Posted: 16th ~ May ~ 2009

Wood Crowned Champs at the "Fields" of Mountnessing

Date : Saturday May 16th 2009
Fixture : League Game - Away
Result : Mountnessing Boca 1 - 4 Harold Wood

With Hammond juniors first team winning the Senior Premier title on Wednesday, Hammond senior needed the 3 points to secure the Reserve Division title and to make history with a hatrick of back to back titles along with a club double not seen this millennium. Woods travelling army turned up in droves and fancied a win against their local rivals.
Gibson again went cricket, so 7 games a week plus training Todd returned to make up the solid back 5. Zoom got promoted to the first team and was replaced by Rafis, partnering Duckworth, with Tungate on the left and Miller right. Wettner up front with Huckstepp completed the line up. Manzi Holliday, Jacks and Smy - back from a 6 week blister - made up the strong bench. Mountnessing fielded a very 'different' side playing with a mix of first and second team players along with some who looked to be making their debut very late on in the season. This game was their cup final. Wood totally dominated proceedings with Mountnessing only offering long throws and long kicks in attack. In the first 10 Sewell should have done better from Tungate's corner. He elected to let it hit him square in the face rather then head it although a blinding sun did make it harder than it looked.

With Tungate and Rafis creating, Mountnessing were chasing shadows and Huckstepp and Wettner already had the centre backs struggling. A couple of half chances fell to Wood and Nessing cleared off the line as Harold Wood piled on the pressure. With 20 gone a Tungate arrow gave Huckstepp a chance to out run, fruit machine mad, keeper Dancer (formerly of Harold Wood) As the shot came loose Rafis despatched cooly, half volleying into the empty net from 30 yards. 1-0. Rather than sit back Wood pressed further.
Todd chose to aim at the centre half when he had the whole goal to hit and a Rafis cross after good work from Sewell was somehow put over the bar by the defender from a yard out. Two or three goal mouth scrambles were hacked away and Dancer made a world class save from Rafis's 25 yard pile driver. 1-0 at the break but it could have been 4.

Not much to say from Hammond as it was such a one sided affair but more goals were needed. At the restart Wood huffed and puffed but could not really get going although the home side were still not really getting out of their own half. A succession of Wood corners created more commotion in the Mountnessing box and Dancer did well on a couple of occasions but the second goal just would not come. On 65 minutes another cultured hoof up the pitch provided a chase for the Mountnessing forward. Stamp looked to usher it out but a toe poke allowed the forward to just keep it in play.
A great cross, across the box, looked inviting to the oncoming right winger but there was still a lot to do. From 25 yards and on the diagonal, the shot struck the upright and flew straight back at Fletcher hitting him on the knee and rolling into the empty goal. Mountnessing celebrated like they had won the FA cup, World Cup, European cup and the Grand National. Wood looked crest fallen, surely the party wouldn't be spoilt after all the seasons hard work. Almost instantly came Woods reply. Tungate combined with Rafis who fed Miller. Miller exchanged passes with Rafis again before rolling in Wettner who buried clinically into the bottom corner. Great football, great goal, proving that's why Wood are where they are, at the top of the table. The tie was never in doubt after the second. Hammond's men, perhaps a little unhappy with the home sides celebrations, turned the screw and again dominated all over the park.
The third was smashed into the top corner by Rafis from an impossible angle and Holliday completed the rout expertly to make it four. Still chances came through Rafis, Wettner and Tungate but good saves kept the score down to a modest 4, flattering Mountnessing.
Wild celebrations at the final whistle, mixed with relief and some disbelief that the title was again Woods. Nothing but praise from Hammond and Robinson who both step down after completing the Hatrick.
Hammond, who is also club secretary, hangs up his folder to concentrate of scouting (9th Gold) and to complete his novels "Happiness with a Hangover" and "Kebab. The lovers guide." Robinson's cones are left on the peg as he cannot provide the time as he has too many stag doos to go on next year and needs to apply the finishing touches to his video "Fitness through lunges".
We got a final word from skipper Sewell on behalf of the players. "Thanks to both Gary and Wayne from all the players involved this season for the effort, laughs, highs and even lows over a truly fantastic season. We dedicate the title to you and wish you every success in your new ventures. Now Jackson get your first round of the season in !"

Team Lineup : Wordsell, Todd, Fletcher, Duckworth, Stamp, Sewell, Miller (jacks), Rafis, Tungate, Wettner (Manzi), Huckstepp (Holliday)

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