Camden FC 2 - 1 Morgans FC aet
05 November 2006 - Report by Kirk Weyman
CROC'S EXTRA TIME WINNER PUTS CAMDEN INTO NEXT ROUND
Starting Lineup: Mildred, Ashley, Catty(cpt), Kaan, Dave, Benneth, Kirk, Burge, Martin Layle, Gambling Kev, Searley. Subs: Salad, Chris, Ginge, Paul.
“You can only win by cheating” was the moaning pikey squeal coming from the mouth of a random ‘woman’ from the opposition’s crowd at full time. She wasn’t particularly happy and was, I believe, accusing the hard working and honest referee of being a little biased towards the home team. She, of course, was correct in that a few harsh decisions went for the Camden but do the boys care and is she important in any way – no! After all, these things always even themselves out over a season….
A different slant on the opening to this week’s edition of The Daily Greek – starting with a quote no less. Back to some pre match offerings, of which there is, unusually, little. I believe that there were a few opened mouthed gasps, screaming and some fainting as local News Shopper celebrity, Ashley, turned up at Flamingo Park to grace the Camden with a performance. How the lads were honoured, as was everyone else at the park. The Greek turned up, struggled to get the kit bag out of his ridiculously undersized boot and then gave the kit to the team with the 4(FOUR) times washed shorts. (The last wash was each pair being washed individually by hand!)
Also, a special mention and a warm and hearty chorus of HAPPY BIRTHDAY must go to Martin Layle as the lad turns 18 on Tuesday with this weekend being his celebratory weekend. His festivities involved winning £200 at Crayford dogs (courtesy of Dave giving him £50 for the last race and Laul backing the winner at 4/1) and receiving a Bluto made cake at the Camden public house, with a naked picture of him as a baby on it. I was unable to attend but am assured that there was suitable embarrassment.
The boys strutted onto the pitch with the, mostly flat, footballs and began to blaze numerous shots over the bar. Smudger then entered the playing area with Kev Wright walking with him, trying to trip him up in order to injure the lad and get his place back in goal. Paul was strong though and instead Kev taught him everything he knew for about 5 minutes. The Salad then took everyone through the pre match warm up, with good sound effects added to try and scare Morgans into submission.
Unfortunately, this didn’t scare them into submission. After a dodgy kick off by them and an early shot by the Gambler Morgans got at the very below par Camden and created several chances. The home side seemed to struggle a lot with the long hoof by Morgans defence and eventually they reaped their reward. After a few shots blazed over the visiting side had a chance in the box. It seemed that the Camden were about to get rid but the attempted clearance hit their attacker and flew in past the helpless Paul in goal. 1-0 to Morgans.
This goal came after about 15 minutes and the Camden still didn’t wake up as from a corner soon after their unmarked centre back rose like a salmon to power a header home. It looked like 2-0 but suddenly the completely unbiased ref gave a free kick to the Camden for an apparent push by the goal scorer. There was much moaning but the decision wasn’t going to be changed and the home side were let off the hook.
For the last 10/15 minutes of the half the Camden got their foot on the ball a little bit more and created a few openings. Unfortunately they couldn’t come up with any dangerous shots and their keeper wasn’t really tested. It was a very poor performance by the Premier League side and deservedly went in at the break a goal behind. 1-0 Morgans at half time....
It was a much brighter start to the second half for the lads as Morgans were pressed back into their own half for the first bit of consistent pressure they faced all game. Still no real openings and so after about 10 minutes Paul and Chris were brought on for Benneth and Kev. The Camden's passing was much better and Morgans only played on the break for the majority of the second period, trying to slow the game down at every opportunity. The home side made some good chances and had some dangerous corners. Their keeper was forced into action on several occasions, making some smart saves.
Ginge was then brought on for Burge, slipping in at left back with Dave going into the holding role in centre midfield. Martin Layle come of age in the second half with some amazing late and crunching tackles on their right back. Apparently his card was marked, a comment, which not only made Laul quiver with fear but also prompted Dave (his dad) to say that the right backs card was marked. Lots of marked cards. The Camden piled on the pressure with the lively Chris stunned at the amazing right handed save their keeper made to turn away his goal bound effort.
The breakthrough eventually came though as the ball found Chris one on one with their keeper and produced a cool little chipped finish into the corner of the net. 1-1 and no more then the Camden deserved for their second half efforts. With only about 10 minutes left the Camden probed for the winner but it was not forthcoming. Morgans, on a rare attack, in the last minute accused the ref of cheating yet again as Kaan blatantly handballed the ball in his own box. However, a shocking lino decision by Matt giving them a throw just beforehand meant that justice was done. Full time 1-1.
Several calls of Morgans having no football left in them roused the team as they entered extra time. The first half wasn’t too eventful, though the Camden again were the more dominant. There were some more crunching tackles by Martin, Kirk was worried about getting to work on time, and they did have one effort just before the break, which was well saved by Mildred.
In the second half and the Camden again were on top of the tiring Morgans. Dave moved up front after getting a knock after a hospital pass from Paul, with American Dad moving into midfield. Not too much goal mouth action but with 7 minutes left Chris sent Dave through, their centre back, generously, showed Dave to his stronger left side and he buried the shot past the despairing lunge of their excellent keeper. 2-1 to the Camden....
The boys held firm in the remaining minutes, Dave and Kirk doing some excellent time wasting from a corner and then with seconds to go the Greek did a superb – and very necessary – clearance off the pitch when under no pressure. He hopes that Jamie will be proud of that. Full time 2-1.
Not the best display from the boys but they ground out a result when yet another 1-0 defeat loomed. Maybe a few close calls went the way of the Camden but s*it happens. Rob ‘Geoff Shreeves’ Robinson interviewed Searley in the shower and on expecting a comedy reply to “Head and Shoulders, do you suffer from dandruff?”, Searle said “Actually, yes”. Not a good start to his interviewing career. Never mind. A healthy £51 profit was made on the meat raffle at the pub too. A successful day all round.
Man of the Match: Dave Lee for his rasping winner and general shouting during the day, especially at poor little Kev.