the Diaspora linesman in a foolhardy attempt to get woken up. The oppo Goalkeeper did do a great job though. A passing ambulance from the rugby was flagged down like a London taxi, with the previous occupant kicked out despite his own dislocated shoulder. Seb had by this time come round, but things were clearly not all there. Blue lights, and boarded down, he was rushed to Charing X Hospital (nowhere near the station). After a number of hours, he was released to go home with a number of zygomatic fractures. Surgery has been arranged for next Monday.

All in all, not a good day for Cubo 2nds.

Man of the Match: Thom Hoops

Match Report: Luke Haddon

Old Farnboronians 0-2 AFC Cubo

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Date: Saturday 29th October 2011, 3pm KO

Starting line-up: Mark Sutton, Rob Sadler, Jonny Patterson, Jacko, Oli Watkins (C), Hung Nguyen, Ben McGeown, Clarkey, Ryan Shedwick, Tommy Stewart, MTM

Sub: Jim McG

Cubo’s availability issues continued with 2 players pulling out through injury in the 24 hours before the game.  With Mark Sutton forced into pulling on the keepers jersey Cubo were far from full strength.  However a good warm up was carried into the game and Cubo were immediately on the front foot.  The first chance of the game fell to Pogo, who linked well with Tommy Stew to find himself clean through on goal but he skewed his finish wide of the near post.

Cubo were getting plenty of joy down the left flank where Ryan’s movement and ability to find space between the home sides midfield and defence was causing them real head-aches.  The main threat to Cubo’s goal appeared to come from their own carelessness in their own half and on more than one occasion they were guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous areas.  Luckily Oli, Hung and Jacko were in top form and OF’s skillful number 9 was being shackled effectively.

Cubo took a deserved lead midway through the half when Ryan first won a tackle in his own half before busting a gut to get forward where he fed Tommy S who shanked a finish into the bottom corner. 1-0 Cubo.  Cubo had started well and things improved further shortly afterwards when OF failed to deal with a long ball and Tommy was able to fire home for his and Cubo’s second of the game.

A third goal almost followed when Pogo again found space in behind the right back and clipped a finish over the home keeper only to see it clip the top of the bar.  A great first half for the Cubans with Pogo and Ryan to the fore.  An ankle injury early in the second half to Clarkey forced a change in shape with Pogo coming into the centre of the park and Jim McG coming on to the left flank.  With the home side pushing men on Cubo were coming under a lot of pressure and only two great goal line blokes from skipper Oli Watkins and Mark Sutton respectively prevented the home side getting a goal back.  These instances aside Cubo were showing the kind of tenacity in their defensive work that has been missing of late and Mark was being well protected.

With OF desperately searching for a way back in to the game there were always going to be gaps for Cubo to exploit and the returning MTM worked the keeper with a couple of good opportunities.  One of these chances came with the slightly unsettling sight of Sadler and Jim as the furthest men forward unfortunately Sadler’s pass to Jim was under hit having carried the ball superbly into the box.

With both sides tiring on the large pitch the game became stretched with Cubo a little too happy to punt the ball away cheaply, inviting pressure onto their backline who were defending resolutely.  A couple of late scares aside the Baby Blue Army were able to ride out the remainder of the game without conceding to secure a welcome 3 points.

Final Score: Old Farnboronians 0-2 AFC Cubo

Scorer(s): Tommy Stewart x 2

Man of the Match: Jacko – strong in the tackle and the air.  Did a great job marking OF’s biggest threat, showing the benefits of his recent warm weather training camp in San Francisco, with a new found athleticism.

Match Report: Benny Mac

AFC Cubo 1-3 Tooting Bec: League Cup 1st Round

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Date: Saturday 22nd October 2011, 3pm KO

Competition: League Cup – 1st Round

Starting Line-up: Ben McGeown, Bobbie Sadler, Mark Sutton, Hung Nguyen, Oli Watkins (c), Richard Gough, Ian Clarke, Jonny Patterson, Ryan Shedwick, Trev Moody, Pete Hill

Subs: Satal Thethy, Tom Hooper

In recent seasons Cup runs have come as something of an unwelcome distraction from the primary aim of chasing league titles for Cubo.  Luckily, some disappointing recent results in the league has meant that the idea of a Cup run has grown far more attractive! Facing them were the side that preceded them as SSEC League Champions, and who are the only conceivable team to be considered local rivals, Tooting Bec.   Unfortunately for Cubo the goal-keeping and striking departments have been ravaged of late by a combination of injury, marriage (long-term injury) and professional exams.  A result of this was that Ben McGeown stood between the sticks looking to add to his envious goalkeeping record of having started one game in goal and kept one clean sheet (appearances in goal after the starting keeper was sent off for kicking the opposing striker not included).    The fact that the 2’s had been given a weekend off to allow 2nd team manager Mike Thomas to sun himself on the golf courses of Spain meant that the gaffer was able to call up Trev, Pete, Salty and Tom to fill the gaps in the line-up.

On a beautiful day at Barnes Cubo made a bright start when Trev’s challenge for a long punt downfield fell to Pete Hill who was unlucky to see his left foot effort from the edge of the box pushed round the post by the Bec keeper.  The resulting corner was swung in dangerously by Mark Sutton and with defence unable to clear Goughy forced an effort over the line via a large deflection from the Bec keeper.  1-0 Cubo with barely 2 minutes on the clock.

Tooting sought to assert themselves on the game and their use of two out and out wingers supporting a lone front man saw them make the most of the width of the new pitch 7.  Clearly a passing side, they were moving the ball across the park well, albeit without threatening a Cubo backline well marshalled by Gough, Nguyen and Watkins.  Cubo were playing with far greater confidence than in recent weeks and were able to find space in some dangerous areas in the opponents half, though as has been the case recently, the final ball was lacking.  Just as the home side were looking comfortable, they conceded a preventable goal.  A missed challenge on the left hand touchline allowed the Bec forward to put a dangerous cross into the near post which Ben failed to deal with, allowing the Bec midfielder a simple tap in from 2 yards out.

The away side added a second shortly afterwards when a well worked move saw the scorer of the first goal launch himself at a cross into the box.  Keeper McG was able to get both hands to the ball but could only help it on its way into the corner.  2-1 Tooting Bec.  These two moments aside Cubo had kept their opponents at arms-length for much of the half and continued to look dangerous when pushing forward.  Good build up play by Sadler and Ryan put Clarkey in a good position on the edge of the box but, having beaten his man, he drilled his effort wide.

Cubo continued to push for an equaliser and were gifted a golden opportunity when the ref awarded a penalty for a late challenge on Clarkey that looked suspiciously like it took place outside the box.  With spot-kick King McGeown stuck in goal responsibility fell to ‘our kid’ Shedwick who stepped up confidently only to see his effort pushed away by the Bec keeper.  The penalty miss appeared to take the wind out of Cubo’s sails and Tooting were beginning to get on top of the home side.  The game moved further away from the home side when a corner was nodded in by the unmarked centre half despite Cubo’s appeals for a foul on the keeper.  3-1 Tooting Bec.

The introduction of Hooper on the right and Salty in the middle of the park added some much needed energy to the Baby Blue Army and both were involved with a sweeping move from left to right that saw Hooper whip in a sumptuous cross which Pete Hill was unable to convert at the back stick.  With gaps emerging in the Cubo backline only some well-timed challenges from Watkins and Goughy prevented the score line deteriorating further.

Another disappointing result for Cubo who are experiencing an unprecedented run of bad results.  Despite the final score line this was a vastly improved performance from last week with Pete Hill and Trev both impressive in their first starts of the season.  If Cubo can cut out their propensity for giving away cheap goals at set-pieces and missing penalties then they should be able to put an end to the current slide.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 1-3 Tooting Bec

Goal: Goughy

Man of the Match: Hung / Pete Hill

South East London 2nd XI 3 – 0 Cubo 3rd XI: Centenary Cup Section B Round 1

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Date: Saturday 22nd October – 2pm KO

Starting Line-up: Matt Turner (C), Chris Revill (deceased), Mark Dallamore, Nathan Adabadze, James Ingle, Henry Neville, Chris Lendrum, Luke Haddon, Seb Brain, Paul May, Jordan Griffith

Sub: John Glenn

With the club undergoing a goalkeeping crisis of epic proportions, it was left to skipper Turner to place himself between the sticks. On a barren, concrete-hard pitch, a bright start under an adventurous and new-fangled 3-5-2 saw Cubo pen SEL back in their own half, with Paul and Jordan looking especially dangerous playing off the shoulders of the SEL defence. Only some dubious linesman-ship kept the scores level.

However, the main incident in the game came barely 10 minutes in to the first half. Excluding Dallamore, the diminutive back line of Revill and Adabadze naturally struggled under high balls and against the monstrous SEL strike-duo. With one clearance bouncing over Revill, a last-ditch goal saving tackle from the aforementioned ended audibly with a loud snap. Unfortunately it wasn’t a firework let off by some local wildlife; but Chris’ tibula. An anxious 40 minute wait for the ambulance ensued, with full credit awarded to physio-on-the-spot Lenny for keeping Chris from enduring too much discomfort. A team effort was then needed to move Chris to the safety of the bag pile at the side of the pitch. With the half injured Glenn replacing Revill, the remainder of the half was played out in naturally cagey circumstances with neither side really threatening.

When the ambulance finally did arrive, the driver sensibly eschewed parking ANYWHERE ELSE and elected the pitch to settle upon, delaying the game by a further 30 minutes at half time.

With the second half finally underway, Cubo could not seem to build any momentum, and on the hard pitch it was proving difficult to get the ball to Luke and Seb’s feet on the wings. With both midfields bypassed by the aerial battle, a lucky bounce and unlucky deflection against Dallamore ended with the ball ricocheting past the despairing gloves of Turner. As Cubo chased the game, openings, err, opened up and the SEL right winger cut inside and unleashed a fierce drive through the defence, past the unsighted Turner to make it 2-0 to the baddies. Utilising the fact the SEL 1st XI had no fixture, some astute substitutions were made by the SEL coach and the game was put beyond Cubo’s reach with 10 minutes to go by another firm strike from outside the box.

Some positives can be taken however with an excellent debut from Nathan Adebadze and some strong, direct running from second debutant Paul May who looked to dovetail well with Jordan on several occasions. Thanks must also go to the SEL coach, Jose, who lent us some footballs, called the ambulance, provided Chris with company and blankets and general all-round good lad behaviour.

Thanks to Turns for donning the gloves and best wishes and a speedy recovery to Chris.

Man of the Match: TBC

Match Report: John Glenn

AFC Cubo 1-3 Crescent Rovers

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Date: Sat 15th October 2011

Starting Line-up: Gaz Stewart, Rob Sadler, Hung Nguyen, Oli Watkins (c), Richard Gough, Ben McGeown, Michael North, Jonny Patterson, Ryan Shedwich, Mark Sutton, Andrew Noble

Subs: Ian Clarke, Eddy Jackson, James McGeown

A spate of injuries to the clubs strike-force forced Cubo into adopting a revised 4-5-1 formation with club beefcake Andrew Noble, himself carrying an injury, deployed as a lone front man. Despite the absence of striking options Cubo were welcomed back Hung and Pogo to a strong starting line up. Initial signs were positive for the Baby Blue Army when Sutts skinned his full back before pulling the ball back to Noble whose effort was only kept out by some desperate defending by the visitors.

Cubo have been conceding cheap goals at a rate recently and that trend continued against Crescent Rovers. A cross into the box was not attacked by any member of the home side and the ball dropped kindly to the Rovers midfielder who hooked the ball in. 1-0 Crescent Rovers.

Despite some nice passages of play Cubo were looking second best in the challenge and the visitors were playing with increasing confidence, with their big striker making sure that Goughy and Oli were unable to win any clean clearing headers. Despite this Cubo found themselves back on level terms 25 minutes into the half when a long throw into the box fell to Goughy who, not for the first time this season, showed great composure to side foot home from 10 yards out. 1-1.

Whilst the goal did invigorate Cubo, time and again they showed a lack of composure in the final third, giving the ball away cheaply to ease the pressure on the Rovers backline. At the other end, they were displaying a real inability to clear their lines and were only saved from going behind again thanks to a linesmans flag. Their luck did not hold however and when another goal kick was not cleared it was left to the Rovers frontman to hammer an unstoppable finish into the top corner from 20 yards out. 2-1 Rovers. A very poor half for the home side who really did not look at the races.

With Noble limping off after 50 mins, replaced by Clarkey, Cubo were forced into pushing Ryan up front and hoping for an improvement in their build up play. Unfortunately the quality of their play didn’t improve and the away side increased their lead when the ref awarded a penalty after a couple of mistimed challenges on the Rovers striker in the box. Gaz again got his hand to the ball but was unable to keep out the well struck spot kick. 3-1 Rovers.

Cubo continued to plug away but without enough quality to really trouble the Rovers backline though they were granted an avenue back into the game when Sutts was brought down just inside the area and the ref awarded a penalty. Without an established penalty taker on the pitch, gaffer Ben McGeown stepped up but his weak effort to the keepers left was easily saved and with it so did Cubo’s hopes of getting something from the game. A couple of goal mouth scrambles aside Cubo were unable to force the Rovers keeper into any saves of note and the game was played out without any further goals.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 1-3 Crescent Rovers

Scorer: Goughy

Man of the Match:

A hugely disappointing display from Cubo, who paid the price for a lack of composure in their opponents half and a lack of defensive aggression in their own half. Crescent Rovers put in an organised and disciplined performance which proved too much for the home side to deal with. The absence of their established strike-force is clearly causing Cubo problems exerting any pressure on opposition back lines at the moment, a failing compounded by a tendency to give away very cheap goals. A big improvement will be needed next week if they are to get a result against Tooting Bec in the Cup.

Match Report: Benny Mac

AFC Cubo 2nd XI 3-2 Goldfingers

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Date: Saturday 15th October, 2011

Starting Line-Up: Clark, Haddon, A. Clarke, Pally, Utting, Denno, Bradley, Salty, Burt, Brain, Hill

Subs: Hooper and Jim M

It was a case of déjà vu at Barn Elms on Saturday as Cubo faced a Goldfingers team on another balmy summer’s day two weeks after knocking them out of the cup. Cubo have enjoyed an unbeaten start to the season and came into this game full of confidence having won their last 3 games 1-0. Having watched Wales lose to the French that morning, Pally turned up sporting his London Welsh top and looking to take out his frustration out on Goldfingers. Given the weather conditions it would be interesting to see how many of the translucent members of the squad would deal with the hot conditions. Utting was seen applying a thick layer of sun cream before the game as the tree in the corner of the pitch would only offer him shade for one half of the game. With all strikers at the club seemingly unavailable it was left to the imposing duo of Seb Brain and Pete Hill to lead the line. Otherwise it was the regular back four in front of Neil ‘clean sheet’ Clark and a midfield of Bradley and Salty in the middle and Denno and Andy Burt offering some quality out wide.

The first half was not a vintage performance from Cubo. The team seemed very lethargic and Goldfingers were first to most balls and looked dangerous on the break. xHowever, Cubo did manage to go ahead through a sloppy defensive effort from the away team. From a Cubo throw on the left Andy Burt managed to slide in on the edge of the area to divert the ball towards goal. Seb and the Goldfingers’ keeper went for it but both managed to miss the ball which ran through to Alan Clarke to another goal to continue his good start to the season.

Despite going ahead Cubo continued to live dangerously by giving the ball away too easily and then allowing Goldfingers too much space on the break. A free kick was given away on the edge of the Cubo area in a threatening position. The dead ball was poorly stuck though straight at keeper Clark. Unfortunately the prospect of getting married next week just before his 39th birthday was playing on his mind and he forgot key coaching point of all goalkeepers of getting your body behind the ball and let it go through his legs. So the team’s record of not conceding a goal since moving to a flat back four back in their opening game of the season had now been ended. The only other thing to note from the first half was the referees increasing habit of offering commentary on the game but not being to receptive to any constructive criticism offered by either team.

The half time whistle was welcomed by Cubo and gave them a chance to regroup and hopefully address their lacklustre first half. The second half started with Cubo in the ascendency and trying to pass the ball around positively. Seb and Pete were causing the Goldfingers back four problems with their pace and the quality of the final ball was the only thing missing. Cubo retook the lead midway through the half. A corner from the right was delivered with pace to the far post from Burt and Denno managed to head the ball into the goal through a melee of defenders and goalkeeper. Cubo had deserved the lead through their positive start to the second half. Goldfingers still looked like a threat and it took a few last ditch interceptions from the Cubo defence to prevent their strikers being clear through on goal.

In the 75th minute the referee blew up for a foul committed by the home team on the edge of the area. Unfortunately the referee was not having his best game and this was a shocking decision as it was clear to everyone except the man in black that a Cubo foot had got to the ball first. The wall lined up and the Goldfingers player managed to hit it over the wall and also over the stranded Clark to get them back level. The crowd were now looking for a reaction from the Cubo players as their winning run was now under threat. Cubo remained positive and looked to release Seb at any opportunity. Hooper had also replaced Pete Hill up top to offer his considerable frame to the frontline. The third and decisive goal came from an unlikely source. Mark Bradley made his first successful pass of the game to release Seb whose pace kept him away from the defenders and he calmly slotted it home to give Cubo another 3 points. The home team managed to hold on with Clark pulling off a great save towards the end. With another win under their belt the team headed off to the Red Lion for a debrief and then onto Chez Saltdog for a few home brews.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 3-2 Goldfingers

Scorers: A. Clarke, Dennison, Brain

Man of the Match: Seb Brain for a coolly taken winner and offering a constant threat in behind the Goldfingers defence.

Positives: 

  • Great team spirit to react to conceding the second goal and get the winner
  • Scored three goals
  • Late fines are building up nicely for the end of season drinking session

Negatives:

  • First half performance was very sloppy. We are not good enough just to turn up and collect 3 points.
  • Still need to work on our finishing
  • Bradders and Luke suffering heatstroke after not applying enough sun cream before the game

Match Report: Rick Utting

AFC Cubo 2nd XI 1-0 Goldfingers

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Date: Saturday 1st October

Starting Line-Up: Clark, Denno, A. Clarke, Pally, Utting, Brain, Bradders, Salty (C), Moody, Hill, Stevie T

Subs: Ramsay

Cubo welcomed Goldfingers to Barn Elms for the first cup game of the season. Bradders knew their European sleeve styled keeper and many players were also au fait with Cemlyn Jones at right back for the Yellow and Black clad visitors.

Trevor Moody scored the key goal, which had been coming, when he stole in at the near post to delicately flick in a Brain corner – one of many the diminutive dribbler had delivered.

On the half hour mark a penalty was conceded by the 27 (honestly) year old in the home goal, but he composed himself well, flinging himself to his right to push the spot kick to safety.

Goldfingers loved being offside but responded to the disappointment in the second half by creating a number of chances themselves. Clark was called into action a number of times producing a plethora top saves.

However despite his heroics, when a weak shot slipped under his body it seemed for all the world that extra time would be required. However Dennison, operating out of position at right back, showed admirable defensive instincts to clear from off the line and complete a hard fought but slightly fortuitous victory.

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

Scorer: Moody

Man of the Match: Neil Clark for some great one handed shot stopping and a penno save (which he’d given away).

Match Report: A group effort (in the car) between Denno, Clark, Hoops and PeteHill

Balham FC 0-1 AFC Cubo 2nd XI

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Date: Saturday 8th October

Starting Line-Up: Clark, Haddon, A. Clarke, Pally, Utting, Denno, Bradders, Salty (C), Hill, Moody, Burt

Subs: Ramsay, Joe D

In well-worn Ian Holloway parlance, this Cubo win was akin to being vomited on by a prostitute. Outplayed for large periods of the game by a younger and fitter, Balham side, AFC Cubo summoned on the years of experience present and exhibited fine smash and grab technique.

Pre-match, the writing had been on the wall for the boys in baby blue. As the youthful Balham FC diligently carried out a pre match warm up involving dynamic stretching, close knit ball work and a small sided game, Cubo responded with Netball, X-factor discussion and a racially insensitive team talk.

OR (Cubo responded with Netball and X-factor discussion, liberally punctuated with loud welsh swearing and demands to ‘stick one on them early doors’ from the player manager) Just in case anyone from the league/the other side ever reads this.

When the game finally kicked off, despite the insistence of Mark Bradley that the best, and indeed only, way to deal with a youthful opposition was through ‘inappropriate touching’, Cubo dominated the opening exchanges through more conventional means. In the first minute, a good interchange between Salty, Hill and Moody down the left allowed the latter to release a fierce shot at goal which was well blocked by the Balham Centre half. The Cubo boys felt that notice had been served that both sides on the pitch could play and moments later they had their reward.

A well-worked move resulted in a ninth minute corner which was floated high into the box for Clarke to convert as Pally busied himself assaulting the young goalkeeper. It wasn’t the first time a set play would cause the Balham defence trouble and nor was it the first time Cubo’s methods, particularly those of the player-manager, would be called into question.

From this point forward, the game settled into a regular pattern. Cubo showed fight, determination and grit all over the pitch and sought to disrupt Balham’s passing game at every opportunity. When they did receive possession, the Cubo boys attempts to get the ball down and play in the time honoured baby blue way were all too often thwarted by a Balham side who were quick to close down and moved the ball at speed.

Once again, Cubo’s work-rate was outstanding. Despite Balham having the majority of the possession, the Cubo boys fought hard and unexpectedly almost doubled their lead on 32mins when Denno went close with a long range chip over the Balham keeper. Stirred into action by this chance, Balham responded with a flurry of attacks culminating in an excellent chance for their centre forward to pull the scores level on the brink of half time. Once again however, the sun shone on the boys in baby blue and they went into the break still holding the lead.

As the second half began, it was clear the pattern of the game would be continued with Balham launching wave after wave of attacks against the cubo defence and the embattled midfield with the Balham No.10 the centre of all their good play. In response, Bradley was given the role of man-marking the No.10 – a move which did much to reduce the crafty playmaker’s effectiveness (that’s the No.10 by the way, not Bradders).

On the 65min, fresh legs were introduced to equation in the form of Ramsey for the unlucky Denno. With Stevie T busy filling the Gary Doherty role (if you don’t know Wikipedia it) for the 1s, Burt and Moody fought hard to hold the ball up front but welcomed the introduction of Ramsey to assist in their task with Burt dropping into midfield and Salty to the right.

Despite the change, the pattern of the game remained much the same and as the last 15 minutes approached, many in the ground would have had doubts about whether Cubo would hold on. A good Cubo chance on 80mins nearly sealed the game for the boys in baby blue with Ramsay unlucky to see his glancing header clip the outside of the upright on a rare
foray into the opposition half. What followed next will be gracing rolling sports channels across the globe for many weeks to come.

A long through ball found the Balham No.10 who, despite being man-marked effectively for much of the 2nd half, found himself all on his own on the Cubo left. Seeing the danger, player manager Pally took matters into his own hands. As the playmaker advanced and then overran the ball, Pally put in a fair challenge. Frustrated by his wasteful use of possession,
the No.10 then threw himself onto the floor in front of the advancing centre back. Pally, too fully into his powerful stride to stop, continued on his path and trampled over the top of the young boy. In the resulting melee, unluckily for the no.10, one of Pally’s size 12’s connected with his ankle bone, sending the No.10 into a torrent of high pitched abuse aimed at Pally and the referee. Cue disgraceful scenes across Wimbledon Common. The Balham team claimed the boot to the ankle was deliberate, Pally insisted not. The Balham players protested vociferously, the cubo boys lept to their manager’s defence. A woman ran onto the pitch screaming. A linesman tripped over a water bottle. All the time, the crocked no.10 lay on the floor shrieking. When the game restarted, regrettably, the No.10 was never quite the same player again.

With Balham’s main threat now ‘neutralised’, their challenge to Cubo’s lead slowly ebbed away. Save for a last minute goalmouth scramble in which Cubo’s woodwork was rattled and keeper Clark dived three times at imaginary balls – Balham ceased to seriously threaten Cubo’s goal again and the boys in baby blue held on for a famous victory. Pretty it wasn’t, but once again Cubo’s grit, determination and team spirit shone through as they deservedly went into the hat for the next round.

Final Score: Balham FC 0-1 AFC Cubo 2nd XI

Scorer: Alan Clarke

Man of the Match: Pally

Match Report: AC

Ripley Village 3-3 AFC Cubo

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Date: Sat 8th October 2011

Starting Line-up: Tommy Stewart, Rob Sadler, Mark Sutton, Sweepie T, Oli Watkins, Richard Gough, Michael North, Ben McGeown, Ryan Shedwick, Andrew Noble, Chris Gray

Subs: Tom Hooper, Ian ‘Ooooh, I’ve hurt my ribs…’ Clarke

A lack of availability throughout the club meant that Cubo were only able to name a 2 man bench that included the still injured Clarkey who has yet to recover from the non-existent challenge that he suffered against Bletchingley.  Luckily the slightly overcast conditions were more player friendly than last week’s dalliance with the tropics.  Cubo were once again able to sample the benefits of promotion with a lovely clubhouse on the village green (Surrey Village of the Year 2007, sure) and a pitch in good nick (if a little hard for a man giving a debut run out to a new pair of Puma Kings).

Despite numbers being short Cubo were able to name a strong line up with Chris Gray (RIP for the next 6 weeks) returning up front and club chairman Stevie T replacing Cubo’s resident mayonnaise connoisseur Edward Jackson.   Ripley Village had enjoyed a good start to the season, though consecutive defeats in recent weeks had undermined this somewhat and they started the day a point ahead of the Baby Blue Army.

Unlike recent weeks Cubo started the game relatively brightly, knocking the ball around well albeit without troubling the Ripley backline.  Ripley were clearly keen to hit their skilful frontman early and the wide pitch meant there was plenty of space in the channels for them to do exactly this.  The first goal of the game came from a combination of shocking defending from Cubo and adroit footwork from the Ripley forward.  Managing to evade 3 weak challenges on the edge of the area he composed himself to slot past Tommy in the Cubo goal.  1-0 Ripley.  A disappointing goal to concede for a Cubo side that has prided itself on its defensive strength.

They could be thankful to Gaz Stewart for not going further behind when he made a fine save to tip over a strike destined for the top corner.  Despite this Cubo could be encouraged by the start they had made, gradually building pressure on Ripley and it was no surprise when they scores were levelled.  A quick free kick found Ryan on the edge of the box and his flick released Noble in the box.   His initial effort was palmed away by the keeper but Ryan was quickest to react, squaring to Northy who side-footed home off the post.  1-1.

With the goal they felt they deserved Cubo pushed on and Northy almost added a second before half time, only to see his long range effort fizz wide of the post.  With the tide of the game clearly in favour of the Baby Blue Army they somehow found themselves a goal down again.  The Ripley striker was allowed to get to the by-line far too easily and his cross to the back post was headed back across goal and onto Sadler’s out-stretched hand.  The referee had little option but to give the penalty, though the yellow card he dished out was a bit harsh given that Sadler had no idea where the ball was or any option of getting out of the way of it.  Unfortunately Tommy Stewart was unable to repeat his heroics against Reigate, and, despite guessing the right way, was beaten for the second time of the afternoon.  2-1 Ripley Village.

Following a spirited half time talk Cubo started the second half with far greater urgency and soon found themselves level again.  With the ball breaking to Noble 30 yards from goal he released Ryan in the inside right channel and the chirpy Northerner cut inside his man before firing in at the keepers near post.  2-2.  More pressure from Cubo then saw Northy meet a long throw from Noble and push a volley past the keeper from the six yard line.  3-2 Cubo.  Cubo’s lead was no more than their energetic start deserved but taking the lead appeared to have a negative effect as they began to sit deeper and the earlier urgency was replaced by anxiety.

The balance of the game shifted back in favour of the home side who began to dominate possession.  With the home side pressing for an equiliser there were always going to be chances on the break for Cubo and Ben McG should have put the game to bed when Sutton pulled the ball back to him 8 yards out but he blazed wide.   Northy too, suffering a bout of hat-trick fever, found himself on the end of a cross in the Ripley box but was unable to keep his effort down.  Cubo continued to invite pressure allowing the home side a lot of possession on the edge of the Cubo box which led to a succession of dangerous corners which were defended with a mixture of committed headers, luck and glaring misses from Ripley.

Unfortunately for Cubo they were unable to ride their luck and Ripley eventually made them pay when an outswinging corner that was powerfully headed home to make it 3-3 with minutes to go.   Some over the top celebrations from the Ripley centre mid sparked some ugly scenes that marred what was an otherwise sportingly contested fixture.  The game looked like it might have one more twist when Noble latched on on to a loose ball inside the Ripley half, cleverly beat his man and bore down on goal.  Unfortunately his finish was pushed away to safety by the Ripley keeper to leave scores tied at full time.

A see-sawing game that Cubo will felt that they could and should have won had it not been for some poor defending and an inability to kill the game off at 3-2.  In spite of this it was important to stop the rot following two defeats on the spin and the greater attacking threat displayed will be encouraging following some toothless displays recently.

Final Score: Ripley Village 3-3 AFC Cubo

Scorers: Northy 2, Ryan

Man of the Match: Northy

Match Report: Benny Mac