Starting line up - S Annetts, Pleass, A Hendren, A Westall, K Willmoth (c), Griffin, Guy, Prior, Wood, A Mooney, Collins
Lambourn turned up to top of the league Rayners Lane with the sense that they had reached the big time after seeing the home side's impressive newly laid surface, however the boys from the valley would not be over-roared or intimidated by this and settled well into their stride from the first whistle.
In the very first minute Lambourn had a penalty appeal declined after Richie Guy won a header, with the ball falling to veteran Ade Mooney whose shot was blocked by what appeared to be a Rayners Lane defender's arm. The appeals were to no avail as the ref waved play on.
On 5 minutes Rayner Lane had a corner, which was drilled into the near post, however Lambourn's goalkeeper Annetts was aware and also strong to divert the ball out of his area.
After 16 minutes, we see the 1st booking of the game, with a typically robust challenge from Lambourn's hatchet man Pleass. Midfielder Griffin would soon follow into the book, however this appeared harsh as he clearly took the ball.
In the 26th minute, the sublime Mooney delivered a low corner to Guy who volleyed over the bar, this was such a shame as he connected beautifully.
Rayners Lane threatened seriously for the 1st time on 29 minutes as one of the central defenders meandered forward, he was not tracked by anyone and unleashed a powerful shot, which struck the bar.
Local boy Terry Wood showed us some good work on 34 minutes and released Guy through the defence who bobbed and weaved, but could not get a powerful enough shot off. This chance seemed to inspire Lambourn and straight after more impressive footwork from stalwart Ade Mooney who released the dangerous Guy, he just got his toe to the ball ahead of the goalkeeper, the ball appeared to be going towards the far post where former Cyprus international Chrissy Prior was who could have sparked up a pipe while tapping this in the empty net, however amazingly Prior forgot what the objective of the game was and decided to let the ball drift off for a goal kick. Fernando Torres would have been proud of that miss!!!
Another chance for Guy on 42 minutes who after his own good work got a shot off to be thwarted by their goalkeeper who deflected the ball past the far post. From the resultant corner Ade Mooney played a short pass to Prior who gave the ball back to the ageing forward who crossed underneath the goalkeeper where Guy was challenging and headed the ball into the net, only for it to be disallowed by the referee. That was a real let off for Rayners Lane as this seemed a fair challenge by Guy.
Half time and 0-0, Lambourn clearly had the better of the first half, with Richie Guy and local legend Ade Mooney linking up superbly. On this showing is was surprising to belive that the opposition was top of the league!
After their impressive first half, Lambourn unsurprisingly made no changes.
The theme of the 1st half continued as after 51 minutes, Richie Guy made yet another great run, battling through a number of defenders and managing to get the ball to Liam Griffin who shot well only be saved well by the goalkeeper who pushed the ball wide of the near post. Ade Mooney saw a foul when Griffin got his shot off and his demands for a penalty earned him a booking, adding further to his current debt to the club.
On 53 minutes disaster struck for Lambourn as Steven Pleass launched himself into a tackle the only way he knows how and while it looked as though he connected with the ball the ref alleged the tackle to be a dangerous one and gave Pleass his 2nd booking, thus putting the boys from the valley down to 10 men.
3 minutes after the sending off, Rayners Lane right back Damian Cruickshank mounted an attack, played a 1-2 with one of his strikers and finished the return ball well, Rayners Lane were 1-0 up.
Sadly, the loss of a player not only affected their shape, but it completely changed their momentum and gaps were appearing everywhere across the pitch. After 61 minutes Lambourn management tried to prevent this with the introduction of Lloyd Ponsford for Chrissy Prior and also amending the formation to 3 at the back.
It was all Rayner Lane, and they nearly increased their advantage after 63 minutes, however the post came to the rescue of the headed opportunity.
On 70 minutes Richie Guy was replaced by Fraser Joyce, the 65 people on attendance at the game all applauded Guy as he walked off the pitch, proving that you can do more work in 70 minutes of football that you can do in a whole day working on the tarmac!
On 74 minutes, after more intricate passing by RaynersLane, substitute Dene Gardner made it 2-0 for the home team.
Steve Annetts made a great save on 80 minutes at point blank range, he hasn't put a foot wrong all game.
Ranyers Lane go 3-0 up after 83 minutes as Ryan Upton scored after yet another fantastic by Steve Annetts, but the ball fell to Upton who could not miss.
The home side's Ryan Upton scored 2 more goals in the closing minutes of this game making it a final score of 5-0, however this was not a fair reflection of how Lambourn controlled the game for the 1st 55 minutes. Unfortunately, the sending off changed the game completely.
Upon reflection the positives for Lambourn were the 1st half performances of Richie Guy and veteran Ade Mooney. Lambourn finished the game with only 2 at the back and full credit to both Alex Hendren and Kirk Willmoth for their never say die attitude.
Lambourn's man of the match was Alex Hendren who just shaded it given the fact that 1 of his work colleagues had phoned in sick in the morning, consequently Hendren had to complete 2 full paper rounds before running around tirelessly for 90 minutes today.
Managers Clark and Mcnally declined interviews yet again.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Sunday, 11 September 2011
Lambourn Res 0-0 Maidenhead
Starting Line Up: Mckeever, Griffin, K Willmoth (c), Pleass, A Hendren, Stroud, Dart, Prior, Langford, Mooney, Wood. Subs Joyce, Beale & Guy.
A game of very few chances as the back fours controlled the game, A point each a fair reflection of the game. Lambourn did create the best two chances of the game, The first a effort by Dart coming back off the bar and Mooney heading over the rebound. The second coming from a long clearence from Mckeever catching out the Maidenhead back four but Mooney's effort was smothered by the Keeper.
The second half was a frantic affair we both sides snapping into tackles and looking for the win.This was all in vein as no real chances were created and both sides seem to settle for the draw after 80 minutes.
Attendance 77
MOM Pleass.
A game of very few chances as the back fours controlled the game, A point each a fair reflection of the game. Lambourn did create the best two chances of the game, The first a effort by Dart coming back off the bar and Mooney heading over the rebound. The second coming from a long clearence from Mckeever catching out the Maidenhead back four but Mooney's effort was smothered by the Keeper.
The second half was a frantic affair we both sides snapping into tackles and looking for the win.This was all in vein as no real chances were created and both sides seem to settle for the draw after 80 minutes.
Attendance 77
MOM Pleass.
Saturday, 3 September 2011
Chalfont 3-2 Lambourn
Starting Line up: S Annetts, Pleass, M Annetts, K Willmoth, A Hendren, Guy, Dart, Langford, Prior, Stroud & Mooney. Subs Griffin, Beale & Joyce.
An excellent Ryan Martindale hatrick in what was otherwise an average performance from the Stingers against a solid Lambourn side enabled Wasps to take all three points, remain unbeaten and, following four straight victories, stay top of the league.
Lambourn had much of the possession, stifled Wasps midfield creativity but were unable to make many of their promising approach play count. The Wasps however looked more dangerous when in the oppositions final third and this was what cost the Visitors in the end. Wasps took the lead after 18 minutes when Martindale received a clever through ball from Simon Williams and, with a superb first touch to get the ball under his spell, cleverly lobbed the advancing keeper from 18 yards. Fred Tripp had the best of the next batch of Wasps chances but was well smothered as a strike looked likely. Lambourn continued to press throughout the 90 minutes and hit the crossbar from a corner just before levelling the score 1-1 through Stroud after 36 minutes. The score remained even come half time.
A heavy shower welcomed players and supporters for the second half and play continued in a similar pattern to the first period with Lambourne once again dominating midfield and the Wasps counter attacks being more threatening. Wasps took the lead once again on the 58 minute mark after some great wing play from Tripp got him behind the visitor’s rear guard and allowed him to find Martindale with a measured cross/pass which was slotted home confidently. As the sunshine resumed Wasps were doing just enough to protect their lead as Lambourn continued to press. Then a poor blind header back to the Wasps keeper fell short and Lambourn’s Dan Longford maximised the error and finished cleverly from a tight angle. 2-2 felt looked a likely and fair outcome with 12 minutes remaining. However, Wasps then sprung into life and started to press Lambourn back into their final third and created some chances. Simon Williams first blazed over with a shot on the turn on 85 minutes and two minutes later Martindale finished off his near perfect hatrick with a well measured downward header at the far post from another Tripp cross. So, Wasps grabbed all three points on the day, made it four wins in four and have netted an impressive 17 league goals already this season.
MOM Langford
Match report supplied by Chalfont.
An excellent Ryan Martindale hatrick in what was otherwise an average performance from the Stingers against a solid Lambourn side enabled Wasps to take all three points, remain unbeaten and, following four straight victories, stay top of the league.
Lambourn had much of the possession, stifled Wasps midfield creativity but were unable to make many of their promising approach play count. The Wasps however looked more dangerous when in the oppositions final third and this was what cost the Visitors in the end. Wasps took the lead after 18 minutes when Martindale received a clever through ball from Simon Williams and, with a superb first touch to get the ball under his spell, cleverly lobbed the advancing keeper from 18 yards. Fred Tripp had the best of the next batch of Wasps chances but was well smothered as a strike looked likely. Lambourn continued to press throughout the 90 minutes and hit the crossbar from a corner just before levelling the score 1-1 through Stroud after 36 minutes. The score remained even come half time.
A heavy shower welcomed players and supporters for the second half and play continued in a similar pattern to the first period with Lambourne once again dominating midfield and the Wasps counter attacks being more threatening. Wasps took the lead once again on the 58 minute mark after some great wing play from Tripp got him behind the visitor’s rear guard and allowed him to find Martindale with a measured cross/pass which was slotted home confidently. As the sunshine resumed Wasps were doing just enough to protect their lead as Lambourn continued to press. Then a poor blind header back to the Wasps keeper fell short and Lambourn’s Dan Longford maximised the error and finished cleverly from a tight angle. 2-2 felt looked a likely and fair outcome with 12 minutes remaining. However, Wasps then sprung into life and started to press Lambourn back into their final third and created some chances. Simon Williams first blazed over with a shot on the turn on 85 minutes and two minutes later Martindale finished off his near perfect hatrick with a well measured downward header at the far post from another Tripp cross. So, Wasps grabbed all three points on the day, made it four wins in four and have netted an impressive 17 league goals already this season.
MOM Langford
Match report supplied by Chalfont.
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