The Albion FC

Barker: Checking emails regularly for Dunc's missing match report

The Gaffer reports on the weekends 4-0 win over Navigados.

I write this report not just because I may be shortly submitting to the will of Footballing Alzheimer’s but more in hope that I can inspire Duncan to write his match report vs Westminster. Our resident  octogenarian Albionisti who has not watched a game since xmas is beside himself waiting for that report, before he comes down to watch another of the horse’s rampaging gallops down the right.

After the nightmare which was Arsenal’s 4-goal collapse last week, surely nothing could go wrong the following weekend. We welcomed back Myles from  his 6wk stint back in Australia on the 1210’s, we also welcomed back Bill, fresh from his hiatus where he broke his fingers beating down the door to Colonel Saunders house trying to get the secret recipe for fried chicken.  Sadly we lost Barny to a knee injury incurred at the Kazbah on Friday night, with Jindy & Will enjoying a valentine of their own many a head was scratched at who would be filling the void left by these stalwarts.

Bill, Dunc, Stew, Simon, Don, Andy, Dave, Vilem, Nick, Rich, Steve. I was named as sub however, an unfortunate slip on the step outside the changing room put paid to that.

Preparation was spoilt by the ineptitude of Lambeths finest pitch booking system that saw the Mighty Albion NFP (No fixed Pitch). We played hosts to Navigados on the pitch of St. Kobbs where Albion recorded one of their finest victories & we had to reincarnate that spirit in order to get the points.

The first 10minutes saw Albion attacking downhill with The Na’vi (Let’s face it it’s a long name eh) in green having a bit of possession going uphill. A couple of early free kicks saw Don the right back test the keeper with deep crosses. This was followed by some speculative through balls for Steve to chase which were often over hit from the Albion midfield clearances. Richard brought his bastard throws to the party and these tested the Na’vi keeper before being cleared.

Albion’s first goal came from the left, with Duncan passing up to Vilem who beat his man and attempted a searching cross in to the penalty area towards Rich/Steve. With the ball was a 50/50 between the keeper and his defender with the defender winning the battle and inadvertently sending the ball into his own net from 8 yards. 1-0 to the Albion.

Evans: More consistent than a Delia Smith cake mix

A few more bastard throws ensued in addition to some tasty tackles from Andy & Albion started to make their presence felt. Nick & Don owned the right wing and connected very well to line up opportunities. Nick, who is playing with the consistency of a well whipped Delia Smith cake mixture, conjured a venomous volley into the top corner via a slight nick off a Na’vi. Not sure how the ball came about but it flew into the net as is customary from the lad 15yds + from goal. 2-0.

The Na’vi tried but failed to engineer any attacks that really tested buffalo wing, I mean Bill. Whilst possessing many players with natural ability, the force with which Albion dominated made it difficult for the Na’vi to carve out any openings. A few shots from distance went a few yards passed the goal before Albion scored #3. An attack down the right from Don & Nick had seen Na’vi concede a throw, from which Rich delivered another bastard that Steve flicked into the roof of the net much like Steve Bould of arsenal. 3-0.

This was swiftly followed  by number 4, chasing down an Albion clearance that was heading towards the Na’vi goal, Rich managed to stretch his right leg high enough to lift the ball over the head of the onrushing keeper and into the net.
4-0 half time.

The second half saw Albion in 45 minutes of containment, while still looking like the only side to score, the Albion defence superbly marshalled by captain Stewart Lauder embarked on project clean sheet. Simon epitomised this by throwing himself in the way of everything to stop any goal bound shots. There was an almighty goal mouth scramble that involved the entire defence Dave that managed to thwart an almost certain goal. When Simon was vacant Stewart was there to throw himself at the ball caterpillar style in order to help keep the sheets clean.

There were numerous opportunities to secure a 5th goal, Andy had a header go just wide, in addition to a drive that was saved. Rich side footed to the keeper when put through by Nick & Vil had several sighters go close. A deserved win for the Albion scoring at least 4 goals in each of the last 6 games. A strong  & consistent performance by Nick, Andy, Vilem & the defence that continues to see us move 90 mins closer to our goal. We wish Barny a swift recovery.