Old Stoics: Missed Opportunities

Arriving in the cold and sleet of a typical January morning, there was a sense that today was not going to be one for the football purists. In deepest, darkest Chiswick, the team arrived at a pitch that was covered by more mud than grass. Due to the disarray of London’s transport system and some questionable Uber routes, the squad did not have the time to complete their rigorous pre-match warm up of blasting the ball from the edge of the box.

Despite being top of the league, OMT rarely attract that much of a fan base. However, due to the important nature of the game, (and definitely not because of the post-match festivities) the team were cheered on by two injured players. This encouragement did not seem to spur the players into their usual Division 4 dominance. Having comprehensively beaten Old Stoics 3-1 at home only a few weeks before, perhaps complacency was the reason for the sluggish start.

The game began in a scrappy fashion with poor play and poor conditions combining to make a very unattractive first ten minutes. To their credit, the opposition had a couple of new players who greatly improved their side but, OMT simply could not keep the ball. One bright spot was Ash Mehta who made a positive run at the heart of the Stoics’ defence, resulting in a free kick on the edge of the box. Unfortunately, this time our Ginger Beckham could only pick out the goalkeeper.

With OMT continuing to spurn opportunities going forward and some haphazard play at the back, Old Stoics inevitably began to take their chances. The team’s Achilles heel all season has been defending crosses and the home team used this to score two goals in quick succession. OMT were on the back foot for the rest of first half and, were it not for a couple of fine saves from the revitalised and cap-wearing keeper, Lewis Malkin, the team could have been three or four down at the break.

A half-time rollicking was in order. Individuals took it in turn to berate every other player for: “not trying 100%” or “not wanting it enough.” As Captain, Jason Kasler took the reigns and mustered the troops with a cry of “If you don’t all try harder this half, you’ll feel really awful about it for the next two weeks.” Rousing stuff.

And it was soon clear that the men had taken on the half time inspiration and were quick to implement it on the pitch. Everyone seemed to run a yard faster, tackle with more intensity and header the ball with more conviction (OK, maybe not that last one). The chances started to pile up but OMT could not find their first goal.

The match was refereed by our fresh-faced favourite from last season and he had a reasonably good game. However, he did award OMT a rather dubious indirect free kick for a back pass thanks, in part, to the strong protestations of Ash Mehta. From less than ten yards out, most teams would manage to work the keeper, but some uncertain build up meant that the defenders had reached the ball before Katz or Kasler could get a shot off.

Paul Raschid got much more into the game in the second half and had a number of chances. Most notably, he received the ball down the right side and rounded the keeper. But, with the angle narrowing, he could not convert the chance with his right foot. While that miss was somewhat understandable, the next squandered chance was heinous. With OMT still two down, a beautiful ball was played across the goal, completely cutting out the keeper. Up steps our prodigious striker and leader, Jason Kasler, who proceeded to sky the ball over the bar from a yard out. Those are harder to miss than score.

OMT have never been very good at converting corners into goals. Jono Phillips seems to make it his mission to hit the crossbar and nobody else really likes to header the ball. But this Saturday morning, every player in attendance almost witnessed the rarest sight on the football pitch; an Ollie Warren goal. Shil Patel went out to the corner to deliver in a cross but noticed Warren pointing out the space at the near post. Thinking that it could not go any worse than normal, Patel delivered a low cross. What happened next defied everything we know about football. Warren ran towards the ball, let it pass across his body and back-heeled it towards the goal. Think Zola against Norwich or Mancini against Parma. My word, if the keeper had not pulled off a fantastic save, they would have been telling their grandchildren about that one. Yet another what-might-have-been.

However, OMT are not the reigning league and cup double winners because they quit. Having defended manfully for 85 minutes, Old Stoics finally caved into the relentless waves of attack from the away side. With only five minutes left, Kasler put his earlier miss out of his head, beat a couple defenders and slid in Charlier Carter who calmly slotted home. Having got the first, it looked certain that OMT would find an equaliser. Who else than our top goal scorer, Paul Raschid, with an excellent solo goal.

Unfortunately, there was no time for OMT to steal a last minute winner. At the final whistle, the team looked despondent at not having cemented their place at the top of the league against a team they had comfortably seen off only a few weeks before. But on reflection, a point away from home might not be a bad result. With Habs losing at home to Cholms, OMT are still three points ahead and the title is still there for the taking.

Have a good week off and rest up. The next two games against Old Tonbridgians and then the derby with the old enemy will define how our season goes.

- Ollie Warren