Wednesday 18 March 2009

Need new Football boots??

Then try here http://www.thesportshq.com/hitec-football-boots.aspx.

They are Hi-tect but are an excellent price.

In fact Sports HQ have loads of different sports equipment at great prices.

Tuesday 10 March 2009

Morley Road Vs Chawton Athletic - Match Report

The curtain finally came down on what could have been deemed to have been a disappointing debut season for Chawton Athletic Sunday as they faced up against fellow strugglers Morley Road at Farnham College.

Athletic riding high on a wave of enthusiasm and confidence after last week's deserved victory against the Royal Exchange hoped for an unchanged side for the first time all season, but were again left scraping around at the last minute for players.

Rob, Jack and Scott dropped out Sunday morning and Si H did not make an appearance and with Si E already unavailable it made things tight for numbers yet again. Carl had been in touch and was bringing his boots as back-up and very thankful we were too.

Thankfully Rob did make it along and brought Jack and Si with him, though unfortunately they did not arrive until 15 minutes into the game.

By which time Chawton had seen their original starting line-up of 9 drop down to 8 as Matt picked up what could very well be the quickest injury in footballing history, pulling a thigh muscle just 35 seconds into the game, the misplaced pass which resulted in the injury fell to Morley Road who promptly waltzed up the other end and scored, a terrible blow for the now 8 men of Chawton.

Chawton fell further behind very soon after as the sheer weight of numbers started to tell. Chawton barely had time to regain their feet when Morley Road added a third, this time; make-shift Centre Back Pat; under pressure from the Morley striker; slotted a backpass past the helpless Martin for an own goal. 3-0 to Morley Road.

Rob, Jack and Si turned up and readied themselves in the car park, no changing rooms at Farnham College, and entered the fray.

Chawton immediately started to take a grip of the game, and their composure on the ball was rewarded as a clearly flustered Morley Road started to lose their normally cool heads. It finally looked like a football match as Chawton's footballing efforts made light work of the Morley midfield with Si, Jack, George and Bob all heavily involved in the middle of the park.

Chawton struck back as Bob cut inside from the left to unleash a 30 yard effort which sailed over the Morley Keeper's head and into the net. A deserved goal as Chawton were clearly in the ascendancy now.

Athletic kept pushing forward and were creating chance after chance with very little if anything coming back the other way, Sam going close with a great turn and strike.

Athletic narrowed the deficit further as good work from Si saw him finish well (apparently, I did not see it as I was getting re-changed at the time damn car park!!).

And so it remained 3-2 to Morley road the rest of the first half, Chawton still doing all of the pressing and playing all of the football, Morley Road looked dumbstruck; there surely was only ever going to be one outcome from here on in. The whistle went for half time with Athletic surely feeling the happier of the two sides.

Chawton started the last 45 minutes of their league campaign in determined and confident mood, the win was there for the taking and Rich P's rallying cry was seen to visibly inspire the Athletic team. Sadly it was Morley who were lifter early in the second half as the Striker stole in to score and stretch the Morley lead.

Athletic could see their chances slipping away but were still very much in with a shout of earning a result and again good work by Jack and Si created opportunities, but sadly they were not taken.

Morley fortuitously extended their lead when a cross the far post was nodded in after a shove in Martin's back prevented him from cutting out the danger, Athletic were disappointed to have been on the receiving end of the decision and were quick to point out where the official had gone wrong.

A spell of ten minutes further cost Athletic; as the midfield took further control of the game in the Morley half, the Athletic defence pushed higher and higher up the pitch and were caught very square and very high, Morley adding another goal to make the score 6-2. The referee had started to lose control of the game a touch, what had been an excellent game so far was turning into a heated exchange and the referee was at the centre of some of the main talking points.

Bob eventually went into the book after another reminder to the official as his questionable parentage and so the tackles were getting more and more tasty. Thankfully it calmed back down shortly after.

Chawton clawed their way back into the game and a shot well saved was followed up by Si who was unlucky not to be able to keep the difficultly bouncing ball down and swept his shot over from 6 yards. A ball inside saw George roll the ball into Sam's path and his lightning finish high into the net (the goal of the game surely) saw a deserved third for Athletic.

Sadly that was the last strike for Chawton as Morley road went on to add a 7th and 8th for what was an undeserved drubbing in the end.

Blog Man of the Match in the final league game of the season goes to Jack, who looked a danger throughout and could easily have unlocked the Morley defence on many occasions, well done Jack

A fantastic effort by the lads all season was celebrated in style by some as we headed to the Weybridge to experience their hospitality for the remainder of the afternoon.

Training starts on Sunday 22nd March for around a hour each time, from 10:30am at Anstey Park, we hope to see you all there.

There are many aspects of the game that we could all work on to improve, (availability being one of them), but obviously fitness and organisation are two others. Hopefully we will be able to start competing with our opposition increasing our enjoyment of the games we play and rewarding those able to commit to playing week in week out.

Sunday 1 March 2009

Royal Exchange v Chawton Athletic Match Report

Chawton; boosted by their recent performance against the Royal Exchange; where they narrowly lost 3-2 with 9 men; meant they entered this game knowing they had a chance of picking up a result.


Athletic were further boosted by the news that Exchange were struggling for players whilst Athletic for the first time for a while had 14 players available.


Matt; still suffering slightly from his injured shoulder; relinquished the keeping duties which were taken up by Martin, who himself was still feeling the knee injury picked up two weeks previous against the Exchange.


Athletic immediately set about stamping their authority and extra man on to the game, Matt and Sam starting up front, with Jimmer, George, Rob and Pat in midfield and Si, Scott, Si and Paul across the back and as mentioned Martin in goal.


Athletic took the lead as good work by Matt who made his way to the byline before cutting back well for Sam to smack the ball into the corner, a deserved lead for Athletic.


Chawton doubled their lead soon after as Jimmer's through ball found Matt racing clear, his lob just clearing the Exchange's stand in keeper's outstretched hand.


Athletic, with the time, space and confidence were playing some great football, everyone was involved right the way through the side, and the passing and moving was an example of the levels the boys surely could achieve with further practice over the Summer.


Exchange pulled a goal back as Athletic were caught holding a higher line than usual, Martin unlucky not pull off the save.


Back came Athletic and a through ball from Sam found Matt beating the keeper to a bouncing ball, before looking to lift it over the retreating defender but incredibly lifted up and over the bar from 5 yards, a terrible miss but Athletic buoyed by the opportunities they were creating, Jimmer was controlling the middle of midfield and Pat and Rob were chasing and harrying the Exchange midfielders and defenders into mistakes.


Jimmer nearly added a third as he burst through a launched a blockbuster from 30 yards, the rising drive scorched inches over the bar and good work from Matt including a neat back heeled turn past the last man saw his tame left footed shot easily fielded by the keeper.


Athletic deservedly did add a third moments before half time, great work again by Sam saw him beat several exchange players before rolling the ball back from the edge of the box for a on-rushing Rob, who's very firmly struck side footed effort flew high into the corner leaving the Exchange keeper well beaten. A superb strike by Rob and as the whistle went Athletic were delighted with their half's work, but knew they needed to keep the work rate up in the second half.


Rob brilliantly volunteered to come off and Jack took his place on the right hand side of midfield.


Chawton looked even stronger in the second half as Exchange tired, and they soon opened a three goal gap as Sam superb effort saw found the net via the keeper's hand.

Bob replaced Matt, and Jack replaced Si E, Pat dropped back to centre back, Scott moved to right midfield, Jack and Bob took the central midfield roles and Jimmer joined Sam up front.

Exchange responded well and narrowed the deficit with a well struck shot into the corner, Martin having no chance.


Jimmer was regularly the free man in midfield and a lot of Chawton's attacking came through him, pass after pass and opportunity after opportunity came and went for Athletic, before Sam finally added the 5th and his hat trick. Another brilliantly taken goal lobbing the keeper superbly.


Again back came Exchange, who despite only having ten were giving a good account of themselves and kept trying to play football, they scored again reducing he deficit back to 5-3.

Athletic re-opened the three goal gap as an excellent run saw Jack slot home handsomely, there was still time for Exchange to grab another, but Athletic comfortably held on and saw out the rest of the game for a thoroughly deserved 6-4 victory.

Blog man of the match was of course Sam, his hat trick was exactly the fillip that Athletic needed, he showed superb touch, control and finishing.

Next week sees Athletic take on fellow strugglers Morley Road at Farnham College in the final league game of the season.