Old Challoners v UCL Academicals

Team: Williams, Lancaster, Lord, Foster, Weidner, Beauchamp, Bevins P, Croker, Maker, Fitch, Thomas Subs: Smith, Beill, Cawley

Score: 0:3
Scorers:

A strong Challoners side took to the field for a really tough match against UCL Academicals II's deprived of 7 goal in 3 games hero Daw and midfield engine room Whickenden. To plug the gaps they welcomed back Fitch and Beauchamp to fill their boots, one day everyone will be available and someone is going to take a right hiding.

The match started fairly evenly but with Challoners the more direct but maybe not having quite the possession of our visitors. It was Thomas though who created the first chance of the match working space on the edge of the box before bearing down on the opposition keeper, but in a replay from last week he was unable to find the corner and the keeper turned his effort round the post.

The match see-sawed with few clear cut chances being carved out that was until a through ball from the UCL midfield found their striker through on goal, Foz though managed to get back and win the ball back but once in possession inexplicably and for no apparent reason, when he could have done absolutely anything with it, James 'Ronnie Whelan' Foster lofted an inch perfect lob from 25 yards over Williams and into a vacant net to give UCL a 1-0 lead. Once the dust settled and everyone came out of shock, the UCL players had stopped laughing and it appeared that the 'small withered-hand' one definitely wasn't going to pop out from behind a tree, the match resumed. A wicked in-swinging corner from Bevins almost brought an equaliser but noone could provide the touch it needed to finish it off and we went in at half time 1-0 down.

15 minutes into the start of the second half saw 3 of the starting back 4 on the sidelines through a mixture of injury and harsh axe treatment from the gaffer, the only one left was the gaffer Ronnie Whelan himself! On the bright side 'The Special One' Nick Smith back for one week only was now on the field of battle in an attempt to get us back on level terms. It was however UCL who scored the decisive second as we gave away a cheap goal allowing their dangerous centre forward, hereto shackled by the fouling Lancaster, to run unchallenged from the corner flag to slot past Williams into the far corner. Really pushing forward now in search of a route back into the game Challoners were caught on the break to another well taken goal to make it 3-0. Only 2 surging vintage runs beating 4 or 5 defenders from The Special One and a left footed shot from Beauchamp looked to cause UCL any trouble as their well marshalled and strong back 4 kept Thomas and Fitch quiet.

The match ended 3-0 with UCL in control and a tired Challoners side a little disappointed at not having pushed the opposition harder. We knew it would be tough as UCL took points from our 1's last year in the league but I think everyone was a little disappointed with our 2nd half performance.

Man-Of-The-Match - Phil Bevins, little quality on show from us but a great deal of effort none more so than from the skipper.

THE LANCASTER VERDICT:
Beaten by a better team as we were unable to keep up the effort of the first half for the whole game. If it hadn't have been for the o.g. who knows how the funny old game might have turned out so Foz I'm afraid has to carry the can for this one as the 100% record of 11 straight wins at Fortress Eppo disappears.