Esprit v North Romford 27/11/2005

On a cold windy day North Romford went down 5-3 to Esprit and also picked up some injuries and suspensions.

NRFC Goals,
Richards
Clifton
Cassidy

North Romford went in to Sunday full of confidence following 2 straight wins, but once again proved they travel worse than Mr T on an Aeroplane.

Timid Brought in James “I have found my reply all button” O’Cassidy in place of Waddy for his first start of the season.

Romford started slowly with some players clearly showing some ill effects of the night before. The first 15 minutes went by without Romford keeping the ball for longer than a second and the inevitable happened, Chico sailed through the Romford defence and was up ended by Brown, the ref pointed to the spot without hesitation. Despite the protests from William Gallas the ref kept his cards firmly in his pocket (for the time being anyway). Once again Colin (well your too formal Sutton) proved himself to be the worse penalty saver since Peter Shilton Italia 90 and was sent the wrong way by Wally. 1-0

It was at the point Romford decided to start playing and wasn’t long before they were back on level terms with Bosh tiniging one from the edge of the area. Once Romford scored one it was only a matter of time before the second one arrived and when it did it was worth waiting for, a long free kick in to the danger area by JJ was beautifully met by Clifton, the ball was past the keeper before he even had chance to move. 2-1 Romford. Two soon become three when a diagonal ball in behind Gallas caught him fast asleep and James nipped in for his first of the season.

Everything was going brilliantly and Romford looked like scoring every time they went forward. Half time was soon approaching but there was still time for Cordelli to log his entry in to ‘Gay header 2005’ and with December almost upon us the boy is in with a great chance of winning let me tell thee.

It was half time when once again for some reason Romford decided to stop playing and allow Esprit to come back in to the game. The score line quickly become 3-3 (we won’t dwell on the details). As soon as it had Romford again proved they had no bum for a fight (unless it’s after with a bunch of Boso’s) and there was only ever gonna be one winner.

Wally “I love a penalty against North Romford” went over quicker than a bird does for Nev (Spicy and Wadsy just watching) and the ref once again pointed to the spot. Yep you all guessed it Browny went the wrong way. 4-3 Esprit.

It was at this point the standard collapse and loss of heads was complete and number 8 went through to make it 5-3.

Spicy then came off with a suspected broken foot and was replaced by Wadsy.

Sutton then received a red card for something that goes on every week (a shoulder barge that was deemed as Violent Conduct???)(TS) and Hollamby got a yellow for one of his better tackles. Wadsy then fell off the pitch kicked all the oppositions drinks over and broke his ribs (oh am glad I came on).


The game finished and some serious questions needed answering in the dressing room, none more important than “What is Hollamby’s dad’s real name” answers on a post card.

With only one game before the Christmas break Romford really do need to get back on track this week.

Team;
Brown
Hollamby, Cordell, Rabey, Curran,
Richards, Nev, JJ, Cassidy,
Sutton, Clifton,
Waddy,

On a brighter note this is first picture of the forth coming North Romford Hunks 2006 calendar, it was taken in Chadwell Heath Sauna Club…



















"I love you Neville... can I have your autograph? "

Ladzio v North Romford 13/11/2005

NRFC made it four wins out of six (champions league form ain’t it?) on Sunday with a 4-2 win and strong all round team performance against a Ladzio side that seemed more intent on living up to their bad boys reputation than actually playing football.

NRFC Goals
Richards
Sutton (3)

Romford started brightly with Bosh seeing a lot of the ball down the right flank and Nev, Waddy, JJ and Giles Grimandi trying to unlock the Ladzio defence for Sutton. The first goal came midway through the first half, Bosh tinging one into the roof of the net from an impossible angle prompting Sutts and the rest of the team to ask "how the fuck did he get that in from there?" Not sure even Bosh knows to be fair.

Romford looked in control with Spicy and Dawson easily dealing with any Ladzio attacks, but it wouldn’t be a true NRFC performance without a mad ten minutes and it happened just before half-time. Romford were incensed when a Ladzio player did an El-Hadj-Diouf and gobbed at Waddy with the referee’s back turned. Romford were now concentrating on arguing with ‘Spitter’ and the ref rather than getting to half-time with their lead still in tact. Ladzio had succeeded in winding the Romford players up but the cheating mugs weren’t finished there. Dawson and Smiler were caught out by the Ladzio striker who, thinking he was playing for the Harlem Globetrotters, knocked the ball past the Romford defence with his hand and nipped in to poke the ball past an outrushing Brownie.

It was a bad time to concede but half-time gave timid Mick the chance to get Romford organised and focused again and it worked. Romford came out fired up for the second half and aided by the downward slope of the pitch were able to pin Ladzio back for most of the half. After a few years out in the wilderness, Gilles Grimandi struggled to get the pace of the game in the first-half, but along with Nev and JJ started bossing midfield as the game wore on.

After all this pressure and good chances for Dawson and Nev, Romford still needed a goal. Step forward Tony Sutton. His second half hat-trick was arguably the best since Ronnie Rosenthal against Southampton in ’94. His first a tasty dribble and finish that was so good that Waddy didn’t mind the enthusiastic celebrations "as long as you aint killed it dead with your first touch, gone past two players and finished from a tight angle with the outside of your boot, i dont mind!" His second was the most casual penalty you’re ever likely to see, won by Rossell as he drove into the box…more like a yard outside the box! Nev was so confident Sutt would score he had a bet with the opposing full back, and Sutton abliged by sticking it in the top corner. Sutton completed his hat-trick with a sublime looping chip from well outside the box after being put through by Gilles.

Overall it was an accomplished performance with all 14 players doing a job and the improvement since the May and Baker game is easy to see. The defence was rarely troubled, (even when Spicy had to go off to chuck up all the booze he drank at Life the night before) and what few chances Ladzio had were easily dealt with by the Big Man. Smiler’s composure on the ball and good balls into the box made up for him throwing the ball backwards at a throw in! Nev and JJ once again ran their opponents ragged all over the park. With so many good performances timid Mick will be having selection nightmares this week ahead of the cup game…surprised he hasn’t gone to Spain to ease the pressure!

There was a bit of a fracas after the final whistle, inevitably involving Hollanby, and Ladzio’s eastern European contingent. A few bottles were thrown, a bit of pushing and shoving in the changing rooms, then a naked stand off in the showers.

There was even rumour of a metal bar awaiting NRFC when they left the dressing room. Ladzio eventually decided that ‘The METROPOLITAN POLICE Sports ground’ probably wasn’t the best place to start hitting people with metal bars and drove away with their tails between their legs. The response to Waddy being asked out for a fight with ‘Spitter’ and co summed up the great team spirit now being shown in the NRFC camp...

“we dont do one on one's mate, you hit one of us and we will all give you a pasting!”

Team,

Brown,

Hollamby, Dawson, Spice, Smiler

Bosh, Nev, JJ, Grimandi, Waddy

Sutton

Subs; Cassidy, Eric, Clifton

North Romford v Esprit 06/11/2005

North Romford ran out 4-2 winners in a very funny match against Esprit

NRFC Goals
Sutton (2) Neville Johnson


North Romford returned to winning ways with a good 4-2 victory against Esprit's lookalike XI. In quite bad conditions NRFC started brightly with a lot of desire in the tackling and closing down of players. Esprit then caught NRFC with a lucky goal which was actually a cross that looped over the big mans head and into the back of the net.
This made NRFC more deterred to get back into the game straight away with Bosh seeing alot of the ball against Mido's dad who was playing left back.
Spicy and Hollamby then found their names in the ref's book (I dont think this was much of a surprise to most people). Spicy's was more for calling the bloke a cheat than the actual tackle and Hollamby's was also for dissent.
NRFC then got a deserved equaliser when after a mix up at the far post Sutton managed to hook the ball home. From this point on NRFC bossed the game and the pressure paid off when they won a free kick just inside Esprit's half which Jason whipped into the box and Neville rose like a salmon to thunder a bullet header home.
There was also time for a very camp "Ohhhhhh" from Smiler in a Frank Spencer voice!! and for Neville to appeal for offside and realise Hollamby was about 50 yards behind the rest of the defence!!
2-1 At Half Time.
The 2nd half started with NRFC playing into a 100MPH wind! Then a long ball caught Hollamby over the top and James "Michael Dawson" tried to make a last ditch tackle in the area but just ploughed through the back of 2 players causing the number 8 (Spicy's mate!) to collide with his own player and bust his nose open. Couldnt have happened to a nicer fella in my eyes!!
Anyway while he was being treated the game turned into a farce with Neville and JJ digging the penalty spot up!, abuse being thrown at the deaf bloke Wally (Thats his name!!) from not only our players but their's as well, Waddy telling the Scotch egg right back that he didnt think he had been the same since Mandy Dingle left him the Butch lookalike and plenty of shouts of "Its Chico time" towards Diego!!!
Anyway once it all settled down the penalty was put away with ease.
NRFC were still very much in control and they soon regained the lead with JJ Heading home from all of 2 yards!!! Then went mental jumping up and down!!
As Esprit pushed forward NRFC's back 4 held tight, so tight in fact that Smiler chose to stand next to Spicy at the near post for a corner!!! Then Bosh broke down the right and crossed into the box and when Esprit failed to clear properly Sutton shot home from a tight angle to wrap the game up for NRFC. Lets all say a big thank you to Gav. THANK YOU GAVIN!!

There was even time for Sid the Greek and Erik the Turk to appear on the same pitch together!! Although they didnt pass to each other.

Team:Big Man, Veteran, Student's mate Dawson, Spicy, Smiler, Student , Ace, Bugs, Waddy, Sutton , Rossell
Subs:Sid the GreekErik the Turk

Match report by: Jamie Rabey