HBO FC Veterans Men's Football Team Match Reports 2011-2012
Green King Essex Veterans League 3rd Division North
Saturday 10 Sept 2011 2pm White Notley Reserves 5 HBO Vets 4
Not surprisingly at the start of our first veterans league match, away at White Notley, we were excited and nervous both the players and the manager. On the pitch it showed in the early exchanges. White Notley took advantage of local knowledge and exploited the slope. HBO fell behind by a couple goals with midfield in unfamiliar diamond formation. Our manager adapted switching to a more conventional midfield 4 and we got one back. The team spirit and battling qualities we have displayed in all our friendlies served us well as we stuck to the task. We then had a good middle period either side of half time which we won 3 - 1 to find ourselves deservedly in the lead at 4 - 3. A shrewd tactical change by the home team manager led to them agonisingly to win the last ten minutes 2 – 0 and the match 5 – 4 so close for so long. Pete Young put in a great display in goal to deservedly be awarded our Man of the Match. Nick Blackham-Hayward popped up from middle field to score 2 goals and striker David Milne goat the other. A draw or even a win were not beyond our grasp. After an entertaining game we felt encouraged that we had more than competed as equals with and established team. We could be proud to wear our smart new kits.
The starting line-up
Peter Young Goalkeeper
Andy Coslett (Capt.), Kevin Dellow, Paul Beauchamp, Steve Nancarrow
Spencer Godfrey, John Newcombe, Nick Blackham-Hayward, Adrian Burge
David Milne, Kevin Williams-Taylor
Rolling Subs used: Ian Das, Carl Sandserson, Mark Strutt
Subs not used: Simon Marshall
Manager: Simon Marshall
Saturday 17 Sept 2011 Bishops Stortford Reserves 4 HBO Vets 3
This game was set to be an important yard stick as Bishops Stortford Reserves finished third last season and already beaten us in a friendly. HBO dominated the first twenty minutes but found themselves 2 : 0 after the midway point having conceded both goals to set plays. Conceding goals in this way is not that surprising as the players learn their roles in a new team against. As in the first game HBO kept their composure and fought back to 2 -1. They conceded another before half term. True to the spirit of the team we dug in and won the second half 2-1. Before the game at some length Spencer had told us again he was a striker and in the second half he got the chance to prove it. Our man of the match Jonny Newman once again was the engine room of the team and played in quality midfield pairing with Nick Blackham-Hayward. The opposition took note of a much improved HBO team and recognised that HBO had deserved a point from the game. Importantly after only the second game all three of our strikers have goals to their names.
HBO Scorers
David Milne (1)
Nick Blackham-Hayward (2)
Own goals (1)
The starting line-up
Peter Young Goalkeeper
Andy Coslett (Capt.), Kevin Dellow, Paul Beauchamp, Spencer Godfrey
Carl Sandserson, John Newcombe, Nick Blackham-Hayward, Kevin Williams-Taylor
David Milne, Ian Das
Rolling Subs used: David Barrington, Paul Jarvis, Geoffrey
Romaine, Mark Strutt
Subs not used: Simon Marshall
Manager: Simon Marshall
Saturday 24 Sept 2011 HBO Vets 4 v Doddinghurst Olympics 0
The manager as every game rightly targeted a win. The defence had one target a clean sheet confident the strikers would score that would ensure a win. Both achieved their target. This was our first home match albeit at Grange Paddocks, Bishops Stortford. Most of the players were feeling a bit more used to league football and comfortable that we could compete. Now we had to do it against fell new boys Doddinghurst Olympics who had already got often to a winning start to their season. The first half was dominant display from HBO. The strikers ran riot the middle work tirelessly and defence stood solid. We kept our shape and discipline while Doddinghurst did not and before they knew it they were 4- 0 down unable to handle Ian Daas and Spencer up front. Second half Doddinghurst to their credit regrouped and competed. We still had plenty of chances and did not switch off or allow them back in to it. Defensives talisman Paul Beauchamp and his back line unit were delighted not to concede a goal. The four goals wiped out the goal difference from the close fought defeats and saw us skip up to 4th in the league.
The starting line-up
Peter Young Goalkeeper
Andy Coslett (Capt.), Adrian Burge, Paul Beauchamp, Luke Chapman
Kevin Williams-Taylor, John Newcombe, Nick Blackham-Hayward, Carl Sandserson
Spenser Godfrey, Ian Das
Rolling Subs used: David Barrington, Paul Jarvis, Geoffrey
Romaine, Mark Strutt
Subs not used: Simon Marshall
Manager: Simon Marshall
Saturday 8 Oct 2011 White Roding 3 HBO Vets 3
When you look at this result the improvement from the friendly earlier in the year was clear. This one was topsy turvy game where both attacks had the better of the defences. For Broad Oak it was new central defence pairing. Both keepers pulled off good safes. Broad Oak fell behind again fought back, took the lead, White Rodings came back .The Rodings led 3:2 at half time. Broad Oak came back again to take it 3:3. Despite numerous chances particularly for Broad Oak neither team could close it out. Importantly for Broad Oak they managed to close out a game they had competed in throughout with a point.
HBO Scorers
Spencer Godfrey (2)
Carl Sandserson (1)
The starting line-up
Peter Young Goalkeeper
Andy Coslett (Capt.), Adrian Burge, Geoff Romaine , Luke Chapman
Lee Rhodes, Nick Blackham-Hayward, Kevin Williams-Taylor, Carl Sandserson
Spencer Godfrey, Ian Das
Rolling Subs used: Leigh Trevitt, Mark Strutt, John Whitehead
Subs not used: Paul Jarvis,Simon Marshall
Manager: Simon Marshall
Saturday 29th October Doddinghurst Olympics 1 v HBO Vets 5
HBO went into this League Div 3 match full of confidence after their cup win from last Saturday. We were playing on Doddinghurst's Astro turf pitch in the second meeting between theses teams. HBO started off well and looked the most likely to score first but found themselves 1 v 0 down as they were unable to clear a Doddinghurst attack that started from their goal kick. It was not long though till HBO equalised which saw the first half end 1 v 1.
HBO slowed the pace down in the second half and started to put some good moves together it was not long till the ball found the back of the net 2 v 1 to HBO. Doddinghurst found themselves 3 v 1 down very quickly after this and could not find a way back into this game despite one very good attempt that flew over Peter Young's cross bar. HBO piled on more pressure to go 4 v 1 up and Kevin W-T completed his hatrick from the corner kick. 5 v 1 being the full time result.
Man of the Match Kevin W-T with a hatrick. Manager Simon Marshall delighted with the win and the way the team played again as a unit, it was also great to get our first double of the season beating Doddinghurst both home and away with wins we deserved
HBO Scorers
Kevin Williams-Taylor (3)
Spencer Godfrey (2)
The starting line-up
Peter Young Goalkeeper
Andy Coslett (Capt.), Paul Beauchamp, Kevin Dellow, David Barrington
John Newman, Adrian Burge Kevin Williams-Taylor, Carl Sandserson
Spencer Godfrey, Ian Daas
Rolling Subs used: Niki Lee, Simon Marshall
Manager: Simon Marshall
Greene King Division 3 League Cup
2md Round Saturday 22nd October HBO Vets 5 v West Essex Reserves 0
HBO went into this cup match with only 13 players as several regular players were missing through injury and those away on the Half term holiday. West Essex Reserves had 6 points from their 4 games in Div3 West and it looked liked this would be one of the toughest games yet for HBO.
HBO started off in a positive attacking way that saw the ball cleared off the line within the first 15 minutes. West Essex struggled to get possession as HBO piled on the pressure, GK Peter Young only having to make one save. The pressure paid off as HBO scored twice before the referee ended the first half. Half time HBO 2 V West Essex 0.
HBO continued to pile on the pressure and scored 2 quick goals early in the second half which lead to West Essex squabbling amongst themselves as they knew the game was lost. Peter only had two shots to save in the second half as HBO added a fifth goal and had a penalty appeal turned down in what was our biggest score so far this season.
Man of the Match Carl Sanderson. Manager Simon Marshall said this was a great all round performance from every single player and its great to have kept another clean sheet at home and to be in the 3rd round.
HBO Scorers
Carl Sanderson (2)
Kevin Williams-Taylor (2)
Spencer Godfrey (1)
The starting line-up
Peter Young Goalkeeper
Andy Coslett (Capt.), Lee Rhodes ,Kevin Dellow, David Barrington
John Newman, Adrian Burge Kevin Williams-Taylor, Carl Sandserson
Spencer Godfrey, David Milne
Rolling Subs used: Niki Lee, Simon Marshall
Manager: Simon Marshall