First game of the 2011/12 season, Jubilee FC set off to “South Mimms” to play the Old Aldenhamians 1st XI. Head coach Elton Marks had a squad of 15 men to choose from and decided to set out with the tried and tested 4-4-2 system. We had 2 new summer signings in the defensive line, Luke Lloyd in Goal and Jack Tickner at right back, with Jubilee FC veterans Max Charalambos, Dean Powell and Samuel Brown making up the rest of the defence. The rest of the team picked itself with wingers Johnny “leftpeg” Heather and Saul Charalambos playing left and right midfield respectively, while Matt Brown and Ashley occupied centre midfield. Marc Farrell and James Christion lead the attacking line for Jubilee FC.
The opening 10 minutes were a timid affair with everyone trying to find their feet after the summer break. The OAs seemed to have more of the possession due to the extra man in midfield but were unable to break through the solid defence of Jubilee FC. The OAs were first to make any attacking threat with a decent through ball cut out by the ever reliable Dean Powell. However, it was Jubilee FC who drew first blood with a free-kick from Samuel Brown. The opposition defender miss-judged the header allowing James Christion to ghost in behind the back-line, round the goalkeeper and place home Jubilee’s and James Christion’s first goal of the new campaign. As the half went on tired legs were already starting to show and Elton looked to freshen things up by bringing on a new trailist Jon Cerveno in the centre of the park. This allowed Matt Brown to drive forward and worry the OAs defence. Unfortunately, with the OAs utilising the big pitch and spreading the play to the wings, a whipped in cross from the right side was put in to his own net by Max Charalambos. Jubilee were unlucky to go in level at half time with the team playing well.
Half-time was welcomed like a curry to a piss head by the jubilee team with many players dead on their feet. New commanding goalkeeper Luke Lloyd was replaced by Philip “back-pass” Tester at half time as his wife had discovered he wasn’t at work and escorted him home. Max Charalambos was replaced by new live-wire signing Piers Short. The OAs had a completely revamped team for the 2nd half as they had a large 19 man squad.
As the second half kicked off Jubilee were on the back foot, struggling to gain possession of the ball. Marc Farell was dropping deep to shield the back four by patrolling the semi circle area. However, this was not enough to stop the OAs from scoring and they scored two goals in quick succession, one a mix up in defence and the other a long range drive. Marc was hungry for the win, epitomised by a lovely cruyff turn, a wave to the opposition player as he ran passed him and a fantastic forward pass to Dean Powell who was now on the right wing. Dean roasted the full back with his natural pace and put in an Antonio Valencia esc ball into the far post which was slotted in by James Christion ,3-2, game on!
Players were getting tired now and rolling substitutions made good use of. Marc Farrell had used up all his asthma pump and was substituted for Max Charalambos, who was now spearheading the Jubilee attack. Jubilee were now back on the attack with Jon Cerveno playing a key in dispossessing the opposition. Jon breaking up the play squared the ball to Max who took one touch and played in Ashley with the outside of his boot. Ashley placed a left footed shot that was deflected out to Piers, who laced the ball 25yards out. The Ball was dummied by Max Charalambos which caught the keeper off guard and into the back of the net. There was a suspicion of Max Charalambos’s studs taking the ball just out of the keepers reach but unfortunately the Sky cameras were unable to follow up on the claim. Piers Short’s first goal for Jubilee, 3-3.
The game was getting stretched and a magnificent chance to win the game fell to Max Charalambos who disposed the defender and was straight through on goal. Unfortunately the stat of one in three one on ones are missed came back to haunt Jubilee as Max slotted wide. As the game went on the tired legs began to show as Max was fouled just shy of the box. A distance his brother, Saul “set piece” Charalambos, would loved to have tested the keeper from with one of his lethal free-kicks. The game was getting stretched and there was some crucial last ditch defending from Matt Brown who had been excellent throughout. The full time whistle blew with the score at 3-3 with Jubilee FC going on to win the penalty shootout (4-3).
A 3-3 draw was a fair reflection on the game and a great start to pre-season. The team showed fantastic character to come from 3-1 down and i am sure it will be needed when the season kicks off in 3 weeks time.
