Abbey United 2 - 3 Camden FC
29 March 2009 - Report by Kirk Weyman
INSPIRED CAMDEN WRAP UP TITLE!
Starting Lineup: King, Carter, Catt(c), K Weyman, Robinson, L Lee, Son, Ahern, Harvey, B Whitehead, Ware Subs: O'Brien, Cameron, D Lee, Dowdall
A tense battle between the league’s top two sides was decided in dubious manner at the overcast Erith Rec. A Mike Harvey effort from a tight angle was deflected into the net off the hand of the Abbey full back leaving Harvey running off claiming the winner but many believing that the initial attempt was off target. We await the result from the Kent FA’s dubious goals panel.
SLEEP
A lost hour in bed was the result of British Summer Time arriving but this was to have no effect on the league leaders as they all arrived at a fresh Erith Rec at the usual time of 930am. Lack of sleep did seem to be the general theme but this wasn’t due to the clocks going forward, nerves seemed to be the major factor. Ware and Son both spoke of a sleepless night due to nerves and, skipper, Catt also complained of a poor night’s rest (though that was due to fruitless exerts in Cancun the previous week). Perhaps Rob, too, had suffered due to some questionable parking of his much squished Honda Jizz. Morale, however, remained high despite the importance of the game.
Since leading the table since October, Camden had become the team everyone wanted to beat and three defeats in the last five games had given Abbey and Crayford a sniff of glory. However, it was still Camden’s to lose and anything but a win against their nearest rivals would have left them relying on other results going their way to claim the title. Rallying war cry texts the previous night summed up the general mood: “COME ON YOU QUEERS LETS BEAT THIS BUNCH OF FUCKING CUNTS”. Perfect.
Out on the pitch Dave Lee let the boys know who would be starting this vital fixture and explained that their whole season had come down to this final 90 minutes. Shit or bust, if you will. The league could have been wrapped up at least a week earlier. It hadn’t. So it was down to 1 game. First versus second. It couldn’t have been bigger.
TIGHT
There were four changes from the defeat against Crayford the previous week. King took over from Wright in goal. Catt and Carter returned to the back line in favour of Lee and Cameron and Whitehead returned up front, replacing O’Brien. Beefcake Dowdall also returned from his painful trip abroad. He was one of four subs.
After letting in a first minute goal in the corresponding fixture a month previous, the Camden needed a tight and assured start. They succeeded in this as a nervy looking Abbey rarely threatened. In fact, chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes as a midfield battle ensued. Abbey, however, were the first to get a meaningful shot off on goal as a smart turn by their striker resulted in a high effort which King tipped over the bar with ease. Camden had a fair bit of the ball in the oppositions half but couldn’t break down the Abbey rearguard. A Ware effort over and a scuffed effort by Harvey were their best chances of the opening exchanges.
As the half went on the Camden began to get the upper hand. The midfield battle was being won with Son and Ahern winning most aerial duels and the wide men causing the Abbey full backs problems with their pace. With around five minutes remaining the Camden managed the breakthrough. A cross into the box was not cleared properly and the ball looped up into the air. An unmarked Son watched it all the way and unleashed a low volley. The keeper got his hands to it but could only push it in, 1-0. The deadlock was broken and Camden had taken a deserved lead.
With not long left in the half the away side wanted to get in with the lead but had to withstand constant Abbey pressure. A succession of corners was not properly cleared and an equaliser was the final result. An in swinging corner was punched away well from King under pressure to the edge of the box. Weyman’s header out was not strong enough and fell to the feet of an Abbey player about 25 yard out. Under no pressure he hit the ball first time, kept it low and it sailed through the crowd of players in the box into the corner past Kings despairing dive. 1-1. The whistle went soon after so honours even at the break.
COMMITMENT
A slightly deflated Camden walked over to the side of the pitch for a well earned glug of water. A hard fought first half. The half time talk was not to have a go at the players. The commitment and work rate of the team could not be faulted. Winning more of the second balls was the main call as everyone knew that the game was there for the winning. 45 minutes left of the season. 45 minutes left not to throw away months of hard work.
Camden came out of the blocks first from the restart putting Abbey immediately under pressure with strong tackles and forcing them back. Just a few minutes in the ball was slid through to Ware who got beyond the defence and in an attempt to round the keeper was brought down in the box. Penalty to Camden. Stonewall. After missing two penalties in the last game against Abbey everyone watching Whitehead step up to place the ball were nervous. They needn’t have been. He sent the keeper the wrong way and gave his team a 2-1 lead. The perfect start to the second period.
Again though, after taking the lead, Camden found themselves unable to clear their lines and was under immediate pressure. Overzealous attempts to win the ball back were resulting in numerous needless free kicks being gifted to Abbey in dangerous positions. For the most part King was strong in goal and came out to claim. Unfortunately, a deeper free kick meant he couldn’t come for the ball. The Abbey centre mid rose early above Ahern and headed back across goal. The defence were static as the lanky Abbey centre half headed it in with King helpless, though managing to destroy the defenders ankle in his dive.
Eventually the game got under way again as the Abbey scorer was taken off momentarily to be treated. Camden had squandered the league twice but needed to pick themselves up as a draw was no good to them. They also had to be focused as Abbey reshuffled their team when the injured centre half returned up front. The reason he was put there was because he was struggling to walk so it was surely a matter of time before he was replaced.
With about 65 minutes gone Camden took the lead for a third time. This time the ball was worked out to Harvey on the right wing. His first touch took him a little wide but he managed to get his shot away. The covering defender stuck his hand out and there were appeals for another penalty but as the ref went to point to the spot the ball flew past the keeper into the net so the goal was given. 3-2 Camden. Surely the lead couldn’t be lost for a third time.
As the clock ticked down Abbey put a third man up front. Son sat a bit deeper to counteract this as the Camden looked to hold on to this precious win. Camden also made changes with Cameron replacing Whitehead and O’Brien coming on for Harvey. A few bookings were given as tempers flared and frustration boiled over. The injured Abbey man was finally taken off to be replaced by a midget who proceeded to grab O’Brien’s arm and smack it in his own face trying to claim a laughable penalty.
Camden looked dangerous on the counter attack and a 4th goal would have put the game beyond Abbey. Ware had a shot saved by the keeper but it was Cameron, formerly of Abbey, who had the best chance to wrap up the game. A terrible attempted clearance from an Abbey defender left the ball about 20ft in the air. Cameron was unmarked as he watched the ball drop in the box. With the keeper injured, rooted on his line and the Abbey defence nowhere the goal was at his mercy. Unfortunately he didn’t realise he had so much time and his rushed volley was put well wide.
HEART STOPPING
With about five minutes remaining there was still time for a couple of heart stopping moments. None more so then when a cross from the left was nearly deflected into his own net from the skipper, Catt, who was thankful to see King dive low to his left and keep it out. Then, from another needless free kick conceded a scramble ensued. It was cleared but as the ball came back into the box 3 Abbey players attacked the ball but King brilliantly, and bravely, clung onto the ball, winning a free kick in the process.
The final whistle duly went soon after and Camden celebrations began. The players embraced each other as the injured Tom Balashev ran onto the pitch to join in the happy scenes. In the changing rooms manager Mark Weyman produced a 30 year old bottle of sparkling Cava which Catty shook up and sprayed over the jubilant squad. A hard fought victory and a tough season ended with the title the William Camden richly deserved.