Huffing and Puffing

Coming off the back of narrow 1-0 defeat against a strong Enfield side, there were high hopes going into the game against All Nations.

With the same hope we had at this time last season, a win against another struggling team would have boosted morale and confidence.

The Green Giant was missing for this game, allowing new signing Paul Howard the opportunity for his debut behind the centre back pairing of the Gaffer and his 'assistant'. Sam Balogun was given a more creative role in a wide left position, proving that yet another TP player is as versatile as something thats versatile!

Coach Nick dragged himself out of his man-flu death bed to be the eyes on the side - unfortunately there was no voice to go with it!

The game kicked of and the Wanstead Wind made an apperance for the game, making it hard for TP to mount any sustained pressue on All Nations. Yet TP were still having the better of the play and playing some great short, low passes to work thier way up the pitch, getting close but never reaching the elusive cigar!

Darryl had to make way midway through the half with an injury, giving Gareth the chance to return from injury up front, with Nathaneal moving out wide for the good of the team.

The half time team talk lifted a frustrated team and there was belief that with the same performance and supporting wind, All Nations could be broken down. To take further advantage, Calvin and Sam B swapped roles to try and utilise Calvin's electric pace and get on the end of the through balls from the left hand side.

And closer TP got, with Sam Balogun convinced his shot was destined for the net until a save from the All Nations goalkeeper, who know was providing the main obstacle.

Two further changes were made to try and unsettle the Reds, with Coln replacing Ferris and Micheal replacing Jesse. Neither player deserved to be replaced, but no-one on the pitch did such was the belief of those on the side that a TP goal was inevitable.

But All Nations, taking confidence (as we were) of playing a team in and around the bottom, were working out how to play against the wind. And against all the TP pressure, All Nations won a corner that was drilled in. A diving header clearance from Ian in the midst of flying boots led to a pinball rally in the box that eventually fell to an All Nations boot which guided the ball past a completely untested Paul into the far corner with what was to be the last All Nations kick of the game.

TP kicked off and such was the urgency to get something from the game, a corner was won within seconds.

But it was not to be as the referee blew for full time.

Deflated and despondent, the message was that it was just one of those weeks. There are no easy games in the league, as the top teams have found out when they have faced TP - it was our turn to learn the lesson and take it into the Cup the following week.

Team:

P. Howard;
D. Hambridge (c), I. Howard, T. Lindsay, J. Middleweek (M. Okolie);
D. Passfield (G. Goodhew), C. Lindsay, D. Spinola, S. Balogun;
F. Lindsay (M. Agbabiaka), N. Field;

Blog Writers Man of the Match:

T. Lindsay - uncompromising.


Blog Writer: N. Speroni

So close, yet so far!

We were up against Enfield a highly rated team, that had started the season well and where in the top 5.

We were a bit of a scratch team with two new loan signings being thrown in at the last minute, we did o.k. We had the strong wind in our faces in the first half and thankfully Enfield didn't really make the best use of it. Enfield started the brighter and with a slow passing game that seemed to be working!

A corner from the left was met by an Enfield player and buried into the net. Steve had no chance.

Our defenders were still getting to know each other, whilst Enfield players HAD met each other before !! With a bit of good fortune and help from Jesse & John the score was kept down to one. One mistake by Captian John was SAVED by a 15mtr dash to the line by Darryl.

The first half seemed to pass without to many more scares. Michael & Colin ( our loan boys from Blackhorse Rd ) played their part down the right. Gaining confidence as the match progressed.

The boss tried to encourage at the break. Trevor the wise old man was not so complimentary and told the team we were not playing. The word was SHOOT, in the second half. The wind is with us.

Rowen ( feeling ill ) came on as Darryl switched positions. Many attempts at goal, many near misses, many missed kicked in front of goal....but no goal.

Overall the game was played in a great spirit and we really should have picked up a point at least.Even the Enfield man (James) said we didn't deserve to lose. But hey, we did and it was so close but still so far.


Team:
S. Speroni,
M. Okolie (R. Clift), D. Passfield, J. Helm (c), J. Middleweek;
C. Agbabiaka (S. Balogun), C. Lindsay, D. Spinola, N. Field;
G. Goodhew, G. Perkins

Unused Subs:
I. Howard, T. Lindsay


Blog Writers Man of the Match:

Darryll Passfield - Superb attitude when asked to play in 3 positions and great performances in all 3!


Blog Writer: Ian Howard

Vs London All Stars

Team:

S. Speroni;
D. Passfield, J. Helm (c), T. Lindsay, J. Middleweek;
N. Field (D. Mitchell), G. Perkins, C. Lindsay, D. Spinola, F. Dooknah (G. Goodhew);
S. Balogun (F. Lindsay)

Blog Writers Man of the Match:

...to follow...

TP Join the Big Time!

With several players returning and several players being unavailable, it was a much changed team that took to the field against the defending champions.

Ian – birthday boy & skipper for the day - and Nick started as the centre back pairing, with Dan Ong making his second consecutive start at right back. A five man midfield saw Calvin, Nathaneal and Gareth partner up in the middle for the first time, with Darryl on the right hand side and David slotting in on the left to man mark the Blackhorse playmaker – training out all that way with Blackhorse has it’s advantages!

Some last minute alterations to the starting line up seemed to take the wind out of the TP sails for the opening period however, and it was backs to the wall from kick-off. And just as TP were settling down there was an early set back when a through ball was played leaving Blackhorse Road’s giant of a striker against our very own Green Giant. The striker made a complete hash of the finish, but so unexpected was it that it caught Steve off guard who couldn’t quite tip it round the post.

But rather than collapse, TP actually got a grip on the game. Whilst this did mean defending with everything and the kitchen sink, and Steve seemingly exchanging his hands for frying pans to get to at time a barrage of shots and crosses, Calvin in the holding position was starting to take some of the pressure of the back line by winning tackles and headers that were 70-30 in the Blackhorse players favour. This allowed Nat to play and start picking passes out into the Blackhorse half.

Such was the confidence in the team that the defending was looking increasing solid, the play worked its way closer and closer to the Blackhorse goal. Not that we needed to get too close with Calvin hammering shots off from 30-40yrds that had all in Black worried!

A change was needed midway through the first half, with an incredibly unfortunate Gareth suffering a heavy tackle which aggravated his only just recovered thigh injury. Frankie came on to join Ferris up front. This coincided wit a tactical change pushing Jesse on to left midfield and David to left back.

Unlike the first 15mins, TP were now playing closer to the half way line, winning tackles and starting attacks from there. Dan Ong got a taste for the action at right back, making full bodied tackles and chasing the ball down into the midfield, and Jesse was enjoying more room to play down the left. But, in spite of the missiles being unleashed from Calvin, TP couldn’t get close enough to the Blackhorse Road goal to increase our chances of getting a deserved goal.

For all the play and possession we were having, Blackhorse were still creating problems and a second goal did come before half time.

A re-group at half time was used to really drive home the positives from the half, and with fresh legs ready on the sidelines and raring to make an impact, there was real belief that the second half could be won by the Oranges.

Changes were made as the half progressed, Dan Ong was replaced by Dan Spin (Darryl moved to right back) and Trevor replaced Ferris.

Defending was still impeccable, with a standout tackle from Ian inside the penalty box and – as per standard – several glorious saves from Steve. But the attack was becoming more and more dangerous. David and Darryl were finding more room to break and start moves from the back into the midfield and beyond, Dan Spinola was pivotal in several spells on great one touch passing that resulted in Jesse and Calvin getting behind the Blackhorse Road defence, whilst Trevor was doing all the – in the most glamorous sense of the term – donkey work in hassling and tackling and suffocating the Blackhorse attacks. The highlights of the half being a sensational spell of passing down the left involving Dave, Dan, Frankie and Jesse and a thunderous volley from David after good play by Jesse down the left that – had it gone in – would have surely taken the title of TPs Greatest Ever Goal off of Dan Spinola.

A final throw of the dice saw an unfortunate Nat make way for Sam B. But, as per previous weeks, where earning a point wasn’t out of the question, the quest was blown apart by two breaks that put Blackhorse 4 goals to the good.

The post match analysis was dominated by one statement – the Blackhorse camp were asking themselves why the poor performance, to which the manager replied that it only seemed a poor performance because of the way TP took the game to them and played some of the best football we have ever seen in the Orange shirts.

Oh… but you are probably thinking how could we have joined the Big Time if we lost the game?

Well…
Ø all the Premier League clubs have one…
Ø the majority – if not all - of Football League clubs have one…
Ø no-one in the NELCEL has one…

What is it?

A Club Mascot in the shape of WigWam!

We’ve hit the big time now boys!
Samuel Howard – you will go down in history.

On a serious note – our thoughts and prayers remain with Rowan’s friend Jason’s family.

Team:

S. Speroni;
D. Ong (D. Spinola), I. Howard (c), N. Speroni, J. Middleweek;
D. Passfield, N. Field (S. Balogun), C. Lindsay, D. Hambridge;
F. Lindsay (T. Lindsay), G. Goodhew (F. Dooknah);

Blog Writers Man of the Match:

No question - Calvin Lindsay. Nuff said!

Vs ICC Sons

Team:

S. Speroni;
D. Ong (F. Dooknah), I. Howard, T. Lindsay, J. Middleweek;
A. Aryanpour, S. Balogun (1), C. Lindsay, N. Field (c);
D. Passfield (1), G. Goodhew;


Blog Writers Man of the Match:

...to follow...

Round 3!

TP were without big Steve Speroni in goal for this clash with a team who have consistently been at the top of the table for the last couple of seasons, so this was always going to be a hard match without their established number one.

Dave Hambridge stepped in for his third appearance in goal. Frankie was on the bench as TP stuck with the 4-4-2 formation that worked against Walthamstow Parish. Calvin, Nathaneal, Rowan, and Arsan all came back into the equation, as injured target man Gareth watched from the sidelines.

And a historic moment for TP - Brother in Laws John & Rowan started alongside each other at Centre back for the first time.

TP started strongly and overcame the opposition in all the 50-50s. Trevor Lindsay and John Helm were dominating in the air and Rowan and Sam stood their ground against some pacey, talented Springfield players.

TP took the lead via Calvin Lindsay, scoring his second goal of the campaign, burying a cross shot from just inside the area, after being played in by Ferris Lindsay.

TP’s confidence was sky-high as Dan and Arsan ran the midfield well, and didn’t waste possession. The partnership is beginning to form and they communicated well with each other through-out. Springfield equalised when a midfielder muscled his way through the backline and finished low and hard.

Springfield carried on playing strongly and just before half time they got their second, a striker sneaking down the channel and sliding his shot in of the post.

TP came out in the second half and gave a good account and deservedly got their equaliser through Ferris. A cross was spilled by the keeper under pressure from substitute Greg and Ferris fired home.

With 10 minutes to go there would be an enthralling finale. Would one team snatch it? Or would it stay a draw, as the objective neutral (or unbiased fan!) would say the game deserved to stay.

Fortune seemed to be smiling on TP as Rowan, who had battled against the number 10 all game was rarely beaten, but Sam Heskey cleared off the line. But the resulting quickly taken corner saw fortune desert TP as a corner was headed in past Dave in goal.

There were plenty of other chances throughout the game, the most notable for TP being a header from Rowan blocked on the line and a vicious free kick – the taker unfortunately forgotten (you know who you are!) that eluded Arsan at the back post but had the crowd celebrating it was that close; For Springfield, a shot from all of 25yrds that was bending into the back post and would have been a contender for goal of the season had it not been for an outstretched hand from David.

The game was wrapped up 2 minutes from time as “the little one” who had been so well marshalled by Calvin and Sam wriggled past Calvin and crossed under the keeper for a striker to finish.

Team:

D. Hambridge;
S. Balogun, R. Clift, J. Helm (c), T. Lindsay (D. Passfield);
C. Lindsay (1), A. Aryanpour, D. Spinola, N. Speroni (D. Mitchell);
F. Lindsay (F. Dooknah), N. Field (G. Perkins);

Unused Subs: J. Middleweek, D. Ong

Blog Writer Man of the Match:

There has been a little history with Springfield which was glady brushed aside in this encounter, but for a performance that was a good defensively (against Springfield's own Robinho) as going forward, Calvin Lindsay takes the honours.

What's the word?... Bouncebackability!

Going into the game against Walthamstow, confidence was surprisingly high coming off the back of 3 defeats.

The Gaffer was not present, nor was his right hand man Trevor, although thier instructions had been passed on and Trevor’s “First 3” mantra was beginning to stick!

Jesse, Darryl and Gareth all started with a point to prove against the club that had loaned them out.

The Oranges – this week in the navy of Springfield – began the stronger, with what could have been the most historic moment in their brief (but long enough!) history…
A corner was won on the right by TP and the ball fell to Dan Spin at the edge of the box. Nick - at centre back so safely out of the way of any goal scoring opportunities - wandered forward in to a position to create an option for Dan, which Dan took.
With one touch to tee and a swing of the left boot… CROSSBAR! And down… Over the line? Who knows! A case will be put to the NELECL for goal line technology.

The game balanced out and slowly – with a returning wind to the Flats – Walthamstow started to apply constant pressure from a dangerous throw-in assault. With the ball being flung to the back post on each occasion, there was hardly any let up or defence, just an ugly scrap to get it away on each occasion. There were many calls for fouls, pushing, flaying arms but a watching Ref always ensured that 6 of 1 and half a dozen of the other meant there was no advantage to either team.

But it was always coming and it was 0–1 with a long throw to back post and bundled in.

But was that the spur needed for TP? The style of play was exact opposite of Walthamstow, and a spell of awesome short passing involving Dan, Ferris and Darryl was finished by Greg on his starting debut. It was a deserved equaliser.

An unfortunate moment followed when Gareth pulled up with a thigh injury. He was replaced by Nat Field, who had been incredibly unfortunate not to start.

The wind continued to be a factor, and whilst we had finally come to terms with the throws, a freak punt from just inside the TP half off of a clearance by Steve bounced perfectly between John and Steve to loop over the stranded man in green.

Half Time, and defensively not overly tested bar the throw-ins. Surely with the wind against these wouldn’t be effective in the second half?

Another change made at half time saw Arsan come on for an impressive Greg.

The half again started positively and more direct, and it wasn’t too long before a dummied shot by Ferris (we know that was the plan all along!) was actually an inch perfect pass to Nathaneal to bury to make it 2-2.

The 3rd change of the game saw Calvin for Ferris.

Just when we thought we had seen the end of the aerial barrage… Penalty! The Ref was always going to give one, and it was Steve that conceded. It was harsh, and this only riled the giant further, and with a word from an un-named Walthamstow defector, Steve – even though wrong footed at first – recovered with a Gordon Banks-esqe save, diving to his bottom left to tip the ball up and round the post. Not stopping there, Steve then made another sprawling save to his left, this time keeping out a pile driver from a well worked corner. Could this be the turning point?

In form reminiscent of a former Swedish England manager, David replaced Nick in the 4th change of the match, and made an energetic start to rile the opposition and stir his team-mates into action… but… Penalty! This time Arsan conceded while defending a counter attack. There were few complaints, and a new penalty taker only just beat Steve, who guessed right and so nearly successfully. 2-3 – TP were behind for the 3rd time.

With the aforementioned Gaffer and right hand man absent, it fell to the Coach to make the call to go all out to get back into the game, going with a tactical change to 3-4-3, with the front line being made up of Calvin, Nat & Sam B.

And it paid off, with pressure leading to several corners and finally a corner from Arsan to the back post, which was met by Dave and put back into the mix for the Wanderer Balogun to bury… 3-3!

With only 15mins left, TP reverted back to a more solid Back to basics of 4-4-2.

The final change was made for TP, with Dan Ong coming on for a hard working Frankie on the left wing. And the first thing he did was rough up a couple of the Walthamstow big guys with some solid, full bodied tackles.

And then it happened…

4-3! TP took the lead for the first time in the game and it truly was deserved for a grafting, yet at times gorgeous, display. Nat Field, in classic Football Bloopers style, rounded (or was it went through?) the fumbling goalkeeper and took an eternity to put the ball away – but away it went!

It was sealed in the dying moments from another Aryanpour corner and this time it was Sideshow Dan taking the main stage, thumping home from close range.


Team:

S. Speroni;
S. Balogun (1), J. Helm, N. Speroni (c) (D. Hambridge), J. Middleweek;
D. Passfield, D. Spinola (1), G. Perkins (1) (A. Aryanpour), F. Dooknah (D. Ong);
G. Goodhew (N. Field (2)), F. Lindsay (C. Lindsay);


Blog Writer Man of the Match:

Take your pick from penalty hero Steve, 2 goal hero Nathaneal, inspirational club captain John Helm, supersub Arsan (forgetting the penalty!).
My pick... a sterling, solid and passionate display from Jesse Middleweek. Never in awe of those he knows so well and inside out, he stood up to be counted and was praised by team-mates, opposition and supporters alike.