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Carshalton 6th XI - SAL Intermediate Novets Cup Winners 2002/03 
Back - Sean Hayes, Graham Johnson, Paul Haines, Andrew Foster, Nick Jeffrey, Mark Nolan
Front - Alan Barrett, Matt Osborne, Tony Knott, Mike McCarthy, Duncan MacDonald, Colin Levey

Well we managed to get to the game in plenty of time and despite having a last minute crisis regarding subs, Norsemen hadn’t yet arrived.  The referee agreed to postpone the match 15 minutes to wait for them to arrive.  Half an hour later we started.  We thought they might be a little stiff after just getting out of the cars but the match was well contested from the outset.  Norsemen had a very strong side out, as you would expect from a side that finished runners up in both the league and the cup.

Before we started, one of their regulars commented (rather ironically) on the fact that we had our ‘ringer’ Andrew ‘Joan’ Foster playing for us again.  This is the greatest complement the big striker has ever received, and I don’t think he’ll ever let us forget it!

The match was hard-fought and there was little between Norsemen and ourselves.  Although we managed to play well across the middle there was a lot of space between both defences and this suited Norsemen more and they managed to create their chances through their speedy attackers. If it hadn’t been for Tosh and Alan at centre backs and the brilliant Colin between the sticks we would have had to score more than one to win the match.

We had our fair share of chances and in the end we managed to convert one.  The ball was left to myself for a shot which I failed to connect well with.  The ball was going wide when Mark Nolan managed to slide in Lineker style and stab the ball past the outstretched keeper form 10 yard out.  Yes, it was a poor shot by me.  This managed to ensure that Norsemen who could have completed the league and cup double on the day won neither with Kew Association beating HSBC on the pitch next door to secure the league for themselves.

Although the pitch was poor, the food provided by Kew was the best we’ve had all season including a selection of seafood which was so fresh it must have lost its way in the Thames over the weekend, and some exquisite homemade beef burgers for the main course.

We managed to get home in time for a 7:30 meet in the Crown drinking tavern in Shirley, with even Tony being ‘allowed out for a few’.

It was nice to get something out of a season where we had the opportunity to win the double. Personally I think retaining the cup was a great achievement, and in the league we have beaten all the top 5 teams.  Indeed we beat the champions Kew on both occasions we played them this season in the league.  We’ll be looking for a little more consistency against the lower sides in the future.

Finally quote of the day came when I lifted the cup at the presentation and the skipper of Norsemen shouted out “best of three?”  I think we’ll quit while were ahead.  Oh, and Tony has the cup and I have the shield.

Mark Nolan rounds the keeper, but is forced wide

Fine save from Norsemen's keeper

Matt Osborne