This Match Report is sponsored by Aalto Construction, M.H. Construction,  H&H Construction & Green Tangerine Catering

 

Surrey Intermediate Football League 

Keens Park Rangers 3 Tongham 2

Goals: Oscar (hat-trick)

Man-of-the-match: Danu Suthakaren

KPR’s first home match of the season was also the ressies first, which resulted in an entertaining win over visitors Tongham.

With a number of injuries and the promotion of players to fill a few voids, Liam and Cal’s squad has been rather skinny at certain points during pre-season. However, any squad that has the luxury of Jake running the line has to be seen as strong. And this strength was certainly bolstered by the introduction of two new faces – keeper Nik Krimer and wingback Manu Suthakaren – in the starting XI.

Danu Dazzles

This strength was certainly evident in the first fifteen minutes during which the ressies had a very strong shout for a penalty waved away by the referee – Fairlands old boy Colin Campbell – and hit the post after great build-up play down the right wing where debutant Danu was doing very well in tandem with Watto.

Surviving 90mins proved a test for Seamus after a day at the Test

Birthday boy Connor was also showing promise, with Wallis acting as creative lynchpin in the centre of the midfield. But as much as the ressies dominated, they were not testing the opposition keeper often enough for the supporters’ liking. Woo and H in particular were airing their well-developed cynicism relating to squandered chances. And they were feeling rather smug (demanding apologies no less) when the visitors took the lead against the run of play with a well taken goal that gave Nik little chance.

This proved to be the wake up needed as Danu, Sam, Watto, and the ever busy Oscar, stepped up a gear. The team were, however, still lacking shots on target. And the half ended with the visitors on top. 

Watto makes progress

The opening exchanges in the second half actually saw the opposition gain in confidence. But as much as they dominated, very recent history repeated itself as Oscar scored an equaliser against the run of play after a good ball back over his head from Wallis.

Although changed at half-time, the Tongham linsemanship was consistently dubious and the replacement linesman was most upset after the referee rightly overturned one of his decisions in awarding a corner. This upset was soon doubled as Oscar met Watto’s corner at the far post to bag his, and the ressies, second.

He’s off and running again!

As Woo and H will gladly inform you, a one goal lead isn’t ever enough to be comfortable and the ressies, to their credit, were now really pushing for a third by pressurising the opposition in their own last third of the pitch. Oscar, Watto and Danu were being utter pests, but it was Danu who made the telling intervention by outworking two of the opposition defenders and stealing possession before turning sharply to cross the ball for the oncoming Oscar, who hit it on the half volley inside the post.

Don’t let the halo fool you

Naturally, the crowd went wild. And there was nearly a fourth soon after as Danu fed Oscar again only for his header to go wide of the near post. With a few of the players on both sides suffering from cramp or injuries, there was a flurry of substitutions. These seemed to detract from the ressies more than the visitors and all concerned were grateful for the two goal cushion as Tongham sneaked in a second during what seemed an inordinate amount of injury time before an obvious foul on Nik brought matters to a close. 

All-in-all a very satisfying performance that was roundly celebrated down the King’s Head (where more ex-Fairlands players made surprise appearances). And as much as you’d feel a hat-trick would guarantee a man named after an award with the man-of-the-match award, manager Liam not only awarded it to Danu he made Oscar the ‘dick-of-the-day’ for picking up an unnecessary booking!

Our own Niall Quinn (Big Jim) and Kevin Phillips (Mouse)

His hat-trick did, however, set the KPR Fantasy Football off to a good start. But even though co-manger Cal Toone had Oscar as captain this week, he lies in second to Douglas Chudley (who captained himself)!

Now that’s the kind of confidence that’ll serve us well this season.

 


This Match Report is sponsored by Aalto Construction,  H&H Construction & Green Tangerine Catering