• Fixtures This Week
• Latest Results
• Match Archive
• Our Teams
• Local Weather Forecast
• London Underground Status Check

Saturday 16th November

Return to winning ways

Despite the reserves' cup runs being short lived this season, their league campaign saw them as one of only two teams left unbeaten, the others being their opponents this weekend. Something that trickled over from the recent cup performances however was starting, with Minchendenians taking the lead inside the first minute. The response was emphatic. Zach Harry burst into the box on fives minutes, only to be dragged back to win a penalty. Harry dusted himself off to convert the penalty and restore parity. Old Parmiterians began to control proceedings and create chances, as Josep Mari and Harry both shot over, and Sami Bekir was only stopped by a last ditch tackle. The pressure soon told, as the superb Jake King found Harry on the left side of the penalty area. The latter's first touch set himself wonderfully, with the left foot finish that followed thumping into the top corner. The hosts still looked dangerous, with a couple of presentable chances being passed up quite wastefully, reminding Old Parmiterians that the result was far from certain. The second half saw the game continue in the same vein, with King and Adem Bekir exerting real control on the game in the middle, while Harry looked consistently like providing more telling contributions, and so it proved. With almost an hour gone and the game finely poised, the same combination from the first half repeated the act, with King's well weighted through ball allowing Harry to beat the keeper at his near post, this time down low. The celebrations were those of a team oozing the self-belief that they were now in complete control. Charlie Heath would have got in on the act with a rasping drive if it were not for a fantastic reaction save from the keeper. Steve Kannedy-Clarke then showed what he is capable of at the other end. making two excellent stops, with one save at the far post after a cross particularly impressive. It was also important in the context of the game, to ensure the pendulum did not swing back in the hosts' favour. King then provided the moment that put the game beyond doubt. Mari was the provider this time, releasing King beyond the Minchendenians defence and in on goal, King then sat the keeper down before rounding him and passing into the empty net. If this was a statement win, the goal to ensure the points was somewhat of a statement one too. The final fifteen minutes saw the hosts desperately try to claw themselves back into contention, only to find a resolute Parmiterians back line in their way. Their star man did hit the post with a superb effect that left Kennedy-Clarke rooted to the spot, but some fortune felt justified for the visitors, such was their dominance in general. After five weeks on the road the reserves return home next week to play third placed Enfield, in another game where they must prove that they are genuine title contenders. If they can repeat a performance like this one, they stand a good chance.