December Fixtures

Lads. The fixtures for December have beem released. There are only three weeks to play in December, and one of them we currently have spare, although this may change nearer the time.Sunday December 4th 2005:
Dorset Cup Round 3
Away to PTLC

Sunday 11th December:
Currrently spare as AFC Stourvale have requested a free couple of weeks becasue they are postmen.
NOTE: THIS MAY CHANGE AS FIXTURES GET SWITCHED DUE TO BAD WEATHER!

Sunday 18th December:
League match
Home V Oacis
Oacis are currently 4th in the league

Parkbury 3 - 0 Loco

Loco did themselves justice on Sunday in the Robbins Cup, however we were knocked out to Premier League outfit Parkbury, in a 3-0 loss at Wallisdown Rec.The game really did not see Loco pose many chances, however it also must be noted that two of Parkbury’s goals were more than fortunate, and other than that, they really didn’t threaten much.

The pitch was extremely narrow, which meant it was very difficult to get used to, having played on wide open pitches in the last few games. That said, we tried to push forward, however the well-drilled Parkbury side were difficult to break through at the best of times.

Loco had a number of throws and corners which put pressure on the home side, however their defence stood firm. The closest we came to actually netting was when Sean Barker came on and attempted an overhead kick, however the keeper gathered quite comfortably.

This match should put us in good shape for what will be an equally difficult game this weekend against Queens Park Rovers, who are cruising in Division Six - a win puts us nearer to the final (obviously), and wouldn’t that be nice if we could get a win. The match is at Strouden Park, so stay tuned to your emails.

Plucky underdogs push big boys

Chairman Rob Frank reflected on yesterday’s cup defeat against Parkbury, giants of the Bournemouth Sunday League.I’m not really going to say much about the detail of the game because I’ll leave that to Paul, but just to give everyone a big pat on the back for yesterday, as I don’t think we let ourselves down in any way whatsoever against a superb team.

The effort and committment put in to the game, was first class and I personally was well pleased to see players like Westy, Jon and Terry at the game even though they weren’t in the squad. It shows what a close knit side we are and I know that will stand us in good stead for the more important challenges to come.

Salva nets Extra-Time winner

It was ironic, that after arriving a full 20 minutes earlier at Long Lane than our opposition, it was Loco that were most unprepared when the referee got the game underway.Excuses aside, and forgetting the pitch debacle, Loco were really slow off the blocks in the match at Ringwood. It took a long time for us to get going, however, despite our scrappiness, the away team didn’t pose any threats - so it allowed us 15 minutes or so to get into the fixture.

Loco were playing 4-4-2, with Tug back in the line up for the first time in a very long while - and the impact he had in the team was fully there to be seen, as he was being a menace up front - using his power and strength to hold the ball up.

The away side grew in stature in the half, and nearly scored a goal on 23 minutes when Davis on the left ran the wing and then fired across a low ball onto the feet of Tug, however the striker couldn’t get to it, and it ended up running through. Moments later Kenny was next to have a pop, with a shot that went wide of the target.

Ferndown however made it 1-0 half-way through the first-half, as we won a free-kick on the right side of the pitch. Rob floated over a delightful ball which was only ever going to find the net - if it hadn’t got a touch, it would’ve probably floated in towards the far post - however it did get a knock, coming (debatably) from Sean Barker - and it nestled into the net to put us 1-0 up.

There was a chance to make it two just before half time as a good through ball found Dave Davis who lifted the ball over the keeper, but it ended up going just wide of the target.
Half time: AFC Ringwood 0 - 1 Ferndown Locomotive

In the second half, Loco were against the wind, but started off pretty well. The ball held up a lot for us which made it easier to play at times - however, it went against us on 55 minutes when Ringwood equalised, with a long shot from distance which Mike would have been hard-pressed to stop.

Loco hit back almost straight away though, as Dave picked up the ball in the middle of the park, ran forward, and set Tug free on the right side, and he produced an awesome low shot which beat the keeper and found the bottom of the net. 2-1.

It was very much backs to the walls at times for the rest of the half. Loco lacked a bit of trust and confidence at times, so we ended up hoofing rather than slowing things down by putting our foot on the ball. The one time we did put our foot on the ball, we nearly came up with an awesome third. Lee took a throw on the left side to Dave, who put Andy in on a run down the left-flank, and the midfielder produced an absolutely awesome left footed cross onto the head of Tug, whose loopy effort would have found the corner, but for an amazing save by the Ringwood stopper, who tipped over the bar.

Ringwood however equalised on 80 minutes, in a similar goal to Loco’s first - a free-kick from distance, and a header into the back of the net. So at 2-2, it was looking like we might go into extra time - but Sean nearly popped up at the last minute - as a good Loco move resulted in a vicious cross which found the head of the Italian striker, who powered it in straight towards the keeper.

So it was extra-time, players were cramping and getting injured all over the place, but we held firm in the middle of the park with Jon, Bomber, Kenny, and Andy producing the goods. It was one of Loco’s first attacks in the first period of extra time which was to be the difference between the two sides, as a string of four corners were fired in by Lee - the last of which bobbled around, until it met the left boot of Salva, who tucked it home from close range. 3-2 to Loco, and there was no-way we were going to surrender the lead again!

The Ringwood keeper came up for a couple of their corners in the second period of extra-time with little effect, and Loco weathered the storm to hold out for a Quarter Final spot in the cup - a well deserved and hard fought victory. Final Score: AFC Ringwood 2 - 3 Ferndown Locomotive.

Got to draw the line somewhere

Loco yesterday witnessed a debacle that made the Pre-Season meal fiasco look like an episode of Last of the Summer Wine - we were playing on a pitch which didn’t have any lines!We arrived at Ringwood in good time on Sunday, and after getting changed, we jogged down to the pitch, and then had a warm-up. Loco stalwart Jon Sharkey however was the first to realise that something was wrong when he started his first width of the pitch and instead of stopping at a line he was stopped by a fence.

Unbelievable but true, the pitch didn’t have a side touchline. Similarly, it didn’t have a centre-circle, and just as bad, one of the goal-lines split into two as it approached the corner flag. So the Loco went back into the changing room, and after a couple of calls, it was deemed by us that the match was unplayable.

So we all got changed into our stuff, and as it turned out, the home side were being allowed 30 minutes to amend the situation, therefore they hastily called over the groundsman and got it sorted. Therefore Loco had to get changed back into the kit again, do a brief warm-up, and get ready for the game.

Before the match, Loco captain Sam Davis approached the referee to ask if we were to be having a one-minute silence (it’s meant to be two, but given the circumstances of the lateness of the fixture, one was deemed appropriate), however the referee replied: “Well I can’t see that there’s any point is there?”

However after insisting that we should have a silence, we did, and then Loco began the game at last - playing football on a good sized pitch! Thank God we play at King George eh?

Had the lines have not been drawn, Loco would have most likely recieved a bye into the next round. Either that, or we’d have played on a football pitch which was smaller than a postage stamp - even Ryan could nearly touch the cross-bar!

Oh the stories that the Loco have to tell…

Smith header sees Loco through

An Andy Smith header was the difference between the two Division 5 sides in the Dorset Cup as Loco beat DBJ Property 1-0 at King George on Sunday.It was peeing it down on Sunday morning, but one of the advantages of our home pitch over numerous other venues is that the drainage is good enough to ensure that the pitches are playable even when its pouring it down.

Locomotive started with the same 4-4-2 formation, but with changes to the side, including Sam Davis coming out to the left side, and Andy Smith going up front, meaning Kenny coming back into the centre of midfielder alongside Cash.

For the first half, the change of team definitely paid its dividends. Loco were playing some very good football, with loads of attacking play down the left side, with their right-back being run ragged. Similarly we were getting a number of shots in on goal, albeit from long range.

DBJ Property really didn’t get too much luck in chances, as the home midfield and defence used their experience to their advantage - we really did cut out most of their threats, and to be honest, when the half-time whistle came, it felt like a bit of an injustice to be coming in at 0-0, as we thought we were the better side.

In the second half, Loco started as we finished. Some cracking attacking play down the right-hand side, and a few close chances to match. However the breakthrough came on 60 minutes, when a long Loco punt bounced over the head of the defender, and it put Sam Davis in on goal who struck a powerful left footed volley towards goal - the keeper could only palm it away, and it dropped down onto the head of an awaiting Andy Smith who nodded it into the net from close range. A very well deserved Loco goal.

From here, we semmingly ‘did an England’ - as we sat back on our lead and stoutly defended. As a result we invited DBJ to attack, and they went close on several occasions, scraping the post twice.

Mike was inspirational in goal for Loco - he really did so well, even with a dodgy wrist, and he pulled out a number of excellent stops, and his kicking also was tremendous - a definite man-of-the-match performance.

We held on to the end, and it was a well deserved win - which takes us through to a glamour tie against either PSC Collindale or Parkstone!