Match Preview: Mass v Loko

Please note that this fixture has been cancelled by the opposition due to them double booking the pitch and their inability to find an available pitch for Sunday morning. This fixture will be re-arranged.

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Mass (A)
Kick Off Time: 10.30am
Meeting Time: 9.30am
Location: Richardson Evans Memorial Ground, off the A3, Roehampton
Directions: Get the train to Putney Railway Station and catch Bus 85 towards Roehampton from directly outside the station and get off at the bus stop called Roehampton Vale Campus (approximately 20 minutes), which is one stop further than Asda and is on the A3 dual carriageway. The pavillion is a two minute walk. See TFL website for alternate routes. See map for position of pavillion.
Subs: £7 (£3.50 subs/substituted)
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Squad: Terry / PJ / Dale / Stefano / Peggy / Morris / Ivan / Dave / Andy / Paul K / Roger / Ismail

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 22nd November 2009
Cultural 5 v Simon Ridge 1
Dynamo Clapham 4 v FC Lonsdale 6
Invictus 1 v Eel Brook Rangers 2
Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 4

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Worcester Park Rangers v Loko

Sunday 22nd November 2009
Sportsman League Division 3

Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 4

Rangers Lose to Roger & Daley Double

It was a good turnout of twelve that arrived at the best pitches this team have ever played on in London, and we were out warming up in plenty of time before kick off.

It was to be a 4-4-2 formation with Terry kindly going in goal, a back four of Ivan and Morris at full backs with Steve and Stefano in the centre, Peggy and Ismail on the wings with Paul K (pictured above) defensive midfield and Dave attacking midfield, in the centre. Dale and Roger went up front with Marc on the bench.

Loko started very well and pinned them back early on, with Morris and Peggy imparticular getting a lot of room down the right hand side and linking well with Dale, Dave and Roger inside. Any early breaks from Rangers were being snuffed out by Paul who started very well in the centre, winning the ball and playing nice easy balls.

The first chance came when Ismail played Roger through on the angle, he hit a low shot that the keeper saved and the ball came out to the edge where Dale beat his man, and drilled a low shot at goal which was cleared off the line by the defender. Moments later Loko won a corner which was played short by Peggy to Roger, who played it back and Peggy swung a ball to the back post where Dale won the header but put the ball a yard over the top.

Loko's goal had not been under pressure at all and the Railwaymen finally took a deserved lead with a bit of route one, a Terry goalkick was flicked on by Dale and ROGER ran clear and superbly lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box.

Paul and Dave kept the challenges coming in midfield and Dale and Roger were causing the defenders all sorts of problems up front, Steve was marshalling a very organised defence who had all played well and Loko lead at the break.

Half-Time Worcester Park Rangers 0 v Loko 1

The wind got up at half time and the rain started to fall in the direction of our goal, and the focus of the team talk was to keep the ball on the floor, keep it tight and keep the concentration for the next forty five minutes.

Loko started as they had finished the previous half, on top putting them under pressure and winning the challenges all over the park. Roger got in behind by turning the defender on a couple of occasions but didn't quite get his shot away, and Dale had an effort blocked by the centre back.

The second came when Stefano won a great ball at the back, laid it in to Dave who found Roger on the edge of the box, DALE dropped off and Roger laid it off and Dale struck the ball from about 25 yards out just outside the box and the swerve on the ball left the keeper stranded, the wind may have helped as well.....!

For the first time in a while, Loko didn't let up and five minutes later Ivan found Ismail on the left wing who swung a ball into Roger who flicked it on and DALE watched the ball all the way over his shoulder and hit a volley into the bottom corner from ten yards out on the right side of the area, which gave the keeper no chance.

The Railwaymen were flying now and it was moments later when Paul played the ball into Roger on the edge of the area and laid it off to Dale, Dale played the ball wide to Ismail who skinned his man and played a curling ball from the touchline in behind the defence and ROGER got his brace slotting past the keeper.

Marc came on for Morris who had played really well at right back and moments later the heavens opened and rain and hail halted play for about five minutes until it died down and the game was able to re-start. This affected Loko's momentum and Rangers came back into the match with some sustained pressure but the backline looked solid.

Loko almost got in again when Roger went one-on-one after Ismail sent him away but as he lifted it over the keeper, the keeper got his hand to the ball and deflected it away.

With five minutes left, a sloppy goal brought Worcester back into the game, a corner was only half-cleared and the ball back into the box found their player who looped it goalwards and it managed to find the top corner yet again.

Loko re-started and within seconds could have extended their lead when Dale challenged on the half-way line beat the defender to the second ball, knocked it past him and went one-on-one and just as he pulled the trigger in the area the defender made a fantastic slide tackle and deflected the ball for a corner.

Loko concentration wavered one last time when Dale cleared a corner with a header to the edge of the box, tried to close down the second shot but couldn't get there and a big deflection off a Loko defender gave them a second that wasn't really deserved as Loko had dominated the majority of the match and should have won by a greater margin.

Final Score Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Loko 4

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"Well a fantastic performance from all twelve players who contributed to a very good victory that just about keeps us in touch with those at the top. Well disciplined, much more vocal and I'm glad that everyone listened to me before the game and went out and enjoyed themselves.

The chance is there for us to go on a good run with our next couple of games, but we need to perform like this every time we step out onto the pitch.

Brilliant today and good finishing by Roger and surprisingly by myself... ...who knew. Terry did well in goal and thanks for going in.

Well done."

Team Line Up
1. Terry
2. Morris
3. Ivan
4. Stefano
5. Steve (c)
6. Paul K
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Dale
11. Ismail
12. Marc (Replaced Morris 60th Minute)

Goals
Roger (2)
35th Minute - Terry goal kick flicked by Dale and Roger ran through and lobbed the keeper.
60th Minute - Ismail played a great ball behind the defence from the touchline and Roger slotted home.
Dale (2)
50th Minute - A Roger lay off was hit home and wrong footed the keeper from 25 yards out.
55th Minute - Ismail's cross was flicked on by Roger and Dale hit a volley into the bottom corner as the ball dropped over his shoulder.

Man of the Match
Paul K - Played fantastic in that holding midfield role, very rarely ventured out of position, provided great support in front of the defence, won tackles and headers and played the nice simple balls when he won possession. Very well played. Honourable mention to Dave for great workrate again and for Peggy and Ismail who gave us great width. Roger took his goals well.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Captains Corner: November 2009

Your Captain Steve Haley:
"The last 4 games have been tough on us in terms of results especially the two cup games where we’ve battled hard but come unstuck in extra time.

We have proved that we’ve got a fighting spirit to get back into games as seen against Croydon on Sunday and more so against Mass a few weeks ago but we need to learn how to concentrate and control games from the start so we don’t have to always play this way.

We have three fixtures remaining before the Christmas break against Worcester Park Rangers, FC Lonsdale and London Rangers which looking at the table are all very winnable and could put us right back in contention going into the New Year.

The most important thing is that we still have 13/14 quality players turning up each week (and even a supporter to cheer us on!) and I firmly believe we have the ability and attitude in this squad to get our season back on track.

Lets finish the year on a positive note so the beers taste even sweeter at our Christmas doo!"

Match Preview: Worcester Park Rangers v Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Worcester Park Rangers (A)
Kick Off Time: 10.30am
Meeting Time: 9.30am
Location: Raynes Park Playing Fields, Raynes Park
Directions: Get the train from either London Waterloo (20 Min), Vauxhall (15 Min) or Clapham Junction (10 Min) direct to Raynes Park. Walk out of the station and head south down Grand Drive, about 15 Min walk to the playing fields on your left, just past the mini roundabout and road called Southway. See the map. Alternatively, bus 163 to Morden leaves Raynes Park Railway Station at 8.58am, 9.14am and 9.29am and goes to Raynes Park Playing Fields Bus Stop (about two stops) direct in 3/4 Min.
Subs: £7 (£3.50 subs/substituted)
See Map:


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Squad: Dale / Morris / Dave / Ivan / Paul K / Steve / Roger / Peggy / Stefano / Terry / Marc / Ismail

Match Report: Loko v Croydon Red Star 'A'

Sunday 15th November 2009
Ron Le Beau Challenge Trophy Round 2

Lokomotiv Londres FC 3 v Coydon Red Star 'A' 5 (AET)

Keeper Calamities Gift Red Star Victory

Loko lined up with Ismail in goal, Paul, Steve, PJ and Ivan in defence, a midfield of Terry, Dale, Morris, Dave and Peggy, and Roger up top.

The game got off to a rather slow start with both teams finding it hard to put a move together on the boggy pitch, Loko had early pressure and a Terry pull back from the bye line found Dale eight yards out who curled a yard wide.

It was shortly after that a long ball forward failed to be cleared on two occasions by the Loko defence and a looping header landed rather tamely over Ismail into the back of the net.

1-0 soon became 2-0 on the half hour mark when a hopefull 35 yard shot from their midfielder found the top of the net out of the reach of Ismail.

A shell shocked Loko team rallyed together and finally got into the game putting two or three good moves together before half-time with Roger and Peggy getting in behind but we just couldn’t get a clear chance to test the keeper

Half-Time Loko 0 v Croyden Red Star 'A' 2

The second half started a lot brighter with Loko on top and looking more dangerous in attack and more solid in defence, although after a few minutes an injury to Dale forced him into the net with PJ replacing him in midfield and Ismail taking his place at centre back. This didn’t upset things too much and about ten minutes in DAVE (pictured above) received the ball on the half way line, feigned a pass to Roger and turned inside his defender leaving him flat on his heals before keeping a cool head to slot it past the keeper into the bottom corner.

We were now firmly on the front foot and drew level shortly after when Red Star failed to clear a corner and with the ball bobbling around the box ANDY rifled it off the post into the net.

Loko’s heads were up and we should have gone on from there but another hopeful 30 yard effort from the Red star striker, almost identical to the one in the first half, regained them the lead out of nothing leaving us with a mountain to climb and only ten minutes left to do it.

Determined not to go down without a fight Loko picked themselves back up and pressed on again forcing a corner. All the big lads were sent up from the back and the gamble paid off as IVAN got his head to a perfectly placed Peggy corner to level things up at 3-3 with virtually no time left of the ninety minutes.

Loko could have won it when twice Roger went one on one with the keeper, only for the keeper to keep his team in it with two outstanding blocks.

End of 90 Minutes Loko 3 v Croyden Red Star 'A' 3

Heading into extra time Loko definitely had the upper hand, Croydon heads were down. An extra boost of energy came from the stash of Luzozade tablets which Dale had hidden away in the kit bag.

The game was by now a far more open affair, players were looking tired, the boggy conditions under foot were taking their toil. The best chance of the first period fell to PJ who had tracked into the box to pick up Peggy's low centre, at full stretch PJ steered the ball agonisingly wide of the right hand upright.

Extra Time Half Time Loko 3 v Croyden Red Star 'A' 3

The second half started in the same fashion as the first with the game stretched, but no-one was really stepping up to take control of the game.

With about 5 minutes left and with penalties looming, Croydon broke down the left and got in behind, probably for the first time all game, and their winger fired a shot across Dale which he unfortunately fumbled straight to the feet of their striker which he managed to squeeze into the bottom corner despite a last ditch effort from Steve and Dale! Ouch Loko really didn’t deserve to be down 4-3.

Dale changed the formation to 3-4-3 and pushed Steve up front for one last attempt but the final nail in the coffin came on the stroke of full time when the Croydon number 10 lobbed yet another 30 yard floater towards goal and quite astonishingly for the third time in the game the ball nestled in the top corner.

A harsh end to a battling Loko performance.

Extra Time Final Score Loko 3 v Croyden Red Star 'A' 5

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"Not the best performance we've had this season, but not the worst, unfortunately we gave them too much respect and didn't impose ourselves on the game. We gave possession away too easily when we were getting on top. To the next game..."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Paul K
3. Stefano
4. PJ
5. Steve (c)
6. Morris
7. Peggy
8. Dale
9. Roger
10. Dave
11. Terry
12. Ivan (Replaced Stefano 45th Minute)
13. Andy (Replaced Terry 40th Minute)

Goals
Dave (1)
60th Minute - Rounded two defenders and slotted past the keeper.
Andy (1)
65th Minute - Picked up the ball on the edge of the area and curled in off the post.
Ivan (1)
85th Minute - Bullet header from six yards, from a Peggy corner.

Man of the Match
Steve - A captain's performance again and didn't really put a foot wrong all game, he was vocal, put in challenge after challenge, and people need to step up to his level in order for us to regain our competitiveness.

Match Report by Steve Haley, edited by Dale Mellor.

Match Preview: Loko v Croydon Red Star 'A'

Competition: Ron Le Beau Challenge Trophy Round 2
Opponents: Croydon Red Star 'A'
Kick Off Time: 10.00am
Meeting Time: 9.15am
Location: Wandsworth Common, Wandsworth
Directions: The changing rooms are on the west of the railway line in the old stables between the tennis courts and the bowling green, by the cafe, the cafe is the meeting place. The pitches are on the opposite side of the railway line which you can access by the footbridge.
Parking is available near the changing rooms on Baskerville Road or by the pitches on Bolingbroke Grove. The nearest station which is a two minute walk is Wandsworth Common overland, or a fifteen minute walk from Clapham Junction. Please use TFL and be on time.
The league request that players do not change by the pitch before or after the game as this is a family park, please use the changing rooms.
Subs: £5 (£2.50 Subs/Substituted)
See Map:


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Squad: PJ / Steve / Dale / Ivan / Dave / Andy / Morris / Paul K / Roger / Terry / Peggy / Ismail / Stefano

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 8th November 2009
London Rangers 0 v Dynamo Clapham 2
Mass 0 v Eel Brook Rangers 2
Pimlico Rangers 2 v FC Lonsdale 0
Red Star United 4 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1
Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Invictus 1

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Red Star United v Loko

Sunday 8th November 2009
Sportsmans League Division 3

Red Star United 4 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1

Slow Start Sets The Tone Once More!

Loko turned up on time again which was good to see and we were out on the pitch in plenty of time for kick off. The team lined up with Ismail in goal, a back four of Paul K, Steve, Ivan and Stefano. Dale and Morris were both defensive midfield with PJ just in front, Peggy and Terry took the wings with Roger up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Dave, Thomas and Marc started on the bench.

It was a decent first five minutes where we pressed the ball and created the first chance when Peggy floated a free kick into the box and Steve got there ahead of his marker but could only head over the bar.

It took another five minutes before Red Star took the lead, with a low shot at goal which was blocked by Steve, the ball popped up into the air and their striker outjumped Ivan in the six yard box and headed the ball over Ismail in goal, it was a very sloppy goal to concede.

Loko then started to force the play but were jumping in all over the pitch and were being left behind and the defence found themselves under more and more pressure. It was against the run of play when PJ played the ball through to ROGER (pictured right) who ran through on goal, rounded the keeper but was forced wide, he turned composed himself and curled the ball past two defenders on the line via the keepers palm into the bottom corner and that was goal number eight of the season for the Rogster.

Shortly after and the heading curse struck again, a floated ball to the back post saw their smaller player outjump both Stefano and Ivan, who never left the floor, and head home again from inside the penalty area, we need to learn to jump for the ball because if we wait for it to fall we will lose the header everytime and they got two of the easiest goals imaginable this morning.

Within minutes it was 3-1 and to call it comical doesn't come close, an easy chip into the box from the edge of the area saw Ismail shout 'keepers' then not come, the defence stop and two of their players got goalside and one of them sidefooted home from six yards out. It was the third gift of the half and even though they had had a lot of possession in and around the box, Ismail had hardly been tested but three gifts saw us well behind.

Morris who until this point hadn't been the presence he had in earlier games, got stuck in and made some good challenges and tried to get the team going, it almost worked when Roger got in but the keeper saved and Terry did his man on the touchline, it was crying out for a pullback but Tel only found the keepers arms, it should have been better. Peggy and Dale were putting challenges in all over the park but the formation hadn't really worked and the gaffer had some thinking to do.

Half-Time Red Star United 3 v Loko 1

Dale replaced Ivan and Morris with Dave and Thomas, telling them both to play attacking midfield with Dale in behind and PJ dropped into the back four alongside Steve, so the formation was now a 4-1-4-1. It was a strong team talk by the boss who wasn't happy with the commitment and continual lack of discipline by the team, we needed to stop jumping in as this allowed them to ride the tackle and pull other players out of position in order to cover, and we needed to follow those men back when they played one two's and carried on their run.

The change worked with Dave and Thomas getting stuck in with any through balls, being picked off by Dale behind. Loko started to press and enjoyed a lot of territory in the second half in the Red Star final third. We finally started to compose ourselves and after neat interplay between Dave, Dale and Peggy the ball found its way to Roger who turned his man and made the keeper make a full stretch take away to his left.

Red Star got a little rattled and made numerous fouls and continually complained to the referee about everything, it was a bit too much as they were a decent team and should have got on with things. As time went on and Loko pressed forward we were always susceptable to the counter attack but a stretched defence managed well with a few last ditch tackles.

Loko should have been back in the game when Roger got in behind the defence to the left hand side of the box, turned back inside and floated a lovely ball to the back post, where Terry and Thomas were waiting. Terry was stretching that little to far and headed over an open goal when if Thomas had called he could have chested in from two yards out, it was a lack of communication that meant the chance disappeared.

Marc had replaced Paul K on the hour and played really well when he came on, putting in some great tackles and minutes after Terry's miss he played a ball into the edge of the box which came back to him and he put a pinpoint ball into Roger down the centre who was one on one with the keeper, he drilled it and the keeper was nowhere near it but it cannoned off the crossbar behind for a goal kick.

Unfortunately Thomas was playing to high up the field and Dale and Dave were having to cope with being outnumbered in the centre, then the typical thing happened after Loko had had two chances to set up a grand stand finish, a goal against the run of play saw a shot by their striker which was going wide, hit both Marc and Stefano and send Ismail the wrong way. It summed up our second half, better battling, shape and possession but we were not clinical in front of goal and unlucky when it mattered.

After the fourth goal went in they had a lot of possession in and around our box as confidence drained and hit a few shots wide of goal. It was disappointing to lose the second half when Ismail hadn't had to make a save bar the unlucky deflected goal.

We were second best on the day but if we had been more clinical with our very good chances and had not given away three sloppy goals in the first half it could have been a lot closer. The deflected shot just rubbed it in.

Final Score Red Star United 4 v Loko 1

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"There are only so many times we can start a match in this fashion before it sinks in that we need to be on the ball from the very first whistle. People were drifting and not playing the positions I asked them to, Morris in the first half was too high, PJ was playing more as an attacker and should have been sat in front of us. In the second half it started well, but again Thomas drifted too far forward and didn't provide the support both myself and Dave needed in midfield. We have to listen to instructions.

Despite this I thought the commitment was better in the second half and I was pleased with our possession and the territory we enjoyed in their half should have yeilded more results, we got into good positions in and around the box but lacked that final ball. As always communication should have been better, especially between Ismail and the back four and if Thomas and Terry had communicated it should have been a much more respectable scoreline.

It's the cup next week so lets go into this with some confidence and play the whole way through like we did in the second half, where we might not have enjoyed the best of the possession but we had the clearer chances, as opposed to shots from the edge of the box that was all they managed. Heads up and lets START strongly next week."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Paul K
3. Stefano
4. Ivan
5. Steve (c)
6. Morris
7. Peggy
8. Dale
9. Roger
10. PJ
11. Terry
12. Dave (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)
13. Thomas (Replaced Morris 45th Minute)
14. Marc (Replaced Paul K 60th Minute)

Goal
Roger (1)
20th Minute - Roger got goal side of the defence, was pushed wide but turned and shot wide of the keeper who got a hand on the ball but it trickled past two defenders on the line into the bottom corner.

Man of the Match
Steve (pictured right) - Captain's performance at the back, made numerous fantastic last ditch tackles and blocks and showed he was up for the fight. Honourable mention to Peggy for his excellent workrate and Dave for his willingness to get involved in the battle when he came on.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Preview: Red Star United v Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Red Star United (A)
Kick Off Time: 10.30am
Meeting Time: 9.30am
Location: Civil Service Sports Ground, Chiswick
Directions: (Barnes Bridge crossing is by the platform heading towards london, once at end of barnes bridge, go down the steps and turn left and follow the path by the tracks until you come to a pathway (not the road) on your right with a sign for the Civil Service Sports Ground, walk along the path until you reach the pavillion) [Parking Available]
Subs: 7 Pound (3.50 Pound Subs/Substituted)
See Map:


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Squad: Ismail / Peggy / Steve / PJ / Ivan / Dale / Morris / Dave / Stefano / Paul K / Roger / Thomas / Terry / Marc

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 1st November 2009
Cultural 5 v Pimlico Rangers 2
Eel Brook Rangers 1 v Dynamo Clapham 4
FC Lonsdale 1 v London Rangers 0
Invictus 5 v Simon Ridge 1
Red Star United 3 v Worcester Park Rangers 2

The table has now been updated.

Breaking News: Fixture Change

The Ron Le Bleu Challenge Trophy Round 2 match versus Croyden Red Star 'A' scheduled for Sunday 29th November 2009 has been changed.

The game will now be played on Sunday 15th November 2009 with a 10am kick off at Wandsworth Common.