Old Salopians II's - 0 Old Carthusian III's - 3
As discussions continue as to whether the OCFC 3rd XI will have to play a fixture on 22nd December - just 3 days before Christmas - they a had tackle the equally ridiculous prospect of playing a tough league game just 3 days after Halloween. Ridiculous. In tricky windy conditions similar to the previous week, The OC 3s brushed aside a decent Old Salopians outift without ever hitting top gear. The 3s remain unbeaten this campaign at the top of the table with pressure being applied seemingly only by those cut from the same stone - the Twos. Although judging on team appearance/ hair styles, cut with a lot less care.
Though, with the sudden departure of Ben Ryder-Smith the OCs had the advantage of a less sexually frustrated back five, early signs hinted that they were in fact taking a more casual approach to proceedings with Mosser J treating the game as a mere warm-up for his Vets match the following day, the C-B duo's apparent in-joke as they seemingly toyed with getting caught in possession as often as possible, and Wilko's questionable decision not to brush his teeth. The fact that Jon Jenkins had so very little to do meant that he unfortunately had to spend all 90 minutes pondering the fact that his car had probably been stolen. Imagine what they're capable of when they need to turn it on?
The central midfield pairing began the game in a lively fashion - partly due to Greeno's elation at being handed another opportunity run the game from the middle of the park, as a result of Sam "Judas" Spinks desertion, in what he would call his "natural" role. However it was the exquisite pass of Angus Proctor which provided a post-Halloween treat for Danny Perera who was licking his lips as he advanced on the keeper before finishing with aplomb to open the scoring. Though a few days late, all credit to Proctor and his opposite man for getting in the spirit and sporting scary ginger wigs for the occasion.
At half-time, stress was placed on the importance of not dozing off after the break by RiRu as had happened the previous week, and the week before that, and a few other times throughout the season. The point I'm making is that perhaps the team talks themselves could be the cause! Already early signs of mutiny whilst Rocky was showering were visible. The re-emergence of Club legends over the past few weeks with the likes of Kibbey and Del causing a stir. The captain was over heard stating that he would "be happy if he'd made it over half way" in the season.
On this occasion the team talk seemed to hit the nail on the head as the OCs came out and showed no signs of easing up. Any pressure was quelled and the introduction of Dolly just before the break meant that we had two central midfielders on in their natural positions. Sure enough it was Dolly who later latched onto a corner which was destined for goal - Only for goal machine Manches to take his recent evil and villainous performance as the bad guy from Skyfall that bit further in conjunction with Halloween and deny Dolly of his first goal of the season. Number 17 for Manches.
As the game drew on, the OCs looked to kill the game off. After a string of half chances and tame efforts, it was RUDDEN himself who struck a shot arguably cleaner than ever before from 25 yards only to see it smash against the bar and away. The spookiest event of Halloween weekend however surrounded the OCs 'phantom' third and final goal. The ball was played into a melee of bodies in the box, but the sequence of events which saw it end up in the back of the net remain shrouded in mystery. Six or seven players stood, like gargoyles, as the ball bounced around, until in a ghostly twist, it was spookily sucked over the line... to who the goal should be accredited remains unclear, although the outside of James Kibbey's boot was said to have been spotted near the scene. Definite Own Goal.
So, it was another sound performance from the OCs. For those that weren't present, just to give an impression of how one-sided this affair was they should look no further than Buzz's words after the game who quietly confessed he should have had 3 goals and 3 assists of his own during the game. Testament to the number of opportunities he, and the rest of the side were a part of and on another day, the result could have been far more devastating.
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