Burridge 2-1 Southampton BTC Reserves

Saturday 10 March

Not only do BTC have an away kit, it also features their club crest. Their crest may only be the three letters that make up their name, but that in itself is an extra three or four pounds to the cost of a shirt. Such costs are something that most clubs in the Southampton League could do without, regardless of the fact that most don’t have a club crest anyway.

Mark Reeves congratulates Chris Pye for the second goal.

BTC normally play in blue and white stripes. However, this clashes with our blue and black kit, so today they wear a red number with yellow trim. It has more than a whiff of Melchester Rovers about it. Although any further association with Roy of the Rovers is quashed by BTC’s insistence on swearing at the referee whenever they feel a foul has been awarded against them unfairly. It is unlikely that Roy’s moral compass would have allowed that kind of behaviour on his watch, even if it did seem that BTC were later denied what seemed to be a certain penalty.

It is BTC who start the brighter. Buoyed on by several men gruff men, all following the Barry Fry method of encouragement, they take the lead from a goal I can claim partial assistance to. It seemed reasonable to play the way I was facing and lay back to Marc Judd, but my pass lacked pace and accuracy. Although the danger was momentarily cleared, BTC scored from a volley from the resulting cross. With neither of us wanting to be held accountable for the goal, Judd and I exchanged insults for a moment or two.

Chris Pye was a useful outlet on the right, as was Sam Hewitt on the left. Sam Schwodler was adamant that he had been tripped in the box, as were BTC moments later, when the referee seemed to make that silent pact that referees are inclined to, in that two mistakes that neither side benefit from are in fact better than one.

Our equaliser comes from Sam Schwodler, having been put through by Martyn Barnett. Schwodler seemed second favourite to get to the ball, but a combination of goalkeeping hesitancy and BTC’s defence insistence on shepherding the ball back to the ‘keeper, gave Sam the time to get to the ball and poke it in. What turned out to be the winning goal came when Sam Hewitt received a short corner and cut in on the bye line, outing in a cross over the goalkeeper that Chris Pye met with his head. 2-1 and still a god hour left to play, but we had done enough to win this one.

GK: Ryan Jones, RB: Mark Reeves: CB:Kev Willsher, CB:Marc Judd, LB:Dan Allen, LM:Chris Pye (Paul Andrews), CM:John Rix, CM:Mark Sanderson (Ryan Hurst), CM:Martyn Barnett, RM:Sam Hewitt, CF:Sam Schwodler

Netley Central 2-1 Burridge AFC

Saturday 3 March 2012

Netley are unbeaten at the top of the Senior Division, and just one game away from the Southampton Senior Cup Final. The final is the showpiece game in local grassroots football, mainly because it is played at the thirty-two thousand seat St.Mary’s stadium, a world away from any club’s facilities  in the competition. Netley is along the shore of Southampton water that flows into the Solent.

They play at their local recreation ground – albeit one with a floodlit pitch. Sat around the half-way line are two old men dressed almost exclusively in beige, drinking from Thermos flasks. If they have come expecting something approaching finesse that Netley’s status as defending champions may suggest then they will both leave disappointed.

If today’s performance is anything to go by, the foundations of Netley’s season were not built on dilly dallying - especially at the back. They have no qualms booting off for a throw-in in the opening exchanges, ands appear to be in a hurry to get this game over with in time for Wednesday’s semi final. Our squad has been reduced to thirteen players.

This includes manager Paul Dyke, who names himself as substitute. The most significant absence is goalkeeper, Ryan Jones, who declared himself unwell on the morning of the game. Paul Andrews steps in to replace him. He has played in goal for us several times before. He does little to reassure us by saying that he is shitting it.

As we settle into the opening minutes of the game we go and do the worst thing possible by taking the lead. Chris Pye’s centre is laid back by Martyn Barnett toward Sam Schwodler, who thumps in from eighteen yards. This rattles Netley’s cage. They strike the underside of Paul Andrews’ crossbar twice in as many minutes.

 It is a taster for things to come. Netley score twice before half-time, both goals coming via corner kicks. This is something that our centre backs, Kev Willsher and Marc Judd, are furious about. The second-half is a spirited affair with little memorable goal mouth action, other than a comical goal line clearance from Marc Judd.

Having already rounded Paul Andrews, a Netley attacker strode casually toward the six yard box to side foot past Marc Judd, whose plans to block the ball seemed hopeful at best since he’d lost his footing. Judd then managed to raise his backside to the ball, deflecting it wide of the post by the narrowest of margins. We lost, as did Netley on Wednesday night.

GK: Paul Andrews, RB: Mark Reeves: CB:Kev Willsher, CB:Marc Judd, LB:Dan Allen, LM:Chris Pye, CM:John Rix, CM:Mark Sanderson (Rob Mills), CM:Martyn Barnett, RM:Sam Hewitt, CF:Sam Schwodler

Thornhill Health Kicks 3-2 Burridge AFC

This was the first ever meeting between the two teams. Thornhill Health Kicks have made a steady rise up the Southampton League over the last three years. Aside from a disastrous 9-1 thrashing at Cadnam they have had a good season, knocking unbeaten league leaders Netley Central out of the cup.

Today’s game takes place in the eastern suburbs of Southampton, at what was Weston Park School. At present it is undergoing a drastic makeover, and is now known as The Oasis Academy – which is all part of some educational reform that has passed me by. Finding the changing rooms is not straightforward.

Myself, Martyn Barnett, John Rix and Sam Schwodler get lost inside the school grounds. We walk our wet footprints through one of the new white floored developments. This tests the patience of a member of staff, who goes to great lengths in explaining how much effort has been put into keeping them clean. She does at least point us in the right direction, if for no other reason than to shoo us out. A grey 1960’s block stands next to a more recent, bright white building. Mark Reeves points to one classroom in the former; identifying it as the place he had geography lessons. The school’s face lift looks well overdue.

Sam Schwodler disagrees with an offside decision in the background. David Smart feels likewise.

Thornhill wear the Southampton replica strip, circa 2006. The traditional red and white stripes are overshadowed by a black strip of panelling that runs down the shoulders, was worn by such footballing luminaries as Jermaine Wright, Kamil Kosowski and Gareth Bale. The pitch itself has been rolled. It is flat and reasonably big. As we walk out onto it, it starts raining.

Earlier in the season it would not be unreasonable to see Ben Rowe, Kristian Hewitt, Lee Fielder, Daniel Esfandiari, Chris Pye, and Ryan Hurst all in the starting line-up for Burridge. From that list only Chris Pye is involved today, taking his place on the substitute’s bench after a couple of months spent injured. The other names from that list have either taken a step back from playing, or fallen to injuries and work commitments, like Ryan Hurst.

Once again, Sam Hewitt steps in to replace Hurst, alongside Kev Willsher in central defence. It is not a position Sam enjoys playing in, but he goes on to have a barnstorming game, highly influential at both ends of the field. We struggle to leave our half during the first fifteen minutes.

Thornhill impose themselves with a quick passing game and it isn’t long before they take the lead, exploiting space inside our penalty area and hitting a shot in Jones’ right-hand corner. Slowly we ease into their half. Marc Judd and John Rix see plenty of the ball on either flank. The equaliser comes when John breaks free of the offside trap and drills a cross low across the six yard box. Sam Schwodler pounces to make it one-all.

The move that led to the equaliser is surpassed when Sam Hewitt intercepts on the edge of his own penalty area and strides forward purposefully. He plays a one-two with John Rix that takes him deep into Thornhill’s half. He has the presence of mind to bisect a busy penalty area by cutting the ball back to Martyn Barnett, who smashes into the top corner from the edge of box. Martyn is a reliable striker of the ball. This was another goal to add to his fine collection.

Marc Judd goes into the referee’s book for dissent. He is furious that the referee has missed what he considered a hay maker, thrown in his direction. We go in at half-time 2-1 up. Both Thornhill Health Kicks and the referee disappear into the bowels of the school, leaving us outside in the rain to gather our thoughts.

Paul Dyke makes us aware that Thornhill will start the second-half quickly. It’s an accurate prediction. They equalises within minutes of the restart. Although there is some doubt over the legitimacy of the goal. Chris Pye, who was running the line, was man enough to admit that as he wasn’t up with play there will always remain a doubt over offside, but the opportunity as a team to deal with the situation had already been missed.

With their tails now up, Thornhill go for the jugular, committing plenty of bodies forward. Their third goal comes from twenty-five yard. Their captain receives a short free kick, side steps past me and hits a low drive inside Jones’ right hand post. The mini collapse is a test of our resolve. At this stage of the game it is unlikely anyone would have believed there would be no further goals for the remaining half hour. The game is open.

Dan Allen puts in his finest performance in a Burridge shirt at left back, cutting inside and linking well with Marc Judd. Sam Schwodler has serious misgivings with the judgement of Thornhill’s linesman. While he doesn’t doubt every decision, there are one or two he has serious reservations over. Chris Pye, on for Smart, is not given offside when he finds himself clean through on goal. A lack of match fitness robs him of his usual self-belief and the chance comes to nothing.

By now frustration is getting the better of Thornhill. One or two of them seem very sensitive to any criticism. One of their strikers, who has already been booked, pushes his luck with some reckless challenges. He begins arguing the toss over a goal kick with the referee. His debating technique relies heavily on verbal abuse. His surprise at being sent off tells its own story.

We push hard for an equaliser. In the closing minutes we win several corners, but Thornhill stand firm to win the game. They are nestled in third position, while we are ninth. Then comes the straw that breaks the camel’s back. After running around in the rain and mud one comes to expect a shower. We stood expectantly under the showers waiting for a flow of water that never came. In terms of performance, Burridge manager, Paul Dyke, is not satisfied in anything less than 100% commitment. In the absence of any points, sweat would have to do.

GK: Ryan Jones, LB: Dan Allen, CB: Kev Willsher, CB: Sam Hewitt, RB: Mark Reeves (Rob Mills), LM: Marc Judd, CM: Martyn Barnett, CM: Mark Sanderson, RM: John Rix, CF: David Smart (Chris Pye), CF: Sam Schwodler

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Back to winning ways

Durley Reserves 2-4 Burridge AFC

The kind of hard frost we woke up to on Saturday morning is usually sufficient in threatening the go-ahead of any game without the benefit of under soil heating; namely all Southampton League games. Nearby Hedge-End’s Norman Rodway ground was deemed unplayable because of a frozen pitch. This didn’t bode well for Durley, which is a relatively rural location and therefore more susceptible to the elements of an overdue cold snap of weather. Saturday’s bright sunshine quickly thawed out the pitch and the game went ahead.

Durley always seem to be scratching around for points at the lower reaches of the table, but no matter what personnel they have at their disposal – and there were many familiar faces from previous encounters playing today - they are never an easy team to roll over. Once again, Paul Dyke was forced to reshuffle his pack. Ryan Hurst was tied up with work commitments as a painter and decorator, while Kev Willsher has succumbed to a further back strain. Dave Williams and Sam Hewitt stepped in to replace them in the centre of defence. Both enjoy solid performances. With a shortage of available strikers, Dyke called upon Paul Andrews' fifteen years of experience to play up front with Sam Schwodler.

As perennial slow starters to games, Dyke tweaked our pre-match warm-up by getting us to play a keep ball session right up to the referee’s whistle. This ensured the blood was pumping. That there was only one goal in the first half wasn’t a reflection on the amount of goal mouth action at both ends. Martyn Barnett hit the post, while we forced Durley’s keeper into making several saves from long-range shots. A flowing passing movement from back to front ended when Sam Schwodler shot low into the goalkeeper’s right from just inside the penalty area.

Durley offered themselves encouragement at half-time, by saying they’d had the better chances of the game. Although there was some truth in it their opportunities arose from our carelessness as opposed to any of their creativity. Ryan Jones was not his usual sprightly self in goal. A seventy hour working week fitting disabled bathrooms for an MOD hospital unit in Leatherhead had taken its toll on his energy reserves. Goalkeeping clearances became a chore for his heavy legs, with one accidentally serving as devastatingly accurate pass into the feet of an unmarked Durley striker, who Jones managed to foil by diving bravely at his feet.

Dan Allen is in the mood. ‘I’m up for it today,’ he told me, as he eyed up the goal posts he sent a strike whistling narrowly over in last season’s 3-1 win. Today he was switched from right midfield to left-back. In his new Adidas boots he put in a coming of age performance full of running and a fondness to drop his shoulder in the attempt to get past his man; although with the score poised delicately at 3-2 he was guilty of over-elaborating on one or two occasions times, giving away possession and had to be reined in by Paul Dyke, who screamed at him to play the fucking percentage ball - up the line into the open grass ahead of him

Daniel Esfandiari was back in the side - this week he was not working at the call centre. He took up a position on the right of midfield in a 4-4-2. He later betrayed a little rust, when his attempted back heel cannoned into his standing foot, which in turn knocks him off balance. It’s a rare sight. Normally he is graceful, but on this occasion he produced fodder for 'You’ve Been Framed. 'However, he is influential, putting in several teasing balls into Durley’s penalty area.

Durley equalised within minutes of the second half. It was a neat finish from just inside the penalty area. We didn’t waste too much time debating it. Jones then made a very timely reflex save when it would have appeared easier to score. Durley put through their own net – heading in from a corner. Sam Schwodler then gets in on the act. At first it looked like he’s fluffed his one-on-one with the goalkeeper, who does well to deny Sam space to shoot. Sam retreated, then chipped the goalkeeper and also and more crucially the defender, who had shown the diligence to cover his onrushing goalkeeper. He came within inches of heading it off the line; but, sadly for him, the ball rolled down the back of the net for 3-1. Durley scored immediately on the counter attack, but our win is sealed when Martyn Barnett scores with a twenty-five yard pile-driver. Marc Judd does his best to out do Barnett, but Durley’s keeper tips his strike over the bar.

Burridge lined-up in a 4-4-2 formation:

GK:Ryan Jones, LB:Dan Allen, CB:Dave Williams, CB:Sam Hewitt, RB:Mark Reeves, LM:Marc Judd, CM:Martyn Barnett, CM:Mark Sanderson, RM:Daniel Esfandiari, CF:Sam Schwodler, CF:Paul Andrews (Rob Mills)



Late Tackle Magazine: I have an article called 'N o One Likes Us' on the perils of being an MK Dons supporter in the current issue of Late Tackle Magazine, which includes an account of a trip with their fans to a game against Sheffield United at Brammall Lane. It is available on the shelves of WH Smith.