WINTER IS COMING

This week saw the 3s venture north of the river to take on the Wildlings from the North in the AFA Junior Cup.

With their usual keeper, Andy Watson, away and Tom 'You have to watch the game ref' Belger suspended, the 3s turned to their leader Billy Crow to don the gloves this week, 'Keeper in the North, Keeper in the North' rang out the cry as the Mighty Boro 3s marched under the Wandsworth flags and banners.

As punishment for his sin bin and suspension, Belger was sent to the North where he was to take up the role of kit man and goalkeeper coach for the 3s. Whilst warming up Crow in goal, he attempted a volley, only to rip a giant hole in his trousers... Oh Belge!

The battlefield had held up well after the heavy rain from earlier in the week, apart from the big divot that was the centre spot, it was a good pitch. Skipper Crow stepped up for the coin toss, 'Heads!' he exclaimed loudly, trying to instil fear into his enemies early on. With a flash of silver, this initial confidence turned to despair as the coin landed on tails, 'You know nothing Billy Crow' roared the opposition captain! Trying not to let his troops morale drop, Crow bounded back to them with optimism and relayed some last-minute battle tactics, they were to set up a siege, protecting their skipper in his fortress that made up their goal area, and catch the opposition on the counter.

The first 10 mins dragged on, with much of the battle contested in the middle of the park, 3s' new signing Masa and stalwart Lee Grant keeping the opposition's chances to a minimum, with Ben Charles-Hill and Tom Andrews catching anything that made it through. Finally, a crack appeared in the Latymer defence, Tom Rebeschini had worked the ball nicely down the right flank, before squaring to Masa on the edge of the box. He managed to work his way into the box and tried to get a shot away, it was blocked but it found its way through to Archie Small who turned and rolled the ball home past the oppo keeper. 1-0 to the Boro!

The 3s' full-backs of Tom Pytlos and Joey Cozens-Smith cut out any threat that Latymer tried to create out wide, together with Tom and Ben, they kept the pressure off their inexperienced keeper. Both Tom and Ben fancied their chances further up the field and advanced on the oppo with marauding runs, thankfully Harold Ejele was on hand to fill in for them and cover defensively. Boro saw out the remainder of the half with little to note.

The keeper in the North, Crow and Tom'-men Baratheon' Andrews gave a rallying half time team talk, this was to be the defining moment of their battle. With newfound aggression, their army took back to the battlefield. Their attack was hungry, with every move they looked like scoring. The next moment brought the entire field to a standstill, with no one quite sure what had happened. Masa passed the ball to Lee Grant in the middle of the park about 30 yards from the opposition goal. He took a touch on to his left foot. Then whipped a delicious left footed shot right into the top corner! 2-0 to the Boro, jubilation among the ranks, their hard work finally repaid. With an uncharacteristic killer instinct, the Boro 3s struck again soon after. Jamie 'The Tiffinians Slayer' Rowson had worked the ball well out wide, he moved it back inside to Vicente Borreguero who squared to Masa. Masa played a through ball to Tom Rebeschini who had made a great run round the back of the defence, Tom took a touch to get his balance before smashing the ball past the helpless goalkeeper! 3-0! Surely that was the victory!

Credit to Latymer, with maybe 20 minutes to go chasing a 3-0 lead, they never let their spirits drop. Having had a relatively quiet first half, Crow was suddenly called into action in the later stages of the second. The Latymer attacker took a hopeful shot from the edge of the box, Crow steadied himself, ready to make a routine save... the ball then took a deflection of a Boro defender and fell right into the path of the Latymer striker, who tapped it casually into the now empty net. 3-1, game on?

Crow, eager to make up for conceding his clean sheet depriving goal, came out well to claim a long ball, unfortunately for Tom Andrews, he hadn't made his defense aware he was coming, Crow caught the ball, but also crushed Andrews' hands between the pair as they competed for the same ball! Ouch!

Crow thought about coming out to claim another loose ball, but quickly changed his mind as he remembered he wasn't as fast as he once was. He got caught in no man's land and the Latymer midfielder saw his chance for the lob... Scrambling back, Crow managed to get a hand (a finger?) to it and tipped it just past his post. Latymer were quickly taking the momentum in this battle.

Moments later, they were in again, a through ball to their attacker saw a one-on-one chance present itself, Crow, remembering the advice given to him by Belger, came rushing out and 'made himself big', the ball smacked him straight in the gut, and was swiftly punted clear.

The Boro saw out the remainder of the match to hold on for the win! Triumphant North of the river!