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By Adequate Ash
On a cold Sunday morning, Putney Pacers were at home against Kew Antigua reserves.
Having lost 2-1 on their last outing against Kew, the pacers were out for blood.
Following back to back wins and crowd attendance still at a record high – thanks Kevlar – the Pacers were full of confidence.
Antonio was back between the sticks, protected by Flip-Flop, Ben, Ollie and Ash.
Alex and Spracks formed the creative centre in midfield, flanked by Sean and Nick.
The Pacers’ very own Tom Daley found himself up top again and was partnered by Steven.
The game kicked off and started at a good tempo, with the Pacers controlling the game and putting together passages of good passing play.
The Pacers were applying pressure and had countless chances to take the lead, but were left wanting when trying to hit the target.
It could have been a rugby score line in the first 15/20 minutes but instead it was the Pacers that thought they were actually playing rugby, with shots ending up high and wide.
Down the other end of the field, the defence remained strong, playing the high line with Antonio sweeping up any long balls from behind.
The beak finally came mid-way through the first half. Flip Flop “got turned inside out by their right winger”, according to our match commentator/spectator/crowd/Kev, who crossed hard and low.
The ball took a huge bobble as it came across the box, altering its course and taking it out of the path of Ash’s right foot clearance.
Their striker pounced on the opportunity and came steaming in to smash the ball in the back of the net. 0-1 Kew Antigua.
Pacers didn’t let their heads drop and continued to play the better football.
Some great build up play by Alex and Spracks released Sean out wide, who put in a peach of a cross.
All it needed was a slight touch at the back post to caress it into the back of the net – but Martin had other ideas and his glancing header sent the ball wide.
Just before the end of the first half, an innocuous ball over the top saw Flip-Flop hit the deck in an elaborate fashion – apparently the winger had brushed his elbow against his nose, blood went everywhere.
Flip-Flop was removed from the field of play and given a tissue on the sidelines.
He re-entered the fray 5 minutes later and got his revenge.
Kew’s winger was steaming down the left wing but found his shot blocked, as Flip-Flop threw himself in the way to concede a corner.
The half finished 0-1 Kew Antigua Reserves.
The second half started in much the same way as the first, with the Pacers piling on the pressure as they looked for the equaliser.
Some neat build-up play forced Kew to concede a corner.
Sean whips in a beauty of a cross that lands right in the six yard box.
Following some confusion, the ball lands at Ash’s feet, who plays a neat pass into Martin’s feet.
The crowd – Kev – are on the edge of their seats as Martin pulls back his trusty right foot and blasts it goalwards, finding the bottom right corner of the net.
The crowd goes wild. 1-1.
With 20 minutes to go, the Pacers are still piling on the pressure as they look to get the winner. Rob comes on to replace the injured Flip-Flop – his nose never fully recovered.
As the Pacers continue to press forward, a long lofted ball from Kew’s centre back puts the Pacers on the back foot.
Kew’s left winger breaks the offside trap and sprints down the wing, with Rob in pursuit.
As he nears the edge of the box, Rob brings the winger down and concedes a free kick in a dangerous position.
They score – 1-2 Kew Antigua – and at least 10 minutes remain.
The Pacers really pile on the pressure for the last 5 minutes and, again, some good build up play leads to a Pacer corner.
Sean steps up. The crowd silent (busy finding the record button on his phone). Everyone is forward, including the goal keeper. This is it. The last chance…
Sean whips in a great ball and Alex rises like a salmon to smash the ball home. 2-2!
The Pacers manage to win one last corner before the full-time whistle, but it was harmless.
Final score 2-2.
Although not a win, the Pacers played well. If not for the two very soft goals, as well as the rugby-esque finishing by the forwards, and the Pacers would have won by quite a significant margin.
Putney Pacers are now 4 games undefeated.
By Ed
Putney Pacers returned to Tooting Bec Common in search of back-to-back wins
After last week’s first league win of the season, confidence was high in the Pacers dressing room but below the surface there were sure to be nerves with much of the pre-match build up focusing on the team’s difficulty defending leads.
There were no surprises with the formation this week, as the Pacers stuck to a traditional 4-4-2 for the game against league newcomers Clapham New Town. Antonio made his return in goal after three weeks on the treatment table. The back four comprised Ash and Oli at centre-back, with Spracks at right-back and Ben at left-back. In the centre of the park were Alex and John, with Sean and Stephen providing width. There were no changes up front as Martin and Lewis continued in attack. Matt and Ed made up the match day squad.
The game started with a high tempo and the Pacers showed early promise – dominating much of the possession and putting Clapham New Town under plenty of pressure. After some crisp passing along the ground, someone (can’t remember who) was upended on the edge of Clapham’s box. Up stepped Lewis for the free kick, who calmly picked his spot and guided the ball into the back of the net.
Aware of their record of letting leads slip, the Pacers refused to sit back and maintained pressure on Clapham. Despite packing midfield by playing five across, Clapham found it hard to break down Putney and managed only a single chance on goal, which came from a desperate route one attack. It wasn’t long before Putney made it 2-0, when Stephen slotted home after some clever build up play by the Pacers midfield and attacking full-backs. Not satisfied with a two goal lead, the Pacers continued to get players forward, with Ben putting in a particularly hard-working shift at left-back. Eventually, a dangerous cross from Ash took a deflection off Martin’s back and found its way over the line, possibly via another deflection off a Clapham player. 3-0 HT.
At the break, Pacers knew that they were in control but also that, after conceding 23 goals in the last five games, a win was far from secure. More pressure from Putney led to Martin making it 4-0 after less than five minutes of the second half. Another quick goal, this time from Lewis, put the game beyond doubt at 5-0. Not content with his side’s 5-goal margin, Martin hit the floor in the box for the second week in a row. This week’s referee was more convinced by Martin’s tumble and awarded a penalty to the Pacers. With Matt not on the pitch, there was some confusion as to who was on penalty duties. Quick work by Kev on the side-lines identified Ben as next on the list, and before we knew it, he had put the ball on the spot and buried it. 6-0 Pacers.
Stephen and Spracks came off for Ed and Matt respectively for the remaining half hour. The rest of the match saw the Pacers spending more time in the opposition half, with just the one or two Clapham attacks to deal with. When the final whistle went, it meant an important clean sheet for the Pacers – their first of the season – and, after scoring six goals, they maintained their position as the league’s second top scorers.
By Flip-flop
On a chilly Sunday morning the Pacers travelled back to Tooting Bec to face Lambeth United in a bottom of the table six pointer.
After the experimental and crazy ‘3 at the back’ formation of last week, the Pacers reverted to the traditional and more familiar 4-4-2 formation. Alessio operated between the sticks with a back four of Sean, Ivo, Nashy and Oli playing just in front. Alex and John took position in the middle of the park with Nick and Chris playing on the flanks, this left the new striking partnership of Martin and Lewis operating up top. After cruelly being told he might start by Alex, Matt joined Ed on the bench.
The Pacers started the game playing the better football and dominating possession, this can largely be attributed to the bumper away attendance of 4 and chants of “you are my Pacers, my only Pacers…” by Spracks. Both Nick and Chris were getting the better of the Lambeth fullbacks, so it was only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken. Alex slotting in for the away side, 1-0 Pacers!
As seems to be the way with the Pacers this season, concentration dropped and Lambeth managed to equalise with a goal mouth scrabble following a corner – this goal was against the run of play and put the tie at 1-1 (or as the home goalie stated, “its 0-0 Lambeth!”).
This time the reaction to a goal was much more positive. The Pacers grabbed 2 quick fire goals, through Lewis and then Norfield shortly after. At this point the away team were really starting to dominate, and could of easily grabbed a couple more. After 40 mins the first sub was made, Matt coming on for Ivo who had been carrying an injury from the start, this enabled Ed to his favourite role of running the line.
HT: Pacers 3 – 1 Lambeth United
The half time team talk followed an unfamiliar tone, mainly as we had a lead to protect this time – “Well played lads. We need to keep it simple, don’t do anything stupid and don’t let them score”. Despite this warning, Lambeth started to fashion a few chances, with the rather loud and squeaky number 10 often involved. After some impressive saves from Alessio, the deficit was reduced to one. The Lambeth striker scoring a glanced headed effort from a cross…… but wait, the flag was up! Luckily Ivo, who was now running the line, had noticed the striker had strayed a good 10 yards offside (I think). Good spot!
Unfortunately the Pacers didn’t take this as a warning. Following a corner and a goal mouth scramble, the ball seemed to be rolling harmlessly towards the corner flag, only for Nashy to come screaming in and plant the ball firmly in the back of the net. 3-2 Pacers, game back on.
And then, the real talking moment of the match. With some great build up play, Martin found himself through on goal, but instead of going for glory he decided to ‘swan dive’ over the keeper and perform a triple roll whilst holding his ankle (think Bale, Young, Suarez, Ramirez, etc) . Debate still looms as to whether he took inspiration from the swimming gala at the nearby lido or from his sporting hero, Tom Daley. Either way the referee awarded Martin a yellow card, and subsequently an £8 fine!
There were a few close calls at either end, but then finally with about 5 mins left on the clock the Pacers killed the game off. The same duo that grabbed the Lambeth 2nd delivered again, Sean delivering a perfect ball in for Nashy to direct a bullet header into the net.
This goal effectively killed off any thoughts of a Lambeth comeback, but just to make sure Ed nailed one of their players to stop a last minute attack – earning himself a yellow card in the process (he still claims it was unfair). Final whistle, 4-2 Pacers – the first 3 points of the season!
This was a very good away victory with positive performances all round, and most importantly the first 3 points of the season! Have the Pacers found a new striking partnership? Does this victory mean the end of the 3-5-2? Only time will tell, but it’s looking a lot more positive following this win. Next up will be another big game, Clapham New Town in Tooting! Bring it on.
By Nashy
Pacers went all experimental in their cup tie against the mighty Inter Yammam with a new 3-5-2 (or 3-2-3-2) which almost paid off apart from the 5 goal difference between the two teams on a crisp, sunny day on Clapham Common Lido.
The line up, after days and days, e mails and e mails and debate about who would best compliment this new winning formula was eventually decided by FATT Matt turning up just in time for the pre-match minute silence and Good/Gash Ash showing up in time for the two minutes silence on the Monday.
Nick donned the gloves with the back three of Ivo, Nash and Spracks. Alex and Ed started as holding midfielders with John in front and the only real “Pacers” (maybe Ben or Curtis pending the result of their race could be added to this); Sean and Norf playing in the new wing-backs spots and Curt and Lewis up top.
The idea was to dominate in the middle, protect the back line who had, up until Sunday, conceded 15 in 3 and use some real pace down the channels. It looked like that might happen too for about 4 minutes of tidy play from Pacers before Inter Yammam got Inter the back of our defence and scored two in succession with some clinical finishing and soft defending.
“Heads up lads!” the first of many came and indeed Pacers did get their heads up and genuinely dominated possession and pegged Inter Yammam back. Someone grabbed one back (sorry for forgetting who) after Ivo distracted the keeper by jumping in front of him from a throwing. It was all very positive and apart from conceding another two goals after some cool finishing, Sean scored a very nice bullet header after some very tidy play indeed.
HT and 4-2 but the tone was clear. “We are the better team here and apart from conceding silly goals (again!), should be in the driving seat” said the gaffer (or something along those lines anyway). The mood was positive and the formation was looking credible but if ever being 4-2 down could be classed as a honeymoon period, the honeymoon 45 minutes swiftly crashed and burned. Spracks pulled up with a groin injury and was replaced by Matt whilst John swapped with Nick and went in goal.
The second half was just not good enough. Simple mistakes like passing to their players led to them queuing to get on the score sheet and they put the game to bed quickly. Ash replaced Ed but the game was done and Pacers were 8-2 down before a neat finish from the boss added some sort of credibility to the score line. Curt managed to make the day worse by doing his now “cankle” although at least I got to drive a BMW. Which was nice.
Beaten by a very good side by an embarrassing scoreline, but genuinely some of the best passing football the Pacers have played in a long time (Spracks will tell us just how long). The questions still remain: What the hell has happened to the defence that was far more water tight last year? Will Alex risk the 3-2-3-2 again? Are we all sadomasochists that like to have our backsides handed to us on a plate every Sunday? Who will face the Pacers backlash?
Oh well. It was a Micky Mouse cup anyway. Time to focus on promotion.
By Nashy
On one of the windiest days in Pacers’ history, and the day leading up to the biggest storm in almost all of our lifetimes (Spracks and Oli excluded), the Pacers were anything but “Hurricanesque” (this more for us below 30 Pacers obviously) on Purley Way playing fields aka The Arse End of Nowhere.
For the first time this season, the Pacers had to recruit a few extras in order to make up the 11 needed to start the game with Chris Evans being called out of retirement, Ivo’s mate Ian and Ryan’s future brother-in-law (cheers Alex), Guy making 12 players.
Antonio started in goal with Nashy and Ivo at centre-half, Oli left back and Guy right back. Alex and Norfield were in the engine room, Evans on the right and Alessio given the GKs dream of a crack on the left flank. Lewis and Stephen making a solid-looking forward line.
The start could not have been better with Pacers taking the lead in the opening exchanges thanks to a very ambitious shot from Stephen catching out the keeper. Pacers smelt blood (fishblood to be precise) but then the wind seemed to completely blow the back door open and Pacers conceded three in succession. It was, quite frankly embarrassing to concede such soft goals, all of which were avoidable and were a result of a real lack of organisation and general poor concentration. Luckily, Lewis popped up with one on the stroke of HT to give Pacers reason to think they could get back into it.
Alessio, dead from his ventures over the half way line, made way for Ian and Pacers started kicking up the hill with some real intent. The backline finally pushing up in tandem and the ball being pushed forward. Unsurprisingly then that Fish were to draw first blood with Antonio doing a Peter Enckelman impression and injuring himself in the process.
Pacers then grabbed one back through Norfield coolly lobbing the keeper after a superb ball from Guy who has started to really exert some influence down the right hand side. It looked as though Pacers might be able to win the uphill battle until Antonio’s injury meant that he couldn’t take what would normally be a routine catch and Fishblood snuck in again. Pacers once again brought some parity to the score line, again through Norfield (I think) before a bit of a mix up at the back led to a Fishblood striker being given the ball to slot home.
6-4 at FT with Pacers clearly disappointed to lose out embarrassingly on the same ground where they shamefully lost out to 10 men last season. To score seven in 2 games and come away with 0 points is a real detriment to some good forward play. When will that first league win come?
By Stephen
Last Sunday saw Putney Pacers home to top of the table Stockwell United.
It was always going to be a tough task to come out winners of this clash
against a high scoring Stockwell.
Sporting a new and well fitted kit (exception Sean) Pacers went into the
game hoping that a new kit may lead to be a lucky one and find their
first win of the season.
In a scrappy first 20 mins, neither team really dominated. Both teams
had half chances put failed to convert. Until Stockwell scored two goals
within quick succession of each other beating the off side trap. Pacers
were up against it.
However, when we play football goals come and it did. With good build up
play down the right wing which lead to pull back to the captain who
finished off the move with a clinical strike. 2-1.
Pacers conceded within minutes of scoring which lead to a half time
score of 3-1.
Second half and Stockwell extended their lead to 4-1 with a free kick in
the top corner. Pacers were struggling to dominate but showed great
character to fight back, good work from Sean lead to Alex with his
second of the game bundling the ball home. This one not so clinical.
4-1.
Good defending from Pacers meant Stockwell couldn’t extend their lead.
And our determination was rewarded with a third goal from close range
courtesy of Stephen.
At 4-3 and time running out Pacers had a few half chances but couldn’t
get a point. All subs used did well when asked upon and overall Pacers
had shown good spirit to drag themselves back into the game.
Afterwards, German beer, nachos and sausages rolls were enjoyed at our
club house Oktoberfest. Pacers look to next Sundays clash for their
first win. Come on lads!!
By Captain Johnny B Goode
With morale low after a series of defeats in the league and various cup competitions, the pacers faced familiar foes in last weeks opponents Wynter Reserves of Tooting.
Having been vanquished on penalties the
previous weekend in a game all felt should have long been put to bed, Putney wanted revenge.
Cut scene.
It’s friday night and pacers gather at the octoberfest pub for some German themed drinking shenanigans.
12-13 strong and with two newbies getting readied for initiation, early conversation was regarding the awful situation in Syria, the current government’s performance in relation to their pre-election manifesto and the perils of deforestation.
Blur out and in.
“..And she was like ‘you’re so handsome, a real man now you’re all grown up!’… And so I went for it, and then she went for it and I didn’t want to pull out first. Then when we did our Jas was sat their going ‘arch mum’…”
“Who’d you send it to?” “BAHA-his Mum!”
“DAS BOOT!!”
Fade out, then in.
Hawaii shows us a picture of some errant pepperoni plastered to the side of the toilet basin, as flipflop weeps into his stein having given up the last shred of hope of his mother not thinking he was an uphill gardener, and Ivan drago the penalty machine wails out his 2nd or 3rd Bulla bulla of the evening.
Captain and vice captain were stiffed over in a terrible chain of events involving a bar receipt and some devious tactics from Paul the manager, and a fresh faced Antoni-O O O O and john merely postponing their punishments for the Xmas do.
Volumes were consumed, bathrooms and battersea rise were sprayed with vomit and somehow, in what would prove to be one of the more physically messy pacer evenings, no one was thrown out!(well not until closing time anyhow!) Great night!
Spiral out and in.
The pacers down to a recently low number of 12, johns tardiness picking the team from the start, set out with vigour.
Energy ebbed from every area of the pitch and it was the pacers who had the lion share of possession and pressure.
Curtis was to break the deadlock after about 15-20 minutes after hard work from Martin down the left (have forgotten the ending of this one curt), but it was a tidy finish.
Gash ash was mooresque in his debut at CB, marshalling the pacers alongside a sturdy Nashy in what resulted in a long overdue clean sheet.
Ben and Matt were solid from full back and Ed was putting in a tireless shift on the right.
Then came pacers second coming from a ball in from Sean, then Alex pipping the defender to it and knocking the ball into Curtis who had time to swivel on the spot and rifle into the bottom corner, 2-0.
Half time and the pacers knew they still had their work cut out.
Tenacious work from Sean following up a shot early in the second half
led to him slotting in for 3-0.
What followed is typical of the pacers and was a batch of pressure from Wynter for 10-15 minutes before one of their midfielders lost his proverbial and threw his shirt off and walked off, resulting in a lull in pressure.
On came john and the pacers got a hold of the ball once more and played some nice football.
Some fine goalkeeping, including a quick fire double save from Antonio kept Wynters tally to 0.
Revenge was had and passage to the 3rd round for a meeting against pre-season opponents inter yamam awaits the pacers.. And perhaps more revenge?
Fade to dark…
By Ryan.
Pacers got their 2013-2014 campaign underway with a hard-fought 1-1 draw away at TEFA.
Having done the double over Pacers last season, having made some good summer signings and, fresh from their open day victory, TEFA might have fancied a bit of a massacre against a Pacers side who had struggled in the relegation battle for the majority of the previous season. They may be forgiven for going in at half time with exactly the same sentiment too.
Pacers started the season with a record-breaking 14 players to choose from having had to relieve no fewer than 3 players from the math-day squad. Antonio – Continental keeper mark 3, made his debut between the sticks with a familiar back 4 of penalty-scoring machines Nashy and Ivo, Popo on the left, and Matt on the right. Ash and Alex started in the engine room whilst Nick worked the right flank and Sean worked the left. Up front, Chris played his welcome-back game with new-boy Dan up front. Martin, Kev and Ed making up the squad.
The talk before the game was about getting it down, plenty of talk, defending high up and getting some early challenges in. Unsurprisingly, none of the above really happened in the first 45 and Pacers were lucky to be in the game at half time. The work rate was fine and some good last minute tackles, clearances and solid goalkeeping meant that only a lapse in concentration and a neat finish from TEFA’s best player put TEFA in a winning position. TEFA were smelling blood and the half time whistle could not have come sooner. At the other end, Pacers had managed to get the ball in a few promising positions but the strikers were too-often isolated and, bar a decent effort from a free kick from Dan, Pacers had yet to threaten the TEFA goal.
Half time saw the introduction of veteran Kev (34) for the injured Ivo and a few minutes to count our lucky stars and put a plan together.
It was pretty much the same plan with the need for a higher defensive line, a few more “Kev style” tackles, and to get the ball into the feet of the strikers. This time Pacers took note. The second half was definitely Pacers’ half with some nice “through-the-back” challenges from Alex and “through-the shins” challenges from Kev setting the tone.
The defence pushed up allowing the midfield to close the gap and the pressure was too much for TEFA to handle as Pacers started to create chances. Kev went close with only a top-class save from the TEFA keeper denying him from Sean’s free-kick, whilst Nick tried a long range shot (or cross) which wasn’t too far away and then had the ball break to him with the keeper to beat which unfortunately didn’t happen.
The goal came from the pressure Pacers were asserting when one of the big lads screwed his clearance onto the chest of Sean who took it down nicely and calmly looped the ball over the keeper to equalise. Nice finish, Chav celebration.
The game was then fairly open with TEFA themselves squandering a couple of chances including a back-post sitter and a promising cut back to a man in acres of space both going wide but Pacers were pushing up, closing gaps and putting in some big challenges which meant that TEFA pressure was short and unsustainable and Pacers’ pressure looked the more promising.
Ed and Martin were introduced for Nick and Matt and played their part in ensuring a tight well-organised finish was maintained.
When the whistle went it was clear that both teams felt a draw was about right and although it was no five-star performance, Pacers will be buoyed by a good solid second half performance against a side that will undoubtedly be up there in May.
Whilst everyone played their part, Antonio was blinding between the sticks and deserves a mention whilst Alex dictated the middle of the park in the second half and old-timer Kev showed those of us who had forgotten just why he is a centre half.
A rejuvenated Pacers notched their first win of pre-season over second division Bath Old Boys (BOB) with a superb display at South Park.
The game was energetic from the off with Pacers on the back foot for the opening exchanges.
The familiar back four of Ben, Kev, Ivo & Matt in front of stand-in keeper Alex stood firm however, limiting BOB to a couple of speculative efforts from distance.
Soon, the midfield duo of Oli & Adequate Ash gradually got a hold of the game and Pacers began to threaten the BOB goal with a notable slice from Curtis which troubled the trees being the best early chance.
The breakthrough came from a throw in inside the Pacers half, as Matt lobbed it to four BOBsters who were standing around seemingly unprepared for what was to come.
It came in the form of a crunching tackle from Yoga Guru Hauser to win the ball back before getting to his feet, executing a perfect downward dog and spanking a terrific ball through to Dan just outside the area.
Dan feigned to shoot with his left and turned his man inside out before slotting past the keeper into the bottom right corner of the net.
A superb finish to match the delicious through ball. 1-0 Pacers, Ommmmmmm.
HT 1-0
A few changes at half time saw Adequate Ash move to centre back where, it has to be said, he dominated the second half and is now likely to remain for the season.
Also into the fold by this time was debutant John, playing in his Daz-white socks like he was out on the doorstep challenge or auditioning for Leeds United.
Whichever it was, those pearly whites picked up the ball in the middle of the park and dealt a delicious lazy lob to Dan on the left of the area to set up the Pacers second.
Dan’s shot was parried into the air this time but Sean, resplendent with 1920s quiff, charged in shouting ‘GET IN!!’ before realising he’d have to ruffle his, and a few opposition, feathers to get the job done.
He duly did, bundling ball and defender over the line, mostly using his face.
They all count, 2-0.
The third swiftly followed and was a thing of true beauty, although I can’t really remember what happened!
All you need to know is this: Dan is charging through on goal, the keeper is in no-man’s land, the ball sits up, Dan executes a superb lob from just outside the corner of the box and it’s effectively game over.
3-0, Sign Him On Sign Him On Sign Him On,Sign Him On Sign Him On Sign Him Ooon!
The Pacers wouldn’t be the Pacers without a bit of comedy, however, and it came in the form of slapstick duo Alex & Martin. A latter-day Laurel & Hardy, you might say.
Alex, struggling with his kicks and affecting a limp like Charlie Chaplin, decides he’ll throw the ball out to Martin and, being the conscientious keeper that he is, gives a shout of ‘MAN ON!’ before the ball has even left his hands!
Martin, inspired by his partner and muse, conjures up the spirit of Tommy Cooper and duly collapses onto the pitch clutching his chest, allowing a BOBster to nick the ball and slot home easily.
If you missed it, you’ll be able to catch the repeats on UK Gold every Boxing Day, right after The Morecambe & Wise show!
With just five minutes to go, the game fizzled out and the Pacers claimed a very good win with a superb performance against a very good team from a league above.
FT 3-1
Putney Pacers 