Date: Sat 12^th November 2011, 2pm KO

Starting Line-up: Ben McG, Oli Watkins, Hung, Goughy, Sadler, J-Pat, Bradders, Hooper, Ryan, MTM, Daunter

Sub: Every

Following 2 weeks on the road Cubo returned to Barn Elms with a spring in their step having taken 6 points from those fixtures, most notably the hard fought win over Crescent Rovers last week.  The starting line up was juggled once again with skipper Oli Watkins returning to the starting line up and J-Pat pushed into the centre of the park to cover for Ben McG, who was donning the gloves for a second time this season.  Cubo have struggled at home so far this season, though not quite as much as their opponents have in the league.  Farnborough North End were member of the Combined Counties as recently as last season but they have obviously fallen on hard times as their league position testifies.

The first fixture between the sides saw Cubo run out comfortable winners and the initial phases of the game suggested that this would be the case once again.  FNE’s line up had a very youthful look to it and Cubo’s physical dominance would be a feature of the game with some strong challenges early on setting the tone.  The first goal did not take long to come.  With the FNE keeper straying from his line to clear a through ball, Daunter showed great composure to volley the clearance back into the empty net.  1-0 Cubo and another difficult finish made to look easy by the big frontman whose return to the Baby Blue Army has played a big part in the recent upturn in form.

A relatively flat period followed with Cubo unable to put together any passing moves that really hurt their opponents.  However with Bradders and J-Pat starting to click in the centre of the park, the home side were increasingly able to bring their wide men, particularly Hoops into the game.  A second goal was added on the half hour mark when MTM showed the elusiveness that has been a highlight of his career to lose his marker in the box and expertly volley home with the outside of his boot.  2-0 Cubo.

The home side then effectively put the nail in the coffin by scoring a third before the end of the half when MTM rounded the keeper to fire home for his second of the game.  3-0 Cubo.  The half time team talk focused on maintaining discipline and getting more from the game.  Whether it was the team talk or, as is more likely, a dig from his brother about a lack of goals, Goughy showed exactly the kind of ruthlessness that Cubo were looking for when he bullied the ball over the line from a Daunter throw.  4-0 Cubo and another goal for the prolific centre half, who is more than making up for the reluctance of his regular centre half partner to score any goals whatsoever (Goughy 5 goals, Watkins 0 goals….).

Credit goes to FNE who continued to make a game of it, albeit without threatening the Cubo goal.  MTM added a fifth to complete his hat-trick before Every, returning from a troublesome hamstring injury, came off the bench to score the sixth, and final, goal of the game.

Final score: AFC Cubo 6-0 Farnborough North End

Goals: Daunter, MTM 3, Goughy, Every

Man of the Match: MTM

A solid performance from the Baby Blue Army who made it 3 wins from 3, lifting them to 4^th in the table.  The return of a goal threat to the Cubo line up in the form of Daunter and MTM has contributed massively to Cubo’s recent results, and this will be only be strengthened further by Every’s return to fitness.  Cubo will be looking to maintain their perfect November in next week’s local derby against Tooting Bec who booted them out of the Cup last month.  A special mention should also go to Ryan for heroically managing not to get booked for at least one week, will the plucky Northerner be able to make it an unprecedented 2 weeks without attracting the attention of the Surrey Elite refereeing fraternity?!?! Only time will tell, though if I was a bookie I would not be taking bets on it……

Match Report: Benny Mac

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