Steam Vs Detica

Detica had lost one game previous to this match and that was a comprehensive hammering from a rampant Steam Lokomotiv. They obviously have something in their locker but they were unable to show it as they started the game with 4 men.

Given this disadvantage, the game was never really a contest and Steam ran out 11-3 winners. Rob, Ben and Andy stroked the ball around nicely capitalising on our extra man. Tim was quieter than normal which was generally viewed as a good thing. Chris was man of the match and was heard to be ruing his previous suspension and the effect it had on his quest for the golden boot. Steam finished second having beaten the winners twice and top scoring with 102 goals!

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Steam Vs IT Milan

Steam arrived with a strong team to face the young pretenders with the faux Italian name. Their defending could not be less Italian and Steam were keen to make them pay. For the first time in their illustrious history, Steam took the lead directly from kick off. Mike Grey hit the ball straight in the top corner leaving the opposition to discuss if it was a legitimate goal.  Although we do not always keep to the rules, at least we know what they are!

Steam settled into a neat passing game with Ladd and Knighty dominating the midfield. Grey added a further three goals to take the game to 4-0. The Milan kids lost their composure and started making ridiculous fouls, they had a man sin binned but he really should have been sectioned! The bad tackles continued to fly in and an altercation with Chopper Adil led to two further sin bins.

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Steam Vs Register.Com

Steam entered the game with the race for the title gathering pace. Ben Dudman was between the sticks and Steam had a strong outfield line up to face the frequently volatile Irish team. Nick Warry had previously rugby tackled their centre forward.

Steam started well with Mike Grey putting them into a 2-0 lead. Adil was marshalling the back line with Andy and Chris dominating the midfield, Graham was happy to oversee the whole operation from the sidelines for the first half while Steam ran rings around the opposition. Register managed a lucky goal but brilliant distribution from Ben Dudman allowed Grey to set up Chris for a crisp finish.

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Steam Lokomotiv vs NLJ Rovers

Graham had a 50mph crash on his scooter two weeks ago. This loss was infinitely more painful.

Only last week we had just cruised to a 6-2 win over the league leaders, Detica FC, and we had already beaten last night’s opponents NLJ Rovers in the first game of the season, 8-7. We were fielding an even stronger team, we had a formation, we had publicly humiliated them on our blog (avid readers). We had high hopes with a nod to Neville Southall’s maxim “If you don’t believe you can win, there is no point in getting out of bed at the end of the day.”

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Steam Lokomotiv Vs Detica FC

Steam entered this week’s game against the league leaders with a combination of trepidation and determination. For the first time ever, a formation had been discussed and meticulously inscribed on the back of an envelope prior to the match.

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Steam entered their sixth match of the season with a close to full strength line up. The opposition looked young and eager, two qualities not usually associated with Steam! The opposition made up for their youth with commitment, it appeared that Graham and Adil had given them some tips on tough tackling as the game started at a frenetic pace.

Steam went into an early lead with Adil strolling forward to bag two neatly taken goals. Grey extended the lead by getting to a rebound and slotting home. Meanwhile, Tim Beer was the having the game of his life between the sticks – he made numerous point blank saves and started many an attack with some pinpoint distribution. Mark Woods entered the fray and was quickly in the thick of the action. He decided to ruffle the particularly poncey hair of one of the opposition and was threatened with a Glasgow kiss. Being a pacifist at heart he swiftly exited the field to allow Mr Granger to stamp his authority on proceedings.

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Steam Lokomotiv Vs Bolt Burden:

The fast half was dominated by Steam. The Bolt keeper was in remarkable form and made in excess on ten saves to keep the score to 0-0 until half-time. Tim Beer was equally impressive at the other end but won through with his ability to criticise enthusiastically, some comments could even be described as constructive. This type of low scoring game was new to Steam but a change in goalkeeper for Bolt meant a change in fortunes in the second half.

Steam started sluggishly and conceded two early second half goals. Steam kept patience and hoped the gap in class would eventually tell. Chris notched a couple of important goals to restore parity. Bolt then scored another to again take the lead. The introduction of Mark Woods changed the game, the fact that he actually ran about made space for his older less fleet footed team mates. Grey hit form with three quick fire strikes much to the delight of his girlfriend in attendance, she has now invented a Steam themed goal celebration that may or may not be adopted for future games!

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As is usually the case with these early kick-off times, getting the players at the venue on time and ready to play is a challenge in itself. But somehow we stated on time and with a full compliment, even if the two subs were nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately it was a changed side from the previous weeks 18-2 romp with Mark and Mike missing upfront and so we had to make do with a couple of untried ringers, one of which seems to be very promising.

The game itself against the Bengal Tigers was nip and tuck for the first 10 minutes until Steam got their noses in front and then went 2-0 up with some fine movement and finishing by Chris (the newbie).

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As is usually the case with these early kick-off times, getting the players at the venue on time and ready to play is a challenge in itself. But somehow we started on time and with a full compliment, even if the two subs were nowhere to be seen. Unfortunately it was a changed side from the previous weeks 18-2 romp with Mark and Mike missing upfront and so we had to make do with a couple of untried ringers, one of which seems to be very promising.

The game itself against the Bengal Tigers was nip and tuck for the first 10 mins until Steam got their noses in front and then went 2-0 up with some fine movement and finishing by Chris (the newbie). The Tigers, who were not living up to their billing on the kicking front, got a goal back before the interval with a fine finish off a deflected Rob leg into the top corner that Tim, in goal again, could only parry. So 2-1 at half time. The second half opened with a controversial penalty which ultimately cost Steam the match. The poor refereeing in the league does not seem to have changed from previous seasons and another written complaint is in the post to Soho Square! The Tigers pulled one back from the penalty spot and then proceeded to press Steam who were visibly tiring and got the winning goal from a miss hit through the goalie’s legs. The Steam players missed countless chances upfront and so the result was ultimately fair. The highlight for me though was Graham “the Juggernaut” Granger’s crunching tackle under the referee’s nose that, although legal, left the opposition player rolling around the deck like he’d been shot. Next week Bolt Burden 630pm ko.

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Buoyed by the success of beating NJF in the first game of the new season, Steam approached their next fixture high in confidence. Another new team, Latitude, were the opponents and goals were on the menu. Tim Beer, Steam’s very own utility man took his place between the sticks and Rob and Adil returned to the cage of dreams for the first time this season. Neal ‘the Pub Landlord’ Ladd made his Lambeth Conference League debut looking confused by our apparent lack of formation or tactics – he needn’t have worried!

Steam started well and raced into a 4-0 lead, Michael Grey grabbed an early hat-trick assisted by some rather amateurish goalkeeping. The goals continued to flow with Graham finding his shooting boots. His luck was clearly in, as one shot, heading well over the bar, somehow found the back of the net off an unsuspecting defenders moob. Ladd showed some silky skills and opened his account with a neat side foot finish. Mark and Adil got off the mark with some crisp finishes. Rob showed some neat touches and great vision to set up a number of first half goals; in the second half he ventured further forward and the impending nose bleed this provoked hampered his goal scoring ability. However, his arm waving ability was world class!

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