Red Hot Duff

1st March 2009

Division 3
Clifton Vs Sidwell
Co-op Ground

Away to Clifton is never going to be an easy task, especially against a team which are the only ones to beat you in the league. Clifton have been on a winning streak of late, so it was nice to get an early lead. Tom Smith headed against the post from a Harry Montgomery corner, the ball fell down in the 6 yard box and Michael Wills was there to fire the ball over the line for his second goal of the season. Moments earlier Dan Wilson fired wide after striking on the half volley after great work on the right from Tom Smith and putting an inch perfect ball into the box.
Tom himself nearly made it 2-0 when the lively Michael Wills enjoying a rare outing in right midfield got the better of the Clifton left back and whipped in a lovely ball to the unmarked Tom Smith. Tom had tome to control, and as he was about to tuck the ball home it sat up on the grass and he fired just over the bar.
Dan Wilson was then given a dubious yellow card 20 minutes in for not being 10 yards from a free kick in a game that was not dirty or full of bad language, but it didn’t stop card happy Jim Duff getting his book out.
Harry Montgomery made it 2-0 before half time with a lovely through ball from Tom Smith allowed Harry to fire under the keeper into the corner of the net. Sidwell held on to a 2-0 lead till half time.
The second half started how it finished with Harry Montgomery making it 3-0 firing into the corner of the net from another Tom Smith layoff, and Harry soon had his hat trick and his first for the club when the same two combined for Harry to drill home and Tom to get his hat trick of assists.
Craig Liasi made a return to Sidwell duty coming on for Mark Caldecourt on the hour and made an instant impact. Craig was laid in to fire at goal on the edge of the area. Craig’s shot was blocked for it to fall kindly for the in form Dan Wilson who fired low into the corner of the net. Craig then managed to pull his groin, and with no subs had to struggle on till the end of the game.
Harry Montgomery had the chance to get his 4th, but as he rounded the keeper, he was brought down for the ref to point to the spot. Surprisingly Jim ‘the card’ Duff didn’t even get his book out.
Tom Smith who was out of luck of late with regards putting the ball in the net was encouraged to take it by his team mates. Tom fired low into the corner making it 6-0 and capped a magnificent day for him, also picking up his fourth man of the match award.
6-0 up and a moment of madness from Dan McGill at the back, gave the ball away. As he tracked back and with his back turned, the ball struck his arm. A free kick was given and Jim Duff gave Dan a straight red which was a disgraceful decision. One as the ball was going away from goal 25 yards out, and secondly why was the Clifton keeper not given the same fate minutes earlier.
Sidwell now down to 9 men with Liasi hobbling up front, made it 7-0 when Dan Wilson flicked on a Michael Wills header for Harry Montgomery to fire low and hard into the net. It remained 7-0 which is a magnificent result against one of the in form teams.

Final Score: Clifton 0 – 7 Sidwell

Scorers: Wills, Montgomery (4), Wilson, Smith

Team: Connelly, McGill, Wyeth, Helps, Wiltshire, (Court), Montgomery, Caldecourt, (Liasi), Martin, Wills, Wilson, Smith

Ref: Jim Duff

Man of the Match: Tom Smith


[quote][img][/img]

Patriot Game

8th March 2009

Division 3
South London Patriots Vs Sidwell
Mottingham Playing Fields

It seems a long time since Sidwell’s last encounter with South London Patriots; it was the first game of the season which saw Sidwell as 7-2 victors. Today Sidwell had to make some changes to the back line and midfield with Chris Wiltshire stepping into centre back for the missing Peter Helps, and Richard Bennetts filling in at right midfield. Sidwell got off to a terrible shaky start, and it may be the changes that never had time to settle down that caused it.
Sidwell had the wind behind them on open Mottingham playing fields, but it was the SLP that took the game to Sidwell, running constantly at the Sidwell defence. Mark Caldecourt and Dave Martin did an excellent job in breaking down play and distributing quickly. It was Mark that opened the flood gates and settled the team when he rose to volley a Dave Martin free kick past the SLP keeper. In the process the SLP keeper sustained an eye injury and was taken to Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup. It was 2-0 shortly after the restart when another free kick in a similar position found Dan Wilson free at the far post to head into the corner of the net.
It seemed that SLP’s heads had dropped for that brief moment as Tom Smith seemed to have regained his shooting boots by firing a 30 yard rocket past the replacement keeper to make it 3-0, and taking him and strike partner Dan Wilson to 30 goals between them for the season.
With Sidwell now more relaxed, SLP picked themselves up and attacked Sidwell’s defence again and deserved their goal when a long range drive curled into the top corner of Connelly’s net. Game back on or so it seemed, when Montgomery found himself with the keeper to beat and being closed down fast by 2 SLP players, he unselfishly squared across goal to the unmarked Dan Wilson who finished first time into the top corner of the net with the aid of the keepers gloves.
4-1 at half time, and Sidwell still had a lot of work to do as they now had to play into the wind. This time Sidwell made a better start, and with Mark Caldecourt doing the tackling and Dave Martin distributing in the middle of the park, Sidwell looked a solid unit. The Sidwell defence still came under pressure but Wiltshire, Court, Wyeth, and McGill stood up strong. Owen Connelly also kept Sidwell in it with 3 magnificent one on one saves, but was unable to stop a 25 yard screamer which flew straight past him into the back of the net.
Sidwell managed to hit back straight away when a free kick was headed on by Tom Smith to Dan Wilson who chested forward, to the protest of SLP for handball, and rounded the keeper to score his hat trick and his 20th goal of the season. Harry Montgomery got the 6th after great work from the returning Ben Tucker, carried the ball down the right wing before cutting inside and playing the ball to the other wing where Harry with another tricky run took the ball into the box and smash into the roof of the net.
With time running out, SLP chased a lost cause over the top into the area for Owen not to collect and the SLP player rolled it past Owen to make it 6-3. SLP should and could have had more and did everything but just failed to finish. Then to save the best till last, with the ref about to blow for full time, Dave Martin latched onto a knock down and hit an unstoppable 30 yard drive with the very last kick of the game which left the net bulging. Dave’s 1st goal for Sidwell in 24 appearances and it earnt him man of the match to cap a magnificent display from Sidwell’s midfield.

Final Score: South London Patriots 3 – 7 Sidwell

Scorers: Caldecourt, Wilson (3), Smith, Montgomery, Martin

Team: Connelly, Court, Wiltshire, Wyeth, McGill, Bennetts, (Tucker), Caldecourt, Martin, Montgomery, Smith, Wilson

Ref: Tony Wheeler

Man of the Match: Dave Martin