Monday, April 26, 2010

Match Preview: Loko v Eagles

Competition: Friendly
Opponents: Eagles (H)
Date: 2nd May 2010
Kick Off Time: 12.00pm
Meeting Time: 11.20am
Directions: Barnes Bridge crossing is by the london platform, 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 tunnel on your left, go under and follow the road back to the river until you arrive at Chiswick Boat House.
Subs: 7 Pounds (3.50 Pound Substitutes/substituted)
See Map:


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Squad: Ivan / Morris / Andy / Dave / Paul / Peggy / Chris / Nicolas / Roger / Vincent / Stefano / Ismail

End of Season Get Together
We are having to kick off at 12pm because this is the only time that pitches are available. We will therefore aim to meet at The Fox in Putney from 3pm to catch the second half of the Liverpool v Chelsea match followed by Sunderland v Man Utd.

We will have the end of season awards and this pub is relatively cheap for food and beer. Everyone is welcome.

Match Cancelled: Loko v Pimlico Rangers

Sunday 2nd May 2010
Sportsmans League Division 3

Lokomotiv Londres FC v Pimlico Rangers [Home Win Awarded]

Pimlico Rangers have cancelled this fixture because they are unable to field a team. Therefore the league have awarded Loko the victory and we have been given the three points.

We have arranged a friendly against Sportsmans League Division 1 team Eagles and this will be played at Riverside Lands, Chiswick on Sunday 2nd May with a 12pm kick off replacing the Pimlico Rangers fixture.

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 25th April 2010
Dynamo Clapham 4 v Pimlico Rangers 0
Invictus 4 v London Rangers 1
Lokomotiv Londres FC 4 v FC Lonsdale 3
Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Mass 3
The table has now been updated.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Match Report: Loko v FC Lonsdale

Sunday 25th April 2010
Sportsmans League Division 3

Lokomotiv Londres FC 4 v FC Lonsdale 3

Ten-Men Loko Steal Last Gasp Victory!

It's now heading towards the end of the season but the Railwaymen are still getting good numbers each week, with a good thirteen available and Adrian on standby. Dale started with a 4-4-2 formation with Ismail in goal, a back four of Paul, Dale, Chris (pictured below) and Ivan. A midfield quartet of Peggy, Morris, Dave and Vincent with Roger and Nicolas up front. Stefano and Andy started on the bench.

Loko started fantastically and had all the early possession, Nicolas, Roger and Peggy seeing a lot of the early ball with Dale and Chris organising the backline. Roger almost gave us the lead when Nicolas played a delightful ball in behind the last man for him to chase, he hit it first time and it cannoned off the crossbar and post and luckily for Lonsdale bounced out to safety.

The first goal came when Ivan played the ball to Dave on the left wing, he curled a ball over the defence and the bounce beat the defender, NICOLAS got goal side, ran through and slotted past the keeper.

Loko's second came within five minutes when Peggy won a free kick on the right sideline, he picked himself up and curled in a great cross, which found CHRIS unmarked at the back post to head into an empty net after the keeper came, but failed to get near the cross.

Ten minutes of a midfield scrap followed until Loko went further ahead, Roger had the ball in midfield and played it into Dave's feet, he laid it off to Peggy who played a first time ball back in towards ROGER who had continued his run and he ran through and sidefooted past the keeper into the bottom corner.

The Railwaymen had been dominant but now sat back and allowed Lonsdale onto us, they had a few crosses into the box which were dealt with well and Dale and Chris were winning the majority of headers, and Paul and Ivan were tackling well on the wings.

Lonsdale pressed and pressed and almost pulled one back when they hit the crossbar from a drive from the edge of the area. The striker then ran in on the angle and Ismail tipped his drive over the bar.

They pulled a goal back five minutes before half-time when they won a corner, then the header which Paul cleared off the line but the rebound was hit home past two outstretched legs and somehow found the bottom corner.

Half-Time Loko 3 v FC Lonsdale 1

Stefano came on for Ivan and Dale warned against another London Rangers performance where we lost the game after being 3-0 up. Loko started well and Roger and Nicolas put them under a lot of early pressure but we didn't create many chances.

FC Lonsdale were given a lifeline when a shocking refereeing decision gave them a penalty for handball against Paul, even though his arms were down by his side and the ball had been blasted at him from two yards away. The striker stepped up but Ismail stood central and parried the ball away, the striker followed up and Ismail deflected the ball wide for a superb double save.

Shortly after a needless free kick was given to Lonsdale just in our half after Vincent handballed above his head. From the long ball into the box, they flicked the ball on, Ismail could only parry the ball and they scored a tap in from a yard into an empty net. Loko continued to come under pressure and the composure of that first twenty five minutes had disappeared.

They had a couple of scrambles that came to nothing and after Roger lost the ball in midfield, Dale cleared his own post by inches with a diving header to keep the ball out. Loko won a couple of corners but didn't create too much and confidence seemed to be low, even though we were ahead.

Andy came on for Morris who had been booked for some late challenges and within two minutes of using our last substitute, Dale covered Paul and sweeped up at the back, stretched ahead of the winger and cleared the ball but in the process tore his hamstring and could not walk, let alone continue. Loko would have to play the last twenty minutes with ten men.

Loko now started to pick up and Chris really took control at the back, with Vincent now alongside him and Roger in central midfield for a 4-4-1 formation. Chris and his other defenders kept them out and Peggy, Dave and Nicolas started finding space when counter attacking.

The dreaded equaliser came five minutes from time and ironically it was a long range shot that beat Ismail into the roof of the net that did it and there was not much the defence could have done, apart from maybe close down quicker.

FC Lonsdale sensed they could get the winner, especially now Dave had a dead leg and could not move, which meant Loko were now playing with nine men and a cripple. They committed men forward but created nothing else and in the last minute Loko won the game.

Roger broke through three challenges in midfield and played a delightful ball over the last defender for Nicolas to chase, get there first and force the keeper to make a good block, it looked like the defender would clear the rebound but he missed his kick and PEGGY slid in to slide the ball home into the empty net for a stunning victory that should have been easier than it ended up being.

Another minute of battling and the referee blew his whistle on a mixed Loko peformance who should have killed the game at 3-0, but ended up showing great courage and bravery to get another three points that will maintain our stable mid-table position.

Final Score Loko 4 v FC Lonsdale 3

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"Another game when we got on top and then totally switched off.

From 3-0 ahead we almost threw it away but the determination you all showed to win the match when we effectively had nine men due to me going off injured and Dave unable to move around the pitch because of his dead leg, was fantastic.

Give yourselves a pat on the back but lets start to show some composure in matches when we take the lead and go on to kill the game and keep possession."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Paul
3. Ivan
4. Dale
5. Chris
6. Morris
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Roger (c)
10. Nicolas
11. Vincent
12. Stefano (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)
13. Andy (Replaced Morris 65th Minute)

Goals
Nicolas (1)
10th Minute - Dave played the ball over the centre back, Nicolas got onside and slotted past the keeper.
Chris (1)
15th Minute - Peggy floated a cross into the box from the right sideline and Chris ran in unmarked at the back post to head home.
Roger (1)
25th Minute - A lovely interchange between Dave, Peggy and Roger saw the latter run through and sidefoot home into the bottom corner.
Peggy (1)
90th Minute - Roger skipped past three challenges, played a ball over the top to Nicolas who had his shot saved but Peggy followed in to slide home the rebound.

Man of the Match
Chris - Dominant, vocal and his best performance yet since his return to the team. He kept the team and defence together when Dale went off injured and we were down to ten men. Great stuff son.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Match Preview: Loko v FC Lonsdale

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: FC Lonsdale (H)
Date: 25th April 2010
Kick Off Time: 10.00am
Meeting Time: No later than 9.20am - to allow those on the train to use it.
Location: Riverside Lands, Chiswick
Directions: Barnes Bridge crossing is by the london platform, 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 tunnel on your left, go under and follow the road back to the river until you arrive at Chiswick Boat House.
Subs: 7 Pounds (3.50 Pound Substitutes/substituted)
See Map:


View Larger Map
Squad: Dale / Roger / Dave / Nicolas / Peggy / Chris / Stefano / Paul / Vincent / Ivan / Morris / Ismail / Andy
Standby: Adrian

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 18th April 2010
[Double Header]
Dynamo Clapham 3 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 0
Lokomotiv Londres FC 2 v Dynamo Clapham 0
Mass 1 v Invictus 2
Pimlico Rangers 1 v London Rangers 0
Red Star United 3 v FC Lonsdale 1
Worcester Park Rangers 4 v Cultural 4

The table has now been updated.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Match Report: Loko v Dynamo Clapham

Sunday 18th April 2010, 11.15am (Match 2 - 60 Minutes)
Sportsmans League Division 3

Lokomotiv Londres FC 2 v Dynamo Clapham 0

Double Dave Secures Three Points

The second game of the morning was for thirty minutes a mirror of the first with Dynamo edging possession but no real chances created by either team. We changed to a 4-5-1 formation and Dale put himself in goal, had a back four of Vincent, Chris, Steve and Ivan. Ismail as holding midfield with a flat four of Peggy, Morris, Dave and James in midfield with Roger up front.

It was another slow start by Loko who still were struggling to win that first ball both in the air and in the tackle and it put us on the back foot early on. Dave lost the ball in our own half and they got in on goal on the angle but Dale closed the striker down and saved with his feet and Steve blocked the follow up.

Morris started to win some tackles and Ismail sat really well in front of the back four, closing down the space and not allowing the ball into the strikers feet which was what Dale had asked him to do. Ivan and Steve at the back did not allow them much space and were playing really well. There was no score again at the break.

Half-Time Loko 0 v Dynamo Clapham 0

Paul replaced Vincent at the break and Dale told everyone this was mirroring the first game and we needed to compose ourselves on the ball and follow Morris's lead and win some more tackles and take the game to them.

Loko finally got control of the match and dominated possession in and around the Clapham box, Peggy inparticular playing superbly again and Ismail played some nice interchanges with Roger and Dave.

The railwaymen should have took the lead when the ball was fed into Roger who turned inside his man but hit the keeper from seven yards out with only the keeper for company. Twice the ball made its way into the area for James and Dave to head the ball into the danger area but no one could get on the end of it.

The deserved goal came with fifteen minutes remaining when DAVE (pictured above) picked up the ball on the edge of the box, bundled his way past two defenders and lobbed the advancing keeper for an excellent solo effort. Dale followed this by bringing on Rhyce for James, who had put in a good shift and was just lacking that little bit of match fitness after being out since the first game of the season.

The second followed soon after when Peggy ran his man to the line and was dragged down for a free kick. He got up and floated a beautiful ball to DAVE at the back post, who headed down though the keepers legs for a cushion that Loko did not look like relinquishing.

Dynamo had some possession in the last five to ten minutes but Dale was picking everything out of the air and they had a couple of long range efforts which were easily saved. They didn't look like scoring and the day ended honours even with three points a piece.

Final Score Loko 2 v Dynamo Clapham 0

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"This was a much better performance, we were still slow out of the blocks in the first half but we were more disciplined, put our tackles in and actually started to get the ball down and pass it around. They didn't really create much in this game apart from an early chance which was saved by myself then Steve blocked the follow up. We could have had more and congratulations for turning things around when heads could have stayed down."

Team Line Up
1. Dale
2. Vincent
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Steve (c)
6. Ismail
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Morris
10. Roger
11. James
12. Rhyce (Replaced James 45th Minute)
13. Paul (Replaced Vincent 30th Minute)
14. Adrian
15. Stefano

Goals
Dave (2)
45th Minute - Dave skipped past two challenges in the area and lobbed the advancing keeper.
50th Minute- Peggy floated over a free kick and Dave header down and through the keepers legs.

Man of the Match
Steve - A captain's performance at the back, was dominant and kept the team together very well. Put in some great tackles and drove us forward.

Honorary mention to Morris who played very well and put the frightners on them in midfield, and Ivan had a very good game at left back.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Report: Dynamo Clapham v Loko

Sunday 18th April 2010, 10am (Match 1 - 60 Minutes)
Sportsmans League Division 3

Dynamo Clapham 3 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 0

Slow Start Contributes to Defeat

Loko started the game with only two changes from our win three weeks earlier, with Ismail replacing Nelson in goal and Adrian going up front for Nicolas.

It was a slow start to the game for Loko who spent the first ten minutes frantically trying to get some sort of momentum but had to be content with soaking up some pressure on the edge of our penalty area, with them having an early shot over the bar and another one just wide.

Fifteen minutes in and Stefano overstretched and pulled his quad meaning he had to go off and he was replaced by Vincent. The referee was being far too picky with players and was making some ridiculous decisions all throughout the game as it appeared he wanted to be the centre of attention.

Loko came into the game more and Peggy (pictured above) and Rhyce tried to take us forward on the wings and Roger tried to hold the ball up but was outnumbered by the defenders. Loko only manged to create a couple of long range efforts but neither side looked like scoring.

Half Time Dynamo Clapham 0 v Loko 0

Paul came on for Ivan and Morris came on for Dale at half-time and Loko were losing out on the 50/50 challenges at the beginning of the half, as they had during the first half. Early on Roger managed to get goal side but could only lob the ball over the bar when he looked to have the keeper beaten.

It was a sloppy goal that gave them the lead, when Dave ran all the way back to his own area, laid it back to Ismail who kicked it straight at the striker, it bounced wide to the toucline and the resulting cross saw the striker unmarked five yards out for a free header.

The second followed within minutes when their player rose highest from a corner and nodded home with no challenge being made by any Loko player and the third was an attempted clearance by Chris that was sliced over Ismail for an own goal. Three avoidable goals but untimately costly goals that left a scoreline that didn't accurately reflect the game as a whole.

Final Score Dynamo Clapham 3 v Loko 0

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a slow start that caused this defeat, we were 0-0 after 40 minutes but were losing the midfield battle and were second to too many balls. We didn't compose ourselves on the ball and were struggling with the basics. They scored headers from two crosses, so we need to practise our heading, we still aren't jumping and are losing too many 50/50's."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Steve (c)
6. Dale [Y]
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Adrian
10. Roger
11. Rhyce
12. Vincent (Replaced Stefano 15th Minute)
13. Paul (Replaced Ivan 30th Minute)
14. Morris (Replaced Dale 30th Minute)
15. James

Man of the Match
Peggy - He played very well in a poor performance from the team, never gave up, ran his heart out and created some chances.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Match Preview: Dynamo Clapham v Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Dynamo Clapham (A) & (H)
Date: 18th April 2010
Kick Off Time: 10.00am (60 Min Match) & 11.00am (60 Min Match)
Meeting Time: 9.00am
Location: Riverside Lands, Chiswick
Directions: Barnes Bridge crossing is by the london platform, 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 tunnel on your left, go under and follow the road back to the river until you arrive at Chiswick Boat House.
Subs: Need information on pitch and referee payments before can confirm.
See Map:


View Larger Map
Squad: Dale / Ivan / Peggy / Paul / Steve / Dave / Roger / Morris / James / Chris / Stefano / Vincent / Rhyce / Ismail / Adrian
Standby: Nelson

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 11th April 2010
[Double Header]
Dynamo Clapham 2 v Simon Ridge 1
Simon Ridge 0 v Dynamo Clapham 5
Invictus 1 v Red Star United 5
London Rangers 1 v FC Lonsdale 3
Mass 1 v Pimlico Rangers 1
Worcester Park Rangers 3 v Eel Brook Rangers 3

The table has now been updated.