What a difference a week makes!

On Saturday 25th the 1sts needed 2 points to be safe and the mid-week away fixture at Norsemen looked daunting. On Tuesday Old Parkonians drew and sealed their fate, leaving a relaxed EBOG to visit Norsemen and take them apart. Sam Berry bagged a hattrick bringing him level with Tom Nelson in the goalscorers but Tom was also playing and typically knocked in the goal which ensured he takes home the Trophy for the 4th time in 9 years. It couldn’t have been closer between these two sharpshooters, and Tom would be the first to acknowledge that Sam’s total of 27 goals, almost exclusively at 1st team level in an indifferent season, was also a superb performance.

Without pressure, the 1sts maybe took it a bit easy against Merton who dominated possession with neat football in the first half although with few chances. EBOG had even fewer but when you have Top Gun on the pitch you only need one. Good work from Roy Nayee down the right finished with a low cross and up popped Tom Nelson in exactly the right spot to stroke it home. Never in trouble after that, EBOG cantered home to secure a respectable 6th place which looked very unlikely 7 days before. Congratulations to Ralph for mobilising the team to a fight back arresting an embarrassing slide after losing the chance of promotion only a few weeks ago. It’s been a season of considerable changes to the line up, mostly forced, and a period of stability next season with what is now a quality squad (plus a bit more fitness and a few less cards!) could lead to the upward surge we deserve.

Last week the 7ths and 8ths served up 19 goals from their 2 games surely an exceptional event? Well this week they served up 20 so entertainment is guaranteed on the top pitch where 25 goals have been seen in 2 weeks! Despite this the 7ths couldn’t quite hold on and conceded the winner with a typical Norsemen long ball through a fairly square defence. An effective sweeper system could maybe keep down the goals against tally which at 88 would have been the worst in the SAL were it not for Norsemen 7ths who have conceded 113 two divisions above! They are heading downwards to Div 4 which is where their 9ths are justifiably going having been unbeaten all season. 3 teams will end up in the same division which can’t be allowed so they may leave things as they are. A better solution would be to swap the 7ths with the 9ths teams as the latter are clearly unsuited for the bottom division.

The 8ths were unlucky to concede in the last minute and let neighbours Stationers take all 3 points but they will finish just ahead of the 7ths in the final placings. They will be lucky to get anything from a double-header against Norsemen at the Club next week, the final game of the season.

For more information on East Barnet Old Grammarians FC, then please visit our website www.ebog.co.uk