Mens 2s vs Southgate 4s - Win: 5-2

Match report by Andrew Greenhalgh

A new season for the Mens 2s back in a familiar league after winning promotion last season under the impressive guidance of Liam and Ellers.  Under new steward ship of Rory and Brummie and with some new faces the Mens 2s were hell bent on keeping the form of last season going and needed to gel together quickly. The opposition were Southgate 4s. As was expected a well organised side turned out from the national league club and after trading chances the frustration was growing. 

Chiswick then found themselves down to ten minutes as Anthony Millest made a classic forwards challenge on their defender after losing the ball. The stick hack lead to the first green card which now comes with a nice two minute break in the sin bin. This seemed to inspire debutant Tom Randell to take the game to Southgate. With an excellent run and demonstration of skill and coolness under pressure down the right side he served up a beauty of a pass to Andy Wilson, who playing in a more advanced role in midfield calmly slotted the ball home. 

From this point Chiswick did not look back, the next on the score sheet was Kuldip Bains (aka Snow Leopard) after excellent determination and strong play, debutant Anthony Dukes managed to get the ball to the Snow Leopard in the D but with little space. As so when on the ball the Snow leopard seemed to slow down time as he calmly moved the ball on to his reverse side and with a huge wind up calmly hit a reverse shot beautifully into the bottom corner followed by a roar. 

Despite leading there was still some frustration on the pitch leading to impressive debutant Matt Balcome also getting a green card and taking a 2 minute rest. In the second half Anthony Millest decided to join the party. After nicking a ball off a poor defensive pass he seemingly had run out of space. However, a quick turn and reverse shot left the left side of the net bulging and Chiswick dominating. 

After this goal Chiswick went a little off the boil, fortunately the impressive central defence pairing of Jens DeVries and Sam Meacher meant that try as Southgate might they could not capitalise. That was until after a series of good saves goalkeeper Dan Horne found himself awkwardly positioned with the ball under his body, despite his best efforts to get rid of the ball
the call was made to award a penalty flick which was dispatched well by Southgate. 

Chiswick needed a bit of a energy boost at this point and they got it through some excellent defending and attacking work by Rory and debutant Jack Farrant. Soon Anthony Millest finding himself turning provider for the Snow Leopard. Having just the keeper to beat the Snow Leopard seemed to slow down time once again, as he as he sat the keeper down and calmly slotted the ball away. 

Next came a beauty of a team goal with fine passing leading to the excellent Tom Randell once again serving up a dish that Andy Wilson did not refuse as he revelled in his more advanced position. 

By this point many Chiswick players were looking a bit fatigued and Southgate found themselves 3 on one with goalkeeper Dan Horne who seemed to have been abandoned by his defence. This was nothing but a consolation goal and soon the final whistle went and the Mens 2s continued their form that has seen them lose only one league game since March 2014. 

MOM: The Snow Leopard - a fantastic display of ball winning at the bottom of the midfield and superb composure and skill in front of goal.

DOD: Matt Balcome - For the Green