Broadway Celtic 0 North London Tara 3 Reg Ellis Cup 1st round
BCFC went out of the Reg Ellis Cup to NLT in a hard thought match at Northwick Park on Sunday.
After not playing since mid november due to the weather fitness was always going to be a problem though BCFC had the better of the opening exchanges with new signing from the castle Aaron constantly causing the tara's defence problems, it was then somewhat against the run of play that Tara's took the lead when Timmy Mullins decided to pass the ball back to Lee in goal who then with Stephen O'Carroll charging at him like a whippet Lee took to long with his 2nd touch leaving the impressive O'Carroll the easiest of walk-ins. Tara's then went 2 up when a long ball found Burkey totally unmarked in the penalty area (Nicky Harman held his hand up to this one)and Burkeys superb header went into the top corner dispite Lee's best efforts.
The 2nd half saw BCFC start like they did the first half, ie most of the play but causing Brian O'Donnell in the NLT goal no problems, then with 20 minutes left Lee walked when Nick Illott sent him off for handballing Burkey's lob outside the area, a bad day for Lee but better it happen now than in a game we really need to win because lets be honest Kings United in the next round looks like one of those games BCFC could do without during our re-building phase, so todays defeat didn't hurt to much on reflection.
JP got one with 5 minutes remaining to make the win look that bit more of a landslide for NLT but you have to remain positive and believe that the new castle signings (Ryan Tanner and Aaron Nash-Barker) and the return of Gavin Dobbs from his knee injury after christmas will make us more of a threat and maybe the Presidents cup could be a realistic target !
Man of the match - Willy Murphy once again showed character,bottle and determination , just the character traits this team will need in abundance if we are to relive past glories again in the future !
Broadway Celtic II 3 – Feltham Reunited 1
This Middlesex Cup last 16 match was eventful even before the whistle. Crabbsy decided he needed a medical examination so pulled a nurse the night before and abandoned his mates for science, then to top it off Ryan Fortune turns up at the ground with his missus and asks the gaffer if he can be excused from playing because he would like to do something with her today…… “Of course” JA said…..”And while you are at it get her thumb removed your head mate”.
Anyway onto the game, after a number of bad performances in previous weeks we were looking for a return to the good football of early season and on a bog of a pitch with the gale force winds we managed to turn in a fine display to comfortably beat the unbeaten Feltham from the West Middlesex League. Despite dominating the early exchanges it was Feltham that managed to take the lead from a shot from 20 yards when the ball got caught in the line of the winter sun and managed to elude myself. That sun is a killer. This just ensured we upped the tempo even more with the midfield pairing of Quiddsy and
With the wind and sun behind us in the second half we capitalised immediately with JA breaking down the left to put in a fine cross to the back post for the on rushing Kelly to side foot home the volley for a well deserved lead. We continued to play well in midfield and attack with the defence standing firm but there was not much coming at them to be fair and it wasn’t long before the game was put to bed. From a free kick our wide razor whipped in a cross that eluded everyone including the keeper to go straight in to seal a comfortable path into the next round for Broadway II’s.
Man of the match: Quiddsy – Worst first touch in Sunday football but performed like a little terrier.
Team: Keegan, Flash, Brendan, Stu, M Rooney, Quiddsy, JA,
HIP HIP HOO-RAY!!
Highgate II 3 – Broadway Celtic II 4
From todays performance you could tell there were a few boys out celebrating Kelly’s birthday the night before! The first 20 minutes or so went by without much to report and it was Highgate that got the breakthrough after the striker latched on to a flick on, to slot home, this finally woke us up and from the resulting centre kick Mark Hayes broke down the wing and crossed to the far post for Razor to volley in from an acute angle for the equaliser. We had much of the play but it was Highgate that got the next goal against the run of play. They played the ball out wide and an attempted cross was deflected by Porno Pete over my stranded head into the top corner. We will put that one down as an o.g! We tried in vain to get the goal back before half time, with a few glorious chances going amiss, in particular from Hayes who broke clear and did the usual thing of trying to break the net only to drag his shot wide.
We started the second half like a team that wanted to win, I think the hangovers were slowly clearing up, and with the introduction of Simon up froNt for his first game of the season we began to play some good football but it was Highgate that scored once again against the run of play. With 20 minutes to go their striker managed to squeeze past 2 defenders and cross for an unchallenged header that left me with no chance. It wasn’t long before we pulled one back and it was Crabbsy that did it in fine style with a strike into the top corner from 25 yards. We were dominating the game now but were taking the odd risk or two in search of the equaliser. Again Highgate broke and a cross found their striker unmarked to head towards the bottom corner only to be foiled by a fantastic save to my left. From the resulting kick out Razor broke down the wing and crossed early for Simon to slot in to make it 3-3 with 5 minutes to go. A series of late corners kept the pressure on Highgate and the ball fell to Razor on the edge whose shot that was heading goal bound anyway, took a slight deflection into the far corner to complete the comeback and keep our unbeaten start to the season going.
We were far too complacent before the game and this showed by our first half performance, but the second half showed how much better a team we are from last year. We need to concentrate more at key stages of the game and cut out unforced errors.
Man of the match:
Team: Keegan, Porno Pete, Brendan, Stu, M Rooney, Quiddsy, Crabbsy,
BCFC 1 All Saints 2
The firsts team showed signs of last seasons complacancy as they went down 2-1 to All Saints.
Timmy Mullins blew out after being our best player recently which really pissed the managment off, Tommy and Sean were abroad (fair enough) and Paul wright pulled a hamstring pre match (bad luck) and Gavin and Ryan are still injured.
We could have won it though but a couple of people were not showing on the pitch for the full 90 minutes, on the plus side the defence was superb to a man and Lee Caffrey was excellant as always in goal.
We took the lead on 30 minutes when kev mcloughlin beat the offside trap to slot home, All Saints were given a dodgy penalty on 35 minutes which Lee saved though they were gien another one on 45 minutes when Danny hacked down an All Saints player in the box, this penalty was duly dispatched.
The 2nd half we were poor with few chances created, All Saints winner came on 70 minutes and to be honest a point would have flattered us as we were totally reliant on our back 4 and Lee in goal in the 2nd half as a tiring midfield left us very expoused.
A few new signings might be needed if we are to avoid slipping into the bad habits and form of last season and a win in our next game is vital.
man of the match Willy Murphy - never puts a foot wrong and for a small guy he punches well above his weight !