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Loco romp through with visitors sick as a Black Dog

With a new dawn beckoning at Ferndown Locomotive, interim manager Paul Philips returning once again, picking a cultured line-up ready hit the ground running at the crisp King George V arena.

Due to injuries and absences Webby was called into the sticks with protection from Gricie, Neil partnering Skipper Matt Robinson and with a welcome return from our very own wanderer Keith ‘I promise’ Jackson slotting into an unfamiliar right back slot. A strong midfield featured Sammy D, on the right, Smithy on the left with Big Dave & Big Jim forming a formidable partnership in the middle of the park. Returning from international drinking duty in Newquay, Jonny was partnered by mercurial Rik Waller in attack.

The visitors to King George were an unknown side named AFC Black Dog. A few pre-game emails suggested the test could be a stiff one and having travelled from Weymouth AFC Black Dog were hoping to secure their passage into the next round of the ………. Cup, a rejuvenated Loco however had other plans.

After a 2 minute silence the game started positively for Loco as pressure was asserted straight from the off. Evidence of past training sessions was on show like a fine oil painting as Loco were converting some neat triangle passing into confident attacking sequences carving open the Black Dog defence on a number of occasions. Attacks were spilling forward repeatedly with Jacko frequently galloping down the flanks, linking up with Sam & Jonny in some slick and penetrating moves. Kaka Watkins playing the floating role linked up in fine style with the ever solid Dave and Jim by dropping deep and bringing Smith-dog into the game down the left flank.

The fine opening goal on 20mins was just reward for a period of pressure that I expect could only be topped by Real Madrids Galactico’s and it came from Andy ‘the stride’ Smith. The probing left midfielder finished off a great move involving the wing wizardry of Jonny and Keith who moved the ball round for fun like it was the school playground. Jacko played a cheeky 1-2 with fellow Galactico Davis, only for the man known as ‘The Brow’ to fizz in a by-line cross for charging Smithy to connect with and break the net with a thunderous diving head. When taking a set piece the opposition linesman/manager quoted to me:

‘The finest goal he’d seen in Sunday League Football’…a fine tribute.

The second was inevitable but Loco were demonstrating traits of the Gooners as fine build up play was missing the end product. These included a couple of Rik freekicks missing there usual rocket fuel, Haines playing target practice with the corner flags and a couple of corners that couldn’t be capitalised on with only Dave going close with a powerful nod. On the stroke of half an hour the second did arrive courtesy of current leading scorer Jimbo Legg. From a Haines freekick the powerful midfielder connected with his head…then his shoulder but combining it with general momentum bundled it home to gain Loco the deserved cushion.

The opposition troubled very little but the Loco defence were switched on as they confidentially held onto possession with Gricie, Neil & Matty Robinson dominating aerial play and picking out openings to stroke balls forward. Webby demonstrated a fine kicking display and was almost playing sweeper on occasions to snuff out the Black Dog questions. With 10 minutes of the half left Kaka Watkins picked the pocket of a midfielder to then finely dink it over the defence for a breaking Jonny to slot past the advancing keeper for number 3.

Half Time: Ferndown Loco 3-0 AFC Black Dog

The second half started in a peculiar fashion with Loco nodding off for 5 minutes proving fortunate not to concede, but with Webby Van Der Sar in goal & his 4 footmen in tow the danger fortunately never materialised. One such scrappy clearance led Dave to power out of our box feeding Haines. He proceeded to sprint the rest of the pitch, skipping past a couple of luckily fat defenders, only to secure the gimp of the game award by missing the target completely after scooping the ball over the bar, a fine clearance.

The rest of the game was an impressive and massive confidence boosting display of creativity, imagination and passion as the Loco boys marched forward in search of yet more. Sammy D cutting inside using his trademark drop of the shoulder (as featured on Kris ‘paparazzi’ Leggs’ cracking Facebook Loco Photos) looked a constant threat by linking up finely with Jacko, along with Smithy, Jim and Rik drifting past defenders as though they weren’t there, peppering the goal as they went.

It was left to the ever impressive work horse Dave Hall, to receive a threaded pass in the middle of the park, using the greasy turf to slam home an edge of the box effort unstoppably into the onion bag! 4-0 Loco!

Webby added to his impressive display by coming out on top of a rare Black Dog flurry with a breathtaking stop. A fired cross found the head of a Black Dog prowler only for a sight restricted Webby to appear from behind the crowd; at full stretch like Superman without the pants, to palm the effort round the post. A clean sheet thoroughly earnt.

The deserved 5th goal came from substitute stalwart Ali Carmeichal who on the 15th time of asking beat the offside trap to gallop on through like an ageing thorough-bred to leave the Black Dog ‘keeper flapping at fresh air. A fine finish and a reminder to us all of the depth of the squad and the on-coming headaches for new manager Philips to consider, with Jaap Redford, Polish, Leggy, Dangerous Dan Carr and hopefully Cashmore soon knocking on the door for a starting berth.

Nursing a shiner Cashmore made a guest appearance, to check up on the red & blacks and Jacko’s man of the match performance at his newly acquired Gary Neville role.

Finally a special mention must go to Gricie who strolled innocently into the showers, hoping for the god given right to wash down his mornings hard graft, only to be struck by a wall of toxic fart….and proceed to uncontrollably throw up!! Sorry mate. That’s Loco love right there.

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 5 - 0 AFC Black Dog

Priory find the Quay in 4-0 rout

Match report to appear here.