Seventh Team................Mike Edis

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7th January v Reigatians VI..................AFC Division 10 South

Result Won 5-3, Edis M, Dominy 2, Hall 2

Super Sub Smith Saves the day for the Sevens

Reeling from the shock news that their Captain Marvel, Warren Smith, was dropping himself to the bench, the 7s got off to a shaky start against Reigate, conceding a sloppy goal very early doors. Now fielding the world's oldest central midfield pairing in Ray Kearney and Mike Edis, the 7s started to get a foothold in the game. Without a comb (over) between them, the central midfield got us up the pitch and the forwards won a free kick near the oppo left corner. A breathtaking delivery from the stand in captain, Stephen Rowan, rocketed to the back post where Edis Senior rose like a leaping salmon to fire in a bullet header of an equaliser.

Unfortunately the shock of mike scoring two in one season got the better of the 7s, and not long before half time they were caught on the break by a very Offside looking reigatian, who tucked away a two on one to leave the 7s 1-2 down at half time.

Shunning the half time oranges, the 7s came out a different side.... In the sense that we made two substitutions. Bantam weight centre forward Jonathon Hall on for Matt Thompkins and Peter big bad Wolfe on for Sam Thompson. Shorn of its collective thommos, the 7s camped into the oppo half for the first ten minutes or so, without really creating too many chances.

Enter super sub Smith full of vigour having eaten most of the oranges, on for Mike Edis who was slightly concussed from his earlier bullet header. Reigate eventually got into our half, but it cost them dear as our excellent defence cleared long to Hally, who unselfishly played the ball off the keepers shins so that the mighty Ben Ten Dominy could score a header from just outside the box. Alas, the shock of scoring sent the sevens into a spin again, with Reigate going pretty much straight down the field from kick off to put themselves back ahead, ably assisted by Ray Kearney standing one yard off the line, in front of our keeper, and jumping out of the way when the ball came near him. Alan Hansen would have had a field day with that one.

Behind for the third time in the game, the 7s looked to the mighty Warren Smith for inspiration. Peppering the clubhouse with a number of long range shots, dishing out orders and keeping (a) shape, Smith led the 7s back into the game. Swill taking a throw on the right midway into their half, beautifully headed on by the stand in skipper, played Hally clean in for a slightly deflected equaliser.

The 7s weren't to be stopped there, buoyed by Smith's dominance in the centre of the park, a throw in from an almost identical spot saw Ben Ten Dominy head the ball onto hall for his second, putting the 7s into the lead for the first time in the game.

The back four stayed solid, the midfield dominated and the centre forwards put it about like Chippy in a youth club. Reigate couldn't get the ball in our half. Urged on by super Smith, Hally took the ball upfield with moments to go. A fine run from the stand in skipper split the defence open, allowing Hally to play in Ben Ten Dominy, who after an amazing first touch, slotted home to put the 7s 5-3 ahead.

Moments later the whistle went and the 7s were glorious in their victory. Ever the martyr, Warren spurned the many votes that came his way for MOTM, allowing Ben Ten to take it by one vote from Hally.

Some people thought that the performance didn't deserve a spoon, but those were people that didn't see Spencer Davern fall over backwards when watching the ball go out early in the first half...

Well done to all 14 that played for the 7s, in what was possibly our best performance to date.

Team – Darryl Duthie, Sam Thompson, Dean Somers, Spencer Davern, Simon Williamson, Dave Melville, Mike Edis, Ray Kearney, Stephen Rowan, Matt Thompkins, Ben Dominy - Subs Jon Hall, Pete Wolfe, Warren Smith
Stephen 'iBench' Rowan (Vice Captain - just!)

Spoon: Spencer Davern

Man of the Match: Ben Dominy

Bonfire Night but No Fireworks!

Disappointing defeat for 7s against an average Reigate side who on another day we would expect to beat. The day started badly with the news of no less than 3 drop outs including one Ray Kearney – allegedly 5 minutes before the meet – but I for one don’t think a loyal servant like Ray would do that to Warren…… The Wokes rallied round and a bit of sub swapping between the 3s & 4s produced Will Murphy for us – unfortunately a trip to Reigate just didn’t fit in with his later plans – but the gesture was much appreciated, Nelly. So it was left to Rich Tigwell to fall out of bed and into Darryl’s hairdresser mobile at 5 mins notice. Lucky for him the rest of the side played like we’d just got up with a hangover and bolted down a bacon sarnie so he fitted in well.

Mind you he would have to have been Paul McKenna to work out where Wazza’s pass was going that set up Reigate’s opener – completely wrong footing our midfield, allowing an uncontested pass to send their striker free to chip over Darryl – who might just have gone to ground a bit too prematurely…… That unfortunate incident brought the worst out of the team – who then proceeded to play like 11 individuals who only called to each other to deliver a haranguing when their own limitations were exposed. To be fair even the most together side would have been helpless as Swill’s firm headed clearance from a corner was returned on the volley with interest from the edge of the box. But “every man for himself” returned moments later when at least 4 abrogated themselves of responsibility for dealing with a long throw and although Darryl saved the resulting header, the rebound was tucked away.

A few home truths were exchanged at half time which produced a transformation of togetherness that would have put a synchronized swimming team to shame – alright maybe not that together but at least we could apply the word “team” to the 11 + subbed skipper that represented the Old Wokes in the second half. Whilst the game was already beyond our reach we did produce a much improved second half performance with lots of good passing and movement but sadly little in the way of a cutting edge. Our goal came courtesy of a Thommo free kick for a blatant push on Hally around the edge of the centre circle. Thommo launched the ball towards their goal and the keeper was clearly unnerved by Stephen Rowan’s reputation as a prodigious header of the ball, managing to punch the ball into his own net rather than experience the ignominy of conceding a headed goal by Mr Rowan – little did he know the chances of that were pretty much zero – how can you head a ball from the foetal position? Disappointingly we couldn’t hold on to “win” the second half with Mike aiming a first time ball upfield which inexplicably went down field to set up a Reigate attack from which they scored their fourth.

So one early 6 pointer lost and another against Dorking coming up next week. If we can take the second half performance into the next game we’ll have a good chance of winning.

Team: D Duthie, R Tigwell, S Williamson, S Davern, A Gray, S Rowan, M Edis, W Smith, B Dominy, J Hall, D Melville Sub M Thompkins (for Wazza 46min)

Spoon: Stephen Rowan - for multiple offences.

Man of the Match: Thommo – credited for his Henry Kissinger performance in bringing the warring factions together in the second half

8th October v Tilburg Regents II..................LOB Olympian Cup 1st Round

Result Won 8-7 on penalties after Draw 2-2 aet, Hall and Aldrige

By common consensus this was the longest match any of the team had ever been involved in and given the age of some of the players this covers a significant number of matches over the years. Clearly the caretaker had never seen anything like it – he’d locked up and was on his way out when we trooped back to shower and change. But the odds on this cup tie going to extra time were pretty short after the hard fought league match the previous weekend had seen Tilburg run out 3-2 victors. A chance for quick revenge was much welcomed by the 7s.

It would be tempting to gloss over the first 120 minutes and jump straight to the penalty shoot out drama but that would be an injustice to a fine football match. The 7s had a more balanced defense than last week with no less than 2 full backs selected whilst Tilburg had their usual bean-pole restored to central midfield but otherwise pretty much the same teams lined up as last weekend.

The first half was a tight affair with very few clear chances being created, the exception being Jon Hall’s turn and strike which crashed back off the bar and into their keeper’s welcoming arms. 7s started the second half much the brighter and quickly established a 2-0 lead. Hally’s 30 yard strike of a bouncing ball beat the keeper all ends up and was quickly followed when Wes expertly lifted the ball over the on rushing keeper after Uzi’s great through ball. And that really should have been that. Tilburg huffed and puffed for a while to no great effect until they were “handed” a life line by a harsh penalty decision against the skipper. Arms by his side and the ball, coming over a striker’s head, hits the outside of his hand and the completely unsighted ref reacts to the shouts and awards a penalty. Duly dispatched this revitalizes Tilburg and they soon equalize with a far post header from a corner.

No further score in the 90mins took us into extra time, which was mostly notable for tired legs, more and more space appearing and Alex’s yellow card for doubting the ref’s affiliations. The 30mins passed in a flash with two highlights. Darryl making an amazing save when a goal look inevitable from a shot no more than 6 yards out and the ref contentiously disallowing a Wolfie strike following a corner for a foul on their keeper which could easily have been committed by their own player.

And so to the penalties. There was no shortage of volunteers to take one of the 5 which says much for the spirit within the team. But this spirit was quickly tested with Tilburg going first and establishing a 3-0 advantage after saves made from both Kieffer and Alex. We were immediately into sudden death and relying on Tilburg to miss but as Wes, Hally and Uzi converted Tilburg’s nerve broke and they missed 3 in a row to give the skipper a chance to win it for us. Alas this was not to be and it then fell to the old guard of Mike, Spence and Swill to hold their nerves to keep us in it before the next chance to win arrived for Wolfie. Again it was not to be and after the keepers had both scored we stood at 7-7 with everyone having taken. It’s rare the chance of redemption is available in a penalty shoot out but after their first taker missed second time around, Kieffer had that chance and thankfully made no mistake to take us through to the next round and a meeting with old rivals Wandsworth Boro.

Team: D Duthie, K Evans, S Williamson, S Davern, P Wolfe, D Melville, M Edis, S Rowan (c), A Gray, J Hall, W Aldridge Subs U Arif (for Melville 46min)

Man of the match: Darryl – faultless display, amazing save in extra time and 3 saves during the shoot out

Spoon: Warren – for declining to travel, protecting his knees (for golf), finishing his ‘chores’ at home and thus missing a truly exceptional match… (which we would of WON in 90 mins had I played – Wazza!)

Team Photo 2009

Old Wokes 7s versus Reigations on 5th December 2009
Back row: Alex Gray, Darryl Duthie, Joe Turner, Unknown Ringer, Sam Edis, Pete Wolfe, Tom Smith, Vaios "Vee" Kotoulas
Front row: Ed Dam, Mike Edis, Paul "Logic" Szarvas, Craig Smith, Henry Havard, Frazer Page