2008-09 Results - December

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Saturday 20th December

Old Parmiterians 4 Accies 1sts 0.

Accies 2nds 1 (Sam Prentki) Old Hamptonians 1.

Accies 3rds 0 Albanian 3.

Accies 4ths 3 (Tom Lovell, Paul Armstrong, Dave Jones) Goffs Old Boys 1.

Old Edmontonians 3 Accies 5ths 1 (Tom Porter).

4ths Match Report from Si Randall

Accies 4s were top of the tree at Christmas after a convincing home win against a disappointing Goffs Old Boys side. This was a game for the purists as it was outstanding wing play of the old-fashioned kind that tore Goffs apart. The men responsible were Gary Taylor and the left-footed Paul Armstrong, although the contributions of full-backs Nick Whitbread and Mark Emmerson should not be underestimated.

The ref's whistle for the kick-off was still echoing when Accies broke down the right and Tom Lovell delivered an inch-perfect diagonal cross for the on-rushing Armstrong, who headed in with his first touch of the game. From this point on Goffs had no answer to the skill and pace of Taylor, and the skill of Armstrong. Both constantly justified the Accies plan of spreading the ball quickly, and showed the value of staying wide and waiting for the right moment to cross.

It was no surprise when the second went in, Lovell jinking his way into the box and the ball falling to the excellent Dave Jones whose crisp drive ricocheted in off the bar. And a dream first half was complete when Armstrong's fabulous cross from the left-hand touchline was converted by Lovell.

Accies couldn't keep it up in the second half, mostly due to a blundering performance from an obviously hungover Si Randall, and Goffs pulled one back with a training ground free-kick routine. The home side still had a number of chances, but father-to-be Graham 'Eeyore' Whitworth's luck wasn't in and he had to settle with giving the cross-bar a good battering.

The 4s have looked in good shape in recent weeks, and look like rueing a couple of avoidable defeats early on that may scupper promotion chances. The return of the terrier-like Paul Campbell to the midfield has made the team a stronger defensive unit, and we look forward to rematches with the top few sides in the league.

Saturday 13th December

Accies 1sts 3 (Dave Coates, Simon Carrasco, Dave Jenkin) Old Parmiterians 1.

Southgate County 1 Accies 2nds 3 (Kieron Jennings, Gareth Jones, og).

Accies 3rds 5 (Alex Nekrasov 2, Harry Brunjes, Chris Groves, Lysander Bryant) Citigroup 1.

Old Buckwellians 6 Accies 4ths 2 (Graham Whitworth, Rob James - this is no error - Rob James).

Accies 5ths vs Lea Valley postponed.

Accies 6ths 3 (Alistair Booton 2, Ryan Harbi) Winchmore Hill 7.

Saturday 6th December

Old Salesians 2 Accies 1sts 3 (Simon Carrasco 2, Dave Jenkin).

HAC vs Accies 2nds postponed.

Bealonians 4 Accies 3rds 0.

Accies 4ths 2 (Tom Lovell 2) Bealonians 1.

Accies 5ths 2 (Tom Porter, Siadhal Magos) Old Woodhouseians 1.

Accies 6ths 1 (Subomi Fapohunda) Enfield Old Grammarians 1.

4ths Report from Si Randall

Tom Lovell notched twice as Accies 4s showed themselves capable of grinding out a result with a 2-1 defeat of Old Bealonians 5s.  It was crunch time for both sides, with just goal difference separating them in second and third place in Division 5 North.  This goal difference had been given a pleasing complexion for the Accies by the 6-0 shoeing they dealt Beals in the away fixture in October, but the visitors had showed good form since then while the 4s have stumbled a little.

The result owed much to tenacious defending and tough midfield play from the home side, with Rob James and Nick Whitbread particularly effective at centre half.  A midfield quartet with a combined height of 12 foot 3 dictated that the ball should be kept down and this was done in the most part successfully, recent signing Dave Jones and Dan Bennett spreading the ball quickly and holding position patiently when not in possession.  Many of Accies' best moments came from the slippery Gary Taylor in an unaccustomed left wing berth.

The Beales offside trap was not easily sprung but soon before half time Graham Whitworth's intelligent through ball found its way to Lovell, who finished calmly.  Suspicions of off-side were probably justified, but nevertheless the referee dished out yellow cards to members of the Beales Debating Society.

Playing into the sun in the second half, Accies struggled to keep the ball and it was lucky the imposing figure of Matt Redman was at the far post to head off the line.  Beales' long ball into the low sun provided some anxious moments, and Accies' second came against the run of play.  The returning Paul Campbell showed outstanding vision and skill to feed Lovell, who once again proved his confidence in one-on-one situations.

Two goals triggered a collapse in the corresponding away fixture, but this time Beales responded strongly, narrowing the deficit when Accies failed to find anyone tall enough to mark their six foot three centre half from a corner.  Soon after Tom Lloyd had to be his nimble self to block a goal-bound shot, and he was lucky not to be booked for his frank assessment of the quality of refereeing.