Report

Streatham Stanley 1 – 4 ADFC OS Navigados

Hoolahan  

Date: 29/01/2012

Location: Tooting Bec

Sunday’s defeat by Navigadoes sees them enter February of 2012 having played three games and won none of them since the new year. Now, as your resident match reporter, this is a time for cool heads, some calm observations and….oh, who am I kidding? EVERYBODY PANIC!!!! Tolu - start putting together that corrugated shed together, Kenny – get to Lidl and buy as many cans of tinned spam as you can. TBow – take the Streatham kit, dismantle the lot and sell it for parts and get as much as you can for it, for the world is about to end, Streatham Stanley have lost three games in a row for the love of god.

Ok, that’s a slight exaggeration, the kit is nice, but we wouldn’t get that much for it, and I’m not sure how much is left in the kitty to buy spam. However, it’s interesting to think that the three games that we haven’t been playing well in, we get beat. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? What’s gone wrong is another thing altogether, can we put a finger on it? That’s something that we’re going to have to think about collectively as individuals and as a team, but in a crazy league where top can beat third place before losing out to second from bottom, where we’ve faced some of the best teams in the division, matched them and beaten them. I’m not too worried about this current slump, frustrated and angry about it yes, but I’m already thinking to the next game and thinking ‘right, lets start again next week and get three points’.

Perhaps that’s just me being positive – well, as part of a team in its fourth season after 2 successive promotions, one of them a championship, with two cup semi finals and a third on its way and having the chance to play at Old Trafford, can you blame me? We’re in the top league for a reason, we’re a damn good team. 

I think if  someone messes up in a game, instead of chastising, we should offer a bit of encouragement so they’ll respond and try doubly hard not to make the mistake again – for example, I could say ‘TBow, head up man, in hindsight it wasn’t the best idea to try and pull off a 720 spin on the edge of your 18 yard box surrounded by 3 attackers, and no, when the ball flicked in the air it wasn’t the best plan to attempt a Higuita scorpion kick into touch, but next time, you’ll know that’. (That didn’t actually happen, but by god someday it does!)

People know when they make mistakes, they don’t need negativity – it breeds contempt, and isn’t likely to enhance anyone’s performance. 

The game on Sunday started off with 12 players with absence and unavailability causing some last minute changes. Gary Beart stepped bravely into the fray and donned the gloves, for which we are all grateful.

Gary

MichaelKenny Tbow Stuart

   Dersal

PauDean

DanJimmyJay

Subs: The Big Bad Gav

Pre match, Kenny’s idea of playing a bit of music before the game put most players in a good mood – especially the new club anthem – ‘The Big Bad Gav’ ! 

Stuart lost the toss (in my defence, I flicked the coin, he called it and got it right, but I’m happy for it to be called a loss….) and Streatham had kick off. It was a sluggish half, there seemed to be a distinct lack of energy across the pitch as Navigadoes managed to string passes together, but without really threatening. They did manage to hit a post and had a couple of corners, but nothing too worrying. Streatham, when we did go forward, linked up nicely at times and showcased what we can do. Unfortunately we couldn’t apply any finishing touches in a half that played out goalless. 

Second half, and I took to the field believing that we could actually go on and take the game by the scruff of the neck. As the opening exchanges showed, we seemed to have a little more bite in the tackle. 

The opening goal came probably as a result of the referee refusing to employ linesmen, which was a constant bane for throw in and offside decisions. A cleared corner, looped back into the box found the striker, alongside 2 other players. He chested, turned and fired the ball past Gary to make it 1-0. 

As is becoming a habit, one goal going against us, might as well equal game over, as Stanley hob of frustration was turned from a low simmer to a ‘boil the S**T out of it’.

A second goal came just 5 or so minutes after the first, Stanley failed to clear their lines on the edge of the box, the ball making its way to the byline, where it was crossed in and drilled into the net by the oncoming striker. 

Stanley struggled to get the ball down and make any possession count, which increased the frustration within the team. A third goal was scored with around 25 minutes to play as the striker waltzed through and smashed home. The tricks came out now from Navigadoes, they were actually showboating against us, quite humiliating in itself. 

A slight bit of redemption came when right back Michael, moved upfront after Jimmy came off for The Big Bad Gav, smashed the ball in off the post from a very acute angle – a fantastic finish from the lad, and his first in Streatham colours. A second goal almost came moments later when Michael again shot, but this time a defender on the line managed to clear the danger.

As Stanley looked more confident, we gave away a fourth. A routine quick throw in back to the goalkeeper was dwelt on too long, allowing the striker to nip in and coolly slot home after calmly driving into the box.

I think the game in general could be summed up by Tbow’s rallying cry 5 minutes from the end ‘You bunch of c*nts’ – (though I found it hilarious)

In summary – yes, we haven’t played well recently, that’s clear. We shouldn’t be losing to teams like Navigadoes, a very ordinary side. But we did, and that’s part of football. What we need to do next week is to actually rally together as a team, work for each other and it’ll come – we’ll be back winning in no time, and this 3 game blip will be a thing of the past. 

MANAGERS COMMENTS:

"Very disappointed to have come away with nothing from this fixture. Going into half time at 0-0 i thought we would have enough character to get the win. It was definitely a case of whoever scored first was probably going to go on and win, but for us to cave in without a fight is disappointing.! In the second half we were second to evrything, the attitude was wrong and the effort was poor. On a positive note, it was nice to see Michael Houlahan get his first goal for the Stanley, hopefully many more to come. Also Gary stepping up to cover in goal, played well and let no one down. If any of the players have come off the pitch today thinking they played well then they need to think again.! Although Pau 'Iniesta' Gay gets the man of the match award for being the best player out there today, he worked hard, made the passes and never gave up. D.Goktas gets a mention for a decent performance also and obviously Gary Beart for going in goal and doing well. 

 As the captain has said in the match report we really need to bang our heads together, stick together and get ourselves back to winning ways. The players are all very good and we are a very good team, we need to install the confidence back into the group and work harder to put things right. We have a cup semi final coming up very soon and we are all looking forward to it, positions are up for grabs. Im not happy with today and it wasnt enjoyable... Lets sort this out.!"

----------------Full Time – Streatham Stanley 1 – 4 ADFC OS Navigadoes----------