Haines completes Boscombe battering

Back in the day I used to run a website called Boscombe on the Web, which was a webzine dedicated to AFC Bournemouth - and I used the “Boscombe battered” headline on more than a few occasions, therefore it is refreshing to writing the headline in a more positive manner this Monday morning - as it was Locomotive that enjoyed the spoils at Wingfields on Sunday, it a fantastic win over fellow league side Boscombe Celtic.

Phew, that was a long senence.  Anyway, the Wingfields venue holds quite a few fond memories for the Loco boys.  I myself can remember playing there in days of Rob Frank and Sean Barker, and some bloke (who was totally arse) called Gary Piper scored a well flukey goal that went down in Loco folklore.  Then we played JP Morgan in a cup game, where was played fantastic football, and won by about 6 goals.  So what would today hold?

Well, it was a good day for the team in Red and Black.  The team comprised of Kris in goal, a defence of Neil Dall, Mat Robinson, and Dean Grice.  In midfield was Andy Smith, Ali Carmichael, Kirk Eaton, Sam Davis, and Keith Jackson, leaving Jonny Haines up front with James Clease.  Matt Webb was a willing (and late) substitute, as was Paul Cashmore.

Ferndown Loco didn’t take long to get out of the blocks, and we witness a plethora of goals in the opening stages of the game.  James Clease, Kirk Eaton, and Keith Jackson all got in on the act within the first twenty minutes - with some superb build up play helping to manufacture three fantastic goals.

The first came from Keith Jackson, who, after a good bit of Loco pressure, managed to find himelf in the box with the ball, turn, and then fire the ball into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 - an assured finish.

Next, on 12 minutes, it was Kirk’s turn.  In a similar position to Keith, the loaded midfielder who is single handedly responsible for what the UK is currently calling the “Credit Crunch”,  managed to get a bit of space and poke home  shot into the left side of the net to make it two.

And we weren’t finished there - Ferndown had some good midfield play which put the frighteners up Boscombe so much so that they conceded a corner.  The corner was taken by Jonny, clear, but then distributed back to him by Sam - and Jonny then put in what can only be called a sublime cross, and it was met by a leaping James Clease, who scissor kicked the ball home into the top left hand corner of the goal from about 20 yards!  Only a genius can do that.. and that genius my friends, is James Clease.

So at 3-0 we’re thinking “life is good”!  Not so…. The last ten minutes saw Loco take their foot right off the gas, and we let Celtic score quite a weak goal.  A terrible goal to concede.

Half-time: Boscombe Celtic 1- 3 Ferndown Locomotive

The second half started as the first half finished - Loco were poor. We were giving the ball away, rushing things too much, our pases completed percentage must hve been about zero, and we were only helping to stir a bit of confidence with the Boscombe contingent.

On 56 minutes, we conceded a second - a sublime strike from distance which Kris could do nothing about.  An amazing finish from a midfielder who seemed shocked himelf that he had hit the target from that range!

The confidence in the Boscombe side was high, so it took a bit of mettle from the Loco boys in order to get this result sorted, and it was Jonny Haines who did that - with a couple of well taken goals, the most memorable of which saw him round the keeper and slot home from an acute angle after a superb through ball from Paul Cashmore.  Well done Jonny.

With the three-goal cushion restored, Loco began to relax a bit, but we relaxed in a way where we were comfortable with our touch, and we were not scared to pass it and hold the ball up.

The final whistle went on 93 minutes, and although it was a well deserved victory from us, it also was slightly worrying given our dodgy spell either side of the half.  That said, when we did play well, we were awesome, and that was a testament to the dedication of each and every player that was out on the pitch.  Well done Loco.

Final Score: Boscombe Celtic 2- Ferndown Locomotive

Bransgore score five as Loco capitulate

Ferndowns finest football team played the only team in the village on Sunday, as we travelled to Bransgore for our first game of the season.  Bransgore are a good side, and they successfully drubbed up by a number of goals last season, so we were certainly hoping that the same would not happen again this week on a very sunny Sunday at Bransgore Rec.

The game began with Kris Legg in goal - Mat Robinson, Neil, Chris Hopkins and Jimmy at the back.  In midfield was Dave, Big Jim, Dan Carr, and Kyle - and this put Jonny and Ali up front.  Andy and Mellor Eaton were on the bench.

Loco were in control for long periods of the opening stages of the game at Bransgore, and really didn’t  look like conceding - however in the same breath, you could also say that we didn’t look like scoring either.  Although Kyle’s pace was going to worry the village defenders, he simply didn’t have a look in, as the Bransgore boys marked him out of the game.

Apart from long balls up the penalty area, attacks from the Ferndown side ere few and far between - and it was worrying when the home sdie eventually took the lead, as for a while, it was looking like we were not going to get back into the game.  Indeed the goal for Bransgore came after a bit of a defensive lapse, and as the ball rolled into the back of the net, the frustration and concern on the Loco faces was evident.

However, we did rally, and some good touches, specially at the back from Neil, meant distrubtion was excellent.  The defender, who has been a rock for us, was superb in hitting the channels, and most of his invovlement in the half helped the side to crve out chances, with Jonny looking meancing on a number of occsions.  But, it was not to be and the half time whistle blew with Loco 1-0 down.

Half time: AFC Bransgore 1 - 0 Ferndown Locomotive

So, either Loco really, or we capitulate.  Legend would suggest that it would be the latter… however it wasn’t, it was the former (well, until 80 minutes anyway).

For large parts of the second half we were resolute, and Bransgore didn’t look like scoring.  Mat, Neil, Chris and Jimmy were strong, and the Loco midfield worked tirelessly in order to keep them from doing too much work. At the other end of the pitch, Kyle looked as though he might be able to forge out some chances on more than one occasion, however the London young gun just didn’t have his shooting boots on.

It was almost as if Bransgoe took some inspiration from our lack of joy in front of goal, as they started going goal crazy towards the end of the game, scoring four in the space of ten terrible minutes.  It was not the way we wanted to finish the game, but it all started when a speculative cross somehow found its way into the net.  Once that goal went in, we knew there was Bob Hope or no hope.. and Bob Hope is dead.

There were some well taken gols in amongst the final stages of the game, and although subs Andy and Kirk came on to try to mix things up, their involvement was all too late - and the final whistle blew, with Loco’s goal difference suffering to the tune of five.

Final Score: AFC Bransgore 5 - 0 Ferndown Locomotive

Loco go out to Division One New Star

Ferndown was the venue on Sunday as Locomotive played New Star in the second round of the In-Excess Cup at King George.  New Star were a Division One side, and they have been a very good Premier League outfit in the past, so it was always going to be an interesting match, as it was to give manager Paul Cashmore a good indication on how the team is doing as a whole.

Loco’s team started with the amazing deputee Dan Carr in goal.  Our defence consisted of Neil Dall, Mat Robinson, Chris Hopkins, and Jimmy Redford.  In midfield Loco sported Sam Davis, Dave, Kyle, and Wacko Jacko.  This left a striking partnershp of James Clease and Rik Watkins.  Up front was a strong bench of Andy, Ali, Jonny.

Playing a Division One team was always going to be tough, but Loco were up to the challenge from the off, some some excellent passing play and some equally strong tackles.  New Star were a strong side with a lot of good platers, but every chance they got was stunted by a very willing back four - Jimmy particularly impressing.

Loco took the lead in this fixture, with Rik Watkins being the goal scorer, after 20 minutes - a sweet finish from close range - a deserving lead for the Division Three side.

Loco sat back on this lead a bit, and although we gained the odd bit of possession, the oncoming waves of pressure from our opponents was at time overwhelming - Dan in goal was really sturdy, and he was pulling some excellent saves out of the bag, and was doing well to keep Loco’s lead intact.

Despite his solidness, the New Star side did manage to claw back an equaliser on 40 minutes, as a vicious shot came in, and although Dan did well to aprry the ball, their nippy striker came in and finished it from close range to make it 1-1.

Half time: Ferndown Locomotive 1 - 1 New Star Reserves

In the second half, all three Loco subs were utilised - and each had a good effect on the game, with Ali particularly doing well on the left flank, replacing Sam.  He managed to send over a couple of decent crosses during the second 45 mintue period, however ultimately, they did not result in anything for the home side.

Other chances evolved for Hainsey and Watkins as the game progressed, but as New Star held on, it seemed they had something left in their locker - and they certainly pulled it out of the bag on 75 minutes, when they managed to take the lead to make it 2-1.

So with ten minutes to go Ferndown were pressing the New Star goal like crazy, aiming to get that goal that would take the tie into extra time, however it simply didn’t come.  Although the wind and the momentum was with the team in red and black, the number of minutes on the clock didn’t look favourable - and before we knew it, the ref blew the full time whistle and Loco were unceremoniously dumped out of the cup, much to the disappointment of all the players and touchline supporters.

Still, we had some great moments in this game, and it would be hoped that this kind of form would translate into the forthcoming league games, where we really would like to make a positive start.  Unlucky Loco.

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 1 - 2 New Star Reserves

Clease nets four in Loco cup rout

James Clease was the Man-of-the-match on Sunday as Ferndown Locomotive ran out 7-1 winners in the Robbins Cup on Sunday against New Milton Borough.  Other goals were scored by Paul Cashmore, Matthew Webb and Chris Hopkins.

Loco started the game with Kris is goal, and a back-four of Dean Grice, Neil Dall, Matthew Webb and Chris Hopkins.  In midfield we had a line-up of Paul Cashmore and Dan Carr in the middle, with Jonny Haines on the right and Sam Davis on the left.  This left Rik Watkins and James Clease up front; with a strong bench of Luke Mellor, Andy Smith and Keith Jackson.

The match at Slades Farm started very cautiousy for Loco, however we soon got into our stride, and we made a number of decent attacks on the Division Eight side.  After about fifteen minutes, Ferndown eventually took the lead, and it came from the left side, when some good play from Chris Hopkins enabled Webby to get a hold of the ball on the left apex of the penalty area and he then unleashed a fierce right footed drive towards the far stick, and the shot took a touch but nestled nicely in the corner to make it 1-0 to Loco.

1-0 quickly became 2-0 after 20 minutes, and it came from an unlikely source, as Chris Hopkins managed to intercept a lose defensive ball, and in one movement, he nicked the ball away from the oncoming defender, took a touch, and then rasped a left footed strike into the lower corner of the net to make it 2-0 -  a great goal.

Loco saw out the half quite easily.  Although the other side had a few attacks upfield, the Loco defence were particularly staunch, with Gricey and Dall unstoppable, and Webby and Chris Hopkins combining well too on the left half.

Half-time: New Milton Borough 0 - 2 Ferndown Locomotive

In the second half Loco were more in control of the game, and that was reflected in the number of goals we scored.  We were against the wind, but this helped us do extremely well - the midfield were hugely dynamic, and we were getting a lot of success on both sides of the pitch.  We did concede one goal early on, on New Miltons only attack of the half, however we did get five goals to counter this one blip…

Four of these goals came from James Clease, and good goals they were two.  The first of them saw the big target-man reacting quickly after a shot came in which the keeper couldn’t handle - a nice side-footed finish.

Soon after Mellor and Smith were introduced, Clease was again on the scoresheet after some interesting penalty-box pinball - everyone was having a crack, Mellor, the instrumental Dan Carr, Mr Haines, and also the newly introduced Keith Jackson, but it was James who netted, as his shot cannoned off the bar and over the line.

His third was a penalty, which was won after a shot from close range was handled over the bar by the Borough defender, and Clease stepped up to stroke the ball home and complete a really good hattrick.

And his fourth again was pretty impressive, when an outswinging cross-come-shot from the left was headed in the corner of the net by a jubilant Westcountry man - who got off the ground to not only come to realisation that he not only had scored four goals.. it also was not a dream either!

Sandwiched in between this multitude of goals was another corker, this time, scored by player/manager Paul Cashmore.  It came after some good pressure on the right led to a Loco corner, and it was a delightful Jonny Haines cross which met the head of Cash at the far stick, who bulletted the ball home from close range - a cracking demonstration of heading technique if we ever needed one.

Truth be told, more goals should have came in this fixture, Mellor went close with a neat turn and shot which the keeper parried, Sam had a cross-come-shot from the left which the keeper managed to palm over, Dan had a few cracks, Keith himself got in on the action.. everyone indeed had the taste for it.

However, seven was enough, and it was a solid performance against a lowly side - things will definitely get harder, so there is most definitely no comfort zone to fall into next Sunday.

Full-time: New Milton Borough 1 - 7 Ferndown Locomotive