14/12/02 - Court Lodge 2 Charlwood Reserves 4 Charlwood reserves faced Court Lodge in this league cup contest away from home.Conditions were reminiscent of Hackney Marshes and some of the football that followed was similar as well. There was drama in the dressing room before kick off...3 minutes to go and no goalkeeper..... would Paul fill his spot and give "roundie" the chance to display his silky skills for a full 90 minutes or indeed would the writer rush to his car and grab his boots.A minute to go and Deano was facing his first big descision,but through the mist and rain and bang on kick off time Fordy raced in from the car park. The team were ordered out to face the harsh weather conditions and a bruising looking,but not too clever looking, home side.In the absence of many stalwarts Charlwood were fielding what was the youngest side for many years.Pre match motivational comments included the use of skill, pace and space...keep the ball away from this lot and they will die by half time...... Both sides lined up for kick off and stared at each other for several minutes(was this rugby or football I thought).Now they say footballers aren't bright but it took a cold and bedraguelled passer by to pose the question.....Where's the ~~~king ref mate?!!!!!Yes he was right.No ref had turned up.In the next few minutes various options were considered,including me doing it from the warmth of the clubhouse with the aid of video camera and earpiece telecommunication to each skipper.Being Court Lodge the ariel and external cables had been stolen some 8.9 seconds after the installation crew had left the site and this option was discarded. Eventually the ref arrived with the lame excuse that he thought it was a 2.30 kick off. 22 frozen players commenced battle at 2.32pm. By 2.34 the referee was the main focus.Having missed the most blatant hacking of a Charlwood player witnessed ever, he was reminded by Paul that not only was he late but he didn't know what he was ~~#king doing. Oh yes he did.......he knew exactly where his book and yellow card was and certanily wasn't scared to use it. First and only booking of the game to Charlwood. It was obvious that the skill of Charlwood, when they turned it on with one touch football and movement into space would eventually determine the result. Matt left the pitch early to attend his company bash,leaving me to pay his subs again and allowing "roundy" to step into the fray.Peter used his pace to race across the pitch and cunningly swerve a dipper over the head of CL's keeper before adding another to make it 2-0 at half time......job done or so we thought. A couple of Blunders really,or was it the wind,but the home side clawed their way back into it and had levelled the score with 30 minutes left.Boney returning from injury and a class or two above that lot had other ideas and lashed in a typical fierce shot that the CL keeper never even saw..... An arguable offside descicion contested mostly by away spectators foiled another comeback from CL and Peter went on to notch his hat trick in the badly fading light to make it 4-2 Charlwood for a thoroughly deserved result.The only question now was how much clothing and valuables had gone missing? 18/01/03 - Kenley Hotel 1 Charlwood Reserves 0 Charlwood reserves were away to Kenley in this quarter final league cup clash and after two previous fiery encounters resulting in a 5-0 drubbing away from home and a 6-1 reverse the following week,anything was possible!!!!! A venue change at the last minute meant that kick off was delayed as Charlwood fielded a more traditional side of youth and experience together with the return of Dave Porter after a long lay off. Having only played 1 game in 5 weeks it was clear that overdoses of Christmas fayre could play a vital part in the outcome.A bare 11 and a late keeper meant Charlwood commenced battle with only 10 outfielders but held on well in a rather uneventfull first 15 minutes with both sides having scoring chances but no one finding the net. Things changed slighlty in Charlwoods favour for the latter part of the first half but they failed to score against what was a balanced and organised Kenley. The second half saw Charlwood with wind,rain and slope advantage,together with a low sun directly in the eyes of the opposing keeper.Sadly the sun was about the only thing he did to get to look at with Peter in a lonely role up front, Sheldon filling in slighlty behind and then a huge gap to the "defence" which was brave in its task but failed,mainly due to Christmas Pudding and lack of a recent outing, to get forward and support. Kenley were relentless in their task to open the scoring and the overall age and fitness of the side made them look the most likely to score.The evergreen Rob held the back line well with support from youngsters Mark and Chris and it looked like this cup tie was going into extra time and maybe even penalties.....perish the thought. With only a few minutes left a clearance was sent back towards the Charlwood goal at pace and Kenly had broken the deadlock.......the celebrations that followed showed how important itwas for them to win this game and was a true mark of respect for Charlwood,being the only team to have beaten them this year.They will surely go on to win this cup and league double and deservedly so. A philsophical Charlwood team marched back to the dressing room wondering what might have been but content they had aquitted themselves reasonably well in the circumstances and the lone Charlwood supporter drugged off to prepare for another night on the town when,no doubt reflections would be around " if only we could have fielded the intended side".! 25/01/03 Charlwood Reserves 4 Duke of York 2 Charlwood Reserves played host to Duke of York who arrived from the concrete jungle of Croydon to the leafy suburbs on a typical cold but sunny January winters day.A pub side they were and they looked and played the part. No dressing room dramas for Charlwood this week with subs aplenty if needed and everyone on time,well almost,with only Scotty holding up proceedings. The visitors on the other hand had left 1 behind in the pub and fielded only 10 men,although the size of one or two of them definately gave them overall weight advantage. Having cast aside the Christmas dust Charlwood set about putting the game to bed as early as possible on a sticky,lumpy pitch that just didnt allow for free flowing football,with several quality players being made to look as bad as the opposition.Teed up shots bounced over feet at the last minute and short passes going astray on a too regular basis. I think it would be fair to say without exaggeration that when Charlwood left the pitch at half time only 1-0 nil up it could literally have been 12.Only a clever looking chip over the away keeper from Peter being the difference.Two earlier attempts to get round the keeper had failed and the distance involved would have justified a "green rover" from London Transport. Amazingly the visitors drew level and panic nearly set in.Never had the spectators at Charlwood witnessed so many missed 1 to 1's with the keeper,clearances of the goal line and shots hitting the woodwork. Eventually the golden Boots of Boney got to work and after several earlier efforts had been saved he quickly blasted two unstoppable shots past the heroic keeper to put Charlwood back in command.Mark ventured into the box now with everyone reckoning it was their turn to score.He picked another saved rebound and hit the ball against the post.The rebound dropping to Peter who slammed it back where it should have gone in the first place. 4-1 and game over although not before Scotties french kissing mate,having earlier exchanged saliva in a very close encounter ,slipped past the defense, not stopping for a grope this time but for a consolation goal to make the final score 4-2 to the home side. Man of the Match for me had to be the away keeper whose efforts arguably could be ranked alongside the RAF in 1941....Never before has so much .........I think you know the rest. 8/02/03 - Charlwood Reserves 4 Paynes Sports 3 Charlwood reserves fielded what was there strongest looking line up for some time and faced Paynes Sports from Croydon, who had beaten Charlwood in the previous encounter away from home. The first few minutes looked evenly matched with both sides looking to stamp their authority on the game and both sides having scoring opportunities. It was however Charlwood that looked most menacing and goals from Sheldon and Boney looked to have put Charlwood in control.What happened next is all too common in football with the home side taking their feet off the gas and allowing the visitors to grab one back before half time. The start of the second half was much the same for Charlwood and they allowed Paynes back in with another goal and the scores were level 2-2. Goalkeepers have featured in many games this year for a number of reasons and today was to prove no exception..........Boney went in for what was a fairly innocent looking challenge with the keeper although the ref thought otherwise and awarded a foul to Paynes......The keepers opinions were even stronger and as Boney turned to defend the free kick the goalie right boot took a fancy to Boneys Backside and was it not for his cycle shorts would probably have needed surgery to remove it from the place where monkeys hide their nuts.The outcome was inevitable and a raging swearing keeper, aged about 19 and with an IQ probably half of this was sent to the dressing room. It should have been easy meat for Charlwood from now in, but remarkably with time diminishing Charlwood conceded a goal against the run of play and went down with about 12 minutes remaining.Tiredness from the opposition and some carefully chosen words of motivation from Martin saw Charwood doing what they had started in the first half and Peter popped up and scored to equalise 3-3.More pressure and effort from the home side plus some chaos from the stand in keeper allowed Boney to once again show his class and slip in the winner in the final minutes, giving Charlwood the full points,which on balance were deserved and which will see them creeping up the table with a chance of second place if this side remains consistent for the remainder of the season. 1/03/03 - Charlwood Reserves 8 Court Lodge 3 CFC played host to local rivals Court Lodge for the second time this season after a close encounter earlier in the season in the league cup. This was a younger looking side however and with CFC fielding a strong side a similar game was anticipated. On a sticky pitch and in wet and windy conditions neither side seemed capable of playing attractive football and a slip up in defence left Fordy with little option other than to hoist down a CL attacker to concede a pen but fortunately able to remain on the pitch....first blood to CL and despite efforts from CFC there seemed no chance of an equaliser before half time. Football is however a funny game and 5 minutes before the end of the first half,the evergreen Steve Pet raced from full back to well inside the CL half ,lofted a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty box and there was Jason rising like an Albatross on boxing day to head home the equaliser. Peter "chips" O hara then produced two stunners out of nowhere and before you knew it CFC where cruising 3-1 at half time. A torrential downpour made conditions even worse for the second half and with CL heads down the crowd were baying for blood. Some sloppy play at the back of the CFC defence however allowed CL to slip in a second and once again it was game on,even with the slick close control of Cyprus Floydie,who had come on as a second half substitute. Pressure from CFC was beginning to wear down the tiring opposition and another goal from Roundie with the head was just reward for his constant running off the ball and clever interchanging from midfield to the frontline...no doubt in anticipation of his suit fitting for his up coming wedding. As in the last game against CL they always come back when you score against them and it wasnt long before a chance effort ended in the CFC net and it was 4-3 Charlwood. 15 minutes to go and still the game wasnt won. Now they say when your confidence is up you cannot fail. From out of nowhere "Chips" turned in a flash and lobbed the keeper again, to round off what was the finest hatrick seen at Charlwood for many a year.....from this there was no return for CL...Jason fired in his second before leaving the pitch and Dave Porter found the net with a Stunning 35 yard drive that even if the keeper had been on his feet was unstoppable..7-3 and game over....or nearly. Floydie who was struggling in the cold English winter having resided in the sunnier climates of Cyprus for a full 3 days before returning home stabbed the ball into the back of the net to finish off the game with CFC eventual winners 8-3. A fair all round result and performance from all.......well nearly all anyway. 15/03/03 - Charlwood Reserves 5 Walton Heath Reserves 2 Walton Heath arrived at Charlwood one man short to face a Charlwood side that is looking younger every game and with the added incentive of £20 per goal donated by a local drinker from the Greyhound Pub in aid of Comic Relief. if he was watching early on he surely would have rushed back to the pub for further libation. Having been beaten away from home and with no other side "doing the double" on Charlwood there was more incentive for the home side to do their bit.Within the first 20 minutes a determined home side were crashing the ball into the net from all angles with goals from Graham Bone (2) Lee and the infamous Pete " chips " O Hara from close range this time to give CFC a 4-0  lead. On a pitch that resembled what a back yard in Bagdad will look like next week things turned a bit scrappy and the visitors pulled one back before half time although never looking too threatening ......Deano, Scotty, Matt and Chris always looked in control despite the odd scream up that you woud expect when you were 4-0 down. It could have been 12, but I think pity for the lad from the local took over and a laser guided corner from Lee found the head of Boney who made it 5 for CFC before a goal from the opposition through casualness finished things off at 5-2. If the ever threatening war is as one sided as this and over in 90 minutes I for one will be as pleased as all the home spectators were with the final outcome. No report for next week, the editorial office is away in the sun.....Its Court Lodge away......leave your cash at home,wear your old clothes and carry your kit bags on your backs.....YOU WILL STILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - um....bad prediction Dave!! 30/3/03 - Charlwood Reserves 5 Smallfield Reserves 1 Apologies to all, but full time gainfull employment has left me little time to complete the usual reports. The reserves faced what is always a consistent Smallfield side in bright Autumn sunshine and if I was a gambling man would have backed the visitors to win. How wrong I was ......Charlwood looked in control from the start and a good all round performance saw them leading at half time by a goal to nil. The second half stayed the same and the final score 5-1 was a result to be proud of.Goals from Peter , Dave P ....smashing in from someway out of the box and Boney, completely outfoxing the keeper with a free kick from the touchline taken quickly after a small off the pitch altercation with the opposition rubbed final salt into the wound of a side that were humbled to say the least. 12/04/03 - Sala 0 Charlwood Reserves 1 12/04/03 - Charlwood Reserves 2 Sala 1 Sala arrived with players aplenty knowing that 2 games had to be played with half an hour each way. Charlwood had plenty of players on Friday, but the Flu Bug (not the world famous SARS fortunately) took its hold on 2 players and 2 others decided that stock car racing in the early hours was more fun than cocoa and an early bed,leaving 11 players and some late arriving recruits. The game was evenly matched with both sides holding their own and both missing chances.It was Charlwood who netted first  and held on to win the first game with Deanno continuing his run of goals. 1-0 and 3 points to Charlwood. A couple of substitutions from both sides and a couple of goals from Charlwood looked good enough for another 3 points but, even with 10 men after Sala had a man sent off for foul and abusive language, they managed to claw one back.In a rather uneventfull match with the exception of Floydie displaying meditteranean skills never before seen in this country.

Reserve Team Match Reports - Season 2002/2003