This week the fixture God’s were against PHC. Away 5pm at JAGS against Clapham Common.

The availability God’s were against PHC as well, with only 8 regular players and three support players who were already tired from previous battles that day. 

The game started with a high tempo. Clapham kept PHC on the back foot for the initial period with quick balls through the middle.

Thurstan Wolf (the scariest sounding defender in the land) and Matt Balcombe were the defensive generals for the day at the back. Commanding the play from the back and keeping the midfield in place.

Wave after wave of attack kept coming, Louis Allwood “the ginger ninja” kept us in the game until a sterling strike came from Clapham Common to put them 1-0 to the lead.

After this field of pressure PHC were able to turn the tables on Clapham and with two short corners that came agonizingly close to scoring with a diving effort from Ramon Bailey with a superb ballerina esk reverse spin from Matt Balcombe.

At the half it was still 1-0 with PHC still in the game. This was the half that Andrew Jordan turned up the heat. With some fantastic tackles on the left flank plus great link up play Billy Caddis.

PHC were incredibly close to leveling the game. A high ball from Matt Balcombe was collected on the right flank by Ramon Bailey who dribbled into the D and put his strike into the bottom corner of the goal. The goal was given by the umpire, but Matt Balcombe described as “a true gentleman but never a gentle man…” informed the umpire it was a dangerous pass and the for the goal to be retracted.

With minutes to go PHC were pushing for the equalizer but couldn’t find the final pass. Clapham were able to capitalize on this and had three short corners in 4 minutes and slotted all three with solid passing routines.

PHC Men’s 3 returned to west London to battle at Linford next Saturday.

And what!!!!


​MOM: Louis Allwood – Amazing saves

DOD: Scott Elliott “do as I say…..not as I do”.

Barnes were playing with a youthful squad and a few old boys. Their pace was a danger from the start. Quick passing and running off the ball provided a key challenge to Sam Alton at bottom of the diamond and Paul Caine and Thurstan Wolf.... the scariest sounding center backs in the land.

After a period of intense defending, DVB (the protector of Ukrainian princesses) was able to make overlapping runs with Scott ‘smelly shirt’ Elliott on the right flank. Before providing a straight pass to Lee Radbourne to slot away. 1-0 to Chiswick.

This period of dominant play continued with great individual skill from Charles Offord being able to run through the middle with the elegance of a young Nial Mutch. Running past two center backs before slotting from the top of the D, a slam dunk the funk shot into the bottom corner. 2-0 Chiswick.

At the turn of the half Chiswick were able to continue the positive play with Ramon Bailey dominating Barnes for pace down the right flank. Several attempts were slotted beautifully across the D but the shots were not able to beat their keeper. Charles Offord’s link up play with strikers was a thing of beauty that reminded me of a young ‘Bok’ in 1972. Slicing through the defense another ‘slam dunk the funk’ shot into the bottom corner and Chiswick were 3-0 up.

Banes came back strong with a period of short corners that were kept out by the flying Scotsman Louis. But all this hard work was undone by a Kesh worthy sideways pass across his own D by Paul Caine that was intercepted and put in the back of the net by Barnes young striker.

Chiswick held put the last ten minutes for a 3-1 win…….
And what!!!!

MOM: Ramon Bailey for genuine pace
DOD: Scott Elliott for not washing the shirts and using febreeze to cover the smell.