AGM 23rd July @ Goals

Excellent turnout : Rich, Les, Mark, Jimmer, Jim, Matt Pat, Dave Q, Neil W and apologies from Jack, Carl, Gaz, Batty, Tom, Tom P, Bertie, Swifty and a bulletin from Colin who may be back for the new season. I introduced the meeting by reminding people that his 60th birthday is pending so it may be time for someone else to take over as manager. Much as I love the team I don't think I'll want to do the arranging if I can't get on the pitch.

We were very pleased about the new kit and are still solvent so proposed £10 only subs this season - Les will confirm. The debate for a re-branding ie name change but we won't be doing anything official before the start of the season.

There's further emphasis on the league's fairplay (Corinthian) ethos so a grading for the opposition must be given when a result is posted. Teams will also be penalised for posting results later so please feel free to remind or hassle me to do this and also to let me your rating of the opposition after matches. I will also ask the league to give Les access to the form.

We used the report below to enjoy some of the memories of a successful 1st season in the 3rd division, drank beer and looked forward impatiently to the new season.

We hope to have a Curry Cup pre-season friendly.

Awards were announced but not presented as not engraved yet (see below).

Real Wood FC Season 2014-15

August

31/8/2014 Cup 1st Round SCS 6 vs 5 Real Wood FC (goals from Jim, Felix, Mark, Steve, Sam. Man-of the-match Rob)

September

7/9/2014 Farmhouse Nailsea 3 v 2 Real Wood FC  (Goals from Gaz, Felix, Man-of-the match Louis)

October

5/10/2014 Westbury Wanderers 4 v 6 Real Wood FC (goals from Jimmer (3), Jim, Les, Dan. Man-of-the match Jimmer)

November

16/11/2014 Real Wood FC 2 v 3 Axbridge Saxons @ Frys (2 goals from Man-of-the-Match, Batty)

December

14/12/2014 Real Wood FC 0 v 0 Henleaze Corinthians

2015

February

1/2/2015 Real Wood FC 3 v 5 Rapid Viagra (Jimmer 2, Felix 1, Man-of-the-Match, Tom P)

22/2/2015 Real Wood FC 0 v 2 Avon Retreads (Swifty & Tom shared the Man-of-the-Match award.)

April

12/4/2015 Real Wood FC  0 v 1 Redland Ramblers –(M-o-t-M Gaz)

19/4/2015 Redstar Redland  2 v 2 Real Wood FC - (Jimmer, Carl M-o-t-M Matt Pat & Swifty)

21/4/2015 Banjo Munchenbadback 1 v 2 Real Wood FC - (Jimmer Mark M-o-t-M Swifty)

Summary:

Goals

Jimmer 8

Felix 3

2 each for; Batty & Mark

1 each for; Carl Dan Gaz Jim Sam Steve Les 

Man of the Match

Rob, Louis, Jimmer, Batty, Tom, Swifty/Tom, Gaz, Matt Pat/Swifty, Swifty

Manager’s Report:

We started the season by going out in the cup to SCS who finished 5^th in Division 1 by the odd goal in 11, a thriller!

Then resplendent in our new kit we lost by a last minute goal to Nailsea who had beaten us 5-0 the previous season. We were only able to field a minimal team so this was a great result. We then produced a huge squad and a terrific performance to beat Westbury Wanderers 4-6 where Jimmer showed us he was prepared to step up to the mark and produce goals. A great season and a real tragedy that he’s injured but a justly deserved Golden Boot.

1 point from a loss to Axbridge where we started with 10 men. Batty brought all his family to show that he no longer had to wear fascist shirts and to show his pride put in a man-of-the-match winning performance and scored a couple of goals. Then a point in the Curry Cup (0-0 vs Corinthians) and 2 defeats in February to Avon Retreads and Rapid Viagra (the eventual top 2 teams in our division) meant we entered April with a job still to do. We missed opportunities by losing to Redland Ramblers (by 1 goal) and drawing with Redstar Redland by conceding with the last kick of the match. So we had to beat Banjo and thankfully we never doubted it and goals from Jimmer and Mark proved that when the result is absolutely vital we can produce a result.

We avoided relegation by goal difference.

Twice beaten by 2 goals (and once won by 2 goals)

2 draws and twice lost by the odd goal.

Finally in the last match of the season (as with last season) we turned the tables and Mark nicked us the odd vital goal which kept us up. Alongside Les’s chip these were nominated as Goal-of-the-season

Significantly we suffered most when we had a bare 11.

I think we were surprised to be drawn into a relegation battle after so many very good performances but I think we discovered that there were no weak sides in the division and all had some good players. Lessons to be learned; win the games we drew and learn to finish games off either by getting that extra goal or by not conceding late in the game. Simples.

Team news:

Shame we haven’t seen Neil or Bill in midfield this season especially as Neil shelled out his subs and never played.

Great to have Dave Q back and showing us some nimble footwork which helped us out in his new defensive role.

We must thank Bertie and Tom for introducing Dan and Tom P who have both been excellent introductions.

Special mention to Jimmer. With last season’s Golden Boot not being available much goals had to come from someone and Jimmer showed he was capable of finishing when other people provide such as in the Banjo match from Jim’s corner but Jimmer also put in massive efforts hassling defenders and creating his own breaks. Such a terrible pun in the light of his current injury. Having said all that Felix still chipped in 3 goals from not many appearances and we also had 9 other goal-scorers which from 10 matches (9 league, 1 cup) is impressive.

Les, returning from injury started well and got better throughout the season. Batty though not present enough performed brilliantly and Les and Batty have both been nominated for most improved player though many of us feel they’ve always been that good!

Tom was brilliant as always despite the distraction of his new baby daughter. Tom had the support of Jack who had another excellent season but sadly is currently injured so we hope he’ll be back for the new season.

And Swifty who has consistently been praised for his tremendous contributions with man-of-the-match performances in the final 2 matches to retain our 3^rd Division status. Matt Pat has been praised every match for his fantastic, tireless work as a holding midfield player and has put in full matches when he was barely well-enough to turn out at all. On top of that Matt has continued with the thankless task of organising the Thursday 5s so earns the award of Clubman of the Year.

Lots of love also for Tom P, Jim, Rich for consistently good performances and effort and to Mark for keeping us up however the award of Player of the Year will be shared by Swifty and Matt Pat.

Final table 2014-15

A bit close in the end but we've achieved our goal and avoided the drop so ahead it's another competitive season in division 3.  Well done everyone.
Rich

Redstar Redland 2-2 Real Wood

A really good turn out and lots of good performances. We looked pretty comfortable and went into a  2-0 lead thanks to goals from Jimmer and Carl. A scrappy, deflected goal gave Redstar renewed hope but it still looked more likely that we'd add another instead of conceding a last kick of the match equaliser following a pinball session in the box where we failed to take opportunities to clear. It felt like a defeat and we were all gutted. Still, an excellent game with an agreed shared Men-of-theMatch awarded to Matt Pat and Swifty.

Thanks to those guys who stepped aside and left it to us to blow it. Everything's on Tuesday's match against Banjo though it may not be enough depending on other results I think.

Rich

Banjo Munchenbadback 1 v 2 Real Wood

What goes around comes around so after last Sunday's heart-breaking goal by Redstar to snatch victory from us it seemed only fair that we should grab a goal with only minutes to go. A good first half goal put Real Wood behind but Jimmer's first half equaliser from an excellent corner by Jim made the scores level but I felt we seemed the more likely to score again and played some good football as well as competing well. It was pretty late on and we'd had to push extra men forward when Mark was definitely in the right place at the right time to poke home a Hernandez-style winner. Another great performance from Swifty earned him the Man-of-the-Match votes again. Well deserved and much joy at finally earning a victory.

Looking at the table things don't look great for our future in the division and we may pay the penalty for those draws we should have won and 3 defeats by the odd goal (noticeably when we played with a lack of players!). Let's wait and see and at least enjoy finishing the season with another excellent performance and a win.

Rich

Real Wood 0 -2 Avon Retreads

Disappointing result as we'd hoped to get something from the game and in the first half we matched Retreads. However in the second half the good rotation of their 4 subs kept us under pressure as we had only 12 players and unfortunately Andy's knee only held out for about 10 very effective minutes in the second half before giving out on him. We played well and Retreads had a good side out but we didn't really threaten their goal. Praise for Tom P's tireless work in midfield but lots of love for Swifty and Tom in the centre of the back four who shared the Man-of-the-Match award.

Real Wood 3 vs 5 Rapid Viagra

1^st Feb brought us the long-awaited return of Bill to the team. Looking slim and as tenacious as ever even he was unable to prevent Rapid Viagra taking a 0-3 lead into the interval. However after pulling back to 2-3 RV were looking anxious and showed it in their aggressive behaviour. Unfortunately we missed a penalty and they scored one and we eventually lost 3-5 with goals from Jimmer (2) and Felix.

Some very spirited performances throughout the team including a very poorly Les putting in a spirited and quality show at fullback and with Tom P getting special praise from many for another excellent game. Champagne moment for me was Jimmer running Aguero-like through the inside left position and indicating to Jim where he wanted the ball delivered. Jim in turn delivered a perfectly weighted pass for Jimmer to run on to and chip the keeper. Quality goal, much deserved.

Referee Andy was very unimpressed with the attitude of some of the Rapid Viagra players and spent some time saying so after the match whilst also praising our effort and control.

Real Wood 2 vs 3 Axbridge Saxons

Match Report: Real Wood 2 vs 3 Axbridge Saxons

10 men went to Frys

Following last week’s 18-man squad that failed to get a game, 10 of us turned up at Frys. 
1 of us didn’t. 
We had failed to provide a referee and had mistakenly relied on the opposition avoiding the colour clash. So a good start. 
However Axbridge with their subs were happy to provide all the officials and Corinthians' shirts came to the rescue.

We were possibly over cautious and Axbridge, 2^nd in the league, may have been a little complacent but nevertheless they went in 2 ahead at halftime.

Our good 1^st half performance got better and better once we’d conceded a third goal to an excellent 25 yard strike. Relieved of the guilt of wearing the fascist black shirts and determined to show partner, daughter and nephews his true worth, Batty put in a Man-of-the-Match performance to pull back 2 goals and leave the opposition pestering the referee to blow for time. Jimmer hit a great strike against the crossbar but we only ended up with massive amounts of pride, satisfaction and all-round back-slapping wondering what would it have been like with 11 men?

Absolutely brilliant performance! Great passing football even when under great pressure. Swifty was masterful in defence with some tremendous tackles and wise in his captaincy suggesting we change in the second half from 4-4-1 to 3-5-1. This gave us an in penetrable defensive wall of Jack, Swifty & Tom enabling Batty and Rich to give extra width and, in Batty’s case, goals.