Saturday 8th May vs. Merton (h) won 9-1.

So the never ending season of 09-10 finally ended on the 2nd Saturday in May. Going into the game we knew anything other than total disaster would see us crowned champions. It was a bit of a disaster but for Merton rather than us as we finished in style with an emphatic 9-1 win. The past two games have really have shown the continual progression we have made. Last year we piped Merton to Div 2 but we couldn’t beat them. A fairly similar Merton side played as twice in the past fortnight and were whipped them 15-1 on aggregate.

I'll keep the report on Saturday brief and mainly look at the season as a whole. We took the lead in route 1 fashion when Matt’s flick put Luke through, yes it was normally the other way round. Luke scored a second stunner before Matt got the first of 4 for his 5th hat trick of the season! Matt’s third was also our 100th in all comps. At 4-0 Merton had a man sent off, somewhat harshly for dissent it appeared. I don’t think it made too much difference.

In the second half, Tim scored a stunner with a 20 yard strike and Joe produced a delicious lob when 1 on 1 with the keeper which was our 9th.

So that was Saturday, but what about the season. Division 1 and AFA Cup winners, it really doesn’t get much better than that. 27 games unbeaten, over 100 goals and 49 points, the highest total in Intermediate Div 1 in many a year.

It wasn’t all plain sailing especially after being beaten on the opening day by Winchmore (how did they finish so far down the table by the way?). Who would have believed that day we wouldn’t lose again. In fact it was a slow start. The following week it was 0-0 vs. Salesians after 80 mins. We then lead 1-0 in the dying mins when they had a clear pen not given. The following week after 80 mins at Poly we were 3-2 down and starring defeat in the face, but 2 goals including 1 in the last min from Matt pulled victory from the jaws of defeat. Looking back on a season there are season defining games that are just worth so much more than the point or 3 you get from it. This season it is that game. We had shown nothing much in the first 2 and ¾ games to suggest we would be league champs but that last 10 mins gave us great belief.

An easy cup draw kept momentum going before we faced the champs and class act of the division Nottsborough. A fantastic match ensued which we looked like we would nick but a late equaliser denied us. Nonetheless it showed we could live with the best. Really good wins away at Owens (minus the kit, just in case you forgot Luke), West Wickham and Civil, despite a couple of shocking penalty decisions and a sending off.

The cup draws were kind, and they needed to be because despite getting strong sides out in the league, in the cup was when we were short. As the pitches turned to mud, we got away with a poor but clinical performance against Carshalton. You can’t play well every week but when you can score 4 playing badly you always have a chance.

If Poly away was the turning point of our league campaign it was Enfield Old Gramms that won us the cup. 2-0 down at half time, when they went through 1 on 1 in the second half we were within an inch of being dumped out but Ben saved, one of so many he made during the season. Once again the goal threat in the team saw us home.

The weather started it’s fun and games and after rain, snow and ice, it was a real bonus game against Civil in mid Jan when most teams had their games called off that stretched our lead to 9 points with weekends already starting to run out for some of the chasers.

A trip to Winchmore started well but a super sub put them 2-1 up, did I ask, how did they finish so low? A last min header from Luke saved us that day, a point that felt like a win. Poly, Ebog and Owens were all despatched clinically in a run of successive home games keeping our lead handsomely in tact.

The next 2 games were huge, cup semi and Notts away. The cup semi was comfortably negotiated 2-0 so it was on to the slopey lawns of Tolworth. Where to hold on to their crown Notts really had to beat us. The start wasn’t great losing Shane to a season ending injury early. But as we played downhill in the second half we were well on top only to go behind to a penalty conceded against the run of play. Belief was strong by now though and we weren’t behind for long. Despite us looking the more likely, as Notts themselves graciously acknowledged in their match report, we were content with the draw. That good point was followed up by a terrible one against a very average Carshalton side as we threw away a 2 goal lead.

Looking back the inept and complacent performance at Cars was the perfect kick up the backside the week before the cup final. The final didn’t start well as Norsemen took the lead from the spot. Once again though there was character in abundance as a Kerby family one two turned the game around and we became only the 2nd Old A’s reserve side to lift the AFA Int cup. A great day all round and it was pleasing to see Norsemen get the promotion they deserved, they were truly great sportsmen on that day.

That cup win really took all the pressure off, almost too much as we gave EBOG a 2 goal start. But we went behind plenty of times during the season but when you score on average nearly 4 a game there is no cause for panic and we duly had an average day in front of goal and banged in 4.

We finished the season playing really well, easily seeing off Salesians in midweek before outscoring the impressive young West Wickham and battering Merton away and home.

Winning the league, whilst in many ways the bigger achievement never quite has the same special feeling as a cup win, with the magical day of the final itself. The league was effectively clinched on a Tuesday night when we weren’t playing. But nonetheless everybody should be so proud of their efforts.

We were the only side to finish above a Nottsborough team this season. How about that! I would like to pay tribute to the Morrissmen of Notts. As a club Notts are not everyone’s cup of tea, probably a lot of jealousy in that but maybe as a club they could be a little more magnanimous in defeat (other teams do read your website). But their reserves were the class of our division, playing a quality brand of football and had a shape and organisation all other sides could learn from. They didn’t let their crown go without a great fight, in fact equalling the same points tally that won them the league last year by 10 points. It makes winning the league all the more special that such a good side was in our division. They will undoubtedly be the side to beat next year, just look at their 3s to see how many good young players they have there to strengthen their already strong 1s and 2s, a frightening prospect for the rest of the SAL.

But I don’t think there is a dispute over the best reserve side this season, the league table doesn’t lie at the end of the season and our position, goal difference and AFA cup underline Old A’s as the best. If only by a fag paper from Notts, the one difference between the sides was the goal threat. When you score nearly 4 goals a game over all competitions you play with great confidence.

Thanks to all 47 players this season. Yes it was that many, though 27 of them played 2 or less. 13 players played 60% or more. With myself and Jordan just missing the 1 game. The best thing from a manager’s point of view was that we really weren’t overly reliant on any one individual. Matt scored a tonne of goals but work commitments meant he missed 20% of games. Luke linked everything together but missed a third of games. Roxy had injuries, Tim had injuries and flew round the world about 3 times, Marco and Andy ended up in the 1s and Shane barely played. But each and every time an important player was missing we found a way to win. It was truly a great team effort.

So it is over, hopefully most of the players will be back in the summer to try to emulate this seasons achievements, no easy task, however, it will be under some else’s guidance. After 7 years in charge of various teams, 3 doubles, 3 AFA cups, 4 league titles and 4 promotions, it is time to rejoin the rank and file. Thanks to all the players, probably well over 150 that played for me over the years I’d guess at and everyone involved in the running of Old A’s and the SAL and of course the referees who without we have no organised football. I think all players should attempt to run a side for at least a week to see what your captains go through. I will miss hugely the Saturdays, picking the team and the tactics and even writing the match reports, but will not miss the scratches, the unavailability's, the worry each time my phone goes off on a Saturday, collecting fines and subs and the tantrums when players are subbed (not just you Jordan). I wish my successor the best of luck and he has some great players at his disposable