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After our exploits in the Chatham Cup last week, it was back to business with the first round of the Divs 1/2 Cup. The draw saw us at home to Waitakere Rangers, who we had narrowly beaten 3-2 in our league encounter.

The Gaffer started with Richie in goal. The back line saw Tom at right back, Biddy and Tancey in central defence and Chris making his first start of the season at left back (an accomplished debut it was too). In midfield James was on the left, Jobba on the right (sometimes) and Hirdy and Gus in the middle. The striking partnership consisted of Ash and Stu. Colin, Walshy, Paddy and Dan G were on the bench.

The Rangers boys were down to the bare eleven and looked to have a few absentees from when we last met. However the leagues top scorer was ever present. The boys were ready to start from where they left off last week and were hopeful of a good cup run. OC's started the brighter of the two teams and once in possession were moving the ball with skill and precision, despite the efforts of the blustering gales. A couple of half chances came and went before OC's were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Gussy stepped up and chipped a delightful ball over the wall and just under the bar for 1-0.

The flowing football continued with with OC's using the flanks well. This helped open the Rangers defence and saw Ash find his fellow striker Stu whose deflected shot made it 2-0. Rangers were finding it hard to leave their own half at this stage. Another good passing move saw Stu beat the right back and play Man Of The Match Hirdy in for 3-0. (Hirdy's tireless running, tackling and link-up play made him shine through on the day).

At 3-0 down came Rangers best chance of the game. The ball was played over the top of the OC's defence and left the free scoring Mark Gibbs one on one with the keeper. He opted for the lob instead of power and the ball was cleared. (Mark did exact some revenge in the second half when he megged both Tancey and Biddy to contribute $4 to the day's fines). OC's were pushing for a fourth and when another corner was cleared to find it's way back to James the winger fired in an excellent cross to the far post. There he found Tancey (who forgot to return to his defensive duties) loitering with intent. The Mancunian powered an unstoppable header past the keeper to make it 4-0. The first half in which OC's played some excellent fast flowing football ended with Stu scoring his second and OC's fifth when he sidefooted into the bottom right hand corner.

Dave Walsh came on for Gus at the start of the second half. The Gaffer asked for more of the same but was he to be disappointed. After we scored the 6th the game disintegrated as a spectacle. Within eight minutes of the re-start Stu squared an excellent ball to Ash who beat the defender and finished with confidence. 6-0. Shortly after the ref decided to send off a Rangers player for nothing but a few verbals after a decision did not go his way. I must admit we understood the player’s frustrations, as there were a few rugby tackles in the area that went unnoticed in the first half - a yellow maybe... but not a red.

After that incident the game died a bit (sorry a lot). The gaffer brought on Colin for Chris and Dan G for Ash, but we failed to find the momentum of the first half. The last football noteworthy of reporting was when Dan had a cross/shot that found it's way in to make it 7-0.

It was like watching two different teams in the second half and although Rangers only had a couple of half chances, their 10 men fought till the final whistle. Unlucky on Rangers who caught us on a good day - with a few of their regulars missing and OC's playing some of their best football this season in the first half, it was always going to be tough. A game played in good spirit, best of luck for the remainder of the season.

Richie O’Neill

25.05.07 6-A-SIDE RESULT 24.05.07 – O’Carrolls 8 - 0 Guano United

The winning streak was extended to 15 last night as a patched-up OC’s took on Guano United and comfortably ran out 8-0 winners. Once more, it was a bit of an effort to find a team; Richie and Jobba were ruled out as they were in the pub since 6am watching the Champions League final with Herald front-page pin-up Stuart Dye; leading scorer James was sick and Ash was incommunicado, another casualty of the early CL final kick off (he did come to cheer us on though – “Come on OC’s!”). Martin and Hirdy were drafted in along with Ben, Gus stepped in between the posts, and Tom and Tancell completed the line-up.

Guano United went down 4-3 to Beginners FC two weeks ago, a team OC’s beat 14-0 last week. They are a new team to Thursday nights, and a lack of understanding of the rules contributed to OC’s taking a three-goal lead, all by way of penalties awarded for infringements in the D, and all dispatched confidently by Hirdy as he shrugged off the OC’s blight of missing indoor spot-kicks. At that stage it was surely a matter of how many as Guano offered little by way of a goal threat. Gus was pretty much untroubled in goal, perhaps even a little bored. In an attempt to amuse himself he tried tripping up the opposition forwards by throwing the ball right at their feet. Twice. In a row. There were two more goals before the half finished; a quick free kick from Ben was turned home by Tancell and Hirdy bagged his fourth, this time from open play.

Second half was pretty much the same, with Guano clumsily giving away countless free kicks. Hirdy dispatched a fourth penalty to make it 6-0, and Ben met Hirdy’s low cross at the back post to increase the lead to seven. When Guano finally managed a shot on target, it was a fierce drive but Gus was alert and produced a stunning save to deny them a consolation goal - it was the stand out moment of the game (Gus's own words)! Tancell, clearly desperate for a second goal, saw one shot almost smash the crossbar in half from just outside the D, much to the amusement of Gus in goal. He did manage to get it late on though, drilling a shot across the keeper from the right of goal.

So that was that, end of the preliminary games and OC’s take maximum points, conceding only one goal along the way. Hopefully the draw for the next round will pit us against stiffer opposition like Inter and Hamstrung, we’ll just have to wait and see.

The Editor

21.05.07 CHATHAM CUP ROUND 1 RESULT 19.05.07 – Papatoetoe AFC 2 - 1 O’Carrolls

OC’s Chatham Cup exploits came to an end on Saturday against Papatoetoe AFC at Murdoch Park in the first round proper, but I think it’s fair to say we represented both ourselves and the ASFA well, going down 2-1 after leading for the best part of an hour against the Northern 1st Division side.

Arriving in style (a double-decker London bus), we were greeted with glorious sunshine for the 2pm kick off. Richie started in goal; in front of him were Tom, Biddy, Tancell and Martin. Without the delivery of Gibbo and Olly through injury, it was up to James and Jobba to patrol the left and right wings respectively. Gus and Dan B were teamed up in the middle of the park while Ash and Tom W started up front. On the bench were Max, Hirdy, Colin, Chris and Lobster.

Intentions were clear right from the whistle, as both sides looked to attack and the opening five minutes were played at a rapid pace. Papatoetoe possessed some very quick players, so the OC’s defence was going to have to be on their toes. At the other end however, Papatoetoe’s defence started a little shakily and a few unforced errors gave OC’s early confidence of perhaps causing an upset – and we were soon on track to do exactly that.

OC’s took the lead with little over 8 minutes on the clock. The ball was won in midfield and Dan B sprayed the ball out to Tow Truck on the left of the 18-yard box. He worked his way past a defender and squared the ball across goal where Jobba was on hand to sidefoot home for his second goal in as many games. 0-1.

With the opening goal under our belts, OC’s were playing with belief and throughout the half always looked a threat going forward, the front two were chasing every ball down and forcing Papatoetoe’s defense into mistakes. Tow Truck was invited to shoot from the edge of the area after a quick break put OC’s 2-on-2 with Tom in support, but his drive was palmed around the post for a corner. James screwed a shot wide from the left, while Gus audaciously attempted to lob the keeper from 20-yards out, and for a few seconds at least it had him worried, but it harmlessly drifted over the bar for a goal kick.

Papatoetoe too had their chances in the first half. From a corner, they sent a powerful header just past the upright before a couple of errors almost gifted the home side a way back into the game. When an over-hit pass was chased down to Richie’s goal, the keeper was forced to meet it at the edge of his area to clear the danger. He failed to get much distance on his kick though and it fell to a Papatoetoe player about 30 yards out. He took a couple of touches to set himself but fortunately flashed his shot about a metre wide of the target as Richie scrambled back across his goal.

Soon after, a lofted pass dropped in over the OC’s defence and Tancell got in front of the Papatoetoe forward in an attempt to shepherd the ball back to the keeper. Catching the big defender off balance, the forward nipped in and nicked the ball away from the reach of the outstretched keeper, but his resulting shot was a weak one and Tancell recovered well to get back and clear only a few yards from the goal line. OC’s held on and took the lead into the break, fully aware that the job was only half done, but greatly encouraged by the first-half performance.

Three changes for Papatoetoe at half time, one of which (Graham Kay) was to have a big impact on the game. OC’s made no changes, but just over 10 minutes in Hirdy replaced Tom after the fullback was forced off with an injury.

Papatoetoe enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening period and the substitutions were paying off. OC’s were penned back for long spells and forced to do a lot of chasing as the home side knocked the ball about in search of an opening, almost everything going through substitute Graham. Just past the hour mark, Papatoetoe turned the game on its head with two goals little over five minutes apart.

Papatoetoe were shooting on sight by now and Richie was forced to tip a couple of long-range efforts around his post. The keeper was again forced to ground to block an effort from outside the 18-yard box, but when he failed to hang onto it, Papatoetoe were quickest to pounce on the loose ball and their player stroked home the equalizer. The disappointment was clear and before OC’s could settle and reshape, Papatoetoe took advantage of their momentum and scored again, their player climbing highest to a corner and powering his header high into the net. 2-1.

It would be fair to say that OC’s produced very few chances in the second half, and ultimately paid the price for not converting a second goal from the opportunities created in the opening 45 minutes. Any way back into the game was effectively ended when Tow Truck was shown his second yellow card and sent from the pitch after the linesman spotted some intent in a challenge – the red card not-at-all indicative of the spirit the game was played in. Down to ten men, it was all or nothing as Biddy was released from defence and pushed forward to try and at least force extra-time. Ash was replaced by Max, who pushed out to the left to allow James up front, as we chased the equalizer, but it proved elusive and with the final whistle came the end of our first Chatham Cup campaign.

OC’s Man Of The Match went to Biddy after an excellent performance at the heart of the defence. Both Tow Truck and Gus ran him close, and all three are now early front runners for Player Of The Season.

Afterwards we were treated to some South Auckland hospitality at the PAFC clubrooms, the beer was flowing and there was even a little bit of dancing (well, a lot actually – our supporters had been enjoying the hospitality since the 2pm kick-off). Thanks to Papatoetoe for a terrific game and all the best for the next round (where they come up against Bay Olympic). Thanks also for the offer of a friendly at your ground, it’s very much appreciated.

So it was back onto the big red London bus and back to Vulcan Lane in full voice where the singing and dancing lasted right through until Sunday AM and the FA Cup Final. Next week it’s another cup game, as we face Waitakere Rangers and top scorer Mark Gibbs in the Division 1/2 Cup. Until then!

The Editor

18.05.07 6-A-SIDE RESULT 17.05.07 – O’Carrolls 14 - 0 Beginners FC

OC’s marked their 14th consecutive 6-A-Side victory last night with a club record 14-0 win over hapless Beginners FC - that’s an average of one goal almost every 100 seconds. I don’t remember every goal and I won’t bore you by trying to.

James netted six times demonstrating to Tim in the stands that yes, he does know where the net is – a few clinical finishes amongst those goals. Tancell racked up four, with a couple of long-range efforts giving the BFC keeper little chance. Angus ‘Michael Owen’ Welton banged in three, twisting and turning his way past the bewildered BFC defence, and Tom completed the scoring for his first (and quite possibly last) of this round. Jobba didn’t get any, and Richie hardly broke a sweat.

Next week we play Guano United (one win from four, 4-2 losers to Beginners FC), and then we should hopefully be back in a group with the likes of Inter, Hamstrung etc. Hopefully…

The Editor

07.05.07 LEAGUE RESULT 06.05.07 – O’Carrolls 3 - 0 Zimbabwe Warriors

OC’s begun the first of three vital fixtures yesterday with a 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe Warriors. The home side showed terrific composure and concentration but the game was a stop-start affair, continuously halted by the Zims sidelines and players so as to dispute at length the league appointed referee’s judgments. They felt aggrieved at a number of his decisions (had the same decisions gone against OC’s, we may have felt aggrieved with a few also) but the oppositions approach to airing their grievances spoilt what was potentially one of the clashes of the season.

This week saw Matt in goal, while Martin was given his first start alongside Biddy, Tancell & Tom in defence. With Olly still out with the injury picked up against NZCS in the Chatham Cup, Dan B was pushed out on the right side while Dave Walsh joined Gus in the middle with Gibbo on the left. Up front the gaffer kept faith in the partnership of Tom W and Ash; James, Colin, Hirdy, Max and Jobba were all on the bench.

OC’s were slow to start and were very much on the back foot for the opening 15 minutes. The pace of Zims early attacks caused the defence problems and we struggled to clear the ball any further than the halfway line, inviting Zims to keep coming at us. They had a glut of early opportunities to test Matt but fortunately they couldn’t keep their shots down. A sequence of inswinging corners required Matt to be alert, forced to tip a couple over his crossbar, but OC’s rode out the storm and settled into the game. For the next fifteen minutes it was a contest that lived up to it’s billing; fast paced football and hard (but fair) tackling from both sides - it was anyone’s game at this stage.

OC’s were dealt a blow when Gibbo went down clutching his ankle after a challenge with the Zims right back (nobodies fault – just one of those clashes); he’s not known for theatrics so it was clear it was a serious injury. With barely 20 minutes gone, James came on to replace the Brummie on the left side.

When we finally resumed, OC’s were the side quicker to settle back into the pace of the game. There were a couple of hopeful efforts from outside the box sent high and wide, but on the half hour mark we took the lead from an unlikely source. Tow Truck was bundled over just to the right of the Zims area and a free kick was awarded. A Zims defender got his head to the cross first but he could only direct it as far as the edge of the 18-yard box to Biddy. He drilled the ball back into the box and Dan B was on hand to direct it past the keeper into the back of the net. 1-0 to OC’s and from that point onwards there was barely five minutes passed when a decision by the ref wasn’t strongly disputed by either a Zims player or supporter.

OC’s took the slender lead into the break and the second half carried on in very much the same vein as the first had finished. At 1-0 Zims were not by any stretch of the imagination out of the game. When they played football, they were a constant threat. In fact, not long into the half they came very close to leveling matters with a quick break that put one of their forwards through on goal, but Matt got down well to the shot and gathered the ball on the second attempt. Unfortunately a number of Zims player’s minds weren’t focused on the game, but more on the ref, and this was only working to OC’s benefit. The defence was working their socks off and every Zims free-kick or corner that was pumped into the box was cleared away, most of the time quite convincingly, occasionally desperately.

Up front Ash and Tom were working hard and with about 65 minutes on the clock, the pair combined to double OC’s lead. James picked out Tow Truck on the left of the box and he raced in on goal with a Zims defender hot on his heels. Taking the ball to the byline, he skipped around the challenge of his marker and laid the ball into the path of Ash who placed the ball high into the back of the net from all of 5-yards out. It was great determination from Tow Truck to pick out Ash, and a composed finish from the front man.

Even with the cushion of the second goal OC’s could ill-afford to take our foot off the gas. Zims were still very much capable of a goal and it would have been silly to give them any incentive by conceding now. But as I said before, the concentration and attitude of everybody on the pitch was terrific. OC’s continued to attack the Zims goal and came close to a third goal on a couple of occasions. Dave Walsh lined up a free kick about 30 yards out, and when the Zim wall eventually retreated 10-yards, his fierce drive was only inches over. Tow Truck was unlucky not to get on the score sheet, taking Tom’s cross down on his chest on the penalty spot, he turned quickly and got away from his man only to see his left footed shot fizz just past the post.

The third goal did eventually come with only a few minutes left on the clock after a late Zims attack was broken down. After a quick break down the pitch, Tom found Ash inside the opposition area. He laid the ball off to Tow Truck who twisted and turned leaving his marker on the ground. Unable to stop Tow Truck by grabbing his ankles, the Zims defender decided to just swat the ball away with his hand and the ref pointed to the spot. Up stepped Dave Walsh and coolly maintained his 100% penalty record this season and with that brought the final whistle. 3-0 to OC’s.

Man Of The Match went to Martin, a solid display at the back and created plenty going forward. To Zimbabwe Warriors, when you guys play your football I believe you are capable of challenging the best teams in the ASFA. Unfortunately, yesterday, too much time was spent arguing and it ultimately cost you guys. It’s great to see a team get 30+ supporters along to games, but when these supporters need to be spoken to by the referee every five minutes then you have to ask are they really helping your cause. Take it from a team who was accused of having more than a few words to say in our inaugural ASFA season!

Next week, another top of the table clash as OC’s head to Keith Hay Park to take on Bohemian Celtic #2. Should be a cracker!

The Editor

04.05.07 6-A-SIDE RESULT 03.05.07 – O’Carrolls 3 - 0 Econz Wireless

It was a reshuffled OC’s line-up that faced Econz Wireless last night in a comfortable 3-0 victory. With two of the usual players (Gus & Jobba) unavailable, and almost every player who’s stood in for us in the past unable to play, Matt took off his gloves and stepped in (or rather out… of goal) alongside Tom’s workmate Ben (son of the coach of OC’s Chatham Cup opponents Papatoetoe by the way) to make up the numbers. In what is one of the easier opening groups we’ve faced, Econz were expected to prove the toughest test.

It was a composed start from OC’s as we stroked the ball around neatly with no real sense of urgency. We created a number of decent early chances but the Econz keeper was equal to every thing we had to offer - a string of fine saves denied OC’s an opener. Matt and James both had good efforts turned away and just when it was beginning to look like nothing would go in for us, the ball dropped to Ben about 10 yards out and he blasted a right footed shot into the back of the net. Econz hit the target with a number of strikes from distance but Richie was alert to the danger and got down well the every shot. We took the 1-0 lead into the break, and second half we continued to control the pace of the game.

With the majority of the possession OC’s patiently passed the ball about and were always willing to come back if there was no other option. Matt and Ben were very effective on the wings and the simple football eventually paid off when James doubled the lead, shooting across goal and beating the keeper low on his left side. The game was then sewn up after an error from the Econz keeper gifted OC’s a third goal. His attempted long throw caught a retreating James square in the head and rebounded straight back into his own goal. 3-0 and job done. Aside from the long-range efforts, Econz offered little else by way of a goal threat - all too often their keeper launched long balls only to see them roll safely through to the hands of Richie.

Thanks to the lads for filling in for us, sound performance from both. Next week, another flippin’ 9.55 kick off against Orange Roughies.

The Editor