We started the match very confidently against bottom of the table Old Guilfordians, controlling the game from the middle of the park. Demari and Jason were both denied by some excellent, if slightly exaggerated saves (he must have seen the cameras rolling).

We could have easily been a few goals ahead after the first 20 mins.Of course then the OGs stole the first goal with a header from a free kick, given for absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. We swiftly replied after a quick one-two between Mike and myself, followed by a surprisingly calm finish into the bottom corner, 1-1.

We had the momentum and more chances followed before half time, but it took until the second half for our dominance to be rewarded.

There were a flurry of goals in a ten minute spell, first directly from a George corner with an accomplished dummy at the near post from Lundie. Theo next with a precise lob of the keeper, followed by a goal from Luke as OTs raced into a 4-1 lead. It was a bit of a blur so may have got the order wrong here.

With the competition over, we relaxed (or tired) and the pace of the game slowed. The ref felt fit to give them further consolation by awarding a penalty for absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. Their striker comfortably stroked the ball home with almost the final kick of the game. Final score 4-2, but we could have scored double that if not for some decent goal keeping.

Match report by Sam Potts

Fresh off a bye week and a recent win over 2nd place Old Tenisonians, the 2’s hosted top of the table (not for long) Royal Bank of Scotland who until then had only lost one game all year.

The boys were full of confidence when they rocked up to the sunny but gusty REMPF. RBS to be fair to them were very physical with a couple of stocky and surprisingly swift lads up top.

It was clear from the first minute what their game plan was, stick the ball up in the air and hope our defence would lose the physical battle. This would have worked against 90% of teams in the league but the Pinney-Pepps partnership was strong enough to deal with it.

This pattern continued for most of the first half, occasionally broken up by some tidy Thorns play. Just before the end of the half, a marauding Ciaran Davis-Wall provided the touch of quality the game needed when he sent two RBS bankers packing with some lovely and very smooth dribbling, before staring down the keeper and squaring the ball to Foxy who slotted home into the empty net. HT: 1-0 OT’s

The message at half time was clear, win our 50/50’s and get the ball to the forwards quicker. The second half was again a very tight affair until RBS who had been pushing for an equaliser got what they wanted with 11 minutes to go. 1-1.

The disappointment was clear, but the lads dug deep and after a close call where foxy had to clear the ball onto to the bar we hit back! Conor beating the offside trap and crossing for Deji who brought the ball down, turned and finished in style with a looping shot into the far corner. 2-1 OT’s!

After a couple more minutes and a very biased penalty shout from the oppo’s striker, we finished the game off. Foxy (looking like James Rodriguez) flicked the ball onto Parimal, who picked out Janke on the edge of the area who finished emphatically, game over! 3-1 OT’s, great team performance. After back-to-back wins against the top two, the 2’s are now 6 points off second. They couldn’t, could they??

Ben Dockerill

OTs Chaingang

Strava is ablaze with cycling onions, Hoorah! To celebrate, encourage and in search of a general good time, starting Sunday May 9th come join the OT’s Chaingang.

It’s a beautiful roll through urban streets and into the Kentish countryside, at 46 miles it’s accessible to all Onions with a road bike.

When: We’ll be meeting at 10-10:15am for departure at 10:20am

Where: Clairmont Estate East, SW2 4AS just off the south circularWhat3words: motor.garage.cure

The Route. Check out the route in the link below. 

https://www.strava.com/routes/2820595209585290906

Elliot Howarth-Johnson

Suns out, moulds out. A full 6 AFC fixtures on what we’re sure will be some pretty solid pitches this weekend. 4 games at the REMPF vs Wandsworth Borough, RBS & 2 versus Sinjuns FC teams, & two teams go on their travels to Old Sedcopians & Old Suttonians

Fired up from winning the first match of a back-to-back, we went into the second game full of confidence and this was evident in the swagger with which we started the game.

Channeling our inner Manchester City we stroked the ball about with ease and proceeded to squander chance after guilt-edged chance. Perhaps emboldened by our profligacy in front of goal, Wandsworth returned in the second half with renewed energy and effort; resulting in them breaking the deadlock with their first chance of the game.

Perhaps unsurprisingly they then dropped deep, prepared to weather our inevitable response. Sadly, our response was less than ideal, as some of our players (myself included) angered by weak refereeing got embroiled in energy-consuming running battles with the opposition. Desperately searching for an equaliser, we abandoned our possession-based approach and bombarded them with long balls and throws, but to no avail. A fine piece of skill by Demari at the death sadly came to nothing as the ball whistled narrow past the post, securing an undeserved win for Wandsworth.

Match report by Mike Moon

The first game of the double header against Wandsworth Borough III started with the Thorns on top; controlling possession well without quite managing to create an attacking threat in the opening stages.

Both teams were seemingly cancelling one another out in the middle of the park. Wandsworth however, opened the scoring 15 minutes in, after being awarded a penalty for an accidental handball by Colin in the box.

A poorly struck penalty straight down the middle, just narrowly missing Fish’s outstretched leg, gave the opposition the lead.The conceded goal sparked renewed energy into the OTs, who were able to create 2 good chances before half time. Both headers from Scotty.

The first attempt was saved from point blank range, the keeper only making the save because his own head was in the way. The next header, expertly denied by the keeper this time, stopping a strong header destined for the top corner.. The first half ended 1-0 to the opposition.The second half began as it the first half ended, continuous pressure from the Thorns looking for the equalizer.

Finally the break through came from the head of Lundie (2nd half substitute), getting his head to a perfectly placed free kick cross by Scotty. OTs second goal came soon after from the same combination of players. A long throw from Lundie was headed in by Scotty after beating his man near the front post. The OTs taking deservedly taking the lead, 2-1, after dominating for large portions of the game.

Scotty put the game to bed, giving the Thorns a 2 goal cushion with a tidy finish one on one with the opposition keeper. The final score 3-1 to the OTs and the first game of the double header done and dusted!

Match Report by Rory Craggs

The 2s arrived to a wet and windy REMPF looking to compete with an in-form Old Tenisonians side.

The game started with the opposition on top but with some gritty and determined defending, there were not many clear-cut chances for the away side.

OT’s struggled to keep hold of the ball throughout the half but there were some glimmers of hope. Captain Deji led from the front with some elegant pieces of skill (including three nutmegs) and saw his bullet header from a corner cleared off the line and go narrowly wide. 0-0 at the break.

We continued to believe that a goal would come from somewhere and that belief became reality early in the second half when Matt Dobson caught on to a loose pass from the defender and rifled home above the helpless keeper (Sergio Aguero style) to put the home side in front.

A couple of half chances fell to Ben and Rich but some last ditch defending prevented a second goal. Tensionians continued to search for an equaliser but the defence held strong with some great work from Henry Pepperell and Sam Pinney (in the Declan Rice role) to snuff out any potential danger. The wall was finally broken when the opposition striker found some space on the right flank and charged towards goal. However, John Harrison stood tall and produced a wonderful save to keep the shot at bay. In the final minutes some lazy marking from a corner led to a golden chance for the away side to snatch an equaliser but Ben Dockerill came flying across to make a superb block to keep it 1-0.

The 2s held out for a well fought and satisfying 1-0 win against a very good side. Up the Onions!

Match report by Charlie Rattigan

Back to business this week with the full complement of six fixtures including 3 games at Fortress REMPF, 2 of which are double headers! 6 wins please lads!

The OT 6s returned to football on Saturday with a dominant and comprehensive display against Dorkinians coming out 4-1 winners. The boys were in great spirits as they warmed up on the hallowed REMFP turf as they crossed the white lines for the first time since December 2020.

That spirit was duly brought across in the opening phases of the game with Onions dominating possession and easing their way into the game. The first goal was not too far off, a great ball from Mikey D out to the left wing found Ben H who drove into the box testing the keeper with a shot that spilled nicely back into the path of Mikey D who put due pressure on the defender who handsomely roofed it into his own net, 1-0!

The game settled down after that with a couple more chances coming our way but we couldn’t quite find the finish. A dominant half so little action for the defence and us coming into the break at 1-0.In the second half with the wind against the team it was clear a second goal was needed to ensure the team of the win, Dorkininans were threatening to knick a goal and make it interesting. On came Harold from the bench and with the injection of pace the game turned. A nice ball from him put Ben H through and with the keeper rushing off his line he cooley finished beyond him to make it 2-0, the cushion was there.

The Dorkinians still threatened and, with a somewhat fortunate free-kick, got a goal back to make it 2-1. The OTs still dominated possession and it seemed more like when not if for the third goal to quash any hope of a Dorkinian comeback. That goal came after some good pressing by the forwards saw Ben H collect a loose ball and nestle the ball into the net for his second and the team’s third.

That seemed to have taken the stuffing out of the opposition and with the final minutes counting down it looked like the OTs could even grab a fourth. And with a lovely ball from Alex putting Ben through to take it past the remaining defenders and lob the keeper the fourth goal did arrive and the game was done!A very well rounded performance saw the OTs take this one 4-1 and the team were ecstatic to be back on the pitch and back to winning ways. A double header awaits!

Match report by Ben Himpe