Tooting Bec FC

Tooting Bec 2-2 AFC Cubo

thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Mon 26th August 2013

Venue: Colliers Wood FC

Starting Line-up: Gaz Stewart, Chris Grayson, Richard Gough (c), Rob Jones, Org-Patt, Mark Bradley, Ben McGeown, Shedders, Jake Flower, Nick Flower, Moisty

Subs: Nick Coates, Dave Wall

Despite far from ideal preparation, which included the gaffer not turning up with the kit until 30 mins before KO and a large portion of the squad suffering from their social exertions the night before, Cubo managed to ensure they did not come away from the weekend’s games empty handed by picking up a point in a 2-2 draw with local rivals Tooting Bec.  Indeed, the Baby Blue Army will be disappointed not to have picked up all 3 points from a game that they dominated for long periods.

The first few minutes of the game were characterised by some alcohol induced sloppiness from Cubo with stray passes and a cavalier approach to defending.  Tooting really should have scored when a cross into the box caused mass confusion in the Cubo ranks with only a good save by Gaz preventing an opener.  The game was then stopped for over five minutes when two Bec players clashed heads having gone up for the same ball and one came off significantly worse.  With blood pouring out of his clearly broken hooter there was no way he could continue and the home side were forced into making an unwanted early change. This seemed to wake up the visitors who were soon able to get the ball down and build some decent attacking opportunities.  The newly reunited (on the pitch) Flower brothers were both heavily involved and both had chances to break the deadlock.  First Jake found space in the box before firing across the keeper, who did well to push it wide of the post, before Nick’s cross/shot flashed across the goal crying out for someone to get on the end of it.  With Goughy and Jonesy doing a great job on Bec’s sole striker, the home side were finding it very difficult to get out of their own half.  HT 0-0.

The second half continued in much the same fashion and Cubo soon had the goal they deserved.  Shedders had been finding pockets of space throughout the first half and on this occasion he picked the ball up on the left touchline with acres around him before driving towards goal.  Having beaten one man his pass/bad touch made its way to Jake who slotted past the keeper to make it 1-0.  Having seen Shedders impact on the game, the gaffer promptly did the sensible thing and substituted him.  With Tooting heads going down Cubo really should have put the game to bed and had the chances to do so.  The first fell to Nick Flower who found himself one on one with the keeper but his effort was well saved by the Bec keeper.  N.Flower was involved again when he broke into the right hand channel and only had to square the ball to Martin who had the goal at his mercy bu the pass was underhit and Tooting were able to clear.

Tooting were struggling to rouse themselves however they pushed an extra man forward and were rewarded for their positive play shortly afterwards.  A Cubo corner was headed clear and made its way to the Bec number 10 who skinned Ben McGeown before squaring to the big Bec striker who made no mistake with his finish.  Whilst the goal may have come against the run of play the period it signalled a change in the momentum of the game with Tooting now looking the hungrier of the two sides.  With the night before’s exploits catching up with a few players Cubo were looking raged defensively and soon conceded a second as a result.  A corner was only partially cleared back to the Bec number 7, who had looked their most dangerous player throughout, and he had an age to pick his cross which was headed in by an unmarked team-mate.  A good cross but some appalling defending by Cubo, highlighted by the fact that there were actually three Bec players, all unmarked, queueing up to head the ball in had the first man missed it.

Luckily for Cubo there was still plenty of time on the clock to get back into the game.  Dave Wall had looked lively ever since his introduction at half time for the injured Chris Grayson, getting forward to good effect from right back.  Having created a couple of half chances with some well-timed bursts forward, it was his switch of the play from right to left which released Coatsy down the left.  The tricky winger had been a handful in his time on the pitch and he once again beat his man before pulling the ball back to the penalty spot where Ben McGeown fired home to bring the scores level with less than 5 mins to go.

A pleasing point given the circumstances with ten minutes to go but Cubo should be disappointed that they weren’t able to put the game beyond Tooting when a goal up and on top.  Credit to Tooting who came back into the game strongly in the second half and will no doubt be disappointed to concede such a late goal.

Final Score: Tooting Bec 2-2 AFC Cubo

Goals: B. McGeown, J. Flower

Man of the Match: Richard Gough – a captain’s performance from the big centre half, who even managed to avoid picking up his customary booking for dissent.

Tooting Bec 1-2 AFC Cubo

thomhoopsLeave a comment

Date: Sat 19th Nov 2011, 2pm KO

Venue: Raynes Park Sports Ground

Starting Line-up: Neil Clark, Bobby Sadler, Mark Sutton, Oli Watkins (c), Richard Gough, Hung, Ben McGeown, Mark ‘Gunners till I die’ Bradley, MTM, Paul Every, Simon Daunter

Sub: Michael North

A gloriously crisp autumnal day set the scene for Cubo’s league fixture against their local rivals and cup conquerors Tooting Bec.  The day was brightened further by the arrival of the new merchandise (most of it anyway…), which was met with solemn nods of approval from all in the changing room.  The return of newly RIP’d keeper Clarky meant that Cubo were able to name an established keeper for the first time in a month, a source of confidence despite the sterling work of Sutton and Ben McG in recent weeks.  With Every making a first start since his injury and Northy making a brief appearance in the country between holidays, the squad had a strong look about it on paper.

Tooting had shown in the first fixture between these two sides that they were a very capable footballing side and they started the game in a similar fashion with the fluidity of their midfield causing Cubo particular problems.  With the home side outnumbering Cubo in the key areas of the pitch and finding space at will a tactical change was called for.  Going man for man Cubo were able to apply greater pressure on Tooting’s backline with positive results.  Cubo’s greatest source of joy was down their right side where Sadler was seeing more of the ball than most, unfortunately they were unable to provide the quality in the box to really punish Tooting.  A well worked move saw Daunter released out wide but again his cross was easily dealt with by the Bec keeper.

At the other end Tooting continued to look dangerous with the big Bec targetman drawing a number of free kicks in dangerous positions which saw a succession of crosses being delivered into the Cubo box.  It was only thanks to some stout defending that the game remained goal-less, with the Cubo backline showing the kind of determination not to concede that characterised last season.  In a half high on tension but low on quality, Cubo thought they had taken the lead when MTM flicked the ball through to Every whose lob appeared to hit the back of the net.  Unfortunately the ripple of the net was caused by the back tracking defender with the ball bouncing just over.  Coming in at half time Cubo could be encouraged by the fact that despite the dodgy start, where they were in fairness given the run around at times, the change of shape had had a positive effect and the increased pressure on the Bec backline showed they were likely to give up chances.

Cubo made an immediately positive start to the second half by winning a corner on the right hand side.  Sutton’s delivery when given the opportunity in the first half had been of a high quality and this one was no different, giving Daunter a great opportunity to attack the ball.  An easy finish was only prevented by the Bec keeper who bravely came out to collect at the expense of a clattering by Cubo’s answer to Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  Clearly fazed by the challenge the keeper was not right afterwards, having to forgo his goal kicks to a team-mate and this may have played a part in what was to come.  Soon afterwards the high pressure tactics paid dividends when Bradley forced the Bec defender into an error which saw the ball drop to Every in the box and he fired past the keeper, who perhaps could have done better, to make it 1-0 Cubo.  A fortunate goal but one which recognised the shift in the games momentum.

The goal had the effect of galvanising both teams with the game taking on a cup tie feel as the ball shifted from end to end.  Cubo appeared to be going for the second goal which would probably tie the game up but at the same time leaving themselves open to conceding at the other end.  They were thankful to Clarkey when a long ball released the Bec striker clean through on goal but his effort was well saved by the Cubo keeper.  In an effort to settle the game down Northy was introduced in the centre of the park, making an immediate impact with a massive header from a goal kick that rocketed straight back to the keeper.  His second touch was just as decisive, clearing the Bec right backs legs from under him as attacked a cross into the box.  The ref had no hesitation in awarding the penalty.  Clarky has shown his penalty saving tekkers on numerous occasions in the past and was inches away from adding to the list of spot kick saves but could only get fingertips on the ball as it beat him to his right hand side. 1-1.

With the home side galvanised by the equiliser and having the benefit of shooting downhill the odds appeared to be on them going on to win the game.  However the high line that Every had exposed in the first half was their downfall again as Northy picked the ball up in the middle of the park before releasing MTM in the right hand channel and he made no mistake with a low finish across the keeper and into the corner.  2-1 Cubo.  With 20 minutes still to play and signs of fatigue throughout the side it was clearly going to be a tough final stretch for the Baby Blue Army.  The cause wasn’t helped by Cubo’s inability to hold onto the ball when they got hold of it which meant that their backline faced a fairly constant stream of pressure.  Whilst the quality may have been lacking there was nothing to fault in the work-rate with Every, Sutton and Bradley putting in outstanding shifts to stop Bec building attacks of any quality.  With Watkins, Hung and Goughy again excelling at the back Cubo were able to see out the final period to secure another 3 points.

Final Score: Tooting Bec 1-2 AFC Cubo

Goals: Every, MTM

Man of the Match: Paul Every (notable mention to Sutton who missed out on MOTM by one vote having made the schoolboy error of voting for his closest rival, only to see Every then place his vote with a non-contender).

A great win for Cubo who were made to put in a real shift by their opponents, whose position in the table does not reflect the talent in their ranks.  Some stoic defending from Cubo was complemented by a real cutting edge up front that allowed them to nick two goals from two of the limited clear cut chances they were able to create.  Another encouraging performance, particularly given the problems Tooting caused Cubo in the first 15 minutes, the ability to adapt to a side playing with a fluid shape will serve Cubo well later in the season.

Match Report: Benny Mac

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

thomhoopsLeave a comment

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