Moor Mead Athletic 4 Teddington Athletic Dynamos 2 Moor Mead resumed their season with a solid win over their neighbours at a bracing Marble Hill. On an early winter’s day chilly enough to get brass monkeys lagging up, and with no action for a month, the Parakeets found their stride remarkably early, and threatened to overwhelm their opponents.
Everybody made a telling contribution, but Shaifulah, in particular, continued his impressive run of form, causing the Teddington defence constant problems with his muscularity, and Louis was outstanding, producing his best display in electric green.
It was Shaifulah who provided Moor Mead with the perfect start, surging through to square for LOUIS in support for a tap in in the opening moments (1-0).
Teddington went close with a long range free kick, which Alec did well to claw away at full stretch. But Moor Mead responded with a rapid double strike.
First, OLLIE ‘Beckhamed' an exquisite curling free kick into the top corner (2-0). Then MANI, playing his first league game of the season after a serious leg injury, mugged a defender to make it three with a typical poacher’s goal (3-0).
But as the sun emerged from behind the clouds, the opposition began to thaw out and grow into the game.
Alec made a first-rate diving stop from a well drilled free kick, and a header whistled wide from the resulting corner. But the defence, with Will W secure at sweeper, dealt with most of what came their way comfortably enough.
At the other end, Ollie chipped wide, and a semi-fit Zac got a shot away within seconds of coming on.
Teddington finally reduced the deficit just before the break with a well-taken goal. A clever free kick found a striker in space, and he pivoted expertly to slot home (3-1).
Teddington made a bright start to the second period. But Moor Mead reasserted themselves with a candidate for goal of the season. Zac lasered through the centre, and fed LOUIS who produced a beautiful dinked chip over the keeper (4-1).
Moments later the same combination cut through again, Zac shooting narrowly wide. Then Dilly slotted a lovely ball through to Mani, who forced a good save and put the follow up just wide.
Moor Mead then enjoyed a period of total domination, with Louis at the centre of most things, Mani and Shaifulah combining well, and Jake adding to the attacking arsenal with two breaks down the right flank. Mani went close twice, and Shaifulah hit the side netting.
However, it was Teddington who found the net somewhat against the run of play - their best move of the game leaving Daniel exposed in the box. He had little option but to bring down his opponent, and although Alec pulled off a tremendous diving save from the penalty, the rebound was smashed home (4-2).
Coach Matthews called for an extra 10% and got it in spades, as the Parakeets closed out the game without further threat. So, any rust was duly shaken off, and it bodes well that a 4-2 win left the watching Dad’s Army with the feeling that it could and probably should have been even more comfortable.