Welcome back to EBOG FC's weekly footballing review.

Who said the cold winter was over? Light snow overnight and a max temperature of 2C was enough to keep ice on rock hard ground in the shaded areas of the top & middle pitches at Alan Drive. Bethune Park was similarly affected by trees blocking the sun. As a result only the bottom pitch was playable.

On the day it all depended on the rate of thaw, which was very slow. Nick Finney had to do the pitch inspections himself leaving it as late as possible but not too late so that people had set off on their journey to the Club. This is a lose:lose decision guaranteed to make you about as popular as John Terry is with Wayne Bridge. Nick had to make a special journey from Enfield to the Club around 11am and then over to Bethune Park.

Those who complain about a wasted journey should bear in mind the effort put in by Julian and Nick on days like this. Judging a pitch’s condition 3 hours ahead of kick off is not an exact science and it is worse to leave a match on, only to have the ref call it off when everyone has arrived. He managed to leave it as long as possible to give the thaw a chance but also called it off in time to stop Old Salesians and Suttonians starting the long journey north. Apologies are due to Rob Hodgson, however, who travelled up all the way from South London for the 6th‘s game. No apologies are due to Winchmore Hill who phoned up Nick to have a go about Bethune being called off.

Whilst playable, the bottom pitch was hard and bumpy and, with the emphasis on closing down quickly, it was difficult for either side to produce any flowing moves. EBOG had the better of the first half and went into a deserved lead only to let Ignations back into the game with a soft goal. They then reasserted themselves in the second half and at 3-1 should have cruised effortlessly into the quarter-finals.

Instead, in a nightmare 15 minutes, they conceded 3 more poor goals and slumped out of the Cup. Was it a lack of fitness that prompted the return of their defensive frailties? EBOG remain equal to the best going forward but have to find a way to lock it up at the back to succeed in the important matter of getting back into Div 1.

The result of the day came from the 3rds who had to beat a strong Actonians’ side currently sitting 2nd in Div 1 having lost only once all season. To go to their backyard and take them out in a Semi-final is a superb performance, and caps what has been an excellent season for Lee’s men. I believe they are EBOG’s first finalists in an SAL Cup. They meet the winners of Old Esthameians and Nottsborough - likely to be the latter who have won every game they’ve played this season! If the 3rds are to win this Cup it will certainly be the hard way!!

The 5ths apparently was a story of missed chances in a game they never led. However, like the 1st team, you are not going to win many games if you let in 4 goals!

Good news for the Ladies is that Vicki Gomez is starting a comeback after a gap of 3 years.

For more information about our club, please visit our website www.ebog.co.uk