Captains Corner: October 2008

Your Captain Roger Barnes:

"There has definitely been signs of improvement over the past month with a win over Uncle Bob being the highlight. This shows the potential the team has. We have not made the best of starts in the league but there are still plenty of games to play and I am confident we can start climbing the table.

Forthcomming league games for November, are London Bloods, Barnes and Celtic. There's no reason why we can not pick up maximum points.

In the Cup we have Groovers and Sporting Lisbarnes, where a win and a draw would probably be enough to put us through to the semi-final. Lets be positive and believe we can do well this season, starting on Sunday against London Bloods."

Player Focus: Peter Masters

Full Name:
Pedro Masteros

Nicknames:
Tony Adams, Pedro

Age:
29

Preferred Position:
Centre Midfield, although I still love Central Defence

Usual Position:
Centre Midfield

Previous Clubs:
Arsenal (Ed: I think he's dreaming...), Shipham Utd, Winscombe FC

Biggest Achievement in Football:
Ha! Marking that Hungarian international out of the game at the Tournoi...

Describe your own ability:
More brawn than brain, more strength than poise and a slide tackle that Tony Adams taught me

Most Memorable Loko Moment:
Roger falling over and Denise laughing at the Tournoi in Krakow

Match Report: Loko v Sporting Lisbarnes

Sunday 26th October 2008
Barnesalona League

Lokomotiv Londres FC 0 v Sporting Lisbarnes 4

Sporting Show Loko How To Finish

It was a slow start, lack of shape and inabilty to keep possession that were crucial in deciding this fixture against the League leaders. Loko were on the back foot for the majority of the match, but did create chances that unfortunately lacked the power to really trouble the keeper.

The team started with Julian (pictured below) in goal, a back four of Ivan, Romeo, Steve and PJ, a midfield of Stephen, Pete, Andrea and Adrian, with Dale and James up front. The subs were Aidan and a reluctant Ismail who did not want to play due to a rib injury.

Loko were pressed back immediately and Sporting were playing the ball around confidently using the full backs and spreading the ball wide at every opportunity. They created a few long distance chances which were gathered by Julian or went wide, but missed the best opportunity when their man ran in from the angle and hit his shot against the crossbar.

Dale changed it around and put himself in a holding midfield position but still wave on wave of attacks kept coming and with only one man up front it was difficult to create any chances. One chance that did appear was a header clear from the Sporting defence which Dale hit on the volley but couldn't trouble the keeper.

Lisbarnes eventually scored when the winger beat Ivan to the byline and drilled a ball across the six yard box and the striker just managed to get in front of Steve to score the games first goal. Moments later a rather lucky second followed when their attacking midfielder hit a shot from just outside the box and it was deflected by a defender into the bottom corner.

Half-Time Loko 0 v Sporting Lisbarnes 2

The gaffer spoke at half-time about keeping the shape and ensuring that one of the midfield three held the centre of the park and all three didn't get pulled wide because it allowed an easy ball inside every time with the defence exposed. He put PJ in midfield and dropped himself into defence to play alongside Steve.

Loko started the second half much better and were pressing Sporting much more giving them less and less time on the ball and the team were back in the match. Loko started stringing some good passages of play together.

James twice got in behind the defence but could only manage a sidefoot placement into the keepers arms when maybe a good hard strike may have been the better option, and shortly after Aidan ran through on goal but could again only find the keepers arms.

Sporting kept coming forward but were being effectively dealt with by Dale and Steve in central defence, the former sliding into challenges like a crazy fool and constantly trying to get the team movitated with plenty of chat, which we need from more people especially when we are behind and looking for inspiration.

PJ was then moved up front and got behind the defence, but with the ball not coming down as he would have liked, took a few kick ups and hit his shot over the bar. Loko were trying to keep the workrate up but it started to take its toll in the final fifteen minutes, Andrea coming off with cramp with ten minutes left.

Loko had battled superbly for 35 minutes but a sloppy own goal finally ended any resistance, when Steve played the ball back to Julian it was misjudged by the keeper and sailed past him slowly settling in the bottom corner. Moments later and a shot from outside the area sneaked past a despairing dive and the game was over.

It was a harsh scoreline in the sense that they were lucky to get the own goal in the second half that ended our resistance when 2-0 would have been more accurate. Although it was fair to say that the better team won.

Final Score Loko 0 v Sporting Lisbarnes 4

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a difficult game today with us missing key personnel and playing the league leaders who have not lost a Barnesalona league match since joining the league at the beginning of last season.

I thought we were very disjointed in the first half, were struggling to hold the shape with players being pulled out wide and leaving them massive gaps to exploit down the middle of the park, which they were doing very effectively.

In the second half there were much more positives to come out of the match, as until their third goal in around the 80th minute, we were containing them excellently and had been in the game, man for man, tackle for tackle and had numerous one on one situations with the keeper that we just couldn't take. If one of those chances for James, Aidan, Pete or PJ had gone in then it would have been a different game. In the end the own goal by Steve for their third ended the contest.

It is important that we learn from today that we should be more talkative, hold our positions and not follow or watch the ball, and learn to keep possession much more because our lack of this today was the major difference. Let's keep the confidence we gathered last week and push on, as we have just played the leagues top three in the last three games."

Team Line Up
1. Julian
2. Romeo
3. Ivan
4. PJ
5. Steve
6. Andrea
7. Stephen
8. Pete (c)
9. Dale
10. James
11. Adrian
12. Aidan (Replaced Adrian 45th Minute)
13. Ismail (Replaced Andrea 80th Minute)

Man of the Match
It is a difficult decision today, as no one really got on top of their opponent and showed enough desire to change the game. James gets a mention for battling away gamely against four defenders up front by himself, but I'm giving the award to Julian for agreeing to play in goal and giving a decent performance whilst having a lot more to do than he should have.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Report: Uncle Bob's FC v Loko

Sunday 12th October 2008
Barnesalona League

Uncle Bob's FC 0 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 2

Loko up & running & chugging along...!

Another fine October morning greeted the lads who were looking forward to getting our first league victory under our belts. It was again a difficult week fo getting an eleven together but in the end we had a full team and the luxury of a substitute.

Ismail started in goal, Ivan, Steve (pictured) and PJ in defence with a debut for our new Romanian full back Romeo. Peggy on the right of midfield, Stephen on the left with Dave and Adrian in the centre of the park. Dale joined Roger up top to provide a bit of strength on a renowned strong and organised backline of Bob's. Cedric, the league organiser took a place on the bench.

Loko once again got off to a cracking start pressurising all over the park and giving Bob's no time on the ball at all. Everyone was winning their battles and it was good to see us picking up from that 80 minute performance from last week where we were on top and playing well. Roger got a good early chance turning his man on the edge of the area and knocking the ball on to his left peg only to miskick at the last moment with the ball just running wide.

The Railwaymens dominance continued and when Roger won the ball on the left hand side of the box he floated a ball to the back post which Dale hit on the volley on the full, just a yard over the top. Straight after and Dale battled past two men just inside the Bob's half and slid a ball in behind the full-back where Stephen had made a great run, he moved inside the centre half and hit a low drive which the keeper managed to divert around the post.

Dave injured himself and switched with Ismail who replaced him in centre midfield, and more chances came when PJ headed over from a corner and Dale did likewise when the both could have done a little better. Loko were dominating well and both PJ and Steve would have had a further chance from a corner, if they hadn't got in each others way.

All the back four were solid and the midfield keeping them at bay and it shows how good a team we can be if we keep our discipline, our shape and keep organising and communicating. We were solid in all departments and created a bucketful of chances, we went in at the break completely on top.

Half-Time Uncle Bob's FC 0 v Loko 0

The boys listened to the half-time talk about being in this position in all our matches this season, and letting it go in the second half. It was important that we maintained our discipline and shape throughout the second half and went on to win this after restricting Bob's to no shots all the first half.

It was a scrappy start to the second half but we maintained our shape and continued to press Peggy getting down the right and Stephen down the left, creating lots of space for the boys inside. Ten minutes into the second half, Cedric came on for Adrian, who had run his heart out in the centre.

Within minutes Cedric got the ball down the right, turned his man and put a cracking ball into the box and Roger got there with his head and angled the ball into the bottom corner. It was good passing build up, a great cross and a well taken goal and Loko finally got what they deserved and a 1-0 lead to build on and protect.

It was a hot day and you could see Loko players starting to tire and Bob's had there first and pretty much only clear chance of the afternoon, their midfielder got beyond Ismail but Dave came out and blocked with his legs as the Bob's player got his shot away. Great keeping and maybe a sign that we need look no further...

The second goal would have killed the game off and it came when Dale battled in midfield, Roger got on the loose ball and ran through on goal only to be taken out completely by the keeper. The keeper got a yellow and Loko a free kick on the edge of the box. Roger shaped to shoot but played a sideways ball for PJ to strike through the crowd into the bottom corner. Peggy claims a touch but we'll give the goal to the new boy.

The Loko chances kept coming, Peggy twice got down the right hand side and the first time drilled the ball across goal but Dale couldn't quite reach at the far post, and the second ball was flicked by Roger and Dale was again just a yard short at the back post.

The lads kept concentrating, kept the shape and played superbly from Dave in goal, through the defence, midfield and attack. A brilliant all around perormance and a great way to go into our two week break. The league leaders Sporting Lisbarnes on our return.

Final Score Uncle Bob's FC 0 v Loko 2

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"What a fantastic performance from every single player out there, from the debut boy Romeo who performed solidly to the old heads like Ismail and Ivan who battled for 90 minutes. It's good to see everyone learning that this game is all about discipline and communication.

The improvement from last week was there for everyone to see, the shape stayed solid for the entire game and we regularly found our men when they were in space. Same again in two weeks and I've got faith that we can beat Lisbarnes.

Great football, great workrate and a great performance. Well done."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Romeo
3. Ivan
4. PJ
5. Steve
6. Adrian
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Dale
10. Roger (c)
11. Stephen
12. Cedric (Replaced Adrian 55th Minute)

Goals
Roger
55th Minute - A cracking cross by Cedric and a Rooneyesk finish by Roger into the bottom corner with his noggin.
PJ
80th Minute - Roger played a sideways ball from a freekick on the edge and PJ drilled it into the bottom corner.

Man of the Match
Steve Haley (pictured top) - They say that you build from the back and as with the majority of the last week, the whole defence was superb. Steve stood out for winning every header, 50-50 and on numerous occasions chased out and choppered people from behind. Absolutely cracking game from the big man.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Report: Loko v West Ken Kings

Sunday 5th October 2008
Barnesalona League

Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 v West Ken Kings 3

Result Lost Near End Yet Again!

The curse of Loko struck once again, playing superb and on top for 80 minutes of the match, only to lose concentration and concede twice in the last ten minutes.

A bear eleven turned up yet again for the Railwaymen with Dale in goal, a back four of Ivan, PJ, Steve and Ismail. The midfield quartet of Adrian, Andrea, Eirik and a debut for Stephen Rowan, with James and Roger up top.

Loko finally got off to a magnificent start, in horrible weather, they attacked from the start and heeded my instructions to give Kings no time on the ball. The midfield was pressing well and defence cleaning up anything that came near them.

The goal arrived after ten minutes when the ball came down the left through Eirik and a Loko man drilled the ball across goal towards the back post, the keeper fumbled when sliding out and Roger knocked the loose ball into the back of the net for a well deserved lead. It was no less than the boys deserved.

The team still got forward whenever they had chance and hit a number of balls into the penalty area to no avail. It was a shocking refereeing decision that almost let Kings back into the game, he gave a penalty for Eirik slipping in a puddle and hitting the ball with his hand. The striker stepped up and Dale stuck out a hand which parried the ball to the left and a tame rebound by the attacker rebounded off Dale, off a defender and back into Dale's hands.

The game became a scrappy affair in the horrible conditions with puddles all over the pitch, Eirik and Andrea were scrapping well and the defence playing solid all over the backline. However, the equaliser came ten minutes before half-time when the striker turn on the edge of the box got half a yard and struck it into the top corner. The rest of the half was played out in the Kings half but with no real chances of note.

Half-Time Loko 1 v West Ken Kings 1

Dale changed the team around at half-time putting Adrian in at right back and moving Ismail to the left wing and Eirik inside where he would hopefully continue to win the battles in the air and on the ground, Dale sent the team out with the caution that so far this season we have collapsed in the second half of games with a dip in concentration and it was important to get stuck in from the first whistle.

The boys took the talk seriously and continued to press them from the off, winning a couple of early corners that were cleared after goalmouth scrambles, once such clearance landing at PJ's feet 35 yards out which he sent back towards goal, only denied when it smashed back off the crossbar. Shortly afterwards Eirik ran through just left of centre of goal and hit the ball wide when there was three waiting at the back post

Eirik had another shot just wide from the edge of the box and it was good to see the team getting off some shots from the edge of the area, which is something that the gaffer is looking to improve this season.

Whenever WKK did get forward they were easily keep at bay by strong performance from Ivan and Steve, and imparticular PJ who was having a fantastic game at the back sweeping up everything that came in behind. Loko up until this point had more shots, possession and were edging the game.

It was too good to be true that Dale had not touched the ball in the second half until he picked the ball out of the net after 80 minutes. He had been shouting fo concentration the previous five minutes and unfortunately a free kick just inside Loko territory showed a lack thereof. The ball was swung into the back post where two Kings players were completely unmarked six yards out to take the ball down and poke past the keeper.

Five minutes later and a poor Loko clearance found a Kings man on the edge of the box and he smashed the ball into the bottom corner with Dale unsighted due to Adrian closing down. In the space of five minutes we were on top and dominating and suddenly we were 3-1 down with fiv minutes to play. An excuse of fitness could be heard eminating from the squad but both goals were not down to fitness, but lack of concentration, bad marking and a poor clearance.

The boys were visably shaken but responded in the right way and went on the offensive again, Roger got behind the defence, rounded the keeper and pulled the ball back to Stephen who got in front of the defender and knocked the ball towards goal only to see a defender get back on the line and clear with a outstretched foot.

Final Score Loko 1 v West Ken Kings 3

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"Looking positively at the game we were the better team for the first 75-80 minutes and shaded the game against the top of the table. The defence was solid, midfield battling and forwards laying the ball off well, the only downside was that our final ball wasn't always there when it was needed.

I stressed this after the game but I need everyone to look at that second half performance and note the similar patten in our games, we dominate for long periods but lack the ability to see out results or go on and get that win. I want everyone to start or learn to communicate better, it is a vital part of football, it is a team game and everyone needs to encourage and shout for the ball when you don't have it. This is an area of our performance that I will be monitoring closely in the next few weeks and it could have a massive affect on my team selection.

I cannot fault the effort of everyone, well done on a battling performance and lets start going on to win these games."

Team Line Up
1. Dale
2. Ismail
3. Ivan
4. PJ
5. Steve
6. Andrea
7. Stephen R
8. Adrian
9. James
10. Roger (c)
11. Eirik

Goal
Roger
10th Minute - A ball across the box was spilled by the keeper and Roger followed into score.

Man of the Match
PJ - Dominated the game from the back, played the sweeper position superbly and never gave their forwards a look in, also had a superb long range effort come back of the bar. Keep it up son.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Captains Corner: September 2008

Your Captain Roger Barnes:

"The new season is now up and running and we must give our full support to the manager Dale. I must admit that I was not sure what to expect from the new manager but the way Dale has organised the team in the opening two games despite large numbers of the squad being unavailable and having to look at new players at the same time has convinced me that Dale can go on and do a good job this season.

We must remain positive after suffering two league defeats, as we know once we have the core of the squad available, together with the addition of the new players - who have all made a good impression - we will be difficult to beat as we proved last week by winning our opening group match in the cup with a good performance."

Player Focus: Stephen Rowan

Full Name:
Stephen Rowan

Nicknames:
Chav, Stephen Jordon

Age:
29

Preferred Position:
Right wing

Usual Position:
Anywhere in midfield or up front

Previous Clubs:
Wallingford Exiles FC, West Flixton 2nds, Flixton Juniors

Biggest Achievement in Football:
Watching Manchester City beat United at old Trafford last season - the only time we have won there in my life.

Describe your own ability:
The most exciting footballer from Manchester since Stephen Jordan

Most Memorable Loko Moment:
The pre-match warm up before getting thumped in every game at the seven-a-side in Brixton this summer........

Photo to follow shortly, just need to wait three weeks for him to do his hair, yes boys he's even worse than Steve Haley!?!!