North London Crickets vs Dazed & Confused, MAL league Divisional Cup Final (16/5/04, Held at Ryman’s League club ‘Kingsbury Town’)

NLCFC from right to left after keeper (4-4-2)

1.        Richard Hall

2.        Juan-Carlos Torres Navva

3.        Patrick Mills

4.        Cas Nicholson

5.        Salman Ali

6.        Luke Buffery/Guy Nicholson (70 mins)

7.        Andy Hale

8.        Mark Burns

9.        Jon Robinson

10.     Ben Wakeford

11.     Billy Ward

NLCFC 1, Dazed & Confused 2

NLCFC played their last fixture of a fine first season, (which saw them promoted to Division 1 of the MAL league), at Rymans league club Kingsbury town. Having knocked out arch rivals ‘The Dukes Head’ in a highly charged semi-final, the Crickets had earned this day out in the sun. 25 degree heat and a disappointingly dry pitch meant that this game was played in a rather slow and surreal atmosphere. This wasn’t helped by the fact that the league had rather surprisingly opted to give the refereeing duties to the Dukes’ home ref whose impartiality has to be under question. Nevertheless the final score-line (2-1 win for Dazed) was probably a fair reflection on the ability of the sides on the day.

Crickets started brightly enough with some fine work up the left between Salman Ali, Jon Robinson and Billy Ward. No real chances emerged though, apart from a weak header from Wakeford when time was available to bring the ball down.

At the other end the Crickets’ defence was snuffing out some useful attacking play from Dazed. Patrick Mills and Cas Nicholson winning the vast majority of the headers and tackles. It took a corner to break the deadlock. A floated delivery to the edge of the area was headed into space and, despite a desperate attempt to close down from the tireless Burns, the ball looped into the top corner from a slightly mishit shot.

A period of stalemate followed with most of the play being scrapped for in midfield. Hale and Burns ran around like a couple of very hot wild dogs, while Buffery and Robinson provided relief on the wings. Nevertheless a game of few chances produced almost none during this period.

Just before halftime Ward and Robinson combined to win a corner. Robinson played in the corner with such quality that it eluded Dazed’s Keeper and his otherwise excellent centre-backs. Wakeford having started his run very deep was not picked up and his downward header found the net from 6 yards with some force.

The second half was again dominated by midfield and defensive play as the dry cracked pitch often contributed to the breakdown of promising moves. After conceding a silly penalty and again relying on the catlike reflexes of Hall in goal, the Crickets seemed to be getting a grip on the game with a succession of corners won by Robinson and Buffery’s wingplay and hard drives from Wakeford and Mills well closed down by the oppositions defence.

Against the run of play Dazed managed to beak the deadlock when their captain, (from a suspiciously offside position), latched onto a long ball and finished with aplomb.

The dry, hard conditions and a hard season now took its toll on ageing Crickets’ legs and an equaliser seemed unlikely. Player/Manager Guy Nicholson reacted by bringing himself on from the bench and immediately he had two excellent long-range efforts saved. Too little too late though; the equaliser was not forthcoming.

Despite a rather weak finish to the season we must all be rightly proud of our first season in the green gold and black (better kit next year hopefully!). Have a fine summer those of you who don’t play cricket and remember that your football membership entitles you to take advantage of the fine setting and cheap beer provided every Saturday by North London Cricket Club. You might even see some decent Cricket. Cheers Ben