Match Report
Match Report - 25 Sep 2016, Clapham Rovers Clapham Rovers beat Westminster Wanderers III
Rovers!
After the disappointment of Sporting Continental it was great to get back to winning ways with a win over a obstinate yet limited Westminster Wanderers.
It was also great to see so many new players make their debut and play an important part in getting the win. Welcome to Des, Tait, Jack, Ibra and Fotis. I look forward to seeing you turn out for the Rovers in the weeks and seasons to come.
Let’s have more of the same against Streatham Stanley in the George Seymour Cup; the
Tony Eldridge First Division Cup.
The match is on 3G here;
3G Aspire Centre
Merton Road
Southfields
SW18 5JU
I will update you on the footwear restrictions when I know more.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Merton+Rd,+London+SW18+5JU/@51.4448995,-0.2154802,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x48760f5b14336f7b:0x6b352de61f2b7959!8m2!3d51.4450159!4d-0.1976821
It is with great pleasure that I hand over the match reporting reins to Bunman. Thank you, Bunman
Rovers 3 – 0 Westminster Wanderers III
A new-look Clapham Rovers, made up of a squad including 5 debutants, a first game of the season for most capped Rover (Me) and a farewell appearance for Ozzie Sam, despatched Westminster Wanderers’ 3rd string 3-0 to advance into the 2nd round of the Marcus Lipton Cup.
The new faces took little time to gel and dominated the early stages. Fortis was marauding down the right flank, Ken was whipping in cross after cross from the left and Matt Tait was looking for opportunities for a sighter on his ‘hammer’ left foot. A series of corners followed, with the newly named ‘Des’ (Steve Walker) proving a handful in the box and Shaun heading a golden opportunity off-target from close range.
Eventually the deadlock was broken with a good team move. The move started at the back with us winning the ball back inside our own half and ‘Des’ stepping out from the back. After a few passes the ball finally made its way out to Smudger on the right who played another one-two with Wellman. Smudger continuing his run found himself one-on-one and despatched the ball high into the near post, away from the on-rushing goal-keeper.
It’s amazing the lead wasn’t extended further before half-time, as we created bucket loads of chances. Wellman ballooned a sitter from 5 yards out (an early contender for miss of the season), following good work from Smudger on the right and Shaun narrowly put a header wide following a cross from me on the left.
Despite a 10 minute wobble in the second half where we were in danger on a couple of occasions of conceding a penalty we were rarely threatened and Shaun settled nerves when he added the important second. He lofted the ball over the keeper with a nice finish after another run and cross from Smud.
The third came after Tait had a long range effort turned around the post and from the resulting corner, he swung the ball into Shaun who rose above a defender to nod home for his brace.
There was still time for a brief J5B cameo and when instructed to “Use your belly”, turned a player on the halfway line, contemplated a swivel-banger only to think better of it.
Man of the match nominations were sprinkled around the team, a sign of a good performance had by all. Well playyyed!
Victory was enjoyed with the customary Rover's jolly in the pub, where we said adieu to Sam. "Jollies, jollies, jollies! Fcuking Jollies!!!"
FANTASY FISCAL ROVERS
Beautiful to see the arrears coming right down to almost nought. Let’s keep it that way fellas.
Surname
First Name
AGGREGATE OWING
Godwin
Chris
45
Sampson
Les
10
Yousefian
Anthony
10
Keenan
Graeme
10
Hamilton
Archie
5
Westminster Wanderers III 0 - 3 Clapham Rovers Clapham Rovers ()