Old Woods Veterans remained on trajectory to retain the Old Boys Cup with an impressive 5-1 semi-final demolition of Bealonians at South Over.

Woods started this game brightly and looked dangerous from the outset with Nobby Sharie and Paul Atkin looking to get an early goal. Woods would have to wait around 25 minutes to strike and when they did it was Sharie who drew first blood. Joe Henry knocked a ball out to Brendan O’Shea who fed Sharie and he calmly slipped the ball under the keeper to make it 1-0 to the Woods.  

Woods never looked like conceding in the first half with Chris Grey in goal and Tom Fothergill, Michael Jays, Des O’Connor and Brett Cahill in front of him although injury to Fothergill meant he was replaced by Ciro Cancello towards the end of the first half.

In control of the match the half time whistle blew and it must have been a relief for Beals who were under the cosh for much of the first half. Woods started the second half well and were soon two goals ahead via an excellent scissor kick from Henry from a Barry Greenstreet cross – it flew in to the top corner leaving the keeper no chance. It was most Kellyesque in style.

Woods must have thought they had the game won now and switched off to concede a goal against the run of play. A ball was crossed from the Bealonian left to the far post to leave their unmarked striker the simple task of putting the ball in the empty net.

Still less than halfway through the half Woods restored their two goal cushion. Mark Lomax played in Atkin who was manhandled to the ground leaving the referee, who had an excellent game, no option but to point to the spot. In the absence of Sean Hussey O’Shea stepped up and converted the spot kick to make it 3-1.

Following this Atkin was replaced up top by Tim Perkins. With 10 minutes to go Henry scored his second of the match after heading in a Greenstreet corner and moments later he was denied a hatrick by an excellent tip over the bar from the keeper following a 25 yard dipping volley.

O’Connor made Woods final substitution as Rob Miller replaced Greenstreet. With minutes remaining Perkins completed the rout when he slammed home Woods fifth goal from 10 yards out.

So the Vets will face either Aloysians or Lyonians in the Final at Southover on Sunday 11 April – if they put in another performance like this then surely they will win. It was nice to see a few supporters at the game including Chairmen past and present, Jerry Davis and David Goldring as well as a recuperating Patrick Henry whose presence must have spurred his brother on to turn in a man of the match performance!

Team: Grey, Fothergill (Cancello), Jays, O’Connor, Cahill, O’Shea, Lomax, J Henry, Greenstreet (Miller), Sharie, Atkin (Perkins)

Scorers: Sharie, Henry 2, O’Shea, Perkins

Old Woods Veterans team continued their defence of the Old Boys Cup with an impressive 4-1 Quarter Final win against East Barnet Old Grammarians at Alan Drive in Barnet.

For the first 10 minutes of this encounter Woods were under some intense pressure as EBOGs looked to take an early advantage – Chris Grey, who is carrying a knock, was called upon to make a couple of saves one of which was a particularly good stop with his feet.

Woods soaked up this pressure well and about half way through the half began to find their feet with some good through balls to Sean Hussey, also carrying a knock, and Paul Atkin up top. Joe Henry and Mark Lomax in Centre Mid were working hard and after about 30 minutes Lomax found Atkin on the right who squared to Hussey and he saw his goal bound effort heading for the corner of the goal only for the keeper to stick out an instinctive leg and send the ball wide.

With 10 minutes remaining in the half skipper, Des O'Connor, replaced and under the weather Mike Jays and Ciro Cancello. Henry dropped into the centre of defence and Barry Greenstreet went to centre midfield. With about 5 minutes left in the half Woods were one goal to the good – Nobby Sharie put Hussey through who unselfishly squared to Atkin who had a the simple task to steer the ball home. 1 – 0 Woods!

With seconds in the half remaining Hussey could have extended the lead but he saw his instinctive shot form 6 yards go high and wide.

Following a rousing halftime team talk from O'Connor Woods were pegged back early in the second half. An uncharacteristic mistake from Grey let in the EBOG left winger who passed to their centre forward to stick the ball into the empty net. 1-1

Woods continued to take the game to EBOGs with through balls to the strikers who were sometimes wrongly called offside. On 60 minutes Woods one goal was restored. Following a corner Sharie's shot was saved by the EBOG keeper only for him to volley the loose ball into the net. 2-1 Woods!

Playing good football Woods looked for another goal to kill the game off and it soon came. Brett Cahill sent a cross field ball to Hussey who broke the offside trap and squared for Atkin to score a carbon copy of his first goal. 3-1 Woods!

The back four were playing well and the two goal cushion took the pressure off, this allowed Tom Fothergill to make a dizzying run into the EBOG half only to be fouled outside the box. Not to be outdone Rob Miller made a similar run down the Woods left making it in to the box only to be fouled – Penalty (Miller always wins penalties!)! Hussey stepped up to take the kick – he sent the keeper the wrong way only to see the ball hit the outside of the post and go wide!

There were two minutes left on the clock when Woods put the icing on the cake. Greenstreet released Sharie through the middle and he coolly slotted home to make it 4-1.

The final whistle blew shortly after this – in what was a good victory. Woods will play either Bealonians or Old Finchleians in the Semi Final.

Team: Grey, Fothergill, O'Connor. Jays (Miller), Cancello (Cahill), Sharie, J Henry, M Lomax, Greenstreet, Atkin, Hussey, D. Goldring

Scorers: P Atkin 2, N Sharie 2

Old Woodhouseains Veterans began their defence of the Old Boys Cup away to local rivals, Albanian – well actually it was at home as both teams play their home games at Southover.

Woods knew that this would be a tough match as Albanian are holders of the LOB Jack Perry Cup. As expected the game got off to a cagey start with both teams probing for an opening Joe Henry and Mark Lomax were linking well together in centre midfield and trying to get Nobby Sharie and Brendan O’Shea involved on the wings whenever they could. With little between the teams in the first 25-30 minutes Old Woods won a penalty when Henry was hacked down in the corner of the box – he was so delighted with himself that he punched the air with glee, this game obviously meant a lot to him!

Sean Hussey, to the surprise of some of the spectators, picked up the ball to take the penalty kick. They shouldn’t have worried as he coolly slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner and also sent the keeper the wrong way – 1-0 to the Woods!

The game was still finely balanced at 1-0 as Albanian pushed for an equaliser but the back four of Tom Fothergill, Des O’Connor, Mike Jays and Ciro Cancello stood resolute in front of Chris Grey in goal. On fourty minutes there was some panic in the Woods ranks as Grey took a knock in goal and there were some angry words exchanged – but he was OK and Woods saw out the last 5 minutes of the half to lead 1-0 at half time.

There were some strong words of encourage at halftime to keep playing the way the Woods were and O’Connor admitted that he was probably having to do the least of everyone! A strange thing also happened at half time as the referee said to Chairman Dave that if there were any “serious” offences that the player would be sin-binned. None of us had ever heard of this in a football match before – perhaps the ref doesn’t like having to write reports for bookings or sending offs?!

Nonetheless the two teams returned to the field of play for the second half. About ten minutes in and Woods were 2-0 up. Paul Atkin played the ball out to the left for Hussey who kept possession and laid it to Lomax on the edge of the box who stroked it in the path of O’Shea for him to bend the ball into the bottom right hand corner – the watching Woods fans went wild!

For the next 25 minutes or so the game got a bit scrappy with some “tasty” challenges going in from both teams and lots of whinging from some of the old stagers. O’Shea was sin-binned for a late tackle on Albanians angry number 4 who later stamped on Henry and escaped punishment. Henry also got to spend five minutes in the bin for a deliberate handball.

With 10 minutes remaining Woods secured the victory after the Albanian keeper foolishly picked up a back-pass. So from about 7 yards out Hussey touched the ball to O’Shea who slammed the ball home to make it 3-0 to the Woods.

With 5 minutes to go Derek Lamb replaced the limping O’Shea and as the final whistle blew Hussey was brought down in the box for what could have penalty. As the players left the pitch the jovial ref commented that they had “nearly ruined his Sunday morning” which I think was a reference to the level of moaning from players in both teams. But none of this bickering was on display in the bar afterwards as the players sank a few pints with each other. Woods played well in this game against a strong Albanian Veterans team – with Grey hardly needing to make a save.

The Vets now face East Barnet Old Grammarians in the last 8 on Sunday 29 November as they hope to retain the Old Boys Cup – a team they beat on penalties in the semi-final of the same competition last season.

Team: Grey, Fothergill, Jays, O’Connor, Cancello, Sharie, J Henry, Lomax, O’Shea, Atkin, Hussey (Subs: Hussey, Cahill)

Scorers: Hussey, O’Shea 2

The valiant Supervets started the season last Sunday 18 October with another unfortunate result – losing 3 – 2 to Old Finchleians Megavets.

The game started with Woods struggling to field a full side, with Chris Walton having hung up his boots, injuries to skipper Glenn Martin as well as Ray Langley, Steve Heels, Keith Bailey, work for Richard Westgate, other arrangements for Paddy Campbell, indifference from Dave Williams and Keith Glasscoe (who didn’t even reply to the call), Ian Dale preferring to play with little boys in Macclesfield, plus Andy Edwards forsaking the chance of a game for the company of a younger woman!

The highlight was the debut of young Nick Pike, who at 51 showed that he was made for this team – be careful Dermot, you may not get your place back! Dave Goldring again donned the gloves (in the absence of Chris W) and (though I say it myself) made a stunning save low to his right towards the end of the first half, which finished with honours even at 0-0. I had visions of a 0-0 draw at the final whistle, but it was not to be as (with Derek Lamb off the pitch for 15 minutes as we used our one substitute) we conceded 3 goals in that short period, but fought back with another high looping shot (you can't really call it a shot) from Cliff Holding and a shot from the right from substitute Andy Law, to make the final score 3-2.

Sterling performances from Tim Ross, gobbling up everything at the back, Dom Drozd, running tirelessly behind front man Cliff, Jon Hann and everyone else, with Andy (“I only want a cameo for 10 minutes”) Smith lasting a full 90 minutes (save a short break as sub), and Gary Payne, who looked exhausted at half time, coming back in the second half and showing no signs of tiredness. Special mention to Andy Law, who came along for second half (despite having to look after ailing parents) and scored.

Thanks to all who played and to all who came to watch, including Chris and Derek Northwood, Andy Winton (where are those boots Andy), Mike Schlagman, Darren Hatton, Jo Barron-Cook and others (sorry if I have missed out your name).

Team: David Goldring, Gary Payne, Dave Cook, Tim Ross, Derek Lamb, Nick Pike, Jon Hann, Dom Drodz, Andy Smith, Cliff Holding, Andy Law and Martin Murphy (lent to us by Finchleians and who had a fine game).