Match Review: Aioli Monkeys FC vs Hotspurs FC

• GK Fraser Tyler
• DF Andrew Storan
• DF Samuel Derek Christian
• DF Alex Stathopoulos
• ST Mark Addy
• ST Eric Clermont
• -- Thibault Torregrosa
• -- Benjamin Darde
• -- Darren Naughton
• -- Martin Eusebi
• -- Silvan Lehner

• ST Peter Besselink
• -- Ruben Angel Rodriguez

Ecstacy to agony

A tough lesson for APM as Hotspurs taught us a lesson in grinding out a win. A tough first half with lots of possession for us but hotspurs looking good on the break with flick ons and deep runners. We had the ball but didn't create too much and BH went ahead on 25 mins after a poorly defended corner. Nice back post finish from one of many hotspurs players who are good in the air. At HT we were confident we would turn it around, we expected a few chances to come as BH tired. Within 15 mins we were 3-1 up when darren won us pen in off the left wing and eric buried it. That was followed by some great football from silvan that put addy one on one and he glided in to finish with the left foot to give us the lead. within 5 minutes a top class volley from Thibault had us clear and we thought in control. BH to their credit upped their game and didn't drop their heads and turned it around in the following 15 minutes with 3 quality headers , one from a cross one from a long throw and one from a corner. We can't afford to give away goals like that but the finishes were flawless from Ali and deliveries just as good. Saturday night ruined. Well done BH, MOM ali Next up the swiss

• Martyn U'ren GK
• Tom Hine DF
• Charlie Moss DF
• Igor Stojanac DF
• Aaron Jones DF
• Ali Roseburgh MD
• Lionel Kong MD
• Nick Kouvaritakis ST
• Martin Lawrence --
• Guy Turton --
• Matt Young --

• Fu Cheng Wei --
• Joe Quinn --
• Adam McCarthy --

Aioli suffer dip as Ali lands knockout blow

Expectations have been rising over at Hotspurs HQ in recent weeks, and with two big wins already in 2017 the squad were in high spirits going into this Saturday's game against Aioli Purple Monkeys United Football Club (what a mouthful- we'll go with APM for now). The previous meeting between the two sides back in September had, quite frankly, been a ravaging by APM, and Hotspurs were keen to avoid a repeat. Guy's wise introduction of throw-in practice to the warm-up (an interesting decision given that Lionel takes 95% of our throw-ins anyway) was the clear catalyst for a strong first-half performance by Hotspurs. Solid and well-organised all over the park, they dealt well with APM's sharp passing game, and were able to fashion a couple of decent half-chances of their own in the process. The first goal could have come at either end, but it was BHFC who broke the deadlock through the unlikely source of Hine (surely he can't have scored again?)- a typically accurate Lawro corner met at the back post with some part of the full-back's anatomy, and finding its way into the net. It was 1-0 at half time, and spirits were predictably high in the Hotspurs camp- shouts of "more of the same lads!" ringing in the ears as the players stepped back out onto the park. More of the same would have been nice...unfortunately though APM had other ideas, and their slightly adjusted formation proceeded to tear Hotspurs apart for the next 15 minutes, with 3 goals in quick succession. The less said about the first the better, but let's just say that Charlie probably secured himself some free beers at APM's BBQ that evening. The second came after some smart work from Mark Addy, but the pick of the three was Thibault's long-range thunderbolt- leaving Martyn with no chance between the sticks. In days gone by, fans might have been fully expecting a capitulation and a 7-1 Hotspurs defeat at this stage...but not this time. Step up Super Ali Roseburgh (and his head) to score what many have since been calling the new type of "perfect" hat-trick. The first was created by the ever-dangerous Lionel Kong, whose pinpoint cross (after some persistent work down the right) found Roseburgh unmarked to head home and reduce the deficit to one goal. And it was Lionel again on the scene for the equaliser, putting that throw-in warm-up to good use and finding the head of Macca whose flick-on was met smartly by Ali to finish (with his head) at close range. 3-3. The hat-trick was complete 15 minutes from time- Lawro back in on the action, whipping in a near-post corner for the talismanic striker (actually playing centre-mid by this point) to power home. APM pressed hard for the equaliser in the closing stages, but Hotspurs held strong to claim a memorable 4-3 victory. Too many good performances to highlight them all. Ali undoubtedly stole the show, but the effort and work-rate was exceptional all round. A rest next weekend and then onto the Plate quarter-final against the Germans on 25th February. Off-pitch congratulations must go to Tommy Greene- the gaffer just announced that he's expecting a baby girl in a few months, so we'll forgive him missing the odd game! Excellent work! The Week In Numbers: 3- The number of Purple Monkeys still looking for the ball after Fu-aldinho's merciless stepovers 34- The number of goals scored and conceded by both Hotspurs and Purple Monkeys this season #spooky 3- The number of Hotspurs now in the top 6 of the assist charts (Lionel 9, Lawro 9, Nick K 6) #dominoherewecome 5- The average time the Hotspurs centre-backs got to bed on Saturday morning #athletes 4- The number of goals in a row Ali Roseburgh has now scored with his head #thegingercrouch 18- The number of times the word "head" was used in this week's match report