Slick against the City!

Wednesday 13th August 2008
Corporation of London 2, "The Rabblers" 5
Friendly match
at City of London Academy all-weather pitch, Bermondsey.

New opposition, albeit some old friends. We travelled to the all-weather pitch if the City Academy School, in Bermondsey, to take on the Corporation of London. Friends of Phil Baker, including Jim Barber, who has watched the Hamlet a number of times in the past, with his son.
The City slickers looked exactly that in the warm up, having an extremely professional approach, compared to liad back warm up, of passing the ball about a few times, three and in, plus pre-match cigarettes for the smokers!
In fact the Coporation had been undefeated for four seasons, which sounds impressive, but apparently some of their opposition hasn't been of the highest calibre, often challenging the 'might' of the ladyboys of Ladywell for a run out!
So whilst not wanting to dwell too much on the match itself, not least because it was almost a month ago & I'm struggling to recall any of it, it is with great pleasure that I can belatedly report a superb 'Rabblers' 5-2 victory! And as if that wasn't 'historic' enough genuine 'Rabblers' records tumbled as we used no less than four different goalkeepers in this match! Taking turn between the sticks were Darren Nicolas, Lawrence Marsh, Ian Gannon & Steve Rickerby!
It was good to see Lucas Green have a run-out on 'home' soil, living down the road, in Bermondsey itself. Though he still couldn't quite arrive for kick off!
Goal scoring hero-with no less than a hat trick- was James O'Shaughnessy, who no doubt had a family point to prove, with his elder brother David having taken all the paludits from him, having scored our goal in Helsinki, when James never travelled. So, despite not being on the pitch tonight, David can still lay claim to an assist of sorts, having spurred his little brother into action!
Our other goal was a cheeky little effort from out wide on the right from Chris Garrett, not disimilar to his goal away to the Belgian Paris Saint Germain Supporters' Club back in early 2007, over in Paris.
It was good to see the team bolstered by both Gavriel Hollander & David Yuill from the 'Southwark News'; continuing a long tradition of their scribes appearing for us. And also Matt Pike, who 'guested' for us, having played against us recently for Ladywell FC.

Yeah ,well I didn't take that many snaps. so have had to include some where I've missed the action!



Nice backdrop. Isn't that the estate where Paul Griffin lives, but couldn't be bothered to turn out? ;-)





I'd better get out of the way of this!







Darren absolutely begged me to take a photo of him in goal...



So this is him NOT saving a penalty!







Obligatory half time snap!





Oh dear! Darren really does like his photo being taken!



Team photo
Back row(left to right): Mark Hutton (Asst manager); Phil Baker (referee!), James O'Shaugnessy; Gavriel Hollander; Steve Rickerby; Mike Spencer; Lawrence Marsh; Ian Gannonn; Mick O'Shaughnessy (manager)
Front row: (l to r): David Yuill; Chris Garrett; Lucas Green; Darren Nicolas; Jon Tennison; Matt Pike.
Not in picture(taking photo): Mishi Morath.