Millar nods in as Point-to-Point go Double Dutch in front of goal

AFC Brighton & Hove Res  0   v  1  Point-to-Point   (0-1)

Line-up: Tom; Sam, Ryan, Paul G, Dave; Chris S; Rich (Paddy), Joe Miller, Mike L, Chris P (Matt); Tom (Nick M)

MOM: Joe Millar




Dave Scurr, 25th September 2011, Neville Playing Fields

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Point won an entertaining match 1-0 in the sun-swept Neville playing fields, a ground more known for its summer cricket than Sunday football. After the travails of the cup, it certainly felt like a summer holiday outing back in the domestic league, and had it not been for Point’s overwhelming carelessness in front of goal, it should have ended 170 for 0.

Matt Weston set the precedent in the changing room by stating he was putting out the best Point side in a few moons welcoming back Captain ‘Robocop’ Searle, the Layzell and Destructo in the starting 11. Rumours are that an experimental formation was mentioned in the team talk but the accent on the pitch was Dutch; not Martin Jol’s, nor Steve Mclaren’s mind you, but ‘oh how uw say’, total football denk ik… After a team photo in which a member of the team demonstrated Point’s rare ability to hit the ball on (Sam’s) target from 6 yards, total domination began.

Back in what could have seemed like the Valenciano sun, man-of-the-match Joe Millar set the tone as he pirouetted in the centre circle like a suave Dutch figure skater to leave his opponents chasing shadows. Assisted by the midfield pair of Mike Layzell and Searle holding the fort, Point dictated play and settled in the Brighton and Hove camp. Philips resumed his on-pitch love affair with Dave on the right wing, rested in mid-week to indulge in some Belgian steroids also known as ‘mussels from Brussels’. His leg muscles let him down however when he squandered an Enzo Scifo-esque run down the right via a bit of tiki-taka with Philips, to shoot wide clear on goal. Millar followed suit one-on-one with the keeper to hit the post, with Rich coming close on the rebound. After relentless pressure all over the pitch, Point scored from a corner through Millar heading in from close range. More should have followed; Philips missed a penalty and Rich, Joe and Tom missed a couple of good chances. At the back, Ryan and Destructo were rarely troubled by the sight of the opposition’s number 17 whose trademark trick was to cough out his lungs on the pitch and remind them that there was no need to mark him. There wasn’t – like his lungs, he was shit.

After half-time, Point resumed where they left off with some attractive approach play, epitomised by some quick passing and plenty of movement going forward. It was now Sam’s turn to enjoy some attention on the left linking up well with Mike Layzell whose through balls kept piercing through the opponent’s static defence. Tom came off to be replaced by the Nick Mercer Show, who came on full of verve and agitation, traits which unfortunately complicate things for him in front of goal;  the club doctors confirm that the team’s collection of first half misses traumatised him to the extent that he now gets split-second spasms every time he runs clear on goal and attempts to make contact with the ball. A worrying injury for the Point forward…or is it a condition? Searle capped a fun morning out by hitting the bar after some good work from Matt, then getting sent off for dissent. Point confounded themselves and the spectators by holding on to a mere 1-0 win.

Point-to-Point Blunted in the Cup

Knowles 2 - 1 Point-to-Point (2-0)

Line-Up: Tom B; Sam, Ryan, Dave, Mike Warren; Matt Weston-Super-Mare, Chris P, Nick M, Joe; Tom M, Nick B

MOM: Chris Phillips

Joe Millar, 18th September 2011, Worthing

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Another below par performance from the Preston Parkers on Sunday saw them exit a second cup competition in as many weeks. After a convincing 1-0 victory over the very same opposition in their first league game of the season, confidence was high coming into the contest. Player-Manager Matt Weston had a strong group to choose from and decided to change up the usual 4-5-1 formation, prefering a more orthodox 4-4-2 approach. After a superb warm-up from the unlucky to miss out on a starting spot Rich Clayton, the boys went out to do battle.

The dull grey clouds that loomed ominously over Northbrook Park at the beginning of the game unfortunately had a lasting effect on the style and standard of football on display. Neither side were able to control early posession and take advantage, which forced the contest into a bit of a scrap, with Point comfortably holding their own. As the first half went on, it was Point to Point who looked to be getting the better of things, with the midfield trying to get the starved pairing of Nick Blake and Tom Mac into the game, but just when the players seemed to be settling down and finding their passes they conceded a relatively soft headed goal from a hopeful cross. Within ten minutes the story was repeated, with another header finding its way past the otherwise comfortable Tom Bradford in goal. The away teams heads were visibly down going into the break.

The Half-Time oranges came in the form of four half empty yellow squeezy bottles of West Sussex finest tap water. But unlike the aformentioned water bottles, the attitude and philosophy of the boys was suprisingly more half full. It was clear that they were the better side, regardless of the current scoreline and so the decision was made to revert back to the more familiar 4-5-1 and start again.

What a difference fifteen minutes can make. The away team came out fired up and immediately put pressure on the relaxed Knowles players and forced them back into their own half. A good passage of play from the boys in Red, White and Blue ended with a subtle through ball from Man of the Match Chris Phillips into the path of the marauding Tom McCarron, who sadly bottled it infront of the onrushing Knowles goalkeeper (only joking, he just wasn’t fast enough or alert enough to get his shot in!).

The momentum had clearly shifted. Joe Millar, fresh from a mid-season break to Valencia, tried to force the issue with a blisterning shot from fully 30 yards (may have been less). The sun-kissed midfielder waltzed delicately into a shooting position before letting off a rifle blast which whipped over the floundering keeper only to crash off the Knowles crossbar. (Is this biased?!) Eventually Point were able to make a mark on the scoresheet when that same combination of Phillips and McCarron combined to score. Phillips with the cross, Tom with the bullet header. Thoroughly deserved.

The defensive performance was solid and comfortable throughout the second half, Ryan and Sam communicated well in the centre and dominated the Knowles attack. Point continued to apply pressure in the right areas, unfortunatley without any further success. Nick Blake played well before being replaced by Rich, who along with Paddy tried to inject some fresh ideas into the team after coming on. The continued pressure could have seen the away team score three or four in the second half, but in the end it just wasn’t meant to be.

Lessons can certainly be learnt from the first half display, but take heart faithful readers, the perfomance was eventually a solid one. Now the team can concentrate on the more important matter of the league competition.

Point-to-Point Outclassed by Cup Holders

Point-to-Point  0  v Hillbarn Athletic  3    (0-1) 

Line-up: Tom B; Paul Barrett, Sam, Ryan (Mike Warren), Dave; Chris Searle, Matt; Paddy, Nick Blake, Chris Philips; Tom M

MOM: Dave

Dave Scurr, 11th September 2011, Waterhall

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Point-to-Point produced a spirited display in the first round of the cup, but were outplayed and convincingly beaten amid a wind-swept Waterhall Park. Faced against the holders of the County Cup, a depleted home team had to deal with Sussex’s own hurricane ‘Hillbarn’, taking the shape of an opposition too good to be coined mere ‘Sunday League’ – the movement, passing and speed of this team would have battered most pub outfits and for at least 45 minutes, Point-to-Point competed commendably and bowed out of this bruising battle with heads held high. 

With the gale-force wind behind them, the home team started in a 4-2-3-1 formation full of energy and confidence. The away side struggled to settle down as Point pressured high up on the pitch, preventing them from displaying their tidy passing formula which would subsequently become the difference between the two sides. Dave and Chris Philips attempted to exploit a rare weakness in Hillbarn Athletic on the right-hand channel with some timely interceptions and runs down the flank which unfortunately lead to no more than a handful of quarter-chances, throw ins and corners. In these blustery conditions, Point struggled to capitalise on this good start, failing to get bodies out on the counter attack and not making the most of set pieces and corners – in hindsight, what would become their best chance to threaten the opposite goalmouth.  

Having weathered a rocky start, the away team soon settled down in Point’s half and gradually moved up a gear – despite winning comfortably the aerial battle, they resorted to playing the ball from the back, oozing movement and neat passing. Point defended valiantly from front to back, but lacked the composure and at times confidence to try to keep hold of the ball and emulate the opposition, instead opting to blast long balls into the windy channel, straight back to the opposite keeper. The resulting effect was reminiscent of a lonely game of ping-pong, the ball relentlessly coming back to Point’s back four and anchors who felt increasingly under pressure…and tired. Credit went to the centre-halves Ryan and Sam for keeping a tight, solid line but with one minute to go in the first half, the away team found their opening via a quick passing move which pierced through Point’s midfield and defence – this move would set the precedent for the rest of the game and result in a bitter blow for the home side. 

With the wind dropping a touch, Hurricane ‘Hillbarn’ went into full-flow, passing the ball laterally, moving into space and building play patiently at the expense of the home team’s tiring legs who were soon left chasing shadows. The second goal became the knock-out blow; without the ball, Point could not possibly see a way back into the game. With the long ball option cancelled out by the wind (and Hillbarn’s centre-midfielders), Point had run out of steam and ideas. There was no evacuation from this sort of storm – damage limitation seemed the only thing left to play for the team in red and white stripes (new kit you see). A third goal exposed emerging gaps at the back and Tom kept the outcome respectable with an excellent save from the penalty spot. 

Some sporadic passing play by the home team, galvanised late on by the battling display of debutant Nick Blake in midfield, forced the away team to drop back into their own half as Paddy saw more of the ball, and linked well with Tom up front.  With some fresh legs coming on courtesy of Mike at left-back, Point managed to contain the opposition until the final whistle. It ended 0-3, with Hillbarn Athletic confirming their status of county cup holders, and Point making up in battling spirit what they lacked in possession football.