Soho Tigers 1 v 2 Barnes Stormers FC (LUL XI)
Barnes Stormers LUL side made the long trip to the mecca of amateur football Hackney Marshes on Sunday to face Soho Tigers. Looking to bounce back from their drubbing in the LUL Cup the weekend before; Barnes named a strong squad with Joe Young returning as captain and regular keeper Conal in between the sticks.
There was also a return of Felipe who had proved so devastating in the opening league win. With these regulars back and newcomers like Ali Alradhawi starting to bed in nicely at the club, the Barnes LUL season looks promising with such a strong squad.
Barnes started poorly though, looking disjointed and lacking composure on the ball, perhaps missing the grace and flair of Henry Moloney. The Waitrose Winger. The typical Marshes pitch didn’t help, but that was no excuse and you could argue they deserved to be behind when Soho Tigers opened the scoring with a well timed run in behind. There were appeals for off-side, although largely from Player Manager Jake Cooper at right back which would suggest a certain lack of pace might have been more of the culprit.
The decision from Barnes to play into the low sun for the first half was a canny one as it was likely to be even lower for Soho in the 2nd period, but it was a hindrance for Conal in goal in this instance. Usually so quick off his line to snuff out danger, he slightly hesitated, unable to pick out the ball as their forward latched on. I will admit, as the linesman dear reader, it is forever a thankless task. Although a tight call, it was onside and Soho were ahead.
Barnes looked to respond with rallying cries from the Youngs at the back and a lively Ethan getting on the ball in midfield, looking by far Barnes’ best player. It was a penalty that got Barnes back in the game in the end with Mitch, being clearly fouled by an opposition defender. George stepped up and calmly dispatched the spot kick in his completely unruffled manner. You almost expected him to doff his famous baseball cap in celebration - I think he’d wear it on the pitch if he could.
Still far from fluid, but Barnes did now look the better team and began to dominate. Lucas Bradley suffered a nasty head injury after a very non league clash of heads in midfield and had to go off to be bandaged up, going full Terry Butcher. By this stage Ben Resnick had come on for his debut at centre back and was looking very assured. Soho managed to get the ball in the back of the net again though, only for it to be ruled offside, yes by me, dear reader. There was later talk of a potential own goal from J Cooper, but two Soho forwards were clearly offside and one nodded it past the keeper (from my recall.) Another scare for Barnes though and more calls of “wake up” and “we’re better than this” rang out.
The rallying cries worked and pressing for a lead, the ever tricky Ethan weaved his way into the box only to be brought down by a defender. The referee pointed to the spot, again! It looked like the lead Barnes had been striving for was here, only for Ethan to step up himself and blast the ball over the bar and into Walthamstow.
The sides went in level at half time.
After some strong words across the group and some incomprehensible ones from gaffer Dan Bugler, Barnes went into the second half with something to prove. I had been relieved of linesman duties to come on at right back and prove my inconsistency and poor concentration on the flank in a different way. Elliot was also on, to rampage around up front and on the right, harrying defenders and causing his usual chaos.
The lead did eventually come and it wasn’t particularly pretty. Tom Hayon, who had come on down the left flank and impressed, particularly with a wonderful Cruyff turn on the half way line, found himself in the position for a shot on goal. Deflected shot or brilliant pass, it’s up for debate, but the ball landed at the feet of Mitch, who coolly put it away. Scrappy, but deserved. There was more controversy as the linesman flagged it offside (not me this time) but the referee rightly overruled them. Barnes 2 - Soho Tigers 1.
Perhaps the most entertaining incident of the game came outside of either box. Elliot with his aforementioned battering ram approach up top, hit one of the Soho centre backs a little late. A foul undoubtedly, but no menace it in. Completely anonymous all game, said centre back, who looked vaguely familiar, got up and charged at Elliot looking like a baddie out of a Roald Dahl book. Elliot was pushed over and then grabbed by the lapels (if football shirts had them) before the oaf was pulled off by teammates. (Behave.)
Perhaps wanting to put his mark on the game after such an anonymous display, who knows, but the lumbering centre back (rumoured to be Scottish) saw red, literally, and was sent packing by the referee, mumbling something about “freedom.” Elliot reported after the game that his eyes were wild and he smelt strongly of haggis and despair.
Down to ten men, Soho were unable to offer much of a threat and Barnes played out the win. All in all, a pretty poor performance from the South West Londoners, but a good win against a much improved Tigers team than were faced last season.
Player of the match went to Ethan, despite his awful spot kick, who was Barnes’ liveliest player and the most composed on what was a difficult pitch and a difficult afternoon.
Two wins out of two, the Stormers march on.
Staring XI: Conal Butler, Jake Cooper, Joe Young (C), Lucas Bradley, John Young, Ethan Sanderson, George Fry, Will Liddall, Dan McCleron, Elliot Taylor, Mitch Preyer
Bench: Tom Johnson, Ali Alradhawi, Tom Hayon, Felipe Valente, Ben Resnick.
Managers: Dan Bugler & Jake Cooper.
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