| Wed, 21/10/2009 |
West Auckland
|
5 |
Juventus
|
3 |
A beautiful new pitch, brand new kit, and a sparkling yellow ball - what more could a man want to celebrate the true start of the worthless athletic season - apparently more, as cuddigan and warner both took a pass on wednesday night. early season rust, and high energy levels led to a tight first half, with the score deadlocked at nil all for 20 minutes -shorty opened the scoring for pink, who were mostly on top, before a well taken equalizer by blacks (arbs?) levels things up. Fuller sweetly controls a high bouncing ball and drilled a half volley (or maybe even a volley) past the keeper to put pink back into the lead on the stroke of half time - super goal - unstoppable, and sadly not an omen of things to come. romeo brothers and baker industious for blacks, who graft their way back into contention - ethan finishes nicely as pink get caught loitering upfield, and blacks then take the lead, and run out fairly comfortable winners. consolation goal for pinks as reynolds spots baker napping in black goal and whips in a left footer. slow ball movement by pinks, and lack of defensive cover mean that blacks really should have won by more. JP didn't make any mistakes, muscled shorty off the ball once, and played pretty well - contender for man of the match. |
| Wed, 07/10/2009 |
West Auckland
|
5 |
Juventus
|
8 |
Several individual attempts to get out of the game owing to mildly inclement weather ("Any probs with waterlogged pitch? Still on?"; "Crawling along in Hammersmith. Probably going to be late.") having been duly ignored, we started basically on time with a full compliment of players on a newly and beautifully resurfaced pitch (with thanks to a very generous anonymous donation from Pete Davies). Unsurprisingly, however, the excellent playing surface favoured neither team, and it took some time for players to come to terms with the slick bounce. Nick Jones was involved early on, being responsible for the first two goals which took the score to 1-1. I seem to remember Parky scoring - how could one forget such a rare occurrence? - and it was good to see Gizz farting around at the back again despite the domestic obligation of a longer commute home. As I recall, the Italian Youth had slightly the better of it in the first half, taking into the break a lead of 5-2. The second half was more evenly balanced with each side scoring 3 goals to take the opening fixture final score to 8-5. |
| Wed, 20/05/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
2 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
9 |
Camp Campione no show for Partizan… when will you comedians learn?? |
| Wed, 01/04/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
4 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
5 |
Reds charge out into a commanding lead in the first half, with rupert holding the ball well and covering lots of ground, romeo and gillespie working hard in midfield, and some neat finishing throughout the team to go into a healthy looking 4 nil lead at half time - reds passing and moving well, making lots of space and leave blacks chasing shadows - couple of balls booted out of the ground don't quite slow down the momentum. Stern half time chat from blacks and tense first 5 minutes lead to a black goal, before fuller connects with a cracking volley to preserve reds lead - all nearly undone as gillespie slips off early, and krick takes one in the nuts and becomes incapacitated in goal - leading to an avalanche of black goals, which almost claws back the deficit - luckily gizz also left the door open, so the next team came on to the pitch early and extinguished the blacks comeback. Big screen telly and grub in the pub afterwards = happy punters. |
| Wed, 25/02/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
4 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
6 |
A narrow victory for the reds, who should have scored more but didn't quite capitalise on the extra man (pete davies becomes the latest high profile financial figure who needs to hang his head in shame having neglected to turn up for the blacks - is sorry the hardest word?) - blacks worked hard, and moved the ball well and quickly from time to time - some outstanding finishing kept them in touch, though reds extra man made all the difference - we had lots of pressure, and but for some fine stops by Marky mark, who performed above his pregame hungover condition, it would have been a landslide win. Inglis busy in defence - alex and santi goalhanging for the reds - ball was a little flat - overall performances too. |
| Wed, 18/02/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
5 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
6 |
John's friend Richard makes his debut for Reds and, despite proving to be one of the tidiest players we've seen for a while, the average ability of the two is still, frankly, 'average'. Notwithstanding the implication of this contrived witticism, Reds look the stronger of the two teams with a number of early chances parried by Warner who, on his return after a lengthy absence, admitted to hiding behind the gloves loaned to him by Alex 'the French side of straight' Quirici. Against the run of play, Blacks take a 1-0 lead; Reds respond with 2 and then Blacks with another two to go in to half time with a 3-2 lead, which is then extended to 5-2 in the second period as Santi appears to score with every ball he kicks. Bored of scoring, he decided to start passing - willy-nilly - to a selection of Red players who take the opportunity to score 4 on the trot to earn a late 6-5 victory, before the pitch is invaded by some hooligans from Oxford University 2 minutes before 'time'. |
| Wed, 04/02/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
8 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
2 |
Nicholas - it is my sad duty to report that reds were miserably and abjectly thrashed by the blacks last night. There were still some piles of snow around one end of the pitch, but it was playable, and the black team was much better than reds on the night, playing some decent footy and helped by a complete lack of marking by reds, which doesn't help against mobile players. Rupert scored the goal of the night, baker and davies were solid in midfield, mark davies scored a few neat finishes (I think - at least one), and although reds were briefly cheered by finch's late arrival, it was a brief glimmer of hope in an otherwise mediocre display. If blacks start to lose when you and hugo start playing again, we will soon know who is responsible !!! |
| Wed, 28/01/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
3 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
5 |
With thanks to B. Reynolds for this objective, executive summary of the game: "In case you wanted to post a match report for last week, I would like to put on the record that I scored an absolute cracker - an unstoppable left footed drive from close to the half way line that was still rising when it hit the back of the net and a good candidate for goal of the season - you probably shouldn't mention the other 20 odd shots that I tried that would have gone out for throw ins on a normal pitch. Duncan scored a cracker as well, and finch scored a header, and reds won fairly handily. (by two or 3 goals, but that flatters the blacks a bit)." |
| Wed, 21/01/2009 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
8 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
4 |
We haven't had a match report for a while, so it's probably about time for another. As far as I can recall, it went something like this: amidst early confusion caused by the unexpected and unwelcome addition of M'Homo, Partizan start with an extra player with Andy Finch changing sides owing to Ingis's late arrival. Despite being a player down, reds take a 3 goal lead, although the advantage belies the fact that blacks are creating many chances but are simply failing to shoot on target. Red goals include a 'fluke' curler into the top left hand corner by J Short and a rather dubious effort scored with a second ball while two black players were retrieving a 'lost' ball from the stands… N Warner pulls one back for the goodies with a deflected effort just before calling half time. Some high quality, instinctive passing football from Partizan in the second half provides the platform for a Warner masterclass in how to hit the target, producing a further four consecutive goals (that's five in total for those of you who are now bored or who have simply lost count), to reverse the scoreline so that black's now leads 5-3. Finally working out that it's not so difficult after all (any monkey can score against Swete in goal) some other chaps add to the black tally to blot the 'pristine' condition of the black scoresheet - I think they were Gorton and the Davies brothers, Pete and Mark - to extend the lead to 8-3 before a late effort (Short again?) recovers little respectability for reds, leaving the final tally 8-4. With thanks to Reynolds for this accurate match report. |
| Wed, 26/11/2008 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
4 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
4 |
"Shambolic": blacks equalise in the 10th minute of extra time but, if we're honest, we should all have gone home a long time before that. |
| Wed, 22/10/2008 |
Partizan Belgrade
|
6 |
Red Star Belgrade
|
2 |
Partizan 6(1) Red Star (1)2 - Coltart 2, Warner 2, O'Reilly, Arbib; Fuller, Short. The 2008/2009 season curtain raiser saw two new-look teams compete a veritable game of two halves. A rare Warner defensive error gifted Red star an early advantage courtesy of a cool Fuller finish, though this was soon equalised by a splendid volley by Coltart, who has since been strictly rationed to one class goal per game half. The second half saw Partisan find a vein of form which enabled this unbiased team to open up an unassailable lead thanks to a rare deft Warner toe-poke following an even rarer passing exchange with O'Reilly. Rarer still saw provider O'Reilly turn marksman to slide-rule home the third with a clean left foot strike to the back post. Not quite so rare was Coltart's second clean volleyed goal followed by a second from Warner and a clever, if grossly unsporting, Arbib goal directly from the kick-off after Short had salvaged some respectability with a second red goal with ten minutes to spare. For those of you watching in black and white, both teams were playing in black and white stripes, as was the ball, which Jones sent onto the Westway with still three minutes remaining in what one can only imagine was a deliberate an attempt to bring the game to an early close in order to avoid the Chelsea home game traffic. The balls are £10 at Lillywhites, thanks Nick. Speaking of balls, I'm not playing next week, so hope someone else remembers… |
| Wed, 17/09/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
1 |
Hajduk Split
|
11 |
A spirited performance from Blues, but ultimately thrashed having been selfishly let down by Heneage Stevenson at the eleventh hour. Credit to whites for passing the ball nicely and for being much more clinical in front of goal. White scorers: Warner (6), Krick (2), Coltart (2), Gorton (1). |
| Wed, 10/09/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
2 |
Hajduk Split
|
3 |
Disappointing Burrows no-show despite specific and repeated nagging requests from him for a game with accompanying brown envelope; but, despite being a player short and having Short as a player, blues show grit to turn round a 2-0 deficit, the equaliser courtesy of Santi roasting Gordon who should know better than to pick on someone half his size; blushes from repeated missed opportunities are spared for Sev by a brilliant Ethan winner in the last minute rifled into the top right-hand corner |
| Wed, 03/09/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
4 |
Hajduk Split
|
2 |
Whites storm into a 2-0 lead courtesy of very good M'Homo and Gorton goals. I say 'very good' simply because, for whites, any goal is a good goal. In fact, some local residents on the 40th floor of the overlooking council block have identified the more imminent danger and have boarded up their windows... Anyway, I digress. With clever late replacements of Jeff Romeo and Andy Krick for Phelim 'Kid' Bolger and John 'I used to ice-skate for my country' Park, Blues started significantly stronger on paper, lining up with Gordon 'I used to be a Blue but I'd be amazed if you could tell' Baker, Jon ' I thought I should have been a Blue even though no one else thinks so' Short and James 'please don't make fun of my protruding facial feature' Arbib amongst others. Blue superiority shone through in the end on this dark night with 4 second half goals to make the final tally 4-2. |
| Wed, 27/08/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
2 |
Hajduk Split
|
2 |
Quite frankly, a minor miracle. Pre-match team talk along the lines of 'if we can keep it down to five, it's a result'. In the end, Blues go into half time with a 2-0 lead courtesy of Santi and Burrows (a last minute replacement for Inglis who had presumably deciced to go up the arse); second half white goals from 'blue-moon' O'Reilly and Matty Sadler brings it level with unlikely whites looking more likely winners in the end... |
| Wed, 30/07/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
6 |
Hajduk Split
|
3 |
Matt Sadler's second unexplained no show puts him on a final warning; debuts for the Arghebant brothers add a touch of unwelcome class to the proceedings. Blues win for the umptennth time, despite being a man down, because of superior finishing. |
| Wed, 23/07/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
3 |
Hajduk Split
|
6 |
Nothing to declare except a warm welcome to whites first win. O'Reilly no show without explanation - answers on a postcard. Reynolds notable for hat-trick of managing to clear the high fence from 5 yards. |
| Wed, 16/07/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
9 |
Hajduk Split
|
3 |
I can't for the life of me work out why whites keep losing. Are they worse on paper? Are they tactically deficient? Or just rubbish? If anyone can shed some light on the matter, please let us know! After 2-2 blues go into half time 5-2 up and extend their lead throughout the second half as whites run out of ideas! |
| Wed, 09/07/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
6 |
Hajduk Split
|
6 |
Whites contrive to manage a 6-6 draw having looked safe at 6-3 ahead with 20 minutes to go. New recruit (Hugo Fuller's friend) Adam fails to turn up for blues, who nevertheless cope despite being a man short. |
| Wed, 25/06/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
6 |
Hajduk Split
|
4 |
Blues take lead 5-0 with a couple of shorty specials and both arbibs contributing. Whites finally score after 45 mins courtesy of n jones, and a brace from warner n brings the final score to a slightly more respectable 6-4, especially given that blues were generously gifted 2 goals - one from a finch (as usual) and the other most likely presented by reynolds at some point during the match. Rupert's absence surprisingly doesn't improve whites fortunes… |
| Wed, 18/06/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
7 |
Hajduk Split
|
4 |
Whites start very strongly going 3 up within about 10 minutes. All downhill after that with blues scoring 7 on the trot; Would have been more but for several vital saves from Mark Cuddigan. Rupert hits both posts for whites in two consecutive shots indicating that it wasn't going to be whites' day, despite a late rally. Game is abandoned as a Nick Jones 30 yard strike somehow finds the top corner of the net. |
| Wed, 11/06/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
3 |
Hajduk Split
|
5 |
First match on the new hallowed turf. Warner hatrick seals victory as Finch decides to give the ball away more than once as the last man...; Rupert surprisingly rubbish. Can't remember much else. |
| Wed, 13/02/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
4 |
Hajduk Split
|
10 |
Whites 10 - Blues 4:Much changed line ups, and only 6 a side meant that there was acres of space and little defending on a cold Wednesday night - blues opened the scoring but were pegged back immediately, and once whites had equalised for a second time they took the lead and never looked back. Mark Davies found lots of room down the right hand flank and scored at will with a couple of fierce drives - reynolds adds two and hits the post, whites played some decent possession football at times, but overall standard was medium - Gillespie on the end of two tap ins for blues. |
| Wed, 16/01/2008 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
5 |
Hajduk Split
|
5 |
Welcome back - worthless was a good match on Wednesday - 5-5 I think - JP played really well, scored a goal, worked quite hard and didn't have any cock ups - whites were on top for ages but couldn't make it count - we completely dominated the first 10 minutes of the second half and then blues scored (out of the blue) - Paddy managed to run around more than usual, and then made an amazing save from Jeff Romeo. |
| Wed, 12/12/2007 |
Dinamo Zagreb
|
7 |
Hajduk Split
|
11 |
Wednesday night saw the hallowed concrete dotted with some patches of ice (especially in the far corner) which meant that most of us twisted and turned slower and more gently than usual, where possible. Ed Swete's new shoes ensured that he stay upright for most of the game - close shaves for Olly and Duncan though. The teams looked evenly matched on paper, and blues raced into an early 5-2 lead in the first half, defending the easy goal. Duncan didn't brave the cold enough to take off his tracksuit, but otherwise blues were effective - taking chances pretty well, assisted by some lacklustre keeping on the first 2 goals. Second half, with whites attacking the icy patch, the tide swung in their favour - as it got cold it became harder and harder to stay upright, but whites managed to make the most of it, and ran away with things, with a number of well taken goals by warner and olly. Mark made some good saves when blues counterattacked, and in the end it was a simple victory for whites. Special mention to paddy, who sent an e-mail on Wednesday afternoon to a bunch of us trying to entice us away from playing for worthless to watching the arse. |
