Loco Golf Day video

Back in the summer, we all played at Paultons Park for the Loco Golf Day. As part of the ensuing Video Gallery to this site, here are the highlights of the day…It was a day remembered for many things. Keith’s late entrance, Keith’s steep golf learning-curve, and Keith’s “running around the course naked” antics…

Sam was caddying, recording, and generally making a nuisance of himself in the buggy, and managed to clip together a 5 minute video of some of the best bits of the day.

As well as the actual 18 holes, there were also a couple of nearest-the-pin competitions, which were won by Steve Phillips and Lee Arnold respectively.

Highlights of the video include Paul Phillips taking a slash in the bush, and also Andy Smith taking a slash in the bush - it really doesn’t get much better than that….

There will be another golfing day in the summer this year too, with all the current and former Loco players being invited. The Loco site will have details of this in July.

Press Play to get the video going…

This one of several videos which is going to be added to the Video gallery very soon. Stay tuned…

Hollies don’t prick the Loco

Mellor netted on Sunday in a convincing 4-1 win against Hollies at King George, with the other goals coming from Jonny Haines (2) and Sam Davis.King George was a very boggy King George on Sunday, however the drainage was more than good enough for the game to be on, and it was a game where Loco wanted to use to try to get the league campaign back together again after last weeks draw with Verwood.

Loco had Kris Legg in goal, with a defnce of Mat Robinson, Luke Mellor and Simon Candy. This meant we had a centre midfield of Sam and Andy, with Bolty and Brown on either flank, and Paul Cashmore playing just behind. Sean and Jonny were the up front dream duo. On the bench we had a strong foursome of James Clease, Webby, Hopkins, and Kirk Eaton!

“Now that it’s raining more than ever, know that we will have each other, you can stand under my Lukey Mellor, you can stand under my Lukey Mellor, Mellor, Mellor…”

Yes, he scored.

The Loco left back, who is probably the most consistent player for Loco since Bomber, scored a wonder goal from 35 yards into the top left corner of the net. Had he not been insanely pissed we’d have probably thought he meant it… as it stands, all of us knew it was a cross that went wrong. However, it was a good goal for the lad, and testament to one of the best kickers in our football team. Nice one Luke, 1-0!

The away side didn’t really get out of the blocks early on, and Loco used their pace and general prowess to take a quick lead, so with Luke’s goal on 10 minutes, and another goal on 17 minutes, the red and blacks were 2-0 up, comfortable, and looking to net more…

The aforementioned second goal came from Jonny Haines, after an incisive through ball but the striker in on goal, and as he approached the keeper, he dipped, rounded him, and left-pegged it into an empty net to make his tally ten for the season.

The remaining 15 minutes of the first half saw Loco with a few chances to score again, with a superb one two with Sam and Jonny giving Davis the chance to score, but as he approached the keeper he played it low into his feet, instead of taking the probably easier Haines route, and netting by rounding the Hollies number one.

Elsewhere, general shots and possession was good, but then we started to lose it a bit, and the away side then quite deservedly netted to make it 2-1, after shot from close range went in – with Mat Robinson trying to save it, but failing.

Half-time: Ferndown Locomotive 2 – 1 Hollies

The second half saw Loco really assert their dominance in the fixture, and we could have scored about six in this half alone, however it just wanted happening for us. We did net two though, one from Jonny Haines and the other through Sam Davis.

As the pitch bogged up, we managed to keep our feet and at times we played some pretty decent football – however it was always quite a tussle, so we didn’t push on and net as many goals as we should have.

Jonny’s goal was Jonny-esque, and Sam’s goal was a close range shot after Jonny got skillfully hit in the face at full throttle!

Elsewhere in the half, the midfield was really strong, with Sam and Andy getting quite a lot of joy in the midfdle of the park. Bolty and Chris on either side had strong games, and at the back, Mat, Simon and Luke were very resilient, and often played the ball out rather than “hoof it”!

Up front, Sean and Salva did the business for us – with the latter being unlucky not to score. Clease, Webb and Hopkins all came on in the latter stages of the half to good effect – three excellent players,. Which truly shows off the strength of depth we have with this squad, when everyone is available.

A good win for Loco, and one which we can take on into the next fixture…

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 4 – 1 Hollies United

Loco keep on track with draw

Jonny scored a brace at Potterne Park on Sunday against AFC Verwood, as Loco maintained their unbeaten run with a deserved draw with our fellow promotion contenders.The conditions were relatively good on the flat, once frosty pitch, and by half ten the pitch was perfect for an entertaining game of football – and, we got it.

Kris was in goal for this fixture, with a defence consisting of Jimmy Redford, Luke Mellor, and Simon Candy. This left a midfield five of Andy, Sam, Kirk, Chris Hopkins, and Paul Cashmore. Jonny and Sean were up front, meaning the bench consisted of Matt Webb, James Bolt and James Clease – all of whom played a vital part in this fixture.

Loco found it very difficult to get into this game, and some of our passing at times was atrocious. Movement was poor, and we were slinging it up the pitch, getting scant reward. So it was only just when Verwood took the lead… and it was through a wicked bounce from a long shot, which deceived Kris in goal.

Loco however used the rest of the second half to assert their territorial dominance on the fellow promotion contenders, by keeping the ball in their half. We really could and should have notched a couple of goals, however we couldn’t quite get it together. Verwood on the other hand, on the few times they did break our defence, looked pretty mean. So, given the fortune with their first goal, the half-time score really should have been 0-0 – but with the home side a goal to the good, there was enough confidence within the Loco ranks to rescue the fixture.

Half-time: AFC Verwood 1 – 0 Ferndown Locomotive

The second half was a little better for Loco, but we had to work hard to gain the rewards. Often, we had to work too hard, as we made it extremely difficult for ourselves at times – with the shape being pretty poor, and the general movement not being good.

Kris was solid in the Ferndown goal, and the Loco defence looked pretty sharp, with Jimmy Redford taking every opportunity to come forward any time he got the ball. Mellor, too, was sturdy, and Simon’s trusty left foot saw a few last ditch tackles and clearances.

The midfield was where the game was being won and lost, and with changes on the pitch being made with the two James’s and Webby coming on for Kirk, Andy, and Sean - Loco wanted to try to get some momentum going in a fixture that was really starting to slip away from us. There was little in the way of cohesion, and if anyone, Verwood looked like they would be the next team to get on the scoresheet, but thankfully, it wasn’t…

On 68 minutes, Loco gained the ball back, and a consise through ball from Cash found Jonny Haines running towards goa, and with the ball bouncing by his side, the nippy striker managed to latch on to the ball and hook it into the back of the net to make it level – a much needed equalizer!

However, the new-found confidence that ran through the Loco side caused a bit of havoc, with our shape going AWOL, and two goals being conceded to boot… the first from a long-distance free kick which swirled in the wind, and the second being from a corner which was converted by a good header.

So, with 87 minutes gone, Loco’s unbeaten record looked to be over. Cash tried his best by netting from the half way line, but it wasn’t to be. However there was a chink of hope when Loco got a corner, and it was put into the box, and netted by a Verwood defender – with Simon Candy trying to unsuccessfully claim it. 3-2 to Verwood.

Then in the last minute Verwood lost the ball deep into the Loco half, and it was picked up by Sam, who went on a run towards the opposition goal. With defenders backtracking, Davis carried on the run until he saw Jonny free on his left, who coolly slide-ruled the ball home into the corner of the net to make it 3-3, much to the delight of the Loco players.

Unfortunately, we had little time to make it 4-3, and the whistle blew, in a game where we really should have won. We crumbled at times.. and a big improvement is required for the rest of the month, where nothing but winning is essential.

Final Score: AFC Verwood 3 - 3 Ferndown Locomotive