After last weeks cup heroics it was back to league duties and two important games before the Xmas break to put us back in contention for promotion.

The team is struggling with injuries at the moment, with Porky out with ankle problems, Hunt has a swollen knee, Reddington out with a brittle body and Amico out with under the thumbitus. (Broken foot apparently!)

We managed to get the Bryan back this week, luckily he managed to persuade his boyfriend to play as well. 

This left us with 12 with a returning White after a 4 week absence, and an unwell Green.
Also the return of Dickie Brown saw us use our 6th keeper this season!
So it wasn't going to be pretty!!
Green asked the team to relax this week and try to play football, that was clear it wasn't going to happen after about 10 mins.

It was going to be a battle for the 3 points!
Deano and Ricky whilst not offering anything on the ground were winning everything in the midfield.
Likewise Rossy making himself an annoying presence.

They tried to wind Rossy up by calling him Tom Daley, spot on really!
Browns return signals the return of the launch!! His massive kicks caused carnage and Green found himself with half chances from difficult angles. But with the form he has been you would expect better.
Then came the breakthrough in comical fashion.

A bundle in the box allowed the ball to break loose to Deano on the edge of the box. He miss shit his shot into a defender and it ballooned high up in the sky. The ball came down to bounce on the pen spot with no pressure on the keeper you would have expected no issues.
Green screaming bounce probably didn't help, but it bounced spun and the keeper threw out a hand as strong as a 4 year old child allowing the ball to fall into the net.
Second half was much the same, we were the better team but made hard work of it.

Merton were Merton shouting at the ref, threats of physical violence, and their manager and old fella on the side line who both are just angry!

We didn't let that distract us and continued to press for the 2nd goal.
It came in a familiar fashion, another Howard launch into the box allowed Mrs Keye ( Scott Jenkins) to get a flick on the ball, it then deflected off their centre half and the keepers hand, Green was very tempted to poach the goal, but the thought of having to fight the post for it put him off.
Brown pulled off some regulation saves, and also made some important touches during some crazy scrambles.

Green then struck the Corner of bar and post with a well struck free-kick, keeper was routed and that would have killed the game dead.

The ball didn't drop to a Norsemen player!

Then Jenkins scores an O.G to put us under pressure when the game seemed to be drifting.
A decent ball into the box by a Merton player was blasted into his own net by Jenkins with no one behind him.
He had a picture of a person coming in at the back stick but we all know that person didn't exist.
Blatantly he just did it to save Green buying yet another jug!!

We see the game out to be fair well, Green dropped deeper to sit in front of the back four. 
And there were no more chances of note.

After the game their manager started an argument with Chunky, but was later seen shouting at a pack of Cheese and Onion crisps and one of the famous Norsemen air pies.

We retired to the changing room for a bit of singing. Then watched Spurs win away again.
Green speculating that spurs would get exactly 10 corners and have a o.g in the game, likewise Bevers wanted more than 10.

Green wins, maybe Bevers should start letting his missus bet for him, having won earlier!! 

Walk Tall

So the first Away game of the season for the mighty 3rd XI came along on Saturday 14th September. 
Merton were the oppo in the SAL Div 2 and recalling our loss away to them last year, we knew we were in for a tough battle of a game.

So off to South London we trekked, some by train, some by plane and some by automobile (I lied about the plane bit, just thought it sounded good!)

It was a wet & windy Saturday afternoon, but the pitch was in good nick, so it looked as though it would suit the 3's brand of football (football for the people)

After being given the keys to executive changing room (it had padded seats!) the 3's got changed and got out onto the slick surface of the Merton pitch.

The game kicked off at 3pm and from the off the 3's looked in control of the match. 

Some good work by Paul Amico early on put Danny Green in on goal early doors, only for Danny's shot to fizz past the post.

Then came an early goal from the 3s. A corner was given to Norsemen and the box was loaded, Danny Green whipped in the corner and it caused mayhem in the Merton box only for a shot at the back post from Amico to ricochet off the post and onto a Merton defenders leg from 5 yards looping into the roof of the net! 1-0 to Norsemen.

The 3's then proceeded to dominate the midfield battles and won a lot of ball in the air. It was still felt that the 3's could give a bit more in the match though as it seemed as though they were still in 2nd gear.
A couple of alarms were had though maybe a bit of overplaying the ball and allowing the Merton pacey attack to break on the 3's defence, but nothing came of these couple of chances.

Then came goal number 2, a well worked Norsemen move through the midfield resulted in the ball being lashed in the back of the net by Danny Green! A great finish to a great move! 2-0 to Norsemen

Half Time 0-2 

The Half Time Team Talk spoke of ensuring that we didn't give the Merton Midfield any space to turn and run at us as that was where Merton looked dangerous.

The start of the second half saw Norsemen come out on the back foot and do exactly the opposite of what was spoken about during the half time team talk.

Merton threatened and put Norsemen under pressure but it wasn't looking like Merton were going to score and then disaster struck. 

Merton picked the ball up on the edge of the Norsemen area and had an 18 yard shot that took a slight deflection which saw the ball squirm under K "The German" and into the net. K admitted that it was an error on his behalf but he only did it to make the game more interesting.

Despite this setback Norsemen looked to still create chances and Danny proceeded to hit the post from a tight angle and Paul Amico hit a screamer from 25 yards that the keeper plucked out the top corner!
Then it came, a Penalty was awarded to Norsemen with around 10mins remaining, this was to seal the match 3-1. 

Danny somehow managed to shank his penalty wide of the bottom left corner leaving the keeper to look as it whistled past his post.

This miss gave Merton heart as they mounted more attacks and piled 3 and sometimes 4 up top. 
It was down to K to have the last word with a great save low down late on to deny Merton the equaliser! 

Final Score: 

Merton 1-2 Norsemen 

For every away match report this year we will also rate the Showers, the food and the Beer Jug Rating which is an integral part of the SAL Away Day experience.

So here goes! 

Showers: 7 
Lovely and hot and plenty of showers to go round. 
A short walk from the changing room (Bonus!) 

Food: 7 
Good old meat and pasta. 
Really tasty and Bevers didn't like his so we got seconds! :) 

Beer Jug Rating: 8 
Massive Jug. 
Kronenberg on Tap. 
Jug was quite pricey though at £22.50 
Deano and Pett got to drink most of it to themselves with a little help from Bevers as everyone else buggeredoff home (Bonus x2!)

The Merton boys stayed back to play darts and Deano & Pett enjoyed some good banter and more beer with the Merton lads. 
This led to an interesting trip home via Bits & Bobs (picture attached) where a Buddha was found (Bonus x3!) 

Next Up: 

Old Paulines Away (AFA Cup Match)