Loco News in Brief

Tomorrow’s AFC Winton league match is off, we have drawn Mazars in the Robbins Cup and news on the disciplinary front. Good job as Bomber would be hungover anyway…The torrential rain has swept through West Moors meaning no game for Loco on halloween and no real need to worry about the clocks going back. Whose out on the lash tonight then?

Loco have been drawn against Division Six side Mazars in the next round of the Robbins Cup. Mazars have only played two league fixtures this season, but have picked up six points in the process and have a 100% record in all three Bournemouth FA Competitions. They are still in the Brivati having beaten Hollies (Div 6) and Shoulder of Mutton (Div 5).

In the Robbins they have beaten InExcess (Div 3, but bottom with no points) and AFC Westvale (Div 5) to earn a tie against the Loco.

The paperwork to confirm that Sharkey’s red card has been downgraded to a yellow has arrived at Rob’s place.

Winton 4-1 The Loco

Loco’s toughest match of the season ended in defeat against Division Five
title contenders AFC Winton. There was plenty to learn from and an array of
positives to take into the league game this Sunday.

A relatively even start to the game was thrown into life by the awarding of a
Winton penalty. Standing right by the incident I could see why it was given and
would be surprised if there had been no appeals had it happened at the other
end. The back four and Rob in particular should not let that distract from a
first half defensive performance almost right on cue to the gaffer’s
instructions.

Andy Smith went in late on the Winton captain and the skipper responded by
kicking out at the Loco frontman. He was only given a talking to by the referee;
next week will determine which style of officiating works best in this
circumstance.

Loco’s best chance of the first half (penalty aside) fell to Dave. His lobbed
effort heading straight for the top corner was somehow palmed for a corner in
what must be one of the best saves in a Loco match for some time. Fat Luke
watched on, maybe re-living nightmares of a rather different lob two seasons
ago.

From the corner the referee awarded the second penalty of the game and in
changing his mind at the last moment Rob clipped the outside of the post. Winton
counter attacked and made it 2-0 at the break.

In the second half a flicked header made it 3-0 and the chances were more
frequent as the space opened up. It was no real surprise considering some of
their better players train twice a week The game never descended into a farce
though, a credit to Loco considering Winton’s other results this season.

Before a third penalty gave Winton a fourth goal Eddie pulled one back for
Loco. Looking desperate throughout the whole game to be playing more central,

Paul switched him with Ali and to good effect. A great finish from the edge of
the box to give the home side something to think about. It was far from a stroll
in the park and the Loco will be looking forward to the forthcoming league
fixture.

Cuz it was all yellow…

Due to the influential management of Locomotive T&D, it looks to be confirmed that after an appeal by the Loco Gaffa, Sharkey’s Red has been changed to a Yellow!  The Official Loco web-site telephoned Jon with the news earlier today, and we managed to get an interview with the disgraced winger. Although the news has yet to be confirmed, Jon was pleased with the news, and wished to clarify what happened yesterday. So from the man himself, this is what happened…

“What I remember of it really, it was a move down the right. Ed and one of their guys went for the ball and the ball went loose, so I went to go for it along with another one of their players. I stumbled over the player that went down with Eddie first, so I was on my way down already.”

“The bloke just clipped me on the way through – I certainly didn’t appeal for a penalty because I don’t know if he got the ball or not – but I went down (in installments as Rob said). He then said something along the lines of fucking cheating diving c*** – so that is just something I reacted to. by swinging an arm at his ankle before I got up. He then shoved me in the shoulders when I got up, there was nothing in it really from either side. Even though there was no need for it, to class any of it as violent is ridiculous. Mine should have gone down as a yellow, as should have the other guy’s card.”

“To consider what either of us did as ‘violent’ conduct beggers belief to be honest. I know I shouldn’t have gone for the guy and he knows he shouldn’t have gone for me, but it certainly wasn’t malicious or violent from either party. The referee didn’t have to rethink the decision after the game, but now he’s done so I believe he can see it from the same perspective that I did. If more referees at all levels of the game were that keen to improve and analyse their own performance then the game will be bettered because of it.”

The Loco web-site will be catching up with Jon later in the week, and we will be also looking to see whether Jon’s card has officially been wiped out or not. For the meantime though, the Results page does list Jon as being Sent-Off, and will remain like that.

Sharkey disgraces Loco win

Locomotive kept up their winning run this weekend with a 9-2 win over bottom of the league Collindale Athletic at West Moors. The main talking point – Jon’s disgraceful behaviour. With the away side conceding shitloads of goals recently in their last few fixtures, it was expected that they would come out all guns blazing, as they didn’t want to get dicked again by an in-form Loco. Indeed, they lived up to that expectation with a goal inside the first minute. Sloppy midfield play from Davis (honest), resulted in Collindale gaining posession, and their striker turned Bramley inside-out before rifling in a shot from the edge of the box which Martyn couldn’t handle.

Loco however hit back pretty instantly. Although playing on the small pitch limited the extent at which the home side could play, some through balls were finding the feet of the strikers, and we were gaining chances all over the shop. Sean Barker netted two early goals for Loco, the first of which was a close-range volley into the roof of the net, and the second was a pin-point header after a sweeping ball from Frank found the head of the Italian ponce.

Wonderkid Ed Bradshaw also netted two in the first half, the first of which was pretty sublime – a great move which saw Steve lay the ball on to Ali, who then coaxed it on for Bradshaw, who struck the ball firmly into the net past the stranded keeper. His second came after a defensive mix up put the ball on a plate, and he did nothing wrong, placing the ball to the keepers right, and simultaneously easing the pressure on the Loco after the dreadful start.

Also in the first half, Loco scored a penalty when Barker was pushed in the back from a deep Stu Bramley throw-in. Regular penalty taker Rob Frank stood up and took a super penalty, to the left of the keeper, keeping it low, and putting the Loco up 5-1 at half time.

The second half saw the introduction of Darren Mountfield, and the brief introduction of Jon Sharkey. Jon, who had a short spell on the pitch, was getting a lot of the ball in the early stages, and set up some superb attacks down the right wing. However it was another kind of attack ten minutes into the second half which landed Ceefax in deep trouble, as he got involved in some violent conduct with his marker, resulting in a sending-off on his 50th game for the club.

I won’t say too much now as there will be an interview later in the week with the disgraced winger. Meanwhile, after that debacle, the other sending off, and a converted penalty for Collindale, Andy Smith came on for Sean Barker in the third and final substitution. Smith came on and had an immediate effect, with his first-touch resulting in the Locos 5th goal of the game. Some good work from Bradshaw was cooly converted by our new-striker, who slipped it comfortably under the keeper.

Soon after, it was two for Andy, as Bradshaw worked some magic on the left, enabling the ball to be cut back and Smith pelted it into the net with his left peg. At this stage the Loco were playing a lot better, and indeed Smith was on the scoresheet again later with another close range effort. It was Andy’s first ever Loco hattrick, and possibly one of the fastest – we might have to ask Sean about that one.

Loco made it 9-2 with minutes to spare, as after three shots were completely mis-hit, Bradshaw eventually managed to slide the ball onto Davis who converted low from the angle.

Well certainly an interesting game. But a good win none the less, and this will hopefully put Loco further up the table. Final score Loco 9 – 2 Collindale Atheltic.

Salva heads last gasp winner

On Sunday, bit-part Loco striker Sean Barker proved his critics wrong, as a headed goal in the Robbins Cup, secured a stunning win for the Loco boys against Div One opposition.Loco started with a different formation from usual, with 4-3-3. Steve Phillips, Mark Weston and Mike Brannan were the midfield trio, and Sam Davis, Ed Bradshaw and Kendall Mersh were fielded up-front. The defence had a similar look with Rob, Stu, Bomber, and Scott as the team foundations. Martyn once again, was in goal.

Loco started very strongly against the First Division Side Berrans Park Avenue, and did a lot of the early running, and created a few opportunities.

Indeed, it was the away side that took advantage, when a square ball in the box was converted cooly by Steve Phillips, who netted with aplomb.

Loco however fell asleep at the back moments later, and the 1-0 advantage didn’t last long at all. Numerous failed clearances ended up in the ball finding their left midfielder, and he struck a shot across the box which went post and in. Bugger.

Loco rallied though and held firm for the rest of the half, and nearly forged ahead when Ed Bradshaw was through on goal, however he couldn’t quite dink his shot over the keeper.

The second half saw Loco doing very well and being very strong at the back. Stu Bramley was influential, and Bomber – he was playing too. Andy Smith, Jon Sharkey and Sean Barker came on mid-way through the half, giving the side some much needed weight up-front, and it was his introduction that paid its dividends on the 82nd minute. Loco won a free-kick on the right side, which was floated in towards the far post, where Salva rose to nod the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-1.

Loco had a last minute scramble in their own box , however the side stayed in control, to see out one of the performances of the weekend.

Frank penalty secures win.

Loco came up against their sternest test of the season at the weekend in the form of AFC Westvale, and it was a controversial penalty that won the home side the game. This was the defining moment of the game, and the task of converting was given to Rob Frank, who cooly stepped up to slot the ball to the keepers right, just ahead of his out-stretched arm. This was enough for Loco, who never looked like conceding in the game due some superb defending from the back-four.

Ed Bradshaw was once-again influential in the middle of the park, and created many chances for the strikers, however some blustery conditions made it difficult for the home side to put the opportunities away.

Andy Smith went close on two occasions with a couple of good headers, and Bradshaw himself had a shot from range which was easily gathered by the keeper. The majority of the game was played in the middle of the park. Some tough tackling, consistent shadowing of attackers, and chasing the balls down made sure that Westvale didn’t produce any major threats. Final-score was 1-0, and very well deserved it was too.