Brentside 0-3 AFC Cubo 3rd XI

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Date: Saturday 22nd September

Venue: Wandsworth Common, KO 2pm

Starting line up: Richard Bush, Nick Tubb, Antonio Valencia, Ralph Wensley, James Ingle, Henry Neville, Timmy Field, John Watson, Conor O’Callaghan, Ben Young, Paul May

Subs: Satal Thethy, Tim Jones, John Glenn

Scorers: May, Young 2

After a difficult Thursday juggling players between teams due to a sudden holiday and injury crisis across the club, some good news on Saturday morning saw Conor bring old friend John Watson into play, and Bushy return earlier than expected from holiday. A very strong line up resulted as Cubo 3rds took to the field against Brentside, unbeaten and yet to concede, scoring 8 in their previous 2 games.

Playing uphill on an unforgiving, hard pitch; under a hot sun, Cubo struggled in the first 15 minutes, Brentside twice going close with long balls through to their wide men. However, as the half wore on, Cubo began to look more threatening, especially on the counter. Watson and Big Paul combined well to release May into the box, Paul shot narrowly wide, Ben blazing 85 yards over the bar when it seemed easier to score, from pretty much directly under the cross bar. With the defence marshalled well by Ralph, Jimbo stepping authoritatively forward to intercept play, and Nick and Tonio easily covering the Brentside wingers, Cubo took control. Like lads. A long clearance from Bushy saw Paul released down the right hand side. Gassing their 6 foot 10 centre back, not for the first time, he slotted the ball across the goal into the bottom left corner. Half time 1-0 The Cubo.

Half time felt strange without the usual display of imaginative profanity from Turner. It was actually positive. It seemed to work, as Cubo started the second half as they finished the first, in control. A rare break from Brentside saw a cross from the right wing canon off the head of their striker onto the cross bar, but apart from that, the blues remained on top. Conor especially stood out with intelligent movement and strong running. A pass from Antonio down the left wing again released Big Paul, who steam rollered over a couple of challenges, and unbelievably, and to the incredulity of everyone watching, actually passed the ball, cutting it back to Ben who slotted home from the penalty spot. Ben said it was a mis-hit shot from Paul.

With 15 minutes to go, and with Brentside having used their 3 subs, Bushy claimed a ball under pressure from their striker. A collision resulted in the Brentside striker having to come off, leaving the home side with 10 men for the remainder. With Paul now having completely subdued the entirety of their back 3, yet another marauding run saw him AGAIN cut the ball back for the waiting Ben to socre his second, and final goal of the match.

Final Score: Brentside 0-3 AFC Cubo 3rd XI

Scorers: May, B. Young (2)

Massive thanks to Salty and Jonesy who a) navigated horrendous traffic to get to the game to act as subs (as without them we only really had 11) and b) played superbly when they came on, adding bite and tenacity to an already well-oiled midfield.

Man of the Match: Impossible to split Jimbo and Ralph – absolutely bloody brilliant the pair of them. So good, they were better than Paul with a goal and two assists, and Ben with two goals.

AFC Cubo 2nd XI 1-2 Union FC

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Date: Saturday 8th September 2012

Starting XI: Brett Vanderlight, Rick Utting, Pete Hill, Alan Clarke, Luke Haddon, Dave Wall (60 mins Rob McGarr), Satal Thethy, Tim Jones, Rich Crisp (55mins Stevie T), Ryan Shedwick, Terry Spokes

Subs: Rob McGarr, Stevie T

Cubo 2s hoping to build upon a couple of strong friendly perfomances made a solid start to the game retaining a lot of possesion with out being able to cut out any clear cut chances. After solid work from the midfield dynamos of Salty and Dave Wall taking the game by the scruff of the neck a couple of chances at the back post went agonsingly wide. Rick and Crispy were starting to terrorise the left flank when against the run of play it was in fact Cubo who were lucky to stay level with new international signing in the sticks (and contestor for best name in Cubo) Brett Vanderlight coming close to bringing down the nimble Union striker.

In the heat both teams started to struggle and Union came out to start the second half stronger. However it was Cubo who broke the dead lock with a cross come shot from Luke Haddon who floated the ball in side the far post with the aid of the deftest of touches from Tim Jones. The goal seem to rejuvenate Cubo who then looked to push home their advantage, starting to dominate possession again. Unfortunately disorganisation at the back left Union striker with a little too much space on a counter attack and he cooly finished over the keeper. Cubo then pushed again looking for the winner with Ryan Shedwick (recently revived from his death bed) starting to cause mischief down the right flank. Cubo came close twice, with Ryan first smashing the ball against the underside of the bar after a dazzling run and then Tel who worked tirelessly all game having  a goal disallowed after the ball was adjudged to gone out of play earlier in the build up. With minutes to spare Union again caught Cubo on the break and after shrugging the lone defender aside managed to slip the ball past the approaching keeper.

A hard fought start to the season for Cubo which deserved a point. Despite a number of new faces the teams showed promising signs and there are high hopes for the season. Club chef Salty rose above a number of strong contenders to take the Man of the Match award  putting in a tireless performance despite the heat whilst showing outstanding composure in possession.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 2nd XI 1-2 Union FC

Goal: Tim Jones (assist Luke Haddon)

Man of the Match: Salty

Match Report: Pete Hill

 

Subs for the New Season

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You should all have got the email about signing on fees for the new season. Membership this year is £65 which is very fair, while match fees will continue to be £5 for starters and £3 for substitutes.

Please contact new treasurer Gaz Stewart and pay asap as we have loads to pay for including pitches and league fees!

Bobby Moore Fund – an update

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This Saturday night saw the very plush St Stephens club, on Queen Anne’s Gate in central London, host the 3rd annual AFC Cubo and Cubo netball charity summer ball. As usual, we were raising funds for the Bobby Moore Fund and I’m delighted to report that a great night was had by all.

A combination of ticket sales, a raffle and the usual auction saw a cracking total of £2,985 being raised which will go towards the invaluable work of the charity researching the treatment and cure of bowel cancer.

Thank you to everyone who helped to organise the event, those who attended and finally the very generous donators of a number of excellent auction items. See you all next year!

AFC Cubo 2nd XI 3-1 London Lionhearts

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Date: Saturday 12th May, 10.30am KO

Venue: Banstead FC

Starting XI: Neil Clark, Stevie T, Pally, Alan Clarke, Jim McGeown, Salty (C), Trev Moody, Pete Hill, Andy Burt, Steve Keegan, Tim Jones.

Subs: Chris Grayson, JPatt, Matt Turner, Ryan Shedwick, Paul Every.

AFC Cubo took part in the Wimbledon Trophy final on Saturday morning, in a predictably competitive game against London Lionhearts. Player/Manager Mike Thomas, in probably his last match for the Baby Blue Army, was able to name a very strong side as well as a bench consisting of 5 players. With a number of spectators from the club watching, as well as friends and family, there was very much a carnival mood. Such joy was evident as Benny Mac polished off a bottle of water (!), Oli confidently dispatching not one but two (!!) cups of tea, Sadler tucking into a banana (!!!) and Bradders, coach for the day, sporting a rather flashy canvas rucksack.

Cubo started the match very brightly with Player of the Season Alan Clarke winning a couple of early headers and setting the tone for another assured display. On the left hand side Andy Burt was able to showcase his excellent delivery, while PeteHill™, man of the match in the last final Cubo contested, was showing signs he is truly a big game player.

The versatile Stevie T, operating at right back, his 32nd different role of his Cubo career, was showing typical composure and with Salty and Alexandr Trev-Hleb mixing up combinations of blood and thunder effort, sideways passing, and Zoolander 90° turns things looked good.

The first real chance of the match saw unpredictable marksman Steve Keegan just being adjudged offside before controlling and finishing from Burt’s delivery, but in fairness the PROPER linesman did appear to get the decision right. Full of confidence the boy from Boro pulled off a truly remarkable piece of skill a few minutes later, scooping the ball over the head of the Lionhearts left back before clipping a teasing cross to the back stick where Jones was just unable to guide his header on target. Magical stuff leading to #KeeganIsBoxOffice trending in the UK on Twitter within seconds.

Tim Jones was holding the ball up extremely well, drifting into the left channel and offering the likes of Jim an easy ball into feet, and with Cubo able to get men forward it seemed an opening Baby Blue coloured goal was likely. However Lionhearts were able to offer a threat on the counter and would have been disappointed not to work “Cu-bo-2s, Num-ber-1 Cubo2sCubo2s Num-ber-1”, Neil Clark, wastefully missing the target from a brace of presentable opportunities.

Fashion watch – Hoops and Clare Galloway opting for double denim, Clarkey Snr with a strong beard, MTM and Northy wearing some natty chocolate slacks, Ben, Denno and Oli repping strong merch, Sadler looking like an extra from an Ordinary Boys video circa summer 2004, Nobes – hench, Jonesy – frail and John Glenn sporting the forlorn expression of a man who’d drunk too much red wine the previous evening.

Half Time: AFC Cubo 0-0 London Lionhearts

After a tactical switch saw Hill and Burt swap wings for the 2nd half, in an attempt to expose the potential weak link that was the Lions right back, Cubo were delighted to take the lead after 50 minutes. The Lionhearts keeper had not appeared at all comfortable with crosses in the first half, and these Vampire-like tendencies were his undoing as the deadlock was broken. After flapping at a Burt free kick from the right, a brief scramble saw Tim Jones roll the ball into the unguarded net.

Cubo tails were up, but it was Lionhearts that got back into the game and were able to equalise. Clark made a top draw save in a one-on-one situation, and then was again required to get down low to his left as Lionhearts rushed through the heart of the Cubo defences. At the 3rd time of asking Lionhearts #7 was able to spring the offside trap and surge from his central midfield berth. He coolly rounded the fine haired custodian of the Cubo net to tie things up at 1-1.

The first change for Cubo saw Chris Grayson replace Jim at LB, before Paul Every was introduced to take advantage of the increasingly stretched play, replacing the impressive Keegs. With his very first touch the Plymouthian Poacher, a moniker he has unlikely to have ever been referred as nor ever again, forced a fine save from the Lionhearts keeper. This led to another Burt set-piece, and subsequently….this.

Alan Clarke with a typically forceful ‘arrive’ at the back post, a firm downward header and Cubo back on top. 2-1.

Rather than go into their shells, Cubo went hunting for a 3rd that would kill the game off. Every continued to threaten while Burt unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from 25 yards which crashed agonisingly off the underside of the bar and onto, not over, the goal line. Banstead didn’t appear to have goal-line technology, instead opting to restock their burger van, but following a glowing review from MTM concerning the beef, and a trustworthy assistant, this appeared to be the right allocation of funds.

Jonny Patterson’s introduction for Jones saw Ryan and Turns unluckily miss out on some action, but any signs of disappointment were forgotten when Burt swung in a cross from the left which nestled into the top corner. Did he mean it? I would say judge for yourself from the following footage but sadly Northy’s previously exemplary camera work went awry during the build up.

Final Score: AFC Cubo 2nd XI 3-1 London Lionhearts

A great display by Cubo, which featured big performances across the midfield, excellent contributions from the hard working forwards and a defence that was rarely breached. When it was, Clarky made everything he was required to do look very easy indeed.

The Wimbledon Trophy is a great way to sign off an up and down season, but with some new players bedded in, the 2s will hope to have a eal crack at promotion in 2012/13.

Scorers: Tim Jones, Alan Clarke, Andy Burt.

Man of the Match: Satal Thethy – combined his usual determination and fitness with some deft touches and excelled in the closing stages as the heat took its toll on lesser mortals.

Match Report: Hoops

FC Porto of London 2-7 AFC Cubo 3rd XI

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Date: Saturday 14th April

Starting XI: Hulk, JG, Joe, Oli, Jez, Lucas, Jeph, Bradders, Jordan, Tett, Paul.

Subs: Field, Saddlebags, Smith.

In typical 3s style the 1245 meet at Wimbledon common extensions was interpreted as anywhere in the 1.15-145 bracket, but still well ahead of all-italian (Editor: or Portuguese?) Porto – with Cubo needing 3 points to give the best chance of promotion with fingers crossed that other results favoured. The pre game mood was upbeat – a few reliable names drafted in and Jeph on time courtesy of JG transport.

Turner’s team talk demanded an urgent start – something lacking from recent performances – and that’s exactly what he got. Having won back possession post-ko, some tidy possession across the back culminated with Jeph picking up the ball on the half-way line and from there ghosting past 3/4 men before pulling the trigger on the edge of the box. an impressive one-handed stop led to the game’s first corner….. Lucas whipped in and that man Jeph was there to direct a bullet into the top bin. 1-0.

It wasn’t long before another attack created an almost identical goal – Lucas from a corner to Jeph with a textbook header down; cleverly judging the bounce over the man on the line – again top corner, 2-0, 5 mins played.

Cubo’s best football came from the left through this passage of the game…. JG and Jords linking up well and the midfield playing simple short balls to hold possession and work openings. It was from the left channel goal three came; stretching the Porto left back Jords won a throw, Bradders arrowed a ball into the box, lobbing all in place but for the house-wifes favourite at the back stick (GTett)…. a technically immense volley; 3-0.

Special mention at this point to Paul; relatively isolated up top, but created room for himself to play and strong in possession. Goal 4 was a more direct ball involving that very man… Bradders into Tett and from the right this time a beautifully flighted and weighted ball playing Paul in to neatly finish with a headed lob over the onrushing keeper. 4-0 and half time….. little for Tuner to recap on other than to keep heads and remind on recent complacency… 45 mins to secure an important victory.

Goal 5 came almost immediately…. Jez taking a quick throw down the right, Jords’ flick onto Cubo’s Mr Right (GTett) who had an easy job to finish at the near post. 5-0 and game over. Two Cubo changes at this point; Oli off with an injury post a very assured display, for Tim Field… and a couple of minutes later London’s night owl Edd Smith for Jords in what proved to be a 30 min display that will live long in the memory for two of the least threatening efforts on goal ever seen in football. From here the teams shared goals on the run into the final whistle….. Cubo conceding 2 goals to momentary lacks in concentration and Paul and Jeph adding to their  tallies in quality performances.

A fine display from start to finish.

Final Score: FC Porto of London 2-7 AFC Cubo 3rd XI

Goals: Jeph 3, Paul 2, Tett 2

Match Report: Greg Tett