A five weekend month

Following a team building September, we have a long month to look forward to in October. Here’s the fixtures…Sunday 1st October - League
Away V Jocelyn’s Builders
Strouden Park pitch 1

Sunday 8th October - League
Away V XChurch Royals
Christchurch Pitch 1

Sunday 15th October - Robbins Cup Rd 3
Away V Kinson Con
Slades Farm Pitch 4

Sunday 22nd October - League
Home V Magpies & Woolsbridge

Sunday 29th October - League
Home V New Star Reserves

Salva shines in Strouden show

Sean Barker put in an amazing performance on Sunday as Loco played the most eventful game of football in the clubs’ history, eventually winning 4-1 on penalties.

To sum this game up in even a few paragraphs, like usual, would be seriously
under-selling the excitement of this match – as this game had more ups
and downs than a Bomber relationship. The game started with Loco playing a 4-2-2
formation, with the ever reliable Sean in goal. Across the back – Steve, Andy Savage, Mike, Simon. In the midfield – Scott, Keith, Sam, and Chris.
Up-front – Ali and Dave. On the bench we had Cash, Andy Smith, and Luke
– however it wasn’t long before these substitutes were needed.

Indeed, Loco players were going down like flies, and in amongst the plethora
of goals during the match, we lost Simon, we lost Scott, and we gained and lost
Cash. Indeed, the injury situation got so bad we played more than half of the
game with ten men.

However, first things first, lets go through the match action. Loco started
very slow off the mark, and to the observer on the touch line, there was very
little between the two sides, who actually stand five divisions apart in the
Hayward League – so it was actually quite surprising when the away side took the lead –
when a sweeping ball across the pitch found Ali who was running in on goal,
and the striker managed to stick out a leg, lob the keeper, and then nod the
ball into an empty net. 1-0 Loco.

The lead didn’t last long though, with a momentary lapse in defence allowing
their right sided striker with a bit of space to fire a shot past Sean Barker
into the corner of the net. 1-1.

Ferndown were really somehow managing to look like a poor mans pub side, as
some of our play was shocking – however even though we were pretty untidy
in places, we did manage to get ahead again, as a moment of brilliance from
Simon Candy enabled him to run forward, and put in a wicked left-footed cross
on to the feet of Scott Griffin – who produced a carbon copy of the earlier
goal from Ali – lobbing and nodding into the empty net. 2-1 to
Loco.

Half Time: AS Muscliffe 1 -2 Ferndown Locomotive

So half-time came and went, and with a bit of a spanking from Paul, Loco only
took two minutes to go in front, with a throw in from Mike being nodded on by
Keith, which was in turn nodded on by Ali – ending up at the far post
where Dave was on hand to strike the ball into an empty net. 3-1 to
Loco.

Then, Loco hit the self-destruct button, with Scott having to go off the pitch
with injury, and Paul Cashmore making the shortest ever Loco appearance of 20
seconds – therefore unfortunately sacrificing our left-sided player Chris
Brown. The first blow to the team was when Muscliffe scored on 70 minutes –
a soft goal to give away, and one which we really could have prevented. 3-2
to Loco.

Then, ten minutes later, Muscliffe made it level, with another goal, coming
after a pacy run and shot from their right-sided midfielder, which Sean managed
to get his hand to, but unfortunately couldn’t prevent from dribbling
in. 3-3.

The last ten minutes of the game was pretty nervous for both teams. Their
skillful number ten could have won it, apart from a wonder-save from Sean, diving
low to his left – and they also hit the bar twice too!

Andy Savage also went close for Loco as he had a header which hit the bar too! Loco also had various other shots, with Sam having a couple of long
range attempts, Luke going close, and Andy Smith also getting an opportunity.
However in full-time at least, it wasn’t to be, and the second of our
cup games this season went to extra-time – but little did we realize what
a roller-coaster this was going to be…

Full-time: AS Muscliffe 3 -3 Ferndown Locomotive

Well it started well, we played good football, and we really kept the home
side at bay, so it was well deserved when the goal-hero Luke turned up with
a cracking header – a great cross, being nodded into the far corner of
the net, miles out of reach from the stretching keeper. 4-3 to Loco.

But then it all started to go horribly wrong for Loco, as for the rest of the
first-period of extra time, we completely lost it – with some inter-squad
disagreements and a lack of communication helping only to stitch us right up….
three times in a row infact.

Muscliffe scored three goals on the bounce, and most of them were on the counter
attack, with their tricky captain and number 10 being inspirational in all three
goals. They were well taken goals too, with some excellent finishes making the
score-line 6-4 to Muscliffe.

So with seven minutes to go and Loco seemingly out of it, the red and blacks
went on a half-hearted counter attack, committing not many of our ten players
forward in the move – however, a large ball was played forward, and after
bouncing around a bit in the box, the ball fell to Luke Mellor on the edge of
the box, who swiped a magnificent right footed shot into the left side of the
net – the best goal of the day (until later). 6-5 to Loco.

Loco had a couple of corners in the dying minutes of the game, and it really
wasn’t to be – one of them was cleared and fell to Sam whose shot
towards goal was again saved by the keeper – and nothing seemed to be
opening up. However we won another corner kick in the 118th minute, and Sean
mysteriously decided to eek his way forward past the half-way line and in to
the penalty box – and with Barker’s recent Division Five goal-scoring record, his presence was considered by some (including Paul!) as
a token gesture.

So Dave took the corner kick from the left side, and his outswinging kick went
deep into he penalty box, where Sean Barker – legend of legends, shaped
his body, almost in slow motion – and he managed to connect his
left foot to the ball, and absolutely lash the living daylights out of it –
guiding it into the back of the net, to the absolute hysteria of one and all.
It was an unbelievable goal, a great finish, but even greater considering how
much it meant to everyone on the pitch. 6-6.

With little time left to play, the referee blew the final whistle, and once
again, Loco were burdened with yet another penalty shoot out – so Paul
picked his players, and the spot kicks began, this is how they went…

• Loco: GOAL: Andy Savage places it to the left of the keeper
• Muscliffe: GOAL: Placed right side of net, crisp finish.
• Loco: GOAL: Ali Carmichael – places it to the right of the keeper
• Muscliffe: SAVED! Shot right down Sean’s throat, who parries away
• Loco: GOAL: Keith Jackson, placed in right corner of goal low
• Muscliffe: MISSED! Ball struck against the bar and goes over.
• Loco: GOAL: Sam hits it low in bottom left corner of the net.

Final Score: AS Muscliffe 6 – 6 Ferndown Locomotive (Locomotive
win 1-4 on penalties)

Loco build league foundations

Locomotive made a solid start to their 2006/07 league campaign with a hard fought draw against Joscelyne Builders, with Andy Savage netting the goal for the home side.Locomotive started playing the 4-4-2 formation that helped us see off Pinocchio in the first match of the season, with a new starting striking line up of David Hutchins and Andy Savage.

The game started well for Locomotive, with some good early touches of the ball, and some secure defending - however as the game went on, some problems unfolded at the back, with Paul Cashmore and Stu Bramley becoming injured on 15 and 20 minutes respectively. Obviously, being the central rocks at the back, we needed some solid replacements, so in stepped Simon Candy and Dan Smith - both of whom coped admirably with the Joscelyne goal threat.

There were few chances for both sides in the first 45. Locomotive had a couple of weak shots from distance, but then had a great opportunity when Simon Candy pinged in an awesome left-footed cross towards the back post, however Andy couldn’t convert. Indeed, we had a similar chance soon after with Andy Savage - however he could only thigh it towards the keeper.

The away side were a decent team, and they etched a couple of opportunities, mainly stemming from free-kicks, but Sean Barker was on hand to be strong in goal at every opportunity.

Elsewhere across the back, Steve and Mike were performing well as full-backs, and were combining well with the midfield on numerous occasions. In the middle of the park, Sam and Ali were trying to get a grip on the game, and Andy Smith (on the left) and Scott Griffin (on the right) were getting increasing amounts of space - with both players managing to get shots in on goal.

Half-time: Ferndown Locomotive 0 - 0 Joscelyne Builders

The second half saw Loco start as they left off. Some nice periods of play, but no killer instinct up front. That was however, until Keith Jackson was introduced to the side half-way through the second 45, and his arrival had a massive impact, as he single-handedly ran through 4 or 5 players into the box, where he was felled. Ian Stone had no alternative but to issue Loco with a penalty, and once again, it was Andy Savage who stepped up to confidently blast home the spot kick to the right of the keeper.

Indeed, it could have been two later on, as some poor defending by the Builders let Sam manage to win the ball and bear down on goal, and his square pass found Andy Savage, however his side footed shot went wide of the upright.

Sam too had an opportunity with a half-volley from distance, and both Simon Candy and Scott Griffin too had excellent crosses well saved aswell - ones which could have easily been nodded in.

So it was a bitter pill to swallow when, six minutes from the end, the away side equalised. A free-kick was awarded for one of the Loco players shouting “Leave it” - despite there not being a Joscelyne player within a 20 metre radius of the ball - fair enough if there were two opposing players going for the same ball, but when their midfielder messes up a through ball so much so it is going off the pitch…?

Regardless, the free-kick was awarded, and their talented Number 4, who was awesome with numerous pin-point deliveries all game, put in a wicked free kick, with their striker managing to get the slightest of touches, to divert it into the net, leaing Sean and most of the Loco side dumbfounded.

The rest of the game fizzled out somewhat, with Loco aiming to gain a winner before the end of the game, however it wasn’t to be, and we finished leaving the pitch with a point - a solid start to the league campaign.

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 1 - 1 Joscelyne Builders

Loco Pre-Season Meal Photos

Last Thursday saw the Locomotive pre-season beers and curry in Bournemouth. This web-site has now been updated with all the sordid photos from the night.Click Media Gallery on the left of the page to view the evidence.

We started off at O’Neills in Lansdowne and then went on to the Indian at 11pm for a curry which was milder than the previous “hotter the f**k knows” dish that Ali experienced last time.

During the night though, the Locoboys learned a few interesting facts - the main talk of which involved our beer-downing new-signing of a centre-midfielder - Keith Jackson, whose girlfriend, we have learned, apparently is an avid reader of this web-site.

Keith has showed his class on the pitch in the pre-season games for Loco, although unfortunately he couldn’t make the first game of the season due to unforeseen circumstances.

This weekend though, Loco are at home for the first league match of the season, and manager Paul Phillips has told locoboys.co.uk said considers Keith to be his “get out of jail” card. He added that he hopes the midfielder dynamo will police the midfield and not cop out of any arresting challenges.

Draw your own conclusions…

Loco nose Pinocchio on pens

Ferndown Locomotive proceeded to the second round of the MA Hart Robbins Cup on Sunday with an enthralling penalty shoot-out win over Pinocchio FC at Chapel Gate

Ferndown started playing with our 4-4-2 formation, with Sean in goal; Steve,
Stu, Cash and Andy Savage across the back; Scott, Sam, Ali and Chris in midfield;
with Kyle and Andy Smith leading the attack. We were playing with the wind in
the first half, on what was an exceptionally small pitch, and this caused us
a lot of problems for the first half hour, as our through balls were being over-played
on numerous occasions.

Although we adjusted to the conditions reasonably quickly, the home side adjusted
quicker, and they ran the play in the early stages of the match – with
their Number 9 and Number 5 being very efficient in the middle of the park.

Indeed, they had a couple of early efforts, but as the half progressed, it
was the away side that looked more likely to score, as Kyle was finding himself
a lot of space, often being able to round the defenders and get a shot away.

So it was against the run of play when Pinocchio took the lead. A quick break,
fumble, and shot, resulted in the ball nestling in the back of the net, and
putting the team in blue 1-0 up. It was probably deserved on the amount of possession
they had, however, at the time, it felt like a bit of an injustice.

Step forward Kyle Eaton. A good bit of interplay from Loco resulted in the
young striker being put through on goal, and from the right he managed to find
an angle, and strike ball low and hard into the net, past the flailing keeper,
to make it 1-1.

Loco had a number of other efforts in this half, including a superb run and
shot from Andy Savage, a distant and widely-placed lob from Sam, and a shot
which went down the throat of the keeper from Kyle. Unfortunately none of them
increased our goal tally, and we went in at half-time at 1-1 – with high
expectations for the second half.

Half-time: Pinocchio 1 – 1 Ferndown Locomotive

In the second half Loco were playing into the wind, and although some teams
see this as a hindrance, the ball held up for us and benefited us greatly, with
the team in red and black dominating the 45 minute period. It was therefore
quite bewildering how we didn’t manage to put the game out of sight. We
had shots galore, with Kyle having a hat-full of on-target attempts which were
saved. Similarly, Andy Smith hit the post after a Kyle through ball put his
through, and then later the tall striker went on to crash the ball against the
bar with an instinctive effort after a penalty box pinball game.

Scott Griffin also went close in the half, as he managed to gain a bit of space
only to turn and see his shot drag wide to the left of the upright, and Ali
too saw a distant effort go the same way.

Steve also got in on the shooting action on 70 minutes, and although you could
visibly see the whites of his eyes when a gap emerged for the right-back, he
opted instead to put in a fierce cross-ball, which again was latched on to by
Loco, only to see the effort saved.

During this half, the defence of Steve, Stu, Cash and Andy were visibly solid,
with Cash especially producing some blinding clearances. The burly centre-back
also had an excellent run into the depths of the Pinocchio half, sending a through
ball to Kyle, however Eaton’s first time effort was again saved.

Chris was having his moments on the left-side of the field and was proving to be
a very effective outlet, but, seemingly, from all angles, we just didn’t
seem to be able to get the break-through; so it was nearly a bitter pill to
swallow when a counter attack from the home side ended up in their quick striker
being felled by Stu Bramley, with the referee having no option but to award
a penalty – three minutes from the end of the game.

So, their Number 5 took it, and Salva, having produced some pre-season heroics,
was focused on keeping Loco in the tie, and he once again made a wonder-save,
as he palmed the fiercely struck spot-kick away to the side, denying the home
side what would have been a certain win.

Full-time: Pinocchio 1 – 1 Ferndown Locomotive

So the game went to extra time, and once again Loco were playing into the wind,
and played pretty much the same as they did for the second half. However, once
again, we managed to tarnish a good performance by conceding a goal from a corner
– where the ball dropped to their midfielder after Loco failed to clear,
and he had the space to turn and strike the ball into the net.

Half-time Extra Time: Pinocchio 2 – 1 Ferndown Locomotive

In the second period of extra time, Loco had the wind, and needed to make it
count – and we did well. We had a number of shots, the bulk of the possession,
and the home side didn’t really get a look in. The goal just didn’t
want to seem to come though, until that is, when Ferndown had three corners
in a row, the third of which was taken by Scott Griffin from the left –
and his right footed in-swinger couldn’t be cleared by the keeper, with
his touch taking the ball into the roof of the net to make it 2-2 – a
competitive debut goal for the right midfielder!

The home side could have clinched it at the end but for an excellent save from
Sean in goal, and with three minutes left, again – it would have been
curtains. Kyle too had a chance on goal as he ran in from the left to fire a
shot across goal, but with the final whistle blown – it went to penalties.

Final-Score AET: Pinocchio 2 – 2 Ferndown Locomotive

The penalties had been decided by Paul already, and our five takers were: Andy
Savage, Kyle Eaton, Paul Cashmore, Ali Carmichael, and Sean Barker.

• Andy took the first penalty and missed, placing it central.
• Pinocchio took the following kick and scored.
• Kyle next, great penalty low to the right.
• Pinocchio penalty – wide to the right of goal.
• Paul Cashmore, good penalty low to the left.
• Pinocchio have another penalty saved low by Sean.
• Ali steps up and hits the target to score.
• Sean saves again with his feet, sending Loco into the next round.

Final-Score: Pinocchio 2 – 2 Ferndown Locomotive (Loco win 3-1
on penalties)