Result Conceals Degree of Mead's Under Achievement

Amateur Football Combination Premier Division - Old Aloysian 2 Old Meadonians 2

Old Meadonians will be very disappointed with this result which on the face of it appears creditable in that they came away from the champions’ and league leaders, Aloysians’ Hornsey lair with an away point. However, these facts conceal a degree of under achievement.

Four weeks ago Meads handed Aloysians a thorough five nil drubbing at Riverside Lands and yet on Saturday they were unable to take advantage of a team reduced to eight men by the final whistle. Despite this the hosts have more to worry about, for although the rump of their team held out doggedly, their woes were induced by a total lack of individual discipline.

Twenty minutes into the second half the beginning of a mass exodus was triggered by a double yellow card incident as a player goaded the referee into taking extreme action. There then followed what the referee deemed a malicious swing of the arm for a second lonely walk and when, with ten minutes to go a third player continued to contest the referee’s decision he left eight of his colleagues to fend for themselves for the remainder of the match.

Not that he need have worried overmuch as the extreme disruption seemed to sap Meads’ ambition and they failed to capitalise on their deserved advantage. Meads could also point to an element of misfortune when the hosts took the lead after twenty minutes, with a twenty-five yard free kick being lifted over the wall into the top corner to give debutant reserve team keeper Chris McNamara no chance.

Meads did have the lead for ten minutes in the second half as firstly Leon Smith shielded the ball nicely in the box for Andy Thompson to sweep in his well timed pass. Smith then took advantage of a suicidal back pass to round the keeper but that was Meads last shot in the locker. They were hit by a sucker punch as a long throw was headed on and nodded in at the far post for Aloysians’ undeserved equaliser.

Team: McNamara, Graham, Palmer, Pilcher, Lloyd, Glover, Gerrish, Lovell, (Caran), Thompson, Eguae, Smith.

November 25, 2008