Loco stun Tiegla in 4-1 g-rout

Ferndown Locomotive ended 2007 in style on Sunday with a convincing 4-1 win over fellow promotion contenders Tiegla Tiles at Ferndown Leisure Centre.Locomotive had a bit of a threadbare squad for this game, with numerous players out through injury and work commitments, however we pulled together 13 of the remainders – and gelled to put in a tremendous performance which kept us top of the league.

Loco began the game with Kris in goal, with Cash, Chris Hopkins and Matt Robinson at the back. Andy played just behind the midfield four of Sam, Ali, Kirk, and Rick – and this left Sean and James Clease up front. Chris Brown and Bolty were on the bench.

It took a while for Loco to get into the game in the first half, and we were chasing shadows a lot in the early stages with poor touches, Sam’s dodgy passes into the middle of the park, and a general lack of awareness. That said, the opposition didn’t really pose any threats either, so it was fair to say the majority of the early exchanges were spent in the middle third of the park.

The team in red and black (that’s Loco to the untrained reader), started to get a grip of the game half way through the first 45, and it was rewarded with a goal, when some persistent chasing by Sean saw him meet the goalie by the corner flag (with all the other 20 players on the pitch thinking it was rolling out of play). Sean hassled the keeper and managed to gain possession of the ball, and then a mis-placed clearance found Sean near the goal, and he stuck out a right boot to guide the ball past the keeper into the net from close range. 1-0 to Loco.

It should have been two only moments later, when Rick somehow found the back-lift to bring out a wonder strike from 30 yards, which hit the bar and came back into play, and James Clease managed to be in position for the simple head into goal… but it wasn’t to be as it went over the bar.

Tigela Tiles got back into the game on 35 minutes when they notched an equaliser, and it was merely a long ball over the top which caused some confusion between keeper and defender, and a Tiles striker got in between them and stuck out a foot to see the ball trickle into the net to make it level.

Half-time: Tiegla Tiles 1 -1 Ferndown Locomotive

The second half was much better from the away side, and this was the half where all our pre-season training and fitness work throughout the season came into fruitition.

We took the lead on 50 minutes when loco won a corner, which was swung in, and in amongst the resulting scramble in the box, Rick struck the ball into the net in off a Tiegla defender to make it 2-1.

Then ten minutes later we made it 3-1, when Loco had a really good spell of attack, and the ball found the feet of James Clease who was running away from goal, but he laid it back to Sam, who struck the ball left-footed from 15 yards into the top corner of the net to make it 3-1.

Then, it should have been four… as Sean Barker had the opportunity to convert from the spot after a Loco player was felled in the area, however his spot kick was saved and turned away from the Tiegla keeper, and Barker hung his head in shame. He did try to make up for it with an audacious lob from 25 yards from an extremely tight angle later on, however it went over the bar .

Chris Brown and James Bolt came onto the pitch later in the half, and performed really well for us, with Bolty getting in on the act a couple of times, nearly notching a goal himself. Ali and Kirk were having a great game in the middle of the park, and our defenders, as well as Andy (who was playing just in front of them), were being extremely strong, and rarely gave the ball away.

The fourth goal did come for Loco though, and it was Mr Smith who got it, single handedly ripping the Tiegla defence apart. As he approached goal, everyone willed him to shoot, however instead, he laid the ball to his right to James Bolt, who then pumped in a right footed cross on to the head of Andy, who got down and netted a diving header under the keeper, to make it 4-1.

Loco had other chances to net throughout the half, and really the score-line could have been more convincing, however we were more than pleased with the 4-1 win, which keeps Loco at the top of the league.

On a personal note, I was extremely proud to play in this game. Loco have had some memorable performances over the seasons I’ve played with this team, however I feel that this Sunday saw 13 players come together, and gel tremendously, with some really decent football at times, and a will to succeed and get the three points – so this was in one of my top five games I think. If we can continue this desire into 2008, and if we manage to go unbeaten in January – we WILL win the league. Players need to be available, need to be committed, and come April… you will most definitely be rewarded.

Well done lads.

Final Score: Tiegla Tiles 1 – 4 Ferndown Locomotive

While it’s been raining…

Well with no football for two weeks it has been getting a bit quiet down at Locoboys.co.uk. So Stop Press… this web-site has actually been updated.Firstly, in order to get the Player Profiles updated, we will be having a featured every day until we get the full set. On this occasion the honour of having the first updated Player Profile of 2007/2008 is Chris Hopkins. The next profile will be online Wednesday 12th December…

Secondly, Locoboys.co.uk now has a list of all the Man of the Matches and Gimps of the Games - on a new page on the left hand side. At some point we’ll also put together some pie charts which indeed do show that Kirk has actually had the majority of the decisions going for him (or should that be against?) this season in the Gimp of the Game stakes.

Also, there have been a few pictures taken throughout 2007 on various digital cameras which really haven’t warranted a story by themselves, therefore they have been lobbed into a “2007 so far” page on the Media Gallery. If you have any snaps like this that you’ve taken throughout the season please email them to Sam and he will whack them online ASAP.

As well as the league, match reports, and stats being updated (yes Sean, you ARE top scorer), we’re also about to relaunch the forum. The forum, rather than be a generic Loco players/fans zone, will become a different type of board which will eventually encourage a hell of a lot of visitors, some fresh content on a daily basis, and then a few more clicks on our precious Google ads which help us build up the funds every now and then.

Please note also, that should you wish to download the latest team photograph, check the Wallpapers section!

Loco have had two weeks off with waterlogged pitches both times, however this Sunday we’ll be pretty confident that football will be going ahead on our marvellous King George pitches! Should the fixture be postponed, please take a look at the web-site, which will be updated by 9am on Sunday morning, with any news.

Photos from Real Carling game

Stu Bramley, who was injured on Sunday after going in for a challenge, showed his Loco spirit, by taking photos for the web-site for the rest of the game…As you can see, Stu went in for a challenge and his eye took a bit of a battering in the process. The size of the golf ball that followed on his face was unbelievable - and surprised many of the Loco players who saw the incident occur.

Stu had to go off the pitch, however bravely stayed around for the rest of the game, and then got his camera out, to take some quality photos of the remainder of the game. You can view the Real Carling vs Loco photos here.

Locoboys.co.uk only managed to get a quick word in with Stu after the game, therefore we decided to get some reaction to the incident from fellow player Chris Hopkins, who had this to say: “Well I was pleased to be able to get on to the pitch as soon as possible. Having been away recently, I thought I might get put on the bench - but Stu’s injury happened at a great time for me, and I was really pleased to get a good 80 minutes in”.

Upon realising that the interview was actually about Stu’s injury, Hopkins went on to add: “Yeah, I hope he’s alright”.

Remember you can view the Real Carling vs Loco photos here

Clease bags two in Loco rout

James Clease scored a brace, and Sean Barker also netted twice on Sunday, as Loco eased past Real Carling for the second time in a fortnight to go top of Division Four.It was a really good performance from Loco in this fixture, was saw us net seven. Although we conceded three goals, they were really quite soft goals, so it’s really not the end of the world. At times, some of the football was really neat – one-touch stuff really setting us apart, and some of the goals too were executed fantastically.

The team the started was: Kris, Stu, Cash, Simon, Matt Webb, Andy, Sam, Ali, James Clease, Sean, and Jonny. Therefore on the bench was Chris Hopkins and James Bolt.

Loco took the lead quite early in this game, with Sean Barker getting the goal - a corner was swung into the box, and after an initial shot was blocked, Sean picked up the loose ball and lashed home to make it 1-0.

The home did equalized though pretty swiftly with quite a well worked goal, started on the left wing, they managed to get to the byline, and their midfielder cut it back onto the foot of their striker, who blazed the ball home to make it level.

Loco pulled into the lead again though five minutes later, after Jonny Haines on the right did some good work which enabled a cross to be put in, and Sean left it (or more like mis-controlled it), and it found Sam on the left apex of the area who struck it left footed into the roof of the net,

At this point the goals just felt as though they were going to continue for the away side, and they certainly did, with Simon Candy netting from close range to make it four on 25 minutes (Sean Barker tried to claim that he notched it, but no one decided to believe him).

James Clease made it four later on in the half, as he managed to earn himself five years, and he placed a low shot forcefully along the ground, and the keeper somehow made a mishap of the save, and the ball ran under him and went into the net – much to the delight of James, who has been a thorn in the side of the Carling side throughout the game.

Half-time: Real Carling 1 – 4 Ferndown Locomotive

The second half was 3-2 to Loco – a close score-line which didn’t really paint the picture of the half.

The two goals we did concede were quite sloppy, with Kris mis-handling for one, and then an extremely quick counter attack which saw a 7 on 4 situation (with the rest of our players up the other end of the pitch arguing over some decision!)

However, without dwelling on the exploits of the home team, sandwiched between these moments of madness was another Loco moment of brilliance, with two other well executed goals which came as dessert to see Loco emerge 7-3 winners.

The first of the three second half Loco goals was that of Jonny Haines, who was given some fantastic service from the right with an excellent cross, and the wee striker jumped above his marker and headed into the goal to make Loco’s tally five!

Sean Barker grabbed the sixth Loco goal – again some great all round player offering the Loco stalwart a chance to slide home the ball into the net, and Salvatori, never one to shy away from hitting the net, made sure he did with style, putting enough pace on the ball, leaving the Carling defender little hope in scrambling it out.

And then it was seven, and it was a great move which saw this happen. The ball started at the back, was played around, was taken down the right, in and out, pass and move, Ali to Cash, Cash to Simon, Simon to Webby… etc – and James Clease got on to the end of it to make it seven.

A good win for Loco, and one which hopefully will put us in good stead for our next tough fixture…

Final Score: Real Carling 1 – 4 Ferndown Locomotive

Jonny downs Carling in 4-1 win

Locomotive beat Real Carling 4-1 at home on Sunday with goals from Jonny Haines (2), one from Sean Barker, and another from Paul Cashmore - keeping the unbeaten league run going.It was a very wet and cold Sunday at King George which saw Locomotive net four goals against a solid Real Carling side. Loco in all realism, could and should have scored more, however the three goal margin by which the side eventually won the fixture was more than justified, with some good football being played in the shocking conditions.

Loco began with Kris in goal; Luke Will and Matt Webb at the back. This put Cash just behind the midfield four of Sam, Ali, Chris Brown and Andy Smith. Up front was Sean Barker and Jonny Haines – meaning our bench consisted of James Bolt and James Clease.

Chris Brown gave Loco a dream start on five minutes, after a sweeping move was capitalised on by the midfielder, who swept the ball home into the net… only to find out later that the goal was ruled out for off-side. Unfortunately for the young blighter.

To compound the misery, it was Carling the netted first as well – a quick counter attack, and then a bit of confusion in the box, followed by a low shot into the corner of the net – typical! The away side were 1-0 up!

But, to be fair, it really wasn’t that long until Loco were right back into the game – indeed we netted three replies in the subsequent 30 minutes, with Ali Carmichael in the mix for the first one. It was his strength on the ball in the box that earned a penalty, as whilst shielding the ball, he was felled by a Carling defender. Sean Barker stepped up to take the spot kick – and well, he delivered yet again with a fantastic strike which gave the keeper no chance.

It was 2-0 moments later, when a fantastic Mellor corner came in, right on to the head of Paul Cashmore, and he thumped the ball home with his head, giving Loco a deserved lead.

As the weather deteriorated, the kicking styles of all players were having to be adapted in this bitter cold and wet, however, the Carling keeper didn’t quite do this – as once of his clearances on 34 minutes only managed to find cheeky chappie Jonny Haines, who netted with aplomb, from quite a distance.

Half-time: Ferndown Locomotive 3 – 1 Real Carling

Loco came out for the second half with the ambition of extending our lead, and extend it we did - as we played some patient football, and then scored the goal of the game when Paul Cashmore fed a concise ball through to Chris Brown, who then twisted and turned to secure a good cross which was met at the far post by Jonny Haines.

At 4-1 to Loco things were looking really good, however we did let the away side into the game a bit at times, but thankfully our side stood up to the task of holding firm.

Nothing else really developed in the last 20 minutes, bar substitutions with Andy and Sam being replaced by Jonny and James - who were extremely strong in their respective positions.

Kris Legg, if you’re reading this and you are thinking that I have forgotten, I DEFINITELY haven’t! This section my friend, is dedicated to you…

Yes Loco readers, our beloved goalkeeper Kris Legg made a massive blunder on Sunday after 70 minutes, and it instantly made him Gimp of the Game as default. The ball was overplayed by the Carling side, and it ran through to Kris, who was a full five yards outside the box, and for some reason (perhaps he was thinking of the Hot Chocolate he was about to have at the Nightjar??) he handled the ball and then kicked it away.

At this point I looked at where he was and I was shocked, kind of the shock you get when something has happened and you can’t quite believe it. Not quite in the same league as Diana or 911, but you get what I mean. It was madness. But he still did it. So this gave the ref no option but to send him off, leaving us short of a man. Sean Barker thankfully deputised to the delight of many, however he did slightly aggravate some of the team by taking half the day for the kit swap to occur!

Nevertheless, we finished the game 4-1 winners, and Loco’s march continues…

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 4 - 1 Real Carling