Latymer Old Boys Vets @ home to Atlas Vets - Drew 2-2

The season is all but over with just one friendly fixture remaining.

I've really enjoyed this season - probably more so than any other season for ages. I always really miss playing during the break so thankfully, there's quite a bit going on this summer with England at the Euro's in Poland & Ukraine, as well as the much anticipated London Olympics featuring a Great Britain football team for the first time.

I was praying that England would get drawn into Group A at the Euro's as this is Poland's group meaning that we'd have played our group games in Warsaw. Ewelina's brother lives about twenty minutes from the stadium so I was all set to fly out and have somewhere to stay and hopefully get to a game! Of course sod's law - we get drawn not only in an entirely different group but also in an entirely different country with chuffing Ukraine so that's that idea gone.

As to team GB, I have to say I'm looking forward to having a bit of vested interest in the football tournament at the Olympics. I think we should have a GB team at every Olympics - a bit like the Rugby Lions. Just once every four years. I'm all for it.

To be honest I didn't expect us to have any games this late into April so I agreed a few weeks ago to go out with the wife and a load of pals on Saturday night into London. I don't really like getting smashed the night before a game - been there and done that too many times in the past! Kisstory wasn't all it was cracked up to be so stopping drinking early wasn't a great hardship but even so we ended up getting in at about 3am! Still, six hours sleep seemed enough and I was up - just...

So our last league game of the season and a home tie against Atlas. Memories of their last gasp winner at their place a few months back sprang to mind as I drove to Donkey Lane. It had been a tough, tight game and we had defended superbly only to concede right at the death to lose 2-1. I hoped that we could end the league campaign on a high and take a bit of sweet revenge. I was also wondering if 'Dobbie' (remember him?) was going to play up front for them. Codz properly wound him up last time so I was looking forward to more of the same.

In spite of a lack of sleep and leaving the house later than usual, I still managed to be the first to arrive behind Lev. The team had taken a bit of a change since his initial email had gone out in the week and there were to be a few new faces (for me anyway) for this game. Jeff Goumal (the other Greg's brother) was to finally make his first appearance of the season along with a couple of other chaps, John & Dan.

AK arrived into the changing rooms complete with bag all ready to play having answered the call from Lev who thought we would need him. Lev had already started getting changed so there began a quite comical exchange between the pair of them;

Lev: "Oh you're here..."

AK: "Er, yeah. I only caught your text message as I've just arrived."

Lev: "Well you might as well play now you're here."

AK: "No no it's fine - I don't have to. It's OK."

Lev: "No, it's fine you play. You haven't had a run out recently."

AK: "Honestly, it's fine. Besides you're already half changed."

Lev: "I don't have to play - it's fine."

AK: "No go on you play."

Lev: "It's OK, you play - besides I haven't even oiled up yet..!"

Priceless.

So we lined up with Jeff joining Codz, Mark and Wrexy across the back four, a midfield of Luffy, Nick, Swailsey and Dan with Jonesy playing in the hole behind Matty. John, Nipper and AK would join in the fun from the bench.

So we kicked off and right from the off it became apparent that this was going to be a tight affair. Atlas are a good passing team and the ball was spending a lot of time in the midfield. I noticed a few loose passes from both sides and there wasn't anything particularly clear cut in any of the play.

I had a few early touches, parrying one or two shots from distance that were comfortable and easy to deal with.

At the other end carving out opportunities to get a strike in weren't coming easy either.

I was feeling OK but at the same time wasn't perhaps fully at the races. In truth, I was just waiting for the kind of shot at me that should be relatively easy to deal but would probably cause me a bit of a problem. And of course it came...

I was only saying to myself earlier in the week that this is possibly the first season that I can remember where   I have got through without any one single major stupid goalkeeping gaff. Sure, there have been goals that on reflection I could and should have done better with and saved but there hadn't been any real cock-ups of real magnitude. Till now of course.

It came out of the blue - which is probably why I got done - but I was so fucking embarrassed. Their lad hit it rather 'speculatively' from their right flank and about thirty yards out. It was a bit of a grass-cutter and while it was hit with a good bit of pace I should have either flown straight down to get an easy block on it or at least kicked it - it was that close to me. As it was I did neither and stood kind of rooted to the spot and watched it travel towards me in slow-motion. The rather late flop to my right looked more of a token gesture than anything else. The ball went straight into the bottom corner and I cringed in agony at such a glaring mistake. To be fair, all the lads were great. I'm sure everyone inside their own minds was screaming at me but no one did aloud. Just words of encouragement and support. I'd let them down but was determined to put it right.

Sadly we lost Nick to injury as he seemed to do his ankle again. Nick's been brilliant this season - even when he couldn't play due to injury. A real battler who always gives 100%. Nipper slotted into the midfield to get us through to the break.

The rest of the first half passed without serious incident although I did rather flap at a ball that bounced into my box. I pushed it away to safety rather than take any sort of risk with a dodgy catch - I was still a bit shaky and just needed to get to half time.

I was expecting someone to say something and wanted to apologise as soon as possible but the team talk was more of a tactical chat and my stupid mistake and any apology was on the back burner. Getting back on level terms was all we cared about.

So we got under way. Jeff had been having a colossal game at centre-back. Really dominant and great on the ball. Our boys had the bit between their teeth and were doing all of the pushing.  Jonesy had switched with Nipper, coming into the centre of midfield and this seemed to offer us a bit more creativity and allow Nipper to become more involved at the top of the pitch. And was these two who were instrumental in the move that saw us draw level.

We gained a free kick on the edge of our box and as Jeff stood ready to take it he screamed to Jonesy, "Push up ten more yards, Jonesy - you'll get on to this.." 

Now I'm not sure if Jeff has psychic powers or had travelled into the future that morning for a sneaky look at things to come, but after the fact it seemed as if he just knew what was going to happen. Jonesy did as he was asked and pushed right up. Jeff launched the ball forwards and it found Matty mid-way into their half. His first touch was brilliant and he held it up long enough to lay it off to Nipper on our right hand side. Jonesy had kept running as Nipper first took it superbly away from their left-back into the box and then even better, dummied the Keeper who had come out to narrow the angle. Nipper looked up and fed a slide-rule pass across the six yard box for a grateful Jonesy to slot home from a few yards out. What a goal. I actually thought for a second I was watching Brazil. It was that good. 

We were right up for it but I was worried we'd do our usual and concede straight away. We didn't. 

No, not this time. Instead we scored a second goal for ourselves. And what a goal too. After some good play down their right, the ball found its way to Nipper who was about thirty yards out from their goal. As the ball dropped to him he shifted it onto his left side. We could all see him shaping up to smash it and boy did he do just that. The ball flew past the Keeper and under the bar. It was a stunning strike. Nipper, take a bow son, take a bow!

Sadly not long after that we lost Jeff to another injury. He had been immense all morning and launched himself across to clear the ball as it came through the middle. I heard his hamstring go from ten yards away. Not a tear or slight rip - this was a proper twang as it snapped. He was in agony. AK came on and was able to bring a calm head to the last thirty minutes.

Sure there was a little bit of pressure on my goal. I dealt with a low drive to my left that was straight forward enough but after my first half gaff, I was taking nothing for granted. AK shielded the ball as I grabbed it at the second attempt.

Another foray from Atlas into my box saw the ball cut loose to their striker who hit it from about eight yards out. I was able to get a diving right hand on it to keep it out. A bit of redemption. After that, I managed to race out and close down another attack as the ball sprung between their two strikers. I looked like a bit of a head-less chicken racing between the pair of them but it was enough for one of our lot to get behind me and then clear the ball away.

Atlas did manage finally to score again to draw level. It was a good goal to be fair. The ball was crossed over from their right and poor Wrexy was back-pedalling to desperately get his head on it. Their lad popped up and managed to get his head on it to send it looping high into the air, over me to fall just inside my left upright. I could do nothing to stop it. 

Time was running out and we were hanging on a bit. A draw would be a fair result but there was time for one last corner from Atlas. As we tried to clear it their player latched on to the ball and slid it back to his mate on the edge of the box. I knew straight away he was going to hit it. This was it. Time to make a difference. He caught it perfectly and the ball flew towards my bottom left corner. Thankfully, I reacted quickly and got across to get my full body behind it to parry it wide with a strong left wrist. 

Lasty blew the whistle instantly and the game ended.

We'd worked damn hard for a share of the spoils and although it wasn't a win, we were well chuffed to end our league campaign on a positive note.

I made my apology for my first half mistake but AK gave me a proper gee up offering kind words about the saves I had made in the second half making a real difference. So thanks to all the lads for going gently on me!

So just one friendly game left and that's it. 

Time for a look a like. This week in honour of such a superb strike I'll slot in one that I've been waiting to do for a while. Ladies & Gentlemen I give you "Nipperelli"

Latymer Old Boys Vets @ home to Kingsbury Vets (double header) Lost 1-0 & Lost 4-3

Yet again it's ages since my last post - purely as we haven't had a game for a couple of weeks. I've never known a season like it with so many spare weeks off. I think we were let down by a team for a friendly fixture so have ended up with no game since our last run out, which as I'm sure everyone remembers was my first win of the season (had to slip that in there again!)

I think it was probably more frustrating to not have had a game as I'm sure we would have wanted to carry-on with a bit of momentum following the victory. It seems a distant memory now...

A nice bit of news filtered through though from the club. Our yearly awards evening is taking place in a few weeks time and all the players were asked to put forward their nomination for the Player of the Season. I had to look twice when the email came through from Lev  - I was both pleasantly surprised and a little taken aback to find that along with Paul Matthews and Andrew Gittens, my name was on the short-list for the Vets! I have to be honest, I don't really know what to write about it. I feel great to be put forward as a candidate, especially as this is my first season with the team. But I also feel a little sheepish. I mean, I've let in so many bloody goals this season! One person commented, "Ah, but there's also quite a few that you haven't." This is true, but still, I hope folk don't think I'm now strutting around like Billy Big-Bollocks with delusions of grandeur. I'm not like that. I am just genuinely extremely honoured to be nominated and whoever wins, I'm sure will agree, will feel really quite proud.

The next thought that popped into my head was "Who the fuck is Andrew Gittens?!"

It occurred to me that I didn't have a clue who this person was. I mean he must have had a good season because he too was being nominated. I racked my brain and went through the team in my head. Nothing. It bugged me for hours.

Eventually, it hit me. Wrexy. I'd had a conversation with him in the bar after the Winchmore Hill game a few weeks before where I had said to him: "Wrexy, I'm not being funny, but what actually is your real name?"

He smiled wryly as he sipped his pint and said, "Andrew Gittens" The nickname 'Wrexy' was baptised upon him at university apparently as young Andrew is of course from Wrexham. I guess it's better than 'Gittsy' or even just 'Git'...

Wrexy has been brilliant this season, mainly at Centre Back but also at Right Back and once on Right Midfield and Paul has been superb scoring some terrific goals all through the season. I'm looking forward to a good night!

Yet again, we had to play a double-header which meant that one game was dealt with in the first 40 mins and then the second game was essentially, the second half. It all seems a bit short  - I'm used to playing two 30 mins-each-way games on double-headers. I think at Vets level the feeling is that two hours of football might be a bit much...

Lots of people were available again which meant that Lev had to leave people out. I know from experience how difficult it is picking a side and telling people that they won't be needed - especially if they've been around at the times when you've been really desperate for players. Someone is always going to feel pissed off. It's a catch-22 situation because you want to put out what you feel is the best team to go for a win but dropping people can result in losing them full-stop. I don't envy Lev. Everyone wants to play if they're available. I always found a phone-call across to individuals helped soften the blow and while trying to explain the situation isn't always easy, that personal touch makes a bit of a difference. There are lots of games in a season and experience tells us that there will be plenty of opportunity for everyone to be involved through the season. It isn't often that Lev has had to not include people because there have been weeks when we've been proper short. I guess those that have been there when we have been short feel a little snubbed to asked to step aside. Even so, when we've been losing nearly every game, any manager will want to and have to make those tough decisions to try and get 4 points. 

So yes were were looking pretty strong in terms of personnel with a back four of Adam, Codz, Wrexy & Mark, a midfield of Nipper, Jonesy, Nick-the-skipper & Swailsey who were behind the strike duo of Paul & Matt. Luffy, Dino  and Lev made up the rest of the squad - guaranteed at least a half.

We started the first game brightly. Kingsbury were actually down at the bottom of the table with us but had had an excellent result the week before when they beat Winchmore Hill. So we knew they were no mugs. The ball was being played around in the midfield quite a bit early on with a few loose passes from both sides meaning neither team could get a foothold on the game. Even so, we created a few little openings on goal with Jonesy flashing a shot wide.

I was feeling well up for it as usual and wasn't really troubled in the first twenty minutes except for clearing up a few back passes. 

A little more pressure from them forced a few corners one of which was half cleared to one of them. He chipped it back to one of his team mates who smashed it on the volley from the edge of the area. The ball flew straight at me but was going in all the way just under my bar. I managed to flip up and get the merest flick of a glove on it to put it over. The ball had plenty of pace on it so I was well chuffed to save that one.

Other moments for me included a fairly easy save round my left post and then another decent save when their striker was put through one-on-one. He thought I was going to go to ground so tried a little chip over. I read it well though and stopped it with my left hand. There was even a couple of nice takes out of the air from crosses and corners so my confidence was sky high. 

Our best move of the game should have seen us score to take the lead. The ball was worked down our left and Nipper and Jonesy combined and worked the ball through to Matt and Paul. A neat pass across the box was slipped into the right channel inside their box to a charging Swailsey who found himself one on one with their Keeper. I was getting ready to celebrate and the shot was decent enough but the Keeper, to be fair, pulled of a great save to keep it out.

Minutes later we were carved open down our left hand side for their nippy winger to cross it from the by-line. The ball was whipped in at pace straight over my six yard line for their striker to smash home. Yet again, despite our positive play we found ourselves 1-0 down. 

We tried to conjour up something to nick the draw but time ran out and we'd lost the first game. We were unlucky because it was a close affair and I felt we'd deserved at least a share of the spoils. Anyway, we still had another game left to play and we were properly buoyed up.

Again we started well and remained clam when in possession of the ball. Swailsey was switched in the centre with Jonesy for this game and they were linking up well trying to push the ball either out wide to Nick or Dino or onto Paul or Matty. I always try and remember as much as possible from each game but it isn't always easy. 

We gave away a free kick right on the edge of my box. Our organisation has massively improved so my wall was built pretty quickly. I probably stood a bit too centrally, rather than over to the left as the wall was covering the right. I was just a bit worried that if I was too far left then a simple deft chip would be enough to beat me on the right. Codz told me later that their player had a wee smile on his face as he stepped up. Apparently he'd seen a gap and then just smashed it. The ball flashed past my left and into the net before I could even fart let alone move. It was at a decent height to stop but was too quick and I'd got my position all wrong. I was proper fucked off.

Our play had gotten a bit scrappy and a few words were being said. I snapped back at Swailsey who as ever had plenty to say but it didn't do us any favours to have us rowing. I can get a bit heated sometimes so I hope everyone leaves all that kind of stuff on the pitch, as I do.

Finally we got a bit of a reward for our persistence. A lovely move down our right channel saw Matty do really well to get to the byline. His cross was perfect. Paul rose like the proverbial salmon and headed the ball back across the face of the goal straight into the top corner. A really great goal and we were back in it!

However, we seem to have  a formula. We score - and then let them score within a minute.

We didn't deal with the ball properly as it fell between our midfield and back four and their lad was put through  their right into my box. I came out to narrow the angle but he placed his shot perfectly down past my right to find it scrape in, shaving the post as it nestled into the corner. Bollocks.

Nipper had sweet thirty yard volley that looked speculative at best. But he caught it perfectly and it only just flew wide of the upright.

We went 3-1 down when again we struggled to clear the ball. Their player worked his way into the box and was immediately surrounded by us. However he managed to get a shot off that I had covered - but it took a nick off of Wrexy's leg and looped around my left and. I had visions of us caving in. Gutted.

We picked ourselves up and pulled one back to make it 3-2. Matty did really well to get on the end of a looping ball forward and managed to slide in on the Keeper, beat him to it, and slip it past him.

Their two centre midfielders were identical in every way. Not just because they were twins but they were both extremely good players. Jonesy summed it up after: "One of them was superb and the other one was better!" They did play really well and were a bit of a handful for our boys. It was one of these twins that made it 4-2. It was a straight forward slot past me after he'd had the ball squared back to him inside the box. 

Time was nearly up and we were resigned to a second defeat on the day. There was time for us to add a third. Jonesy swept a lovely left footed strike into the top right hand corner that the Keeper had no chance with.

We were unlucky because in spite of shooting ourselves in the foot a few times we had battled and played well. It was very even throughout. The ref even said after that he thought we'd deserved at least a draw in the second game.

Poor Mark ended up injured on the day with a nasty cut across his top lip during the first game. Nothing a pint of Kronemburg couldn't aid which I was more than happy to get for him as Mark had been good enough to pick up my football boots after I'd left them in the changing room after our last game. I thought I'd lost them so thanks again for that buddy.

So just one league game left next week against Atlas at home and then hopefully a friendly to finish the season. We were upbeat after our double-header defeat because it had been enjoyable regardless.

I'll slot in a little look-a-like. It has to be our identical midfield twin opponents. Both superb players and pretty decent blokes to go with it. However I was reminded a little of Tweedle Dum & Tweedle Dee...