After last weeks washout, this weekend saw the 7s travel to Polytechnic to face their 7s in the AFA Junior Novets Cup. After already facing Poly twice already this season, resulting in a 3-1 loss and a 5-4 win respectively, Cars had mixed feelings before the match with a bare 11 squad. With a downpour on the way to Chiswick, there were fears of a second washout in successive weeks, but after an hour's delay, lots of sweeping and finally a change of pitch the ref decided to let the match go ahead despite a mini swimming pool in the centre circle.

Cars started the match slightly the better team and the early pressure told when a mazy run by Rick Morris cutting in from the by-line lead to the goal keeper rushing out to clatter into him resulting in a stone wall penalty. Up stepped skipper Ricky to calmly slot the ball in a left corner, sending the keeping the wrong way. The penalty spurred on Cars and with Steve Hayes starting the game in his preferred centre midfield role for the first time, he won the ball in the middle of the park and proceeded to take the ball down the right wing, past 2 or 3 Poly players before cutting in down the byline to smash the ball home from an acute angle to make the score 2-0. Cars were now feeling confident and with Poly's defence playing a high line, left space for Rick to latch onto a through ball and slide the ball past the rushing keeper for his second of the day.

Although 3-0 up at half time Cars started the second half playing like they were 3-0 down, but soon enough Cars settled down and played some majestic football. Adam Lemon, who looked lively as always came back into his own half to win a ball and then release a cheeky little back heel to Jim who spotted Matt Boyman in space along the left wing, with one touch to control the ball Boyman then hit a sublime 35 yard ball from midway into the opponents half to the back post where Rick dived like a salmon to head in a technically wonderful goal to grab his hat trick. Two minutes later another great cross from the left was again met by Rick which sailed into the top corner to be what seemed as Rick's 4th of the game but after a long 2 minutes of deciding, the ref judged Rick to somehow be offside. At 4-0 down Poly looked out of it but with one of only a few chances on goal, a hard low shot from outside the box was brilliantly saved by keeper Mark Brown from the bottom corner, reminding the Cars boys to keep on their toes. With Carshalton playing some of the best football this season a low cross from the ever present Rick was anticipated by Lemo who got the touch to take it past the outstretching keeper and tap the ball into an empty net.

Being 5 goals up away from home against Carshalton's league rivals was leading to be what seemed a perfect day for Cars but then horror stuck with 10 minutes to go as battling Rick Morris bravely went for a 50/50 ball in the box but come out the worst against Poly's keeper and had to be carried off. Ricky's words of 'I heard something snap' were later confirmed when a trip up the hospital the next day (after a night out boozing) showed that he had actually fractured his knee and is out for the season, with doubts if he will ever play again. With Jay Breen missing the match with a broken toe, and the news of Rick's injury Carshalton will surely miss two of their finest players over the coming weeks. 

With no subs, Cars carried on the match with 10 men and were caught out with 5 minutes to go as a Poly free kick out wide was headed clear, only as far as an unmarked Poly player whose shot took a wild deflection of an unlucky Carshalton defender. Mark, who had a faultless match could do nothing but watch as the ball looped into the net. This didn't change proceedings though, as with seconds to go, Mark Brown launched a rocket of a kick deep into the opponents half which forced Poly's erratic keeper to rush yards out of his area only to chest the ball to Lemo who then did the honors of slotting the ball calmly into the empty net with his left boot. 6-1.

A great performance from all the boys who worked hard all over the pitch, especially Boyman, Hayes and keeper Mark but MOM had to go to Ricky Morris who scored 3 (should have been 4), set up another and with his bravery gets dealt the unlucky blow of being out for the season. Get well soon Rick, all the boys wish you well. Cars will miss your goals, battling and will now be looking for someone else to pick on, on a Saturday afternoon.

Tony Barrett