Slaughter in the sun - what a difference nine days (and a new striker) can make!

Stewart Beck was the star of the show, taking his tally to ten in three games with no less than SIX of the goals in a performance which defied logic.

With Dean Higgins, Gary Fulker, and Andy Piller suspended and Lee Kelly injured, who would have put money on this result?

The opposition wasn't great - but the Common performance was.

Sean Wren opened the scoring after twelve minutes, but the real damage was done in a devastating eight minute spell midway through the half, when Beck scored a hat trick (in just SIX minutes), and Simon Stillwell put Common 5-0 up after just half an hour.

A Beck penalty made it 6-0 on 41 minutes, and Simon Everett put the icing on the first half cake with a 20 yard half volley in off the bar to celebrate his 50th appearance for the first team.

That man Beck struck twice more in the second half as the visitors simply eased through the match.

Lots of good things apart from the six goal man - crisp passing and build up - another immaculate defensive display from Stuart Curtis - good performances from four reserves on display (Steve Hercock, Tom Munday, Liam Gilbert and Paul Brown, all capable of "the step up" on this display) - and Sean Wren dominant in midfield.

Three wins out of three too - keep it up boys! Consistency will make you table toppers!

MATCH REPORTS.

BOB'S BRIEFING.... (Ian in Bob’s absence)

Sydenhams League Division 2 (Wed 23/08)

MOVING THROUGH THE GEARS

COLDEN COMMON 3, CLANFIELD 0

New signing Stewart Beck provided an inspirational Debut performance to lift his new colleagues and provide the impetus which earned an ultimately comfortable 3-0 victory.

Stewart made his mark early by opening the scoring (converting Craig Martin’s cross) after just seven minutes. If that was a precise finish, his second – ten minutes after the break - was a gem as he tied the Clanfield defence in knots before picking his spot and finding it, effortlessly. A significant debut which, hopefully, will not prove a hard act to follow.

As the game progressed, although Clanfield retained more than an element of threat, Common exerted more and more control and produced some excellent football to feet – orchestrated primarily by skipper Gary Fulker.

We certainly did not have things all our own way and Dave Nicol in goal had to produce some tremendous saves ~ one a marvellous one-handed effort to his left which denied a point blank chance.

Dean Higgins, back after missing two games through injury, was keen to make up for lost time and showed some mercurial touches ~ on song, he is so important to us ~ whilst also finding the net.

Once again Stuart Curtis was outstanding in a relatively solid defensive display which produced our first ‘clean sheet of the campaign.

The only sour note came when Lee Kelly had to be taken off with injury concerns.

Ultimately an all-round good display which will hopefully serve to lay the ghost of our ‘early season form’!!

SYDENHAMS LEAGUE DIVISION 2 (26/08)

BECK BAGS BRACE

COLDEN COMMON 4, WHITCHURCH UNITED 2

Not content with netting two on his debut Stewart Beck repeated the feat in his second game against a dangerous Whitchurch United on Saturday.

Manager Nigel Light was forced into four changes from last Wednesday evenings side with Lee Kelly injured, and James Atterbury, Skipper Gary Fulker and Sean Lahey all unavailable to be replaced by Steve Hercock, Andy Piller, Simon Everett and Sean Wren who moved up from the bench.

Both sides took time to get into their stride but Common broke the deadlock when Simon Stillwell volleyed home from 14 yards after good work between Dean Higgins and Craig Martin.

To their credit Whitchurch came straight back into the game and equalized, taking advantage of a rare Dave Nicol handling error.

Dean Hioggins dummy saw Stewart Beck address the ball ‘To, the back of the net’ and that’s where it went, a thunderbolt which crashed in off the ‘wood’work. 2-1 half time.

After the break Whitchurch were livelier and causing an uncertain home defence some anxiety. As a result another quick raid found Common sitting too deep and the visiting striker lobbed the ball over an on-rushing Nicol, 2-2.

Common now settled and were retaining their composure while Whitchurch, egged on from the sidelines by ‘the injustice of it all…’ were losing theirs. Never a quiet side the visitors did seem to spend an awful lot of energy whining and maybe they were left short of wind as Common compiled a breathtaking move which saw the ball worked down the right hand side, one-touch, and across to Dean Higgins who crashed the home sides third goal.

In the ascendancy Common sealed matters when Stewart Beck gained further reward for his tireless running by netting the fourth.

Throughout the side there were notable performances with Simon Everett, Steve Hercock, skipper for the day Jim Hart and Sean Wren impressing as well as the goalscorers.

SEAN WREN	SIMON STILLWELL

THE BOYS ARE BACK!!

SYDENHAMS LEAGUE COMBINATION DIVISION 2 Friday 25th August

REMAINING EXTREMELY UPBEAT

Fawley Res 4-1 Colden Common Res

On Friday August 25 Common Reserve’s clash at Fawley failed to provide a first win for Paul Gilbert and his side. However, despite the result ~ a 1-4 reverse ~ Paul was delighted with his sides overall display. He says we dominated much of the possession, especially in the second period, but suffered from a couple of breakaways which gave an extremely flattering scoreline in favour of the hosts.

TOM MUNDAY netted our goal (at 0-3) which should have been more than just a consolation strike.

With the number of new faces and youngsters in the squad we understand that things will take time to ‘gel’ but our two performances of late – the second half at Fleet Spurs and last night’s foray – show that Paul and the squad are a lot closer to

‘turning the corner’ than, perhaps, we expected.

Over the coming three weeks we face three (out of four) ‘massive’ games against sides who are expected to be challenging for the title – Hayling United Res and Fleetlands Res, a newcomer to our division – AFC Aldermaston Res – and, in the league cup, a side that clobbered us good and proper last term (Andover New Street Res)… so we should have revenge in mind!

Sydenhams League Div 2 Sat 19th Aug Division 2 Colden Common 0-1 Overton United

The Oak Boys returned from their summer hols having missed the opening games of Commons 2006/7 campaign, but being kept in touch by the use of modern technology. Common at home to Overton United were looking for the first win, but with first team players missing and the news that the goal scoring machine Rich Lang had moved on to pasturs green the task looked bleary.

The second half resumed with no change Common played, Overton played, no break through. Changes were needed and ‘Jose’ Light tried to oblige, Craig ‘sort it out’ Martin came off having been stranded down the left, Simon ‘Stillers’ took his role, Andy ‘put the fire out’ Piller took Stillers role, Sean ‘shags’ Lahey came on and took Pillers role. Jon Loveridge came off and Sean ‘flashy motor, don’t gazzump me’ Wren then came on along with Scott ‘don’t know much about him’ Rice. WOW do you understand all of that because I don’t and I’m writing it. (Agreed, I don’t understand this either and I’m typing it!! By the way, I’m his daughter –Yasmin ‘I hate typing these things’ Grace!!!)

Basically its 4-4-2!!!           After all that Overton scored but with at least 20mins to play it wasn’t over Common tried and tried but the goals and the three points still eluded them.  With no effort on target, as such, it could be a long season. Heads up guys at least it was good to see you all again!