So close!

Norsemen Two's came within a whisker of gaining a well earned point against the league leaders Crouch End Vampires on Saturday, and truth be told, should feel more than slightly disappointed not to do so.
After being put ahead through an Aydin Tayfur first half bicycle kick, as a result of a headed flick on from Mark Sarfo, Norsemen let the half time lead slip by conceding a second half penalty and dropping their guard at the death to go down 2 1. It was a cruel finish to a very committed performance from 11 men who were once again let down by a no show. 

Injuries to Collier, Grant and Sarfo - all picked up in the first half - and with many others battered and bruised, meant that it was always going to be an uphill struggle on a very uneven surface. Passing moves were rare but Norsemen did look very good countering down the flanks and getting balls across the box, especially from the left where runners were coming late from the right. On the defensive side, the midfield was up against it with size and experience against them and the physical battles were all seemingly going Crouch Ends way early (despite Dean Bartup being recalled!) .

Norsemen grew into the game however and were deserved leaders at the half 1 nil.

The second half was all Crouch End though. Wave after wave poured forward with Norsemen doing well to mask the injuries and scramble the ball away on many occasions. Despite the constant pressure, opportunities were slim and the pressure to capitalize began to tell on a few Crouch End players with the physical nature of the game spilling over to spite in some instances. Indeed, for all the Crouch End pressure, it was Norsemen who should have iced the game when a Dan Williams square ball was parried into a lunging Tayfun's path. He managed a touch but only wide of the post and an opportunity had passed.

Unfortunately, it came to be that a marking lapse moments from time ensured that Norsemen would go home empty handed but on the back of last weeks win this close match was definitely needed to continue to build the confidence needed going forward. A week off now and with other activities and long term injuries easing, it is hoped that a good run can be put in with a few more points picked up prior to Christmas.

Norsemen Two's picked up their first points of the season this weekend with a well deserved 2 nil victory over Carshalton in a shortened match.

In what was a reversal in fortunes it was Carshalton who were forced to start the match short on numbers and half an hour late as a number of their players were stuck in traffic en-route. When they finally had enough to start the match light had become an issue and the referee made the decision to reduce the match to 30mins each way.

Norsemen came out of the blocks well and were quickly 1-0 up with an early Tom Collier goal. His third of the season puts him clear at the top of the charts and gave Norsemen their first lead in many weeks.  
Carshalton immediately brought on their remaining players who had arrived and were at the full compliment of 11 from here on in.

It did appear a gulf in class between the two teams remained at 11 vs 11, as with what was easily Norsemen's strongest team of the season they produced a well worked move down the left resulting in Mark Sarfo squaring to Michael Herbert. who on a well timed run from the right flank, poked home for a 2 - 0 lead.

The lead remained until half time in a half that Carshalton never really threatened JJ in goal.

The second half was very open as both teams looked to get the a decisive goal in deteriorating pitch conditions. Norsemen were scrambling on defence on the odd occasion after making three substitutions to bring on three young players in Ozan Bingoba, Wayne Bremner and new player Aydin Tayfun. All three looked good going forward but along with the rest of the team will need to work on transitioning to defence when we lose possession, as better teams will punish us in the future if players are allowed as much time and space as they were today. Equally, we need to become more composed in front of goal as numerous opportunities were wasted to put the game to bed. Hopefully this will come with the confidence gained from posting a win.

A 2-0 win and three points on an afternoon where doing so was the only priority. Job well done.

Crouch End Vampires await next week.

Where do you go from here? 14 players selected on Tuesday with 2 players released down to teams below, the team had a strong look to it. Fast forward to Saturday 3pm, with 2 pull outs and 2 players no shows and non contactable we were left with 10 players to take on Old Actonians away from home. Further to this, one of the players who failed to show up had the kit bag! We were forced to borrow an opposition kit for the day. It defies belief that individuals in this day of mobile technologies have the gaul to let their fellow team mates down like that. It was an embarrassment.

To the game and Norsemen put up a pretty good show with 10 men causing a few problems to Actonians especially at set piece time. However, the good fortune wasn't to last as firstly a niggle to Andy Grant and then a quite major injury to Danny Hagan, later diagnosed as a semi dislocated knee, further decreased Norsemen's strength. Both players played on, showing dedication that some non attending players could use a dose of, with Hagan putting the team first and swapping into goal though he could hardly stand. 

The numbers did eventually tell though and Norsemen were to be 3 nil down before Mark Sarfo earned a penalty following some slippery work inside the box. Having earned it he stepped up and promptly converted to make the half time score 3 1 to Actonians.

More of the same followed in the second half as Norsemen were overrun as energy, enthusiasm and application started to fail. This occurred roughly the same time as every Actonian shot found the inch perfect corners of the Norsemen net giving most weekly goalkeepers no chance let alone Hagan on one good leg.

Norsemen did get one back when Grant was first to react to a Thenesh Naathen shot that came back off the post, heading into the top left corner. Lee Dawson also came close when putting a late free kick onto the crossbar. Scant consolation for the 90 minutes that had gone before.

All in all, 10 players who were let down badly by others. Injuries leading to withdrawals, personal matters, likewise, you can deal with losing players to those. But for players not to show up, not to answer phones and not to be in touch at all before letting their team/club mates down, it is an embarrassment to them and the club. An embarrassment that unfortunately fell at the feet of those who turned up Saturday.