An Indian Summer

With the “Indian Summer” continuing, the sun shone and OMT started with their usual warm up routine of “two in the middle” and some “crossbar challenges”, Lewis mixing things up by avoiding golf balls from shanked 9 irons on the neighbouring golf course. Some what surprisingly, all three warm-ups proved useful in the game ahead...

OMT started slowly, the midfield couldn’t get their foot on the ball and were surprisingly sloppy in possession. The first 20 minutes, as a consequence, saw MTS without much of the ball and the defence under undue pressure. As they have now been for much of the season, well marshalled by our resident ball spotter who still had one eye on that fairway, the defence remained strong and alert.

The first break of the match came just before half time. Mehta had won headers at the previous two corners, but lack of accuracy on those was quickly made up through speed of foot and mind. Anticipating the goalkeepers poor distribution ability he intercepted a ball out wide and recalled the training earlier on. Spotting the keeper off his line and a medley of players between him and the goal he majestically floated the ball in the back of the net from 30 yards out. OMTs were 1-up and never really looked back.

The midfield three got their foot on the ball and got a grip of the game but the threat came from the pace on the wings. Rushil and Paul beating their men consistently, inside and out. Rushil put through Kasler in the 60th minute. One on one with the keeper, Kasler was never going to miss. Drop of the shoulder, majestically round the keeper, 2-0 OMTs.

Our stalwart defence was also proving threatening in attack. Twice Jono Phillips coming up for corners winning headers but narrowly missing goals that he, on another day, would have buried. It was from this type of threat that the third goal arises. A corner ricochet in the box, Kasler's reaction shot well saved by the keeper spun out along the goal line. Never fear, Mehta's speed of foot yet again available to be the first one at the loose ball to tuck casually home from a seemingly impossible angle.

The fourth goal came courtesy of good hounding down in midfield, working as a team ("two in the middle")... Sanker and Katz win the ball back and set the pacy Rushil on his way. Beating two men cutting inside he was too quick for the defence and brought down in the box for a blatant penalty. There was only going to be one man to take this.

Cue A.G.Mehta Esq. stepping up to register his first, and for that matter Old Merchant Taylor's AFC's first, hatrick in their history.

A day to remember. A glorious Indian summer.