“It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
Cicero: antiquity’s greatest orator, the defender of the Roman Republic and seemingly the tactical mastermind of the OW’s 2014-’15 season.
Muscle was done away with as Charlie Court was introduced into a new-look, light-weight midfield; speed too was old hat as Taro Kiley continued his long-term transformation from Usain Bolt into Ricardo Fuller; physical dexterity said its farewells the moment Rupert Mercer elected to “try to use [his] left foot more”.
But it is not for naught that Cicero’s name echoes down the ages; his insight is as sharp now as it was then and have great things not indeed been achieved? 2013-‘14’s sixth placed finish was eclipsed as OW 1sts stormed into fifth position in the Arthurian League Championship, snatching with it putative qualification for any Europa-League-style competition for the mid-table sides of Europe’s old-boy second divisions. With mouth-watering midweek ties against the likes of The American International School of Zagreb to look forward to therefore, let us pause now to review the footballing odyssey that was 2014-’15.
Part 1: Slow from the blocks
“The times they are a’changin’” sang Bob Dylan, and WinColl, ever a bastion of progressive thinking, must change with them. The first game of the season, therefore saw the 1s at their new home, a veritable carpet of 3G in Whitton, TW2. Gone were to be Chatterleyesque tactics of slinging the ball over the full-back’s head with cries of “Win us something, Fred!” In its place was to be found a new, free-flowing style with more triangles than Pythagoras’ notebooks.
Such at least was the plan.
However, a chastening afternoon saw the Old Malburians run rings around an OW side who had clearly overworked themselves in pre-season. Fred ‘Emotional E-Boosh’ Hurndall grabbed the sole OW goal in a 5-1 drubbing. However, a cameo for Pete Fuller on the right of a front three presaged ill for those left-backs of the division unfamiliar with the tactic of knocking it past them and running in a straight line.
Things were to get no better for Bootstrap Bill Wykeham’s lads in their next outing against a desperately poor Haileybury side. The back four that would play together for the first part of the season – Fuller, Dawkins, Mercer, Pybus – came together for the first time but they were yet to find their feet as a unit. Two slightly fortuitous goals cancelled out fine efforts from Wapshott and Donald that should have reflected the OWs superiority and, in their desire to chalk up three points, the team left itself exposed at the back and 4-2 in arrears and with a healthy early goal difference of -6.
Part 2: Finding form
After these early travails, a trip to Bulls Drove was just the tonic the side needed and captain for the day Alex Dawkins was able to name a strong starting XI against Bradfield with Rob England coming into central midfield to add to the shaft of the team and a debut for George Herring. A contentious game saw Wykehamist dominance rewarded by two George Masefield penalties, but the match will best be remembered for both his nonchalant rolling of a third penalty straight to the keeper and Mercer’s rattling of his own crossbar from fully 40 yards. The early-season juggernaut was picking up speed…
The Reptonians were up next and the team had planned something very special for birthday boy Sam Donald: four goals conceded in the first half and an enormous hole to dig them out of. Always a grateful sort, Donaldo accepted gleefully, producing one of the great Arthurian League performances and steering the boys home to a 6-5 win that had never been in doubt. Such was Donald’s gratitude for this gift he kindly contrived an administrative error on the website that granted a goal to Mercer, who wasn’t even playing that day. What a great bloke.
Bradfield’s scars, both mental and Pybus-inflicted had barely healed from their spot-kick mauling at HQ when they had to welcome their conquerors for the return leg. Pre-match tactics were decided upon: Sam Cheetham and Alex Wheal were to from an all-action left-flank duo, with a particular focus on energy and overlaps. Cheetham however, is nothing if not a canny tactician and quickly appreciated that the opposition’s shape would render such an approach kamikaze. In an act of noble self-sacrifice, therefore, he forewent his high-energy game for the sake of the team and was the keystone of a disciplined OW performance. Excellent hold-up work from Fred Hurndall characterised the game and the Wyks were to benefit to the tune of a two-goal lead courtesy of the already prolific Masefield and a first goal from George Herring, capping a fine performance. Though Bradfield were able to snatch one back, the defence held uncharacteristically strong as the Wyks marched on.
After a morale-boosting 8-0 drubbing of Soccer XI called off on compassionate grounds after 75 minutes, the 1s faced their most challenging fixture to date after drawing Forest, then leaders of the Premiership, away in the Arthur Dunne Cup. However, the sight of vastly technically superior opponents is but a red rag to an OTH bull and the side rose to the challenge. Big Sam has taught us that ‘parking the bus’ is an outmoded concept; consequently the OWs thoroughly ‘out-tacticked’ Forest and late on, scenting blood, they pounced. A spectacular volley from Masefield and a net-busting header from Charlie Morgan, arriving late into the box, were enough to see the Wyks over the line despite conceding a late goal and a cast-iron 92nd minute penalty shout against Mercer who had so enjoyed the first 90 minutes he wanted to beat Forest all over again in extra time.
Part 3: The run ends
Five years at Winchester ended and we were all left with happy memories and an inability to communicate with women. So indeed our five straight wins had been heady-times but the gritty reality that is second-division Arthurian League football was about to bite.
The Reptoninas, visibly blanching at the sight of Donald, were guests at Bulls Drove and ran out 4-1 winners in a match that does not live long in the memory and consequently deserves only a short paragraph. Taro scored a goal.
A trip to Aldenham was next for the Wyks and an unpleasant surprise for Henry Williams. Having experimented with an innovative pre-match hydration regimen, he found himself waking up in Oxford an hour before kick-off with no memory of having left London. Model pro till the end, he hired a taxi and arrived only half an hour late to deliver a strangely lacklustre performance. His absence had meant an unexpected return to his favoured right-wing position for Pete Fuller, and Prichard’s tactical acumen was rewarded as Vernon slipped a slide-rule ball through to the marauding Collegeman, leaving him with only the ‘keeper to beat. With all the inexperience and panic of a virgin on her wedding night, the chance was wasted and Fuller quickly returned to his customary right-back berth. Goals from Fred Thomas, who had run the game with his customary composure, and Mercer sent the Wyks towards a win but it was the contribution of Tom Vernon, enjoying the Indian Summer of his last season before fatherhood, which swung the match finally in the OW’s direction. Man of the match, however, went to the Aldenham coach, whose justification of his own existence led to his side adopting both a three-at-the-back formation and zonal marking to disasterous effect.
Will Morse, Olly Pumphrey and Billy Thurston made their first appearances of the season in the next game as the dark blue army made its way to Canada Water to lock horns with the Old Westminsters. It was consequently a disjointed performance with nascent partnerships all over the pitch and the Wyks found themselves two goals down before they had had time to find their feet in the match. A typically calm response from Jack Merriott helped galvanise the effort but it was Sam Donald who took the game by the scruff of its neck, laying on goals for Wapshott and Vernon as the game ended 2-2, a disappointing result, but a comeback which showed the spirit that had characterised the first half of the season.
Part 4: Torrid times
After the Christmas break and a couple of mince pies heavier, we faced up to the next round in the cup. With our adversaries on that day being Lancing (firmly rooted at 2nd in the premiere league), it became apparent the powers that be wanted us to repeat our earlier heroics against Forest. Sadly what ensued made for some rather unsavoury viewing and wasn’t the New Year’s treat that some had dared to wish for. A humbling and comprehensive defeat against an incredibly clinical Lancing side called a rather abrupt halt to our progress in the cup.
This prompted a slump in form that only serves to illustrate the topsy turvy nature of the Arthurian League. Week in week out, we were failing to adjust to the 3G pitches that are so prevalent in the cold winter months. Despite showing promise in several games the Wyks weren’t getting the rub of the green and paying dearly for occasional lapses in concentration.
For us then to be pitted against top of the league Chigwell who were doing their best to run away with the title in impressive style meant that we would have to raise our level accordingly. The play ebbed back and forth, the Wyks the more positive of the two sides creating chances with Taro in typical fashion making a nuisance of himself up front. The defensive partnership of Dawkins and Mercer marshalling the middle and with Pybus and Fuller stifling the flanks reduced Chigs to scant opportunities. It wasn’t until their first half-chance of the game that the deadlock was broken; a lofted ball over the top pounced upon and very skilfully finished by their No.10 proving the decisive winner. It was a hard fought encounter and marked the noticeable improvement that we had been pursuing, thus ensuring that we went into the final few games with a renewed confidence.
Part 5: The Resurgence
It was against Westminster where the tide changed. The inclusion of Charlie Court added a fluidity to the midfield that had been missing helped secure a 1-1 draw and with it the first point of the New Year. Finally we had been rewarded for some encouraging performances and put stop to our slip down the league table.
With but 3 games to go, the league was so finely poised that only the top 3 teams were impervious to the dangers of relegation. Buoyed from some of the performances in recent weeks we lined up against Malvern. The rare prospect of playing on a decent grass pitch which hadn’t succumbed to the elements clearly had an impact. Within the first 3 minutes of the game, Essex surged down the right flank before fizzing the ball across goal into the path of Marsh who neatly tucked the ball away gave us the early lead. Pybus again demonstrating the more direct and physical side of his game meant that the oppo were finding it hard to breach our defence. The boundless energy of Williams down the left flank proved too much for their rotund right back to take, as Williams latched onto a probing ball before doubled our lead. It wasn’t long before Williams added to his tally with similar prowess and cemented our position. Resolute defending rounded off a strong all round team performance with only a consolation goal for Malvern denying us a perfect result.
Back to winning ways at the crucial end of the season saw the Wyks face up against Haileybury who had cruelly denied us all those months ago. This time on the 3G that we had proved so challenging in the past. With Donald back into the fold following an injury layoff our attack had an added potency and with Court providing his quick and effective link up play in the midfield, things were looking promising. Masse opened the scoring with a long range free kick which viciously moved under the keeper. Donald then went onto double the lead in the second half as the Wyks to pulled away and claimed the 3 points. Winning those two crucial games on the bounce not only showed the determination of the squad but also quashed any residing doubts about relegation, slinging us up into 4th in the league.
With the final game of the season being inconsequential to the Wyks and yet decisive for Malvernerians meant that their added desire ultimately ran out on top. Whilst not rounding off a tumultuous season with a win, the Wyks had plenty of positives to take forward. A top half of the table finish was very respectable and serves as a solid foundation to build upon. Our improvement on the 3G will be essential for seasons to come along with the arrival and impact of new talent bodes well for times ahead.