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John’s Jottings
Good evening everyone, welcome to Woodstock.
Our visitors this evening are Walton Casuals. Welcome to their Players, Officials and Supporters
and this evenings match officials. A welcome also to representatives of Hidsons of Rainham
who are sponsoring the game. Hidsons are dealers for Kia. Vauxhall, Citroen and Mitsubishi.
Over the years Hidsons have given us fantastic support so if you are after a new or used car
please do consider having a look at what Hidsons have to offer.
Walton Casuals started November badly with a 4-1 defeat against Chipstead. They certainly
made up for it though with a string of impressive results since then which includes a 3-1 win
over Hythe Town, a 4-2 defeat of Guernsey and a resounding 6-1 win at Godalming Town. On
Saturday, they continued their good form with a 3-0 defeat of Horsham to move up to 7 th in the
table.
My opinion is that this season league positions count for nothing Anyone can beat anyone else
in this division. Some of our best performances have been against “big budget” teams. The likes
of Greenwich Borough and Hastings United. At Greenwich we ran them ragged in the first half,
racing into a three goal lead. At Hastings our display against a very good side (second best side
we have played with Tooting & Mitcham being the best). Speaking to the Hastings secretary last
week he said that we were the best side they have played this season which is a fantastic compliment.
The difference from being at the top to being “also rans” is consistency. Since our
match at Herne Bay we have hit some consistency, unbeaten in five, winning four of them. We
have to go back to August/September of last season to find the last time we had such a good
run. We actually won five games in a row so let’s hope we can emulate that tonight but it’s going
to be difficult against a team with an equally good record.
The last home game was against an East Grinstead side who had signed three new players just
before the match – two with football league experience. They were certainly up for it but so
were we. After conceding territory for the first twenty minutes or so we gradually came into it.
Both sides had chances but we probably had the best of them. As the game went into time added
on it looked it was a well-earned point each, that was until Tom Carlse leapt up to head a
90 th minute winner. That is the third late late winner we have scored recently. This was another
very entertaining game that I am sure you all enjoyed.
On Saturday, we visited Lewes, another team who are on a good run, unbeaten in 10 matches
out of 11. If it was not for two dubious decisions by the referee (a soft penalty and a free kick
that never was) we would have come away with a deserved three points. As it was we had to
settle for a draw – something we would have settled for before the game.
Our longest serving player, Hicham Akhazzan, has been allowed to dual register with SCEFL
side Lordswood to get match practice. His first match for them was in the Kent Senior Trophy
win over Rusthall.
We provided a tree at the Christmas tree festivals at St Michaels Church in the High Street and
at Tunstall Church? Thanks to David Cummings for decorating the Tree at St Michaels for us.
The first ever Brickies lottery £500 winner draw should have taken place last Tuesday at the
ground but due to the postponement of the game it will now take place at our next Saturday
home game which is against Chipstead on December 17 th . To join the Brickies lottery see John
Cooper or myself. You can also download a form from our web site.
Enjoy the game!
John