Won 2 - 1 v Merton (H), SAL Junior Div 2

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