Perfect football conditions were in effect on Saturday as the yet to win Meads 7’s made the long trip to E17 to face Old Cockneys in the first round of the LOB Cup.
Call ups, absentees and players refusing to travel the long way east (Paul Whelan is no fan of TOWIE) saw a number of changes to last week’s starting XI. It was a lively looking Meads side that took to the field though – with the 7’s traditional mix of youth and experience the blend on offer.
The early exchanges were quite tight with the first chance falling to the OC’s striker – who failed to convert after being quickly chased down by Joe in the Meads goal.
It was from the Meads GK that the good early play from the 7’s came – with some fine placed passes down the flanks being well pressed, and it was from the harassing of the OM’s defence where most of the visitors chances came - with a decent strike from Will just going over the bar, and Reza and Oner both going close.
The Old Cockneys were looking threatening despite the libero like play from Rob Williams and the hard knocks being dished out by Junior - several chances were spurned by the impressive Joe – before the OC’s made a break and lashed a strike against the bar as Joe rushed out to thwart – the ball fell to another striker who had the simple task of slotting into an empty net.
Meads were only spurred by this though and Dan Piper started foraying (although he may have been trying to get away from Lionel) and a shift in striker from the vocal gaffer saw Jermaine come on for Reza. Soon after his entrance some good play across the park from Ben and Will saw the ball shifted out to Jermaine on the left wing – who still had plenty to do as he made light work of skinning two defenders and lashing the ball into the bottom corner of the net. 1-1, let’s have it.
The visitors finished the half strongly with Danny P pulling a great save out of the keeper from a free kick, and good build up play from both full backs (Lionel had gone off by then) seeing a number of corners forced, and passages of play created.
The half finished well for the West London outfit and the second half message was clear – more of the same was needed – unfortunately OC’s first attack forced a corner and from the resulting kick the ball bounced around the box and fell into the path of the striker who easily finished.
The youth policy always looked like paying off though with Max now on at right mid looking lively. The game ebbed and flowed with chances falling for either side (with a number of the home sides efforts being very well dealt with by Joe in goal) but it was Meads who looked like having the legs, and it wasn’t long until another good break saw the ball laced across the box and into Reza’s path – who ran/stumbled onto the ball to make it 2-2.
It was all Meads until the end of the 90, with only the last 5 mins seeing OC’s cause any real trouble – again the lads at the back did very well to deal with some good attacking play, and some ridiculous appeals from the home side. The highlight has to be Rob Williams skinning the OC’s striker only to be ruthlessly felled as he broke from defence – cynical stuff from the home team but that’s what happens when you’re up against quality….
So going into Extra Time the lads were buoyed. The defensive cover looked very strong and this only gave the lads going forward the confidence to step up. It was in the second period of ET that the inevitable breakthrough came, a very swift counter from an OC’s corner saw Ringo play Max through the middle – who ran a great distance at the home side’s back four before releasing Jermaine, who made no mistake as he broke into the box and slotted home. Jubilation ensued and the lads stayed composed and at it, with another break 3 mins later seeing the ball played to Oner alone in the box, who placed the ball calmly home to make it 4-2.
The OC’s still had time to pull one back, but it was too little too late as the 7’s held on to record their first (but long overdue) victory of the season. Great work all round, gents!
MOM – Superb performances by Hudson and Will but the MOM was very fairly shared between Jermaine and Joe with 5 votes each – both put on an excellent show and were vital to the Meads win.
