SATURDAY FIRSTS
SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY 2003
INTERMEDIATE DIVISION 1
ACCRA '94' 3-0 CONEY HALL
CONEY WENT TO THIS GAME AS LEAGUE LEADERS AND FOUR POINTS CLEAR
OF THIRD PLACED ACCRA BUT COME OUT ON THE WRONG END OF A 3-0 SCORELINE. CONEY
WITHOUT 7 FIRST TEAM REGULARS AND FIVE CHANGES FROM THE STARTING LINE UP THAT
BEAT WARLINGHAM LAST WEEK FOUND IT TOUGH GOING ON A DIABOLICAL PITCH THAT SHOULD
NEVER HAVE BEEN PLAYED ON.CONEY STARTED SLOWLY AND FOUND THEMSELVES A GOAL DOWN
AFTER JUST 5 MINUTES WHEN A HARMLESS BALL LUMPED FORWARD CAUSED HAVOC ON THE
SURFACE AND ALLOWED THE ACCRA FORWARD TO SLOT HOME. CONEY STARTED GETTING INTO
THE GAME AND CREATED CHANCES FOR THEMSELVES BUT WERE UNABLE TO CONVERT ANY.
CONEY KEPT PRESSING FORWARD IN SEARCH OF AN EQUALISER BUT ON 20 MINS GOALKEEPER
HOWARD CLEARED THE BALL ONLY TO SEE IT HIT CONEY'S CAPTAIN UMUT AND END UP IN
THE BACK OF THE NET. CONEY WENT IN AT HALF TIME 2-0 DOWN AFTER A FIRST HALF
WHERE THEY HAD CREATED GOOD CHANCES. CONEYS PLAYER MANAGER TUCKER CAME ON JUST
AFTER HALF TIME BELIEVING HIS SIDE COULD STILL GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE GAME
AND CONEY CERTAINLY GAVE IT THEIR ALL. CHANCE AFTER CHANCE WENT BEGGING AND
ACCRA RELIED HEAVILY ON A LENIANT REFEREE TO GET THEM OUT OF A RUT. CONEY PILED
ON THE PRESSURE WITH GOOD CHANCES FALLING TO LENNOX AND TUCKER. CONEY BROUGHT
ON PAUL BUTTERWORTH IN A FINAL LAST DITCH ATTEMPT GIVING CONEY AN ATTACKING
FORMATION BUT STILL THEY COULDNT FIND A WAY THROUGH. THE FOOTBALL WASN'T PRETTY
BUT THAT WAS TO BE EXPECT GIVEN THAT THE PITCH RESEMBLED A BOG. CONEY BATTLED
RIGHT TO THE END AND ONLY A LAST MINUTE MISTAKE GAVE ACCRA A 3-0 WIN. TWO FREAK
GOALS AND A PITCH THAT WAS DEFINITLEY UNPLAYABLE LEAD TO CONEYS DEFEAT.BUT WITH
5 CHANGES FROM THE TEAM THAT BEAT TOP PLACED WARLINGHAM LAST WEEK CONEYS COMMITMENT
MUST BE QUESTIONED!! CONEY REMAIN TOP BY 1 POINT WITH NINE GAMES OF THE SEASON
REMAINING, 2 AWAY AND 7 AT HOME. IF CONEY CAN PRODUCE THE FOOTBALL THEY ARE
CAPABLE OF THEY WILL BE CHAMPIONS AGAIN.
SATURDAY 11TH JANUARY 2003
WARLINGHAM 0-1 CONEY HALL
CONEY MADE THE SHORT TRIP UP TO WARLINGHAM FOR THE TOP OF THE
TABLE
CLASH. CONEY HADN'T PLAYED OR TRAINED FOR OVER 3 WEEKS SO THIS SEEMED A FORMIDABLE
TASK. ONLY A WIN WOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH HERE FOR CONEY. WITH WARLINGHAM 2 POINTS
AHEAD IT WASN'T GOING TO BE EASY. CONEY WERE MISSING IAN YOUNGER BUT WITH THE
WELCOME RETURN OF GOALKEEPER BILLY TUCKER TO THE LINE UP CONEY WERE CONFIDENT.
A SLOW START BY CONEY ON A TINY PITCH GAVE CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND WHEN CONEY'S
KEEPER HAD TO COME OFF IN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES WITH A RECURRENCE OF THE INJURY
THAT KEPT HIM OUT FOR 6 WEEKS, IT WAS DOWN TO VETERAN GOALKEEPER MARTIN HOWARD
TO GO BETWEEN THE STICKS. CONEY BEGAN TO FIND THEIR RHYTHM BUT WARLINGHAM WERE
HARD AND STRONG IN THEIR CHALLENGES AND CONEY PROBABLY GAVE THEM TO MUCH RESPECT.
CHANCES FELL TO BOTH TEAMS STRIKERS BUT IT WAS WARLINGHAM WHO HAD THE BETTER
OPPORTUNITIES. WITH GOALKEEPER HOWARD IN FINE FORM AND UMUT, WHELAN, LENNOX
AND THE SUPERB MANGALKHAN SOLID AT THE BACK CONEY SOAKED UP THE PRESSURE WELL.
CONEY STARTED TO PLAY SOME GOOD FOOTBALL BUT THE HALFTIME SCORE OF 0-0 WAS A
FAIR JUDGEMENT. CONEY WERE TOLD AT HALF TIME THAT THE GAME WAS THEIRS FOR THE
TAKING AND CAME OUT IN A POSITIVE FRAME OF MIND AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF THE
RESTART A CORNER FROM THE RIGHT
LED TO THE EVER IMPRESSIVE COURTMAN HEADING HOME HIS 6TH GOAL OF A SUPERB SEASON.
CONEY THEN BEGAN TO GET HOLD OF THE GAME BUT LEAGUE LEADERS WARLINGHAM BATTLED
ON AND BUT FOR SOME OUTSTANDING GOALKEEPING FROM CONEY'S MARTIN HOWARD THEY
WOULD HAVE SURELY GOT LEVEL. COURTMAN AND CONROY BATTLED HARD IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE PARK AND WITH WOOLDRIDGE SWITCHED TO RIGHT BACK AND LENNOX OUT TO THE
LEFT CONEY HAD BETTER SHAPE. WHEN COURTMAN MADE A LAZY RUN INTO WARLINGHAM'S
BOX HE WAS BROUGHT DOWN BUT UNBELIEVABLY NO PENALTY WAS GIVEN. WITH DEAN NEIL
AND DANNY TUCKER LEADING CONEY'S LINE WELL CONEY SEEMED TO BE HANDLING THE PRESSURE
THAT WARLINGHAM WERE PUTTING THEM UNDER.WHEN WARLINGHAM'S WINGER BEAT 3 CONEY
DEFENDERS AND WAS BROUGHT DOWN. APPEALS FOR A PENALTY WERE TURNED DOWN, TO THE
DISAPOINTMENT OF THE SULKING WARLINGHAM SUPPORTERS. WITH MINUTES TO SPARE HOWARD
PULLED OF ANOTHER FINE SAVE. A FULL TIME SCORE OF 1-0 TO CONEY WAS AN EXCELLENT
RESULT AND SEES THEM RETURN TO THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE 1 POINT CLEAR OF WARLINGHAM.
WITH 10 GAMES LEFT AND ONLY 3 OF THOSE AWAY CONEY CAN NOW START TO THINK THAT
THEY ARE SERIOUS TITLE CONTENDERS. A SUPERB RESULT FOR THE LADS AFTER A BATTLING
AND HARD FOUGHT WIN!!!
SATURDAY 21ST DECEMBER 2002
SUTTON HIGH 0-4 CONEY HALL
CONEY PLAYED THEIR LAST GAME BEFORE CHRISTMAS AIMING TO PUT THE PREVIOUS WEEK'S
DISAPOINTING CUP EXIT BEHIND THEM AND SHOWED THAT THEY STLL ARE CHAMPIONSHIP
MATERIAL. CONEY WERE SUPERB ALL ROUND WITH VETERAN GOALKEEPER MARTIN HOWARD
IN FINE FORM AND WITH EVERY PLAYER GIVING 100% AN EASY WIN WAS GAINED. STEVEN
CONROY STARTED THE BALL ROLLING PUTTING CONEY 1-0 UP WITH 30 MINS GONE. SUTTON
CONTINUED TO BATTLE BUT CONEY'S SOLID DEFENCE THAT HAS ONLY CONCEDED 2 GOALS
IN THEIR LAST 7 GAMES WAS ONCE AGAIN SUPERB. THE SECOND HALF WAS MUCH THE SAME
WITH LAST YEARS TOP SCORER DANNY TUCKER BACK IN THE STARTING LINE UP. WITH DEAN
NEIL ALONGSIDE HIM THEY CAUSED HAVOC FOR THE SUTTON DEFENCE. TUCKER SCORED A
FINE HEADER FROM A CORNER AND WHEN RIGHT BACK BILLY LENNOX SCORED HIS 5TH OF
THE SEASON TO PUT CONEY 3-0 UP THEY KNEW THE GAME WAS WON. GOOD WORK DOWN THE
LEFT BY IAN YOUNGER GAVE TUCKER THE CHANCE TO MAKE IT FOUR AND HE OBLIGED. A
GOOD RESULT FOR CONEY GOING INTO XMAS AND WITH UMUT AND MANGALKHAN LOOKING SOLID
AT THE HEART OF THE DEFENCE AND COURTMAN AND CONROY COMMANDING THE MIDFIELD
CONEY LOOK TO BE GETTING STRONGER!!!
SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER
SURREY INTERMEDIATE CUP 3RD ROUND
CONEY HALL 2-3 aet WOKING PARK & HORSELL
CONEY CRASHED OUT OF THE CUP THEY LOVE AFTER THROWING A 2-0 LEAD AWAY IN THE
LAST 20 MINS OF TIME. CONEY DOMINATED THIS GAME IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND WHEN
BOBBY STEAD PUT CONEY 1-0 UP ON THE HALF HOUR MARK CONEY WERE IN COMPLETE CONTROL
OF A GAME THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WON IN THE FIRST 45 MINS. CONEY CAME OUT IN
THE SECOND HALF AND ONCE AGAIN TOOK THE GAME TO WOKING AND WHEN IAN YOUNGER
PUT CONEY 2-0 UP ON 70 MINS CONEY THOUGHT THEY HAD THE GAME WON. BUT HOW WRONG
THEY WERE! WOKING PUSHED EVERY MAN FORWARD AND ON 75 MINS PULLED A GOAL BACK
FROM A CORNER. THEY EQUALISED ON 80 MINS LEAVING CONEY RATTLED AND SHAKEN AND
STARTING TO LOSE THEIR HEADS. CONEY HAD CHANCES TO WIN THE GAME BUT A FULL TIME
SCORE OF 2-2 MEANT EXTRA-TIME. CONEY CAME OUT AND DOMINATED FOR PERIODS OF THE
FIRST 15 MINS BUT COULDN'TGRAB A GOAL. TO WOKING'S CREDIT THEIR TAILS WERE UP
AND THEYBATTLED ALL OVER THE PITCH. DURING THE SECOND HALF A LONG BALL HAD CONEY
ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WOKING TOOK THE LEAD WITH A LOW SHOT FROM INSIDE THE
BOX. CONEY WHERE SHATTERED, THE CUP THEY HAD WON FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WAS
SLOWLY SLIPPING FROM THEM. THEY TRIED EVERYTHING BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONEY WERE
OUT AFTER THROWING THIS GAME AWAY TO A POOR WOKING SIDE. CONEY MUST WONDER HOW
THEY LOST THIS GAME BUT THEY WILL NEED TO IMPROVE IN ALL AREAS IF THEY ARE TO
KEEP THEIR TITLE CHARGE GOING.
SATURDAY FIRSTS
SENIOR LEAGUE CUP 3RD ROUND
CONEY HALL 1-0 ST ANDREWS
CONEY HALL MADE IT 9 WINS ON THE TROT AS THEY PLAYED HOST TO AN
EXCELLENT ST ANDREWS SIDE.IN PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST GAMES SEEN AT TIEPIGS
LANE IN MANY A YEAR. THE TWO SIDES WERE EQUAL IN EVERY DEPARTMENT AND CONEY
KNEW THEY HAD TO BE AT THEIR BEST AGAINST A ST ANDREWS SIDE WHO WERE A DIVISION
BELOW BUT HAD NOT LOST A LEAGUE GAME ALL SEASON. THEY CERTAINLY SHOWED WHY!
CONEY STARTED THIS GAME THE BRIGHTER AND DOMINATED EARLY DOORS BUT WITH ST ANDREWS
CONTESTING WELL, CONEY HAD TO BE AT THEIR BEST. CONEY NEEDED AN EARLY GOAL TO
SHOW THEIR DOMINANCE AND ON 18 MINS, AFTER SOME EXCELLENT FOOTBALL, A CROSS
FROM THE RIGHT WAS MET BY STEPHEN CONROY WHO GLANCED A HEADER IN TO THE FAR
CORNER TO PUT CONEY 1-0 UP. CONEY SETTLED AFTER THAT AND BEGAN TO PRODUCE SUPER
FOOTBALL BUT TO ST ANDREW'S CREDIT THEY PLAYED JUST AS WELL BUT LACKED THE KILLER
INSTINCT. WITH THE BACK FOUR OF LENNOX, MANGALKHAN, UMUT AND THE SUPERB WHELAN
PLAYING TOGETHER EXCEPTIONALLY WELL, A HALF TIME SCORELINE OF 1-0 WAS A FAIR
REFLECTION OF A FIRST HALF THAT WAS QUITE BRILLIANT FROM BOTH SIDES. THE SECOND
HALF BEGAN WITH CONEY BEING PUT UNDER ENORMOUS PRESSURE BY ST ANDREWS BUT THE
BACK FOUR AND GOALKEEPER HOWARD WERE STRONG IN MIND AND PRESENCE. WITH CONEY'S
WIDE MEN OF YOUNGER AND STEAD SEEING MORE OF THE PLAY CONEY BEGAN TO OPEN ST
ANDREWS UP WHILST COURTMAN AND CONROY, BOTH ONCE AGAIN SUPERB, IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE PARK CONEY SOON HAD A GRIP ON THE GAME. YOUNGER DOMINATED THE LEFT HAND
SIDE OF THE PITCH BUT CONEY JUST COULDNT TURN THEIR PRESSURE INTO GOALS. ON
70 MINS THE ST ANDREWS FORWARD WHO HAD LOOKED DANGEROUS SINCE HE CAME ON AT
HALF TIME HIT A MAGNIFICENT HALF VOLLEY AGAINST THE CONEY POST ONLY TO SEE IT
REBOUND BACK TO A CONEY DEFENDER. CONEY HAD CHANCES TO WRAP THE GAME UP BUT
STERN DEFENDING FROM BOTH SIDES MEANT A FULL TIME SCORE OF 1-0 TO CONEY HALL.
THIS WAS A SUPERB GAME AND ONE THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR THE EXCELLENT SPORTMANSHIP
AND FOOTBALL THAT WAS SHOWN. AN EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE FROM CONEY AND I HAVEN'T
SEEN A BETTER SIDE PLAY AGAINST THEM ALL SEASON. AFTER THEIR SUPERB EFFORT CONEY
ARE REWARDED WITH A QUARTERFINAL TIE AT HOME IN THE NEXT ROUND. WITH CONEY'S
INJURY LIST SHORTENING ALL THE TIME AND WITH BOTH THE FIRST TEAM AND RESERVES
WITH SQUADS OF 17 PLAYER'S ON SATURDAY, CONEY'S SEASON CAN ONLY GET STRONGER.
Saturday Firsts
Saturday 23rd November
MERTON RES 0-1 CONEY HALL
Coney finally played this tie after getting the game switched to a home fixture.
With a depleted side Coney gave a start to last seasons top scorer Danny Tucker
in their first game in defence of the Surrey cup. With Merton's first team game
being called off Coney expected a hard game but totally dominated this scrappy
affair. As in previous weeks, if Coney had finished their chances early this
game could have been wrapped up before half time and with the Coney back four
of Lennox, Mangalkhan, Umut,and Whelan very rarely being troubled the only thing
Coney had to worry about was the late tackles and the poor sportsmanship from
a terrible Merton side. With Courtman and the superb Conroy dominating the midfield
Coney were always on top in the first half but with chances going begging a
half time score of 0-0 wasn't a true reflection on the game. Coney came out
the second half and started where they had left off but a bit of frustration
started to creep in as the visitors late challenges and blatant penalty appeals
were being turned down. The Coney manager came on and replaced Saunders, who
was a victim of yet another rash challenge, and pushed Lennox wide to use his
skill and pace. Then finally the break through, Tucker received the ball just
inside the visitors half and played out wide to winger Stead and when Tucker
made the run for the cross he was pushed in the box, finally a foul the referee
saw and a penalty to Coney. With Danny Tucker, last seasons top scorer, back
in the starting line up he was given the opportunity to put Coney in front.
A low struck penalty into the back of the net on 75 mins was enough for Coney
to win this tie and set up a 3rd round home tie against Woking Park & Horsell.
A dominating performance from the cup holders against a badly organised and
poor Merton side. With a home tie in the next round Coney expect to win that
and carry on their quest to become only the second team alongside Wimbledon
to win this trophy 3 seasons in a row. Coney expect to be at full strength for
next weeks senior league cup tie against Division 2 leaders St Andrews. A win
will see Coney make the quarter-finals of the league cup.
9th November 2002
CONEY HALL 5-0 GODSTONE
Coney made it seven wins out of seven with a comprehensive display against
bottom club Godstone. The result was marred by serious injuries to Coney defender
Ben Wooldridge and the impressive Coney goalkeeper Billy Tucker, who is sure
to be out for a lengthy period with a ruptured groin injury. Coney came out
determined to keep their recent run of good results going and totally dominated
this one sided game. But with only 10 mins gone assistant manager Wayne Young
had to come on and replace Coney goalkeeper Tucker who was injured. Coney were
playing well but couldn't find the break through and when Ben Wooldridge received
a knock on the ankle Coney manager, Chris Tucker, was called upon to play in
defence. With the management team playing Coney had voices every where on the
park and started to dominate the game. On 25 mins a back pass was picked up
by the Godstone keeper and when the impressive Ian Younger rammed home Coney's
first Godstone's heads where already dropping. Coney still passed the ball well
and were carving Godstone open with every attack and but for some good work
from the Godstone keeper it could have been a rout. Then on 40 mins the second
Coney goal came courtesy of some excellent forward play by Gary Prince who held
the ball up superbly for the young Lennox to volley home his 4th of the season.
Coney came out for the second half and once again were not troubled at all by
the Godstone forwards. Coney started to assert themselves again and when manager
Tucker met Prince's flick he crossed the ball for Courtman whose effort was
cleared off the line but Dean Neil rammed home Coney's third. Godstone were
now playing for pride and when a superb move was finished of by Younger, grabbing
his second of the game, Coney then brought on last season's top scorer Danny
Tucker for his first run out of the season. Steve Conroy who had his best game
for Coney scored his first of the season to put Coney five up. Without ever
being troubled the Coney team can be proud of a superb display from all areas
of the team. With second placed Battersea losing 5-0 at Accra, Coney go into
next weeks defence of their Surrey cup now with a 4 point cushion knowing they
will still be top after next weeks league games where Battersea have their game
in hand. A good result for Coney but with the two injuries to two key players
not everything is looking rosy yet.
2 NOVEMBER
SENIOR LEAGUE CUP ROUND 2
CONEY HALL 5-2 ASHTEAD aet
Coney had the pressure of the league taken off them and played host to division
1 side Ashtead. The recent performances of Coney had the management believing
that this was a game already won but once again the injury jinx that plagued
Coney at the beginning of the season played havoc on a wet and windy afternoon.
Coney started the game slowly with Ashtead making all the running. They didn't
look like a side struggling for confidence and with only 10 mins gone Coney's
top scorer Terry Saunders came off with a bad ankle injury and with a depleted
Coney bench, due to injuries, player/manager Chris Tucker was called upon in
an unusual role of striker. Coney started to play to their strengths but for
all their possession they couldn't get a goal and with Ashtead competing for
every ball it wasn't going to be easy. Chance after chance went begging and
when the evergreen Paul Courtman put in Tucker after 20mins the manager saw
his effort rebound of the crossbar from 5 yards out. Coney were now on top and
really pressuring the Ashtead goal but chances from Neil, Younger, Conroy, Tucker,
Stead and Courtman were all saved by the impressive Ashtead goalkeeper. Coney
only had themselves to blame. Then on 30 mins an excellent chested ball by Conroy
put Tucker through only to see his effort saved and when the keeper spilled
the shot Tucker was there to put he's side 1-0 up. A deserved lead and Coney
should have added many more but for poor finishing. Coney should have had the
game won as fine defensive displays from Wooldridge, Umut, Mangalkhan and Whelan
meant Coney very rarely looked like conceding. The second half was much the
same, chance after chance went astray and the more frustrated Coney were getting
, Ashtead were slowly edging their way back. With Younger having his best game
in a Coney shirt and with the virtually the whole team playing well Coney still
had to attack to kill the game off. Then the inevitable happened, a long ball
up to the front two and a mix up in the box allowed Ashtead to grab an equaliser
on 70 mins. Coney then brought off manager Tucker and replaced him with Gary
Prince who had immediate affect. On 85mins Prince put Coney in the lead when
a lovely flighted free kick by Conroy was met by his header and Coney were back
in the lead at 2-1. With only 5 mins remaining Coney thought they had the game
sown up but then the Coney keeper slipped in the last seconds and Ashtead grabbed
a dramatic equaliser with the last kick of normal time. With extra time to be
played Coney stepped up another level and totally dominated. On 94 mins Dean
Neil grabbed his first of an extra time hat-trick , adding his 2nd four minutes
later with an excellent solo effort and finally his 3rd on 114 mins. Coney have
now completed 6 consecutive wins and are through to the next round of the cup,
where they will play division 2 leaders St. Andrews at home. A good display
from Coney but once again the finishing was poor and with the injury list once
again growing Coney are going to have a hard few weeks ahead with a home game
to Godstone this week. They then start the defence of their Surrey cup away
to Merton.
26th October
CONEY HALL 2-1 ACCRA '94'
Coney played host to last year's champions Accra and knew that
only a win against them would be good enough. Coney, for the first time this
season, had the same starting line up as the previous week and looked to carry
on the progress to make it 5 wins out of 5. With Coney playing with the wind
in the first half that didn't seem to help as in the first 30 seconds Coney's
keeper Tucker had to pull of a fine save stop Accra taking the lead. Coney found
it hard to get going and Accra kept pressuring Coney into mistakes, pretty it
wasn't, but Coney's battling and determination was only foiled by a busy referee
who had an abysmal game. Coney starting to get more and more involved in the
game then on 25mins some good work down the right led to a cross into Accra's
box for Ian Younger to chest down and the hard working Courtesan to lob home.
1-0 up and Coney took the game to Accra and when the Accra defender handled
it the referee played an atrocious advantage with a Coney player nowhere near
the ball. A long hoof up field by Accra and with the luck they didn't deserve
managed to grab an equaliser on 35 mins. The Coney players aggrieved at the
ref's decision to their credit continued to dominate and on 40 mins a mix up
on the Accra box led to captain Umut smashing in his first of the season to
send league leader's Coney 2-1 up at half time. Coney came out for the second
half expecting an Accra side to chuck everything at them but the second half
was absolutely dominated by the impressive Coney side. On 50 mins dean Neil
created his own chance and lobbed the keeper only to see it go wide. On 60 mins
the hard working midfielder Conroy found himself all alone with only the Accra
keeper to beat and he had his shot saved. With Coney dominating they needed
to score and impressive defensive displays from Coney's Wooldridge, Mangalkhan,
Umut and Lennox didn't let Accra have a sniff at the Coney goal. On 75 mins
great work from full back Wooldridge found him in a one on one situation with
the keeper but he shot wide. Coney should have had the game won by now and when
Accra hit the Coney post from a fluke cross maybe Coney got the slice of luck
they deserved. With Coney playing out the last couple of minutes with some hard
work and determination the full time whistle sounded. An excellent 2-1 win at
home against last years champions means that Coney Hall stay on top of the league.
It wasn't the prettiest of games but for hard work, grit and determination Coney
couldn't be faulted. With once again an excellent team performance Coney can
show that on their day they can beat anybody. Next week see Coney take on Ashtead
in the league cup second round at home 2pm kick off.
19th October
Oxted & District 0-3 Coney Hall
Coney Hall top of 1st division for the first time in 10 years.
Coney knew that with a bye in the first round of theSurrey cup and with the
top teams all playing in the cup a win at Oxted would put them top of the top
division for the first time this season. Coming of the back of three excellent
performances Coney knew that all 3 points were needed. Coney started the game
the better and totally dominated every yard of the Oxted pitch with a side brimming
with confidence. Coney looked like a team possessed with Oxted being totally
outplayed. Coney had all the possession but as in weeks gone by failed to turn
the possession into goals with goalkeeper Tucker not having a shot to save in
the last 180 minutes of football. He was once again a spectator with the back
four of Wooldridge, Mangalkhan, Umut and Lennox once again all playing with
confidence. Oxted never even looked like scoring but for all Coney's attacking
play and Bobby Stead tearing Oxted apart down the right. Coney had to wait until
the half hour mark when a through ball beat Oxted's offside trap, allowing young
Terry Saunders to slot home Coney's first the goal. This helped settled Coney
and with at another 10 shots on target in the next 5 minutes Coney didn't have
to wait long before the impressive Billy Lennox unleashed a volley which was
full of confidence into the roof of the net. Coney were in full flow with the
midfield of Stead, Courtman, Conroy and Younger all enjoying good spells. Coney's
front two of Saunders and Neill, as in previous weeks, absolutely ran Oxted
ragged. But for a poor refereeing decision Coney should have had a penalty when
a fine solo effort by Neill hit the post. It was clearly handled on the line
was but turned away by the ref. At half time a 2-0 advantage could have been
10 but Coney had only themselves to blame. Coney came out for the second half
with instructions to keep playing football but they slackened off and started
to take their foot off the game but once again with goalkeeper Tucker not having
an attempt on his goal Coney probably thought they had the game won. Manager
Tucker came on for Younger, who was suffering from flu, and added a fresh voice.
Then on 70 minutes Dean Neill scored the third for Coney.A richly deserved effort
made all by himself, he won the ball in the midfield attacked Oxted's defence
and unleashed a power drive only to see it deflected and lob the helpless goalkeeper.
3-0 up and Coney knew they had all 3 points. Another win Coneys fourth in a
row and a top of the table for the first time in 10 seasons which is a great
achievement and a remarkable turnaround in the last 5 seasons. The clubs 'old
guard' who have seen some good Coney Hall sides down the years are talking about
good things for this team. With no signs of the early season injuries that bugged
them there were outstanding performances from
every player in the Coney Hall side. Another clean sheet takes goalkeeper Tucker's
time without conceding a goal to over 300 minutes. With last season's top scorer
Danny tucker only a few weeks away from action things are looking up for the
team. The management of Chris Tucker and Wayne Young are playing their part
in the team's success but the bulk of the credit must go to the players who
have shown that once again commitment, effort and above all good football will
take this team a long way, creating even greater success for the club.
12th October
Coney Hall 2-0 Old Rutlishians
After 2 solid winning performances Coney Hall went into this match full of confidence but knew that Old Ruts would be a stern test. The game started slowly with both teams very cagey but Coney created the better of the chances and were playing the better football. But like so many times this season Coney failed to score and with so much of the possession they needed a goal to settle them down against a very strong and physical Old Ruts side. With Coney's keeper Tucker virtually untroubled in the first half Coney knew that they just had to take their time and be patient but still no goals came and a half time scoreline of 0-0 flattered the away team. A half time change of tactics and more emphasis on getting the ball wide paid dividends in the second half as the back four of Mangalkhan, Smith, Umut and the outstanding performance of 20 year old Billy Lennox. Still Coney couldn't find that vital goal. With only 10 minutes of the second half gone Coney brought on G Prince who straight away had an immediate impact winning headers and holding the ball helping Coney completely dominate this game with the midfield of Stead, Courtman, Conroy and Wooldridge all once again playing superbly. Surely a goal had to come. On 60 minutes sweeper manager Chris Tucker replaced Dave Smith. Another voice on the pitch raised Coney and the once again superb Paul Courtman was vital in both goals. A quick free kick taken by Courtman caught the Old Ruts defence asleep and a fine volley from Robert Stead gave Coney the lead they truly deserved. Then 9 minutes later magnificent work from Lennox down the left found Courtman who slid in to make it 2-0 and a scoreline worthy of the game. With 10 minutes remaining P Whelan replaced the injured S.Conroy and showed that he is still worthy of his place. With the Coney hall defence rarely troubled and another solid performance from front two Saunders and Neil, Coney can be pleased with another three points. As I said in last weeks report this Coney hall side is one of the best we have produced for many a year and with performances like these it will be hard to see anybody touching them. Now hopefully the 'beginning of the season' injuries are all over, let's hope that Coney can carry this form through. A tricky away game next week sees Coney down at Oxted and district but it is a game Coney must win to keep the pressure on.