MSouthall

GK

KCummines

D

MCook

D

RDjemal

D

DCooke

D

SBenbow

MF

CPayne

MF

DHemmings

MF

SMontgomery

MF

RConvey

F

APayne

F

RHutchings

F

PDobson

MF

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.

.

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Apologies for the late report, this has been due To Rob Djemal being ill this week.

Saracens knew it was going to be a tough task against a very skillful and in form John Warner Reserve team today and they were not wrong. On a wet and windy day the game started with JW knocking the ball around very well with Saracens restricting them to creating a couple of half chances from long range and a header from a corner that Cat somehow tipped over the bar.
With emotions running high there was a case of handbags when a Warner player spat at a Saracens defender. A few hard but fair tackles were exchanged for the next few minutes which for some reason caused the JW midfield and strikers to lose all body coordination and start falling over every time a Saracens player even looked at them and then winging to the ref like there was no tomorrow, this mystery illness continued for the rest of the game.
About 20 minutes in Saracens conceded a GENUINE free kick which was lofted into the 18yrd box, Cat came out to claim under pressure from 3 JW players but the ball broke free and with 2 JW players on the goal line and 1 shooting from 4 yards and not a Saracens player or goalkeeper in sight the ball hit a JW player on the hand before being back heeled into the net. Saracens placed the ball on the floor for the free kick for handball or offside but to their surprise a goal had been given. 0-1.
The game continued in the same fashion with Saracens chasing the ball and if they got close to it JW players fell over and winged which produced a few little arguments between the teams which the ref quickly stamped on by calling the to captains to calm their teams down. 10 minutes before half time JW striker Elliot produced an individual goal, twisting and turning the Saracens captain and letting rip with a curling shot form the edge of the box which nestled in the top corner of the Saracens goal. 0-2.
The second half started where the first left off with Saracens chasing the ball and JW knocking it about, but the mystery illness worsened and instead of falling down they started throwing themselves to the floor. In one instance a JW defender hit the ball long over the Saracens defence, Mark chased it back towards his own goal with Elliot in pursuit who ran straight into the back of Mark and threw himself to the floor and almost rolled back to Hoddesdon before getting up and winging to the ref. And then there was the quick feet of Ross! He picked up the ball just inside the Saracens box, Disco took a swipe at the ball but ever so slightly caught Ross on the shin pad who jumped in the air and looked like a sky diver but only 4 foot from the ground before coming crashing to earth shouting REF, he’s going to hurt himself doing that one day!! Very professional!! Half way through the second half came JWs third goal on the break from a rare chance for Saracens in which Rob Convey broke free from the JW defense only to have his under pressure shot blocked by the JW goalkeepers legs, the ball was quickly transferred from one end to the other chipped in to the edge of the Saracens box which was controlled by JWs Elliot and hammered into the bottom corner for his second.
Saracens goalkeeper Cat had to be replaced shortly after due to a reoccurrence of his knee injury and will be out for six weeks. Disco stepped up and went in goal for the remainder of the game and pulled off the save of the day with a full-length block to deny JW a forth. Just before the end of the game a mix up between the Saracens left back and stand in goalkeeper resulted in a corner for JW. The corner was a long one and Spenny crept round to the back post unmarked and slotted a nicely placed header into the net 0-4 and the game was over. Saracens got a lesson in football today and must learn how to play against teams like this. Club Captain Rob Djemal said JW came here with a plan to play good football, keep the ball and as soon as you think you might lose it hit the deck. It’s a shame because they’ve got a good enough team not to have to resort that.