Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 30th May 2010
Cultural v Dynamo Clapham [Home Win]
Dynamo Clapham v Cultural [Away Win]
Mass 3 v London Rangers 3

The table has now been updated.

Switzerland Tournoi Results - May 21st-22nd 2010

Defence of Title Curtailed By Injury

There was a fantastic English contingent this year with 21 people travelling from the UK to Lausanne for the tournoi, where England were looking to defend their trophy. Out of 21 there was 16 players and it was hopeful that we could get our strongest team out to give ourselves the best possible chance of success.

Everyone arrived at the Hotel Alpha-Palmiers on the Thursday night (except Carole who arrived Friday night) and a few beers were had on arrival due to the football not starting until the following afternoon. The tournoi was back up to eight teams with the return of the Hungarians and Polish, and the excitment was building.

Friday 21st May 2010
On the Friday afternoon we had a meeting so that Dale could have a chat with everyone about what to expect during the fooball, especially for those who had not played in the tournoi before. Shortly after everyone headed to the pitches, next to the olympic stadium, to prepare for kick off and change into the England home kit once again. Unfortunately, Leigh was not feeling well enough to play so we were down to 15 players.

Group Stage - England v France - 4.05pm
4-5-1 Formation

Team Line Up
GK Steve M / RB Stefano / LB Ivan / CB Steve H (c) / CB Chris / DM Dale / CM Morris / CM Ismail / LM Stefan / RM Peggy / CF Roger / SUB Paul / SUB Adrian / SUB Alvin / SUB Andy

The team started very well and composed and were finding their men all over the park. Steve organised at the back and Dale did likewise in midfield, and the three lions settled into the match.

Peggy and Stefan both had the beating of the full backs and Morris put in some excellent controlled tackling in midfield and shortly into the match, was told by Dale to man mark France's best player FX. Roger and Morris both had shots blocked before England took the lead.

Peggy found Stefan in the box, he tried to make a pass along the area to Roger which was blocked by the defender, the ball fell loose on the edge of the area in the 'D' and DALE curled the ball with his instep into the top corner for a half-time lead.

Half-Time England 1 v France 0

Paul was brought on in place of Stefano at the break and Dale told everyone to continue in the same vein as the first half. The half started and we were composed on the ball with Roger running the channels well, linking up with Peggy and Stefan.

Alvin replaced Ismail and almost scored with his first touch, Stefan ran to the byline and crossed into the area where Alvin took the ball in his stride, got his shot away but the keeper made a full length block.

The second goal came when Ivan hit the bar from a Peggy cross, the ball fell kindly for STEVE H six yards out and he volleyed home into the bottom corner. This resulted in more subs with Adrian replacing Ivan and Andy coming on in place of Stefan. The shape held well and the English defence was never threatened with Dale protecting the back four.

Full-Time England 2 v France 0

Group Stage - England v Switzerland - 5.30pm
4-5-1 Formation

Team Line Up
GK Steve M / RB Paul / LB Stefano / CB Steve H (c) / CB Chris / DM Dale / CM Morris / CM Alvin / LM Stefan / RM Peggy / CF Roger / SUB Ivan / SUB Adrian / SUB Ismail / SUB Andy

A couple of changes to the starting line-up ensured that we kept people fresh during our second game and we started in the same formation as the game before. It was a composed start yet again and we were controlling possession in and around their penalty area.

Unfortunately, Dale had been carrying a hamstring injury obtained just under four weeks before and five minutes into the match, he overstretched reaching for the ball in midfield and had to go off with a further tear, and was replaced by Ismail.

Loko took the lead when STEVE H got to the ball first from a corner and drilled past the keeper for a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately that lead was short lived when England failed to clear their lines on no less than four occasions and a speculative long range effort from the Swiss hit the underside of the bar and deflected home for the equaliser.

Thngs went from bad to worse when another long range effort looked to have been easily saved by Steve M in goal, high above his head, but as he landed the ball came loose and fell into the net. Afterwards, it was apparent that he had twisted his ankle on landing and that would keep him out of the second day.

Half-Time England 1 v Switzerland 2

Dale's team talk was that this game was far from over and we needed to forget what had happened and take the game to them. Adrian replaced Morris and Ivan replaced Paul and we went to a 4-4-2 with Stefan moving up front and Alvin out onto the left.

The lads started well, taking the game to the Swiss and we equalised almost immediately when Peggy got down the right, Stefano made a decoy run and the defender sat off Pegs who put in a peach of a ball to the penalty spot, where ROGER leaped highest and nodded the ball home into the bottom corner.

The three lions had their tales up and almost took the lead when Peggy floated in a free-kick and Chris came in unmarked and drilled a header against the angle of post and crossbar and was unfortunate that it didn't deflect in. Then Roger held off two challenges and was one on one but the keeper stuck out a leg and managed to keep out what looked like a certain goal. Andy replaced Stefan, and Morris came back on for Ismail.

Peggy was having more and more fun with his full back, he skinned two men on the line and was blatently tripped well after the ball had gone, Dale lost his temper on the sideline with the blatent cheating and was asked by the referee to leave the pitchside, so he went back into his technical area.

The inevitable happened almost immediately, Steve H failed to clear his lines in time and his clearance was charged down, the striker ran through and scored into the bottom corner, and the Swiss had scored the only three chances they had had all afternoon.

Dale went 3-4-3 with only minutes remaining pushing Steve H upfront and it worked, Peggy again chasing the ball to the byline on the left wing and laying the ball back to STEVE H who curled the ball from outside the left corner of the box into the top corner for the goal of the tournament. The game should have been won but we were grateful for the draw by the end.

Full-Time England 3 v Switzerland 3

It was a mixed day for the team, we should have won two out of two but came off feeling relieved we had secured the draw, we were top of the group overnight on four points, above Switzerland on goal difference with the dangerous Polish in third on three points.

We had a nice meal but the team was falling apart, Steve M's ankled had swollen so he was unavailable to play in goal, meaning Dale would have to play in goal with a torn hamstring. Stefan's back had stiffened so much he had to be put to bed and couldn't move, Ismail's knee was damaged and he was struggling to move also, we were the walking wounded, even Roger was carrying a pulled muscle in his side.

A few of the lads had a couple of beers in the bar over the road, departing to bed around 1am but not going crazy, unfortunately one or two went over the top and it was obvious performances the following day would be affected.

Saturday 22nd May 2010
Everyone went down for breakfast at 7.30am and were heading to the pitches an hour later. The squad was down to 13, Ismail changed and was on the bench but wouldn't be able to play, and the 13 also included Dale with a torn hamstring so options were limited for the manager when it came to tactics. We changed and warmed up, and knew that anything other than a defeat would see us in the semi-finals.

Group Stage - England v Poland - 9.45am
4-5-1 Formation

Team Line Up
GK Dale / RB Stefano / LB Ivan / CB Steve H (c) / CB Chris / DM Andy / CM Morris / CM Adrian / LM Alvin / RM Peggy / CF Roger / SUB Paul / SUB Ismail

The Polish had a number of youngsters in their team and were very physical from the start, at times slicing through players and there was no protection from the referee. We were slow out of the blocks and failed to impose ourselves, some players looked like the night before had taken it's toll.

The polish took the lead five minutes in when their striker got behind Stefano at right back and played the ball across the edge of the penalty area for his strike partner to hit a first time volley into the bottom corner, the marking was somewhat lacking as three polish players were unmarked streaming into the box.

Peggy and Roger tried to drive us forward, now in a 4-4-2 formation but we couldn't get the support to them, apart from a couple of corners we weren't threatening and the polish sat back and looked to hit us on the counter attack, almost succeeding when they drilled inches over the bar from the edge of the area.

Half-Time England 0 v Poland 1

Paul replaced Ivan with Stefano switching to left back as the team talk tried to get people motivated, unfortunately there was little tactical options available with no other subs. They hit a few shots wide but never tested Dale in the second half, with Dale trying to kick long with his bad leg over and over again.

Steve H was performing his captain duties trying to drag the team forward, and Roger almost took us into the semi-finals when Peggy ran his man to the byline and pulled him the ball back for a first time shot that was hitting the bottom corner until a last ditch full length save by the keeper kept the ball out, it bounced up and was there for Alvin to attack with his head but he let the ball drop and hit it wide under pressure from the defender.

Andy was working like a trouper in midfield and was putting in his tackles, and Dale went 3-4-3 again with Steve H going up top but this time the magic didn't pay off, and apart from a few scrambles the three lions didn't come close again.

If the French beat the Swiss we could still qualify and it looked promising when the French went ahead and then had a free header hit the crossbar, but the Swiss came back and finished with a 3-1 win which left us third in the group.

Full-Time Score England 0 v Poland 1

The Group A table finished as follows:

		PL	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	PTS
1.	Switzerland	3	2	1	0	7	4	+3	7
2.	Poland	3	2	0	1	5	1	+4	6
3.	England	3	1	1	1	5	4	+1	4
4.	France	3	0	0	3	1	9	-8	0

5th/6th Play-Off - England v Belgium - 2.30pm
4-4-2 Formation

Team Line Up
GK Dale / RB Paul / LB Ivan / CB Steve H (c) / CB Chris / CM Andy / CM Morris / LM Adrian / RM Peggy / CF Roger / CF Alvin / SUB Stefano / SUB Leigh / SUB Ismail

The lads had had a beer over lunch and Dale asked everyone to go out and just enjoy themselves in this final play-off match. Injuries had taken their toll, but it was nice to see Leigh feel well enough to put himself on the bench as a sub keeper.

England started really slowly and the workrate from one or two players was missing and we were made to pay within a couple of minutes, a ball came to their striker in the 'D' of our penalty area and we were too slow to respond, he turned and drilled into the bottom corner.

Straight after it was 2-0 when their winger got behind Paul, Steve H covered the gap but a ball was slipped into the gap he had just vacated for their other striker to run through with Chris aka 'skills' trailing in his wake, a fit Dale may have got their first but he couldn't come out and the striker drilled again into the bottom corner.

The third came after fifteen minutes and it began to get a little embarassing, again their player had all the time in the world to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box and the three lions were chasing shadows.

England went 4-5-1 with Alvin dropping into midfield to give Morris and Andy support, and almost immediately it made a difference, the ball was won by Morris in the centre circle, he found Alvin who slipped ROGER in behind the defence and he slipped it past the keeper into the bottom corner.

Half-Time England 1 v Belgium 3

Paul came off to be replaced by Stefano, and Ismail decided it was best if he didn't risk his knee. It was Dale's last team talk and he told his players to enjoy themselves and give everything for the last twenty minutes of the tournoi, leave it all out on the field.

It seemed to work, England were now on top and playing the ball around like they knew they could. Five minutes after the break and we were back in the game, Stefano found Peggy on the wing and he put over a glorious cross for ROGER to nod home his second at the back post.

Belgium responded with a couple of corners and after those were cleared Leigh made his debut in place of Dale in goal and came out well, early on to collect a through ball confidently. Everyone was buzzing now and Andy was tackling like a terrier in midfield and feeling the referees wrath in the process. From one such tackle, the chance for the equaliser arrived when Morris broke through on the angle, and his shot hit the inside of the post and ran across the goal line to safety. Roger was open and a pull back would have resulted in a certain goal so the chance was lost.

Shortly after the game was over, a long ball over Ivan at full back, saw Leigh rush out of his area but stutter half way there and start to go back, the striker got the ball and scored a fantastic lob to put the game out of the three lions reach.

The boys kept plugging away but Dale went 3-4-3 pushing Alvin and Steve H upfront but apart from a few scrambles on the edge of the box, nothing more of note was created.

Full-Time England 2 v Belgium 4

Dale thanked all his players at the end for a great effort under trying circumstances, the injuries really took their toll but everyone gave everthing and that is all a manager can ask of his players.

Final Standings
1. Italy
2. Switzerland
3. Poland
4. Spain
5. Belgium
6. England
7. Hungary
8. France

The lads went back and got changed then headed for the customary Gala Evening around 6.30pm, it was walking distance at somewhere called the MAD Club and was actually a night club that was open to us from 7pm to 11pm and to the public thereafter.

This was the first year where there wasn`t a sit down meal and people were stood around eating a cold buffet from paper plates, it was very disappointing as we always looked forward to the meal and a laugh and joke around the table. The free bar all night helped us get over the disappointment and we collected our 6th place trophy from the stage.

The player of the tournoi was voted privately by the players and Dale announced the results as they happened, Dale and Andy picked up a vote each, Roger got four, Steve H six and the winner was Peggy with eight votes and he picked up a trophy and bottle of champagne as a result.

Ivan presented Dale with a bottle of sparkling cava as a thank you for his efforts, and earlier on in the night Paul had arranged with the help of the players to buy two bottles of champagne for Dale and Ivan to thank them for the season. It was shared by all. Dale announced after much speculation that he would manage for one last season in 2010/11 and he said he needed everyone's help to make this a great club.

Let's look forward to getting in some good players, retaining our regulars and doing well in the Sportsmans League 2010/11 and the England Tournoi on May 20th and 21st 2011.

Tournoi Report by Dale Mellor.

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 23rd May 2010
Cultural v Worcester Park Rangers [Away Win]
FC Lonsdale 3 v Mass 6
London Rangers 4 v Eel Brook Rangers 0
Worcester Park Rangers 0 v Red Star United 8

The table has now been updated.

Captains Corner: May 2010

Your Captain Steve Haley:
"I'm afraid I have no philosophy to share with you this time boys but I would like to thank you all for an enjoyable season albeit a very stop start one for myself. I think with a more consistent starting 11 and a little more luck we could have finished higher up the table and even challenged for the title.

The highlights for me have to be the 4-2 victory over Worcester Park Rangers in the unforgiving hail storm back in December and of course the 3-1 demolition of the cocky Cultural boys.

I hope we can keep the nucleus of this team together and maybe add a few new players for next season so we can push up the table and teach some of the teams in our league both a lesson in football and sportsmanship.

I'm sure all of us are now looking forward to the Swiss Tournoi and defending our title, we know we have nothing to fear so let's go out there play with our heads and a smile on our faces and bring home the trophy once again!"

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 16th May 2010
Cultural 6 v London Rangers 0
Mass 6 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 3
Pimlico Rangers 4 v Eel Brook Rangers 0
Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Simon Ridge 0

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Mass v Loko

Sunday 16th May 2010
Sportsmans League Division 3

Mass 6 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 3

Promising Season Ends in Hammering

Lokomotiv turned up promptly and in force with a complement of fourteen players for the last game of the season against Mass, one of the Division’s low ranking teams.

The starting line-up included Ismail in goal, a back line of Stefano, Steve, Chris and Ivan, a midfield composed of Paul, Roger, Dave, Stefan and Peggy plus Nicolas as the lone target man up front.

Mass had caused panic in the Loko defence in the first leg back in October and history repeated itself right from the start. Slack defensive work and a rather unsupportive midfield meant that the Loko men were all over the place and incapable of holding on to the ball.

By comparison, Mass enjoyed plenty of possession with their hunger, composure, pace and skills belying their lowly league position. Mass were running past players on the flanks with great ease and bombarded the Loko goal from all angles without being seriously challenged. Loko’s uninspired performance was sealed in the first half.

The first goal came from a cross from the left with the Mass forward slotting it easily past Ismail. The next goal came from a long ball with the Mass forward beating the offside trap and crucifying Ismail one-on-one. Paul came off midway through the first half and was replaced by Morris.

The third goal came when a Mass player trapped the ball on the edge of the box and his powerful shot hit the inside of Ismail’s right post into the net. The fourth one came from the edge of the box following a corner from the left and the powerful shot cannoned off Ivan’s shoulder into the empty net.

After forty five miserable minutes, Lokomotiv were clueless and out for the count.

Half-Time Mass 4 v Loko 0

Although the Railwaymen tried harder in the second half it simply wasn’t enough. After five minutes, Adrian came on for Ivan and Vincent replaced Stefan who is still finding his feet after a long lay-off.

On fifty five minutes, Peggy went off on one of his trademark mazy runs past two defenders but was knocked off the ball by a Mass defender in the box. The referee blew his whistle for Lokomotiv’s first penalty of the season, albeit a very generous one. The team were all holding their breath and hoping for the team’s third best goalscorer to finally reduce the deficit. Dave stepped up but he scuffed his shot and hit it low on the ground in the middle of the goal and the keeper saved it easily.

Five minutes later Mass put the game out of Lokomotiv’s reach with a long ball flying over Adrian’s head. The oncoming Mass forward found himself one on one against Ismail who remained rooted to his spot and the forward finished low to Ismail’s right for what was ominously beginning to look like a tennis score.

This is when tempers flared. Adrian got involved in a slanging match with their number 15 and got a yellow card. Morris was on the receiving end of a similar coloured card for his repetitive fouls. The ref even had a word with Ivan on the touchline warning him that Morris might get sent off if he continued in that vein.

Fortunately, Loko pulled themselves together. Peggy took a shot from thirty five yards out which flew over their keeper’s head and struck the crossbar and Nicolas, who’d been running his socks off for seventy minutes, followed up and nodded the ball in from two yards out.

With Roger now organising the game in midfield and launching Peggy and Nicolas off down the flanks, things started to look up. Following a neat one-two between Dave and Nicolas down the middle and the ball coming off a Mass defender, Dave rounded his opponent and scored Loko’s second goal by placing it to the right of the diving keeper from the edge of the box.

Unfortunately Mass put paid to Loko’s revival by scoring their sixth goal. But the Railwaymen hadn’t given up the ghost just yet. Morris took on his opponent in their own half thirty five yards out, down the right hand side of the pitch. The defender tried to clear the ball but it rebounded off Morris’s head. Our crazy Irish horse then charged down the right wing, crossed the ball for Dave who turned his defender on the right side of the box and half-volleyed it to the right of the Mass keeper and into the net.

Final Score Mass 6 v Loko 3

Club Secretary Ivan Rahal's comments:
"Yet another mercurial Lokomotiv performance. We have showed this season that we can play neat football and, unlike previous seasons, score many goals. But, we also tend to push the self-destruct button far too often. Today we were shambolic and when we needed to impose our presence, we committed unnecessary fouls and got involved in silly arguments which resulted in a few players losing their concentration.

Next week’s tournament in Switzerland is the opportunity for us to redeem ourselves. But we can only achieve it by being disciplined, organised and listening to instructions. We also have to support each other instead of picking on players who are making mistakes.

Finally, for the benefit of newcomers and those players who haven’t yet got the message, a few words of warning for the Tournoi:

1) Expect the refs to give our opponents a lot of unwarranted protection, i.e. blow their whistle for what is often deemed as merely physical challenges in this country, no physical contact is allowed.

2) Expect some diving.

3) Don’t expect the referee's to stand for any verbal nonsense.

If you don’t accept the refs’ very strict rules and don’t keep your temper in check, you’ll get sent off and will jeopardise our chances of retaining our title."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Steve (c)
6. Paul
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Nicolas
11. Stefan
12. Morris [Y] (Replaced Paul 25th Minute)
13. Vincent (Replaced Stefan 50th Minute)
14. Adrian [Y] (Replaced Ivan 50th Minute)

Goals
Nicolas (1)
70th Minute - Nicolas nodded the ball in from two yards out after Peggy’s shot struck the crossbar.
Dave (2)
75th minute - Following a one-two with Nicolas, Dave shot from the edge of the box into the keeper’s bottom right corner.
80th Minute - Morris charged down the right and crossed for Dave who half volleyed the ball to the right of the keeper and into the net.

Man of the Match (as voted by Vice-Captain Roger)
Dave - Despite his squandered penalty opportunity, he contributed a glimmer of hope with his two very well taken goals.

Match Report by Ivan Rahal.

Match Preview: Mass v Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Mass (A)
Date: 16th May 2010
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: £6 (£3 subs/substituted)
See Map:


View Larger Map
Squad: Steve / Morris / Chris / Ivan / Paul / Ismail / Roger / Dave / Peggy / Nicolas / Stefano / Vincent / Stefan / Adrian

Standby: Andy

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 9th May 2010
Cultural 1 v Red Star United 2
Dynamo Clapham 3 v Eel Brook Rangers 1
[Double Header]
London Rangers 2 v Worcester Park Rangers 2
Worcester Park Rangers 1 v London Rangers 2
Pimlico Rangers v Mass [Home Win]
Simon Ridge 2 v FC Lonsdale 3

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Loko v Putney Ferrets

Sunday 9th May 2010
Friendly

Lokomotiv Londres FC 0 v Putney Ferrets 1

Shocking Penalty Gifts Ferrets Win

Loko had to play with two new players and two injured players in their squad this morning and it showed as the usual connections within the team were missing in a scrappy display.

It was a decent start early on and we pinned them back, Roger and Stefan got in behind on a couple of occasions but didn't have the pace to get away and get a shot in on target. The build up play was good and we kept the ball moving, Dave played Roger into the edge of the box and he drilled a shot into the keepers near post but he parried the ball away.

Shortly after some good play down the right saw a ball into the back post, Stefan hit a volley straight at the keeper then shortly afterwards drove in from the left and shot wide.

Ferrets came back into the game and had some possession in our half but Dale didn't have a save to make in the first half. Loko seemed to lose their way a little and started panicking on the ball and we struggled to retain it leading up to half-time.

Half-Time Loko 0 v Putney Ferrets 0

The team talk was that for the majority of the half we had been on top but we had to retain possession much better and ensure the midfield kept their shape. Unfortunately we didn't listen to instructions and we were following the ball everywhere and not holding shape.

Ferrets came at us and had a couple of chances when a ball went across the face of goal and out for a goal kick, then the striker got through and Dale parried a shot away which was cleared by the defenders at the second attempt.

This game was going to be settled by one goal and the referee gave an appalling penalty when a clean challenge on the byline was penalised after the striker fell over almost crying and screaming like a little girl who had fallen off her bike. It was the only way they were going to score and the penalty was a good one that settled in the top corner.

Loko went three up top with Steve pushing forward, and shortly after Stefan got through and lobbed the keeper but could only head the dropping ball wide with just a defender on the line to beat. Then an Adrian corner was cleared off the line three times in a goalmouth scramble and twice the ball was only a yard from going in.

Putney nearly wrapped it up when their striker got in on the angle turned and fired in a shot that Dale came out, closed down and blocked. Stefan at the other end had one last chance to even up the scores but curled over from just outside the box.

Final Score Loko 0 v Putney Ferrets 1

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a scrappy game and we struggled to get the ball down and moving. The new players did well and both myself and Stefan did ok while carrying injuries. It was only a friendly and the referee gave them the game with a shocking penalty decision, we clearly won the ball but the girlie screams won them the decision. One league game to go, onto next week."

Monday Update

"We've had a bunch of sad individuals from Ferrets come on this website insulting our team Monday afternoon clearly showing their age, so I've had to disable comments.

They seem really proud that they have beaten a team also missing several key players, with one player playing with a torn hamstring, another playing after over a year out with back problems, and a fifteen year old in our team helping us out.

They could only beat us 1-0 with a penalty that blatently wasn't one and other than that I had two saves to make, what a caining that was then. What a mighty team we played yesterday with such footballing skill and tactical knowledge."

Team Line Up
1. Dale
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Ismail
5. Steve (c)
6. Morris
7. Paul
8. Dave
9. Stefan
10. Roger
11. Adrian
12. Omar (Various Substitutions - Rolling)
13. Ishmayl (Various Substitutions - Rolling)

Man of the Match
Steve (pictured above) - Organised really well at the back and kept winning the challenges all over the backline.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Preview: Loko v Putney Ferrets

Competition: Friendly
Opponents: Putney Ferrets (H)
Date: 9th May 2010
Kick Off Time: 10.00am
Meeting Time: 9.20am
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:


View Larger Map
Squad: Ivan / Morris / Steve / Stefano / Paul / Roger / Dave / Adrian / Ismail / Stefan / Dale / Omar / Ishmayl

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 2nd May 2010
[Double Header]
Cultural 3 v Eel Brook Rangers 1
Eel Brook Rangers 1 v Cultural 2
Invictus 2 v Worcester Park Rangers 3
Lokomotiv Londres FC v Pimlico Rangers [Home Win]
Red Star United 7 v Simon Ridge 1

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Loko v Eagles

Sunday 2nd May 2010 (70 Minutes)
Friendly

Lokomotiv Londres FC 3 v Eagles 3

Nic Hat-Trick Nets Last Minute Draw

As our original opponents Pimlico Rangers had cancelled earlier in the week because they couldn't raise a team, we arranged a friendly with Eagles who compete two divisions higher than ourselves in Division 1. We only had the one sub and kept rolling on and off every ten minutes.

It was a franetic start to the game with tackles flying in left right and centre, Eagles started the brighter and pinned us back from the beginning with a chance inside the first two minutes when they got in on the angle but Ismail parried away well.

They continued to press and kept shooting from range but we started hitting them on the counter attack and Peggy kept getting away down the left and Nicolas almost broke through twice but for some last ditch defending.

Vincent started strongly and his pace came in handy at the back covering for the other three as Eagles had good pace on the frontline. He put in a number of strong tackles, but couldn't prevent Eagles taking the lead, when from a corner their player was unmarked eight yards out at the front post to head over Paul on the line.

The lead did not last long and Loko were soon level, Dave played the ball out to NICOLAS (pictured above) who was on the left touch line and he came inside the defender and drilled a low shot into the keepers bottom right corner.

Eagles continued pressing and had a number of mazy runs into the area but Ismail had few actual shots to save, and he kept picking up the loose balls when they dropped in and around him. Ismail did have to tip one rasping drive over the bar and he was having a very good game, and then Eagles hit the bar and a goal mouth scramble was cleared.

Roger, Morris and Dave were doing their best to close down in Loko's 4-5-1 formation and a combination of their pressing saw the ball go through to their keeper who miskicked it, it came to NICOLAS in the middle of their half and he placed his shot past the stranded keeper to give Loko an unexpected half-time lead.

Half-Time Loko 2 v Eagles 1

Dale insisted that we need keep our shape better and ensure that there are no gaps between the defence and midfield, and to go out and enjoy the second half.

Loko were well and truely pinned in our own half for a good fifteen to twenty minutes after the restart but they failed to create much in that period with good closing down, and excellent communication. They had a few long range efforts that were straight at Ismail or wide of the target.

Nicolas, Peggy and Dave were trying to drag us forward and we were trying to play the ball around but we panicked when under pressure and gave the ball away a little too much. It was disappointing that Eagles equalised with yet another free header from a corner which was drilled into the net far too easily.

They continued to press and took the lead shortly after when a ball from the left found their striker seven yards out, there was two Loko defenders behind him but he turned too quickly and drilled into the bottom corner. He should have been closed down quicker and all three goals were softly conceded.

Loko responded when Dale pushed Dave up front with Nicolas to 4-4-2 and we finally started pressing their defenders and pushing them up the pitch with the instruction to play a much higher line and give them less room to play in. Dave almost scored when he got free in a central position with the keeper well off his line but he couldn't get the ball high enough and the keeper saved easily.

Eagles nearly wrapped up the win when their striker beat Chris for pace, went one on one and slipped the ball past Ismail but the ball held up in the boggy goal area and Ismail got infront of the striker who pushed him over before scoring, and it was rightly ruled out by the referee. They drilled a few efforts wide and Loko rode their luck.

Loko pressed with seconds left and Dave got the ball on the edge of the area in space but could only drill the ball over. That appeared to be that, but Roger fed Dave out on the left, he faked to go inside, skinned the full back on the outside and centred for three Loko players through on the keeper, NICOLAS got there first and slotted into the bottom corner for a superb hat-trick and a fabulous Loko result.

Final Score Loko 3 v Eagles 3

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a good battling performance against a decent team from two divisions above us. We rode our luck at times as they hit the woodwork a couple of times, Ismail had a blinder in goal and they had some wayward finishing by their strikers.

We always looked dangerous on the counter attack and gave as good as we got. With myself, Steve and others missing we put in a great performance. Two goals conceded from corners again is really starting to add up, we need to stay tight to our men and jump with them.

Well played everyone."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Vincent
6. Morris
7. Paul
8. Dave
9. Roger (c)
10. Nicolas
11. Peggy
12. Andy (Rolling Subs - Various Changes)

Goals
Nicolas (3)
20th Minute - He cut inside off the wing and drilled into the bottom corner.
30th Minute - The ball fell kindly to him with the keeper out of his area and he placed it past him into an empty net from forty yards.
70th Minute - Dave skinned the right back and played the ball across the area for Nicolas to place past the keeper into the bottom corner.

Man of the Match
Vincent (pictured below) - His best game for Loko, he was dominant, really looked up for it and put in challenges everywhere. Fantastic game. Nicolas was a close second with a brilliant hat-trick and Ismail slightly adrift in third with his best game in goal for Loko yet. Well done all.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Switzerland Itinerary & Information

Itinerary
Friday 21st May 2010
12pm - Transfer to the Stadium & Lunch
2.45pm - Opening Ceremony & Warm-Up
3.15pm Tournoi Start
4.05pm England v France
5.45pm England v Switzerland
6.30pm End of Day 1 Football
8.30pm Dinner at Hotel Alpha-Palmiers

(Stade Des Marroniers)

Saturday 22nd May 2010
7.30am Breakfast at Hotel Alpha-Palmiers
9.30am Continuation of Tournoi
9.30am Warm-Up
9.45am England v Poland
11.45am Semi-Finals
12.30pm Lunch at Stadium
1.30pm 7th/8th & 5th/6th Play-Off Matches
2.20pm 3rd/4th Play-Off
3.15pm Final
4.30pm Back to Hotel Alpha-Palmiers
7pm Gala Dinner/Dance & Awards Ceremony at the MAD Club

(Stade Du Bois-Gentil)

Sunday 23rd May 2010
7.30am Breakfast at Hotel Alpha-Palmiers
12pm Check-out and Departure of Teams

Match Information
1) Two Groups of Four with Each Team Playing the Other 2) Top Two Teams Qualify for Semi-Finals 3) 1st Group A v 2nd Group B & 1st Group B v 2nd Group A 4) Third Placed Teams Play 5th/6th Play-Off 5) Fourth Placed Teams Play 7th/8th Play-Off 6) Losing Semi-Finalists Play 3rd/4th Play-Off 7) Winning Semi-Finalists Play Final 8) Group Stages, Semi-Finals & Play-Offs 2 x 20 Minute Halves with 5 Minute Break 9) Final 2 x 25 Minute Halves with 10 Minute Break 10) Semi-Finals, Play-Offs & Final - No Extra Time if Level Straight to Penalty Shoot-Out 11) Unlimited Rolling Substitutions 12) Yellow, Red & Blue Cards (Blue Cards are a Five Minute Sin Bin) 13) No More than Four Players Under 30 on Field at any One Time 14) Shinpads Must be Worn 15) No Metal Studs Allowed - Mouldeds & Blades Only 16) All Other Rules as FIFA Rules 17) Group A - England, France, Switzerland and Poland / Group B - Italy, Hungary, Spain and Belgium