Undefeated Jubilee FC arrived at Newgate Street Playing Fields for their second away game of the season against current division one champions Cuffley (EFC) FC. Johnny ‘left-peg’ Heather started off on the wrong foot, so to speak, by treading in dog mess…according to some it was ‘good luck’…the signs there ominous for Jubilee FC.
Manager Elton Marks selected the same starting line-up that drew with New Riverside two weeks previous. In goal was the ever present Luke ‘Bosnich’ Lloyd. Saul ‘set-piece’ Charalambos and Dean Powell were at left and right full back with Phil ‘itsallgravy’ Victor partnering Matt ‘mad-dog’ Brown at centre back. Johnny ‘left-peg’ Heather and Josh Rogers played on the left and right wings with Samuel Brown and James Cristion in central midfield. Michael Richardson and Marc ‘Barnes’ Farrell spearheaded the Jubilee attack. Max Charalambos, Nigel Agyekumhene and Luke ‘De Jong’ Kennedy were warming the bench today.
Captain Phil ‘itsallgravy’ Victor won the toss for Jubilee and chose to kick off the first half. Jubilee were on the attack straight from the off. There was some excellent interplay in the middle of the park and down the wings. But the first goal threat came through the middle with Michael Richardson latching on to a through ball but when taking the shot collided with the keeper. Michael came out unscathed. Matt ‘mad-dog’ Brown won the ball at the back and surged forward on one of his mazy runs interchanging the ball with Sam Brown and James Cristion. Matt then played the ball to Josh Rogers who spotted the run of Marc ‘Barnes’ Farrell. Farrell took one touch and nut-megged the defending player. Marc ‘Barnes’ Farrell gave the opposition player the famous left handed wave and shouted ‘nuts’ so loud he was heard in the French Alps. The opposition player looked so embarrassed he turned the same maroon colour as his kit. Marc then delivered a deadly cross only for Johnny ‘Left peg’ Heather, who unfortunately headed on to the post. Johnny was heard saying to the sky cameras after the game ‘the ball came from a funny angle’ only for the interviewer to reply ‘yeah…from the air’.
Jubilee kept up their attacking football and their breakthrough nearly came from an in-swinging corner from Saul ‘set-piece’ Charalambos. James Cristion headed the ball goalwards only for the goalkeeper to palm it away unconvincingly. This lead to a goal mouth scramble with Marc ‘Barnes’ Farrell trying to steer the ball over the line but the ball eventually fell to Johnny ‘left-peg’ Heathers famous wooden right peg and he poked the ball wide of the goal. James Cristion was booked shortly after due to a confrontation with an opposing player, thankfully James showed excellent restraint for the rest of the game. Johnny ‘left peg’ heather went on a delightful run down the left channel before laying the ball off to Saul ‘set-piece’ Charalambos who took one touch and shot. The shot was dipping but hit the top side of the cross bar. The ball then fell to Josh Rogers who also slammed a shot against the cross bar but this time the ball went out of play. Jubilee were dominating the game but unable to make the breakthrough. Cuffley had hardly had a sniff but a sloppy back pass from the captain Phil ‘itsallgravy’ Victor enabled an attacking player to have a shot on goal but fortunately an off-side cuffley player had the final touch. The referee showed great mental strength to disallow the goal. Just when Jubilee thought they were heading into half time with a draw. A throw in from Dean Powell reached Samuel Brown who took one touch and unleashed a screamer of a shot from 40 yards. The ball moved in the air and settled in the corner of the goal. The first thing the Cuffley goalkeeper knew about it was when he picked the ball out of his own net.
Jubilee reached half time with the score at 1-0 but knew with some better finishing the score could easily have been four or five nil. Elton Marks had a few choice words to say about the teams finishing and warned them that the game was not yet won. No changes were made at half time and the team went out to finish off Cuffley.
Cuffley made their 3 allocated substitutes at half time as they looked to try and make an impression on the game. Cuffley kicked off the second half but were still unable to take the game to Jubilee. Jubilee had some excellent attacking play down the left hand side of midfield with Saul Charalambos providing an excellent foil to the attacking talents of Johnny ‘left-peg’ Heather. Johnny played some lovely cross field balls over to Marc Farrell and Josh Rogers and they were unfortunate not to reach them due to the gradient of the pitch. However, Josh Rogers was played in by the ever present Sam Brown. Josh beat his man and had a shot at goal, only for the keeper to pull off an excellent save and put the ball out for a corner. Johnny ‘left-peg’ Heather stepped up to deliver an in-swinging corner that was met by Matt ‘Mad-dog’ Brown and powered into the Cuffley goal. 2-0 to Jubilee FC.
At 2-0 manager Elton Marks decided it was time to get a more ‘defensively’ minded player in the centre of the park so turned to Luke ‘De-Jong’ Kennedy. Luke made an instant impact slowing the game down so that Cuffley struggled to build momentum. Cuffley were now resorting to long ball tactics but the defence were easily dealing with them. As the game approached the 70th minute mark Elton Marks made his final substitutions with Max Charalambos coming on at left back for his brother Saul ‘set-piece’ Charalambos and Nigel Agyekumhene coming on at right wing for Josh Rogers. Both made an immediate impact with Max Charalambos playing a through ball to Johnny Heather and Johnny only narrowly missed the goal with a left footed shot. Nigel Agyekumhene helped develop an attack that led to James Cristion hitting the woodwork. In the closing stages Cuffley hit the bar but the game was already won for Jubilee.
Jubilee FC beat the reigning division one champions Cuffley (EHC) FC 2-0. It was by far and away the best team performance of the season with every single player doing their bit on the pitch. Jubilee FC will however need to make sure they are more clinical in front of goal in the future as other opposition will not be as forgiving. Elton Marks gave the man of the match award to Matthew ‘Mad-dog’ Brown but a special mention to Samuel Brown must be made for his fantastic 40 yard goal.
Jubilee FC play Bridge House at Station Approach in their next game of the season as they look to build upon their unbeaten record
Apologies in advance for any events I have missed out…there were simple too many.
By Max Charalambos
