Ibis 4's 1-6 HSBC 6's – Sat 10th May 2014 - AWAY

Goals - Andrew Williams

Starting lineup –
Chris Innerd
Stephen Dodd
Olly Wooding
Pete Snell
Nick Etty
Gideon Barnett
Barry Clark
Jo Sibal
Andrew Williams
Jordan Mills
Manny Afful

Subs –
Liam Angell (c)
Christian Frixou
David Szabo


What can I say about Saturday's match? That it was win or bust and we didn't win? That we put in 100% but we were beaten by a more organized side?
Those things can be said and most may be true but on a wet & windy Saturday on May 10th 2014 we were beaten in a match we had to win to have any chance of survival, but this will be more of a thank you note than a match report.
With that said we had a good squad to travel down to New Beckenham with and I was quietly confident we could get something out of this game. Now, the intruigue with our match was in part due to Civil Service who were above us by 1 point & had a better goal difference, so we had to win v HSBC 6th (who were already promoted in 2nd place) and hope Civil Service lost v South Bank Cuaco 5th, who were already promoted as winners of Minor South Division 4.

So, with those stipulations in mind, we met up at the club house but our kit arrived late as Steve Dodd (who had the kit) was delayed due to witnessing a car crash, which from all accounts wasn't pleasant viewing, but due to that (and having to wait for the match on the only pitch available to finish) we only had time for a couple of corner drills which did slightly concern me, but i'll get onto that shortly.
Now, due to the fact we needed a win in this match I decided to go with an untried, but more attacking formation of 4-3-3 instead of 4-5-1 (and packing the midfield) or 4-4-2 with Andrew, Manny & Jordan up top, Baz, Gids & Jo Sibal in midfield as a narrow 3, with Nick Etty & Pete Snell effectively as wing backs covering in midfield when we were attacking to allow 2 of Baz, Gids & Jo to attack. Theory and practice as I like to say are 2 different things and due to not having time to practice it, the plan did backfire a bit on us as we were getting exposed, especially in the wide areas as HSBC did have natural width which made it difficult for us so I did get Pete & Nick to sit and got Jordan to come back to left midfield which helped a bit. There were a couple of guys (I will name no names haha) who started the match with astros instead of boots, even though I did advise wearing boots as the English weather can be trusted as much as pervert in a hoarhouse. We conceded 3 times in the 1st half and it was quite easy for HSBC to come through the middle of us but one positive is that even at 3-1 (Andrew Williams ended up scoring what turned out to be our only goal) we were still in it and there was all to play for.

I decided to change things at half time bringing myself and Christian Frixou on to slot in at left and right back respectively (taking off Andrew & Manny and pairing Gideon with Jordan up top) after i'd brought David Szabo on for Steve Dodd & switched Pete Snell to left mid in front of me.
So out for the 2nd half we went but we were getting caught on the wings especially as HSBC's wingers were giving us all sorts of trouble and we did conspire to concede 3 more times and as each goal went in we saw our slim chance at survival get slimmer and slimmer. But one thing I do want to point out is that even with our chances of survival evaporating during the match like spit on a pavement on a hot summers day, the guys never gave up but try as we might, no matter what formation we played, HSBC (who had ex-Ibis player Musab at left back) showed why they were promoted as runners-up to South Bank Cuaco 5th. It was always going to be a difficult job & unfortunately we couldn't do it, but we'll be back.
In my opinion we weren't relegated on Saturday v HSBC but probably the 1st half of the season did it and as said earlier, this was going to be more of a thank you than a match report, so with that in mind i'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who has played alongside me in the 4's this season, thank you to those who gave 100%,  who put in the tackles, won the headers, scored the goals, blocked the shots, helped me from the sidelines and made this season a pleasure to lead for me, even in defeat.

In closing, i'd like to thank everyone who has helped the 4's this year, from the powers that be in the club, to those who helped us when we were short & anyone i've forgotten (for which I apologise).

From yours truly Liam Angell aka Straight Shootin' LJA, thank you for a season that will live long in the memory and hopefully i'll see you all next season and we, as a team, as a united force, will avenge this season by getting promoted next year!

I'm Liam Angell aka Straight Shootin' LJA & that's my take on the match

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In memory of Rob Evans R.I.P

Most of you will know of Rob Evans, a good friend and ibis teammate who tragically passed away last June while competing in the Nice triathlon. To mark the one year anniversary of that sad day, a number of us are going to run the Hackney half marathon on the 22nd June (a year to the day of his passing).

Please get involved to celebrate Rob's life, and raise a few quid for the charity that his family select. You don't need to that fit to get round, but the aim is to have fun. Beers and World Cup afterwards. What a way to remember Rob doing - something he loved with the people he chose to spend his Saturdays with?

Ibis faces old and new are going to unite on the 22nd of June.
There are still places - but we need to sign up quick.

http://runhackney.com/half-marathon/

If you're up for joining this great cause & celebrating the memory of a beloved former teammate please let Alex Minshall know ASAP - alex.minshall@gmail.com

Ibis 4's v Old Wilsonians 6's – Sat 3rd May - AWAY Double header

Match 1 - Old Wilsonians 6's 3-1 Ibis fc 4's (Addy)
Match 2 - Ibis fc 4's 1-1 Old Wilsonians 6's (Williams)

Starting lineup -
Liam Angell (c)
Josh Banks
Olly Wooding
John Ewens
Stephen Dodd
Callum Mayfield
Jordan Mills
Alex Laugharne
Mark Addy
Ash Farrell
Andrew Williams

Subs -
Pete Snell
Patricio Baptista

Hard times, crunchy times, times when you're in a difficult situation is how i'd like to start this match report on a defining double header. Our season didn't quite hinge on this double header as we still have a slim chance of survival on the last day. Survival would have been guaranteed had we got 4 points v Old Wilsonians who as I mentioned in last week's match report were above us only on goal difference, but unfortunately we only got 1 point as opposed to 4. We did originally have 14 players but late morning of the match we had a dropout which did mean I had to adjust my plans slightly, but in the grand scheme of things it didn't really hurt the cause.

The trip to Hayes (Kent) was a bugger, but it was a lovely sunny day for footy and our 1st match was an interesting one as it was tighter than a ducks behind (as the old saying goes) but their no. 7 & no.9 were tricky and they had a no.5 playing just off them causing problems. With our back line I was confident of dealing with the threat but with Andrew Williams & Jordan Mills rekindling their partnership up top with Addy & Mayfield wide I thought we were fine. With Steve Dodd & Olly Wooding as a centre back partnership and Alex & Ash sitting in front of us we were solid through the middle but it was their tricky wide men who kept drifting between the lines & causing us problems. On a personal note I felt aggrieved by 2 of the goals as I felt they were offside but that's just my feelings. We did concede 3 times in this match with an own goal from Callum & a couple of defensive mixups costing us dearly but the glimmer of light was from Mark Addy's goal (a cool finish into the bottom corner) which ended up being our only goal of the 1st game which was the away leg of the double header. We did use Pat Baptista up top alongside Andrew Williams but no matter how much we probed & tried we just couldn't get another goal.

So, match 1 down, but still another to go and we didn't let our heads drop, I tried to give a rousing speech to the lads, which may or may not have worked but the gist of it was, keep your heads up because we have a shot at winning the next match.

The 2nd match was ultra tight and I decided to switch formations for this game to 3 at the back in a 3-5-2 formation with Stephen Dodd sitting in front of the back 4 alongside Ash & Alex to give them a bit more licence to attack & having Callum Mayfield & Pete Snell as wing backs as we needed to go for a win in this match. For a lot of this match we actually did control it, especially in midfield with Stephen doing a great job attacking headers whilst sitting in front of the back 4 and we stayed at 0-0 until half time. Considering we were pushing for the victory I decided to switch formations again at half time and I brought Andrew & Jordan back on & put Mark Addy up top as well to give us pace & work rate up top so I sacrificed the aerial presence of Pat Baptista & Stephen Dodd in front of us as I wanted us to go for it. We ended up getting the goal that our play had richly deserved & it was Andrew Williams who got it after superb play from the right hand side got him in behind the defense and he beat their keeper, mission impossible was looking a bit more possible but heartbreak was waiting around the corner. As soon as that goal went in I switched from the 3-4-3 formation back to basically a 4-5-1 with Pat dropping in as an extra midfielder (I had taken Mark Addy & off) and reverting to a flat back 4 just to hold what was a hugely important lead.

Alas a few minutes later a hopeful cross came from our left hand side after Callum had come off with cramp & i'd brought Stephen Dodd back on at centre back to partner Olly Wooding again which one of their strikers rose highest for and he nestled a header into the bottom right hand corner. A true heartbreaker of a goal which pegged us back & didn't give us a chance to get another goal but the guys fought their hearts out and as disappointing as it was, at the time I was annoyed with the ref (especially after i'd been clattered in a 50/50 challenge, won the ball 1st but got penalised for it) but I can't blame the troubles of our season on a few questionable decisions in a double header as the buck stops with me & us who've played this season. Post match was a touch somber as the reality of destiny not being in our own hands set in, but I had to thank the guys for their efforts.

The side I have been fortunate enough to play alongside this season has been tremendous, especially for the 2nd half of the season and I believe consistency in availability has been key to that. We've got 1 more game away at HSBC and from what the league table shows, just like the relegation battles in the Sky Bet Football league, we must win & hope that Civil Service draw or lose their last game, we've come so close to pulling off the great escape and we could be 1 more win away, so guys, LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN ON SATURDAY MAY 10TH 2014!!!

I'm Straight Shootin' LJA & that's my take on the match!!!

IBIS 4's 4-5 South Bank Cuaco 6’s - Saturday 26th April - AWAY

Goals - Andrew Williams x2, Alex Laugharne, Jordan Mills

Starting lineup –
Jamie Bailey
Liam Angell (c)
Karl Bolton
David Szabo
John Ewens
Alex Laugharne
Ash Farrell
Callum Mayfield
Pete Snell
Andrew Williams
Jordan Mills

Subs –
Nick Etty
Barry Clark
Stephen Dodd

A beautiful day for football and a few returning players, including Karl Bolton (after a few weeks away) & Barry Clark (after his London Marathon exploits), made me feel quietly confident about this match. After my cycle from South Ealing to South Bank Cuaco (Dulwich) was a smooth ride but this match was anything but. After our recent run we were in great spirits & the banter in the changing room was good with a couple of, let’s say, controversial additions to jokes made by yours truly, but we went out for our warm up and drills awaiting one of our centre backs. Shooting practice was done as we had the time & early in the game it seemed to pay dividends early on, but i’ll get on to that shortly.
By the time the match started we were ready to go but South Bank actually had a good few players who showed up late, ringers? not sure, but even so it shouldn’t have mattered as we actually raced into an early lead that should have been unassailable. Think, Liverpool v Arsenal at Anfield in the way we raced into the lead with us being ruthless in front of goal & even when we mis-kicked attempts, we seemed to have luck on our
side, definitely a description of Jordan Mills’ goal after Andrew Williams scuffed his attempt. Alex Laugharne’s swivel & shot to score left their keeper grasping thin air as he dived towards the corner. Andrew was in somewhat inspired form this week as he bagged a brace with a ruthless strikers instinct, pouncing on mistakes, and their GK seemed to be in a giving mood in terms of mistakes.
Just like Brentford v Chesterfield we conspired to concede at least 2 goals from corners but balls over the top caught us at the back as well with us trying to play a high line & the ref not calling offsides playing against us, a 4 goal lead surrendered and all of us weren’t happy about it. When South Bank got themselves into the game they started to impose themselves on it and their wide men were getting a lot more of the ball & the sheer pace of their attacks were bothering us as we’re not blessed with pace at the back. They were controlling the ball in midfield as well which put Ash & Alex under a lot of pressure & meant that on a general basis we didn’t have much respite between attacks. The goals we conceded were generally sloppy & could have been avoided but a definite lack of communication meant we conceded, and kept conceding especially from corners, which was doubly frustrating as we did do corner drills pre-match. With every goal we conceded, South Bank grew in confidence and eventually they’d drawn level & then edged ahead and THE turning point of the match was when Andrew Williams 3rd goal was disallowed for a supposed foul on the keeper who in my view, bottled out of the challenge.
The 2nd half had fight but the lack of communication was still blatantly evident as we kept trying to press for an equaliser after we’d let a 4-0 lead slip. Half time changes were made with David Szabo & Pete Snell coming off & Barry Clark coming on to make up the extra man in midfield & Stephen Dodd filling in for me at left back as I switched in to centre back to partner Karl to try and improve communication in the back line. It improved a bit but Karl ended up having to come off so Stephen ended up moving alongside me at CB & Pete Snell came on and became the 2nd person to fill in at my LB position.
Chances came & chances went from open play & from corners, most notably with Andrew heading over and their keeper pulling off a couple of saves which would have been regarded as impossible based on his performance in the first 30 minutes. My personal rallying cry at half time saw us fight and fight hard but unfortunately we went down to defeat in yet another match at South Bank Cuaco this season where we could have left with 3 points.
The final whistle brought to an end a frustrating match (which must have been brilliant for a neutral) which was summed up by Pete Snell’s evident frustration when he shouted the words ‘F’N SH*T REFEREE’, of course I don’t advocate that behaviour (I did apologise to the ref in the clubhouse) but I felt the same way so I could understand the frustrations. I did reiterate to everyone back in the changing room that our survival destiny is
in our own hands but our double header v Old Wilsonians becomes even more important, in fact it’s now absolutely crucial that we get at least 4 points (I want 6) as they are just above us in the league table.
Our Arsenal-esque capitulation aside, we can’t expect other teams to do us favours if we don’t do ourselves any. We need fight, we need heart, we need energy,
we need communication and bottom line, WE NEED POINTS!!!
Destiny is in our hands, so let’s make survival ours & make these efforts worthwhile as we’ve had a great run to get ourselves to this point!

I’m Straight Shootin’ LJA and that’s my take on the match