Old Parmiterians 1 Old Meadonians 0

---

Football Result: Old Parmiterians 1 Old Meadonians 0

Meads lament depleted midfield resources

Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup 4th Round

Another week, another cup exit, albeit on a marginal score but nonetheless signified some basic ingredient missing arguably in their midfield engine room which has considerably diminished the fire power they had been able to bring to bear in the lead up to the Christmas break.

Mead's midfield has sorely missed the elastic mobility of Andy Thompson whose groin problem, hopefully now mended by the surgeon’s scalpel, will keep him off the field for the whole season. The same applies to the muscular Will Gerrish now with a new hip but still hors de combat and since both like to score  they are natural supporters of the front runners and were missed on Saturday when, to compound matters further, neither of the Swann twins were available.

With the elements behind them in the first half Parms threw everything at their visitors but did not get a shot on goal as Meads defended magnificently. Meads, on the other hand, were unlucky not to be one up at the turn after Matt Tully had a shot saved and Craig Jones twice shaved the post.

Meads took the opening fifteen minutes of the second half and were again unlucky not to profit as Ed Glover robbed his marker and crossed to where Tully should have done better than fire past.

Mead's first half efforts had obviously left them with the tank half full as, although the hosts had to be contented with breaks away,  they only made one more viable opening when this time Craig Jones chose to skim the bar.

With ten minutes to go Parms administered the coup de grace: In one of their few forays deep into enemy territory a silly free-kick was donated thirty yards out and when it was only half cleared sod’s law saw a scuffed volley from the edge of the area dribble into the corner of  the net.   

Team: Robinson, Shea, McCombe, Pointer, Mantel, Palmer, Eguae, Costello, N. Jones, Tully, Glover, (Netto), C. Jones.

January 11, 2012