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Saturday First Team
Matches
Sat 26 Oct 2013
Merton Social
2
0
AFC EWELL
Saturday First Team
Saturday First Team v Merton Social

Saturday First Team v Merton Social

Will Chipperton26 Oct 2013 - 14:00

Match report

Fresh from their derby victory, Ewell made their way down to the Fishponds once more for their Second Round tie against KDFL opponents Merton Social. Far from the carpet-like surface served up a few weeks back, the pitch was far more befitting of the ground’s name – due to two submerged patches in central areas. The surface would prove to be an equaliser, paving the way for an inevitably scrappy affair in which the team who acclimatised best would emerge victorious.
Ewell were unable to replicate their lightening start from the Ironsides game, and instead they struggled to get to grips with the troublesome surface. After an uneventful opening 20 minutes, Ewell fell behind after switching off and failing to deal with the direct playing style of the home side. They had not reached anywhere near the level of performance that they are capable of – a far cry from their impressive showing a week earlier. However, whilst they ambled along without moving through the gears, they did manage to create a host of chances. Profligate finishing was the order of the day, and Chipperton emerged as the guiltiest suspect on this dreary afternoon for Ewell. The first of these crimes came after he burgled the ball from the last defender but saw his effort smartly stopped, he then glanced Bullock’s corner over the bar before scuffing his lines from Clancy’s cut back. Wednesday’s shooting practice had clearly paid dividends. Or not.
After a half time dressing down, Ewell rallied and began to look less like 11 strangers who’d just been flung together on the field. At the zenith of their resurgence, Ewell thought they had finally got back into the match – only to find that they had been inexplicably robbed of their legitimate goal. After Groves had hounded down a dallying defender, Clancy pinched the ball and drove towards goal, eventually walking the ball in. Whilst this was not surprising, given his apparent fear of shooting, what followed was – as the referee decreed that a foul had been committed. Whilst this was incredibly frustrating, Ewell can have no complaints after exiting the competition prematurely. Chipperton, Keogh and Bullock all passed up inviting opportunities with the score line still delicately poised at 1-0, but they suffered a hammer blow by conceding a second which confirmed what they already knew: It was not their day.
A spate of key league fixtures now awaits Ewell, and they will hope to show that they are made of stern stuff and bounce back stronger than ever, having drawn a blank for the first time in 25 competitive outings!

Match details

Match date

Sat 26 Oct 2013

Kickoff

13:00

Meet time

00:00
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Sponsor - Saturday Firsts - HLV