A WORD FROM THE MANAGER……

Plume of Feathers 1 - Welsh Tavern Reserves 3

Well going away to Plume in the quarter finals of the Betts Cup was always going to be a big ask but finding yourself
down to 10 men after 15 minutes and having to face a penalty, we could have been forgiven for letting our heads drop
and start thinking everything was against us. Ben Webb getting sent off for bringing down the centre forward when he
was last man was not the start we wanted but these things happen. Don't call us Ben we'll call you. However, these guys
haven't let me down yet this season and they weren't about to now. We consolidated for 15 minutes and at that point it
was all about digging deep and keeping ourselves in the game. Going in 0 - 0 at half time would have been a bonus but
to find ourselves 1 - 0 up with ANOTHER Jay Chambers strike just before half time was beyond all expectations. However,
lets not take anything away from the lads, we were well worthy of our lead. We had caused them problems out wide, been
solid through the spine of the side and worked tirelessly up top. The half time chat was all about continuing to do what
we had so far and we were in with a shout of making it through to the Semi Finals. It was all about sticking together.
Although we had something to defend and it would have been easy to sit back and try and hold out for a 1 - 0, it is just
not in these guys nature to be negative. We steamed forward with Wisey and the inspirational Jack Longhurst making sure
Jay wasn't isolated up top on his own. Biggsy and Beats in the middle of the park gave a protective cover in front of
the back four but didn't just sit in there and invite the opposition on, proof of which when they both got themselves on
the scoresheet to put us 3 - 0 up. 3 - 0 up against a team in the top flight and having played with 10 men for pretty much
the entire game and in the middle of that lot somewhere Jay Chamber had one chalked off for offside. HAVE SOME OF THAT.
The four across the back were rock solid throughout and threw their bodies in the way of everything and with The Monk in
the form he was, he gave us this extra belief and confidence. Some of the saves he was pulling off he really had no right
in making. We deserved to be in the position we were as putting it bluntly, we were damn good on this day. Plume did pull
one back with about 5 minutes left on the clock to make the final score 3 -1. With a mouth watering Semi Final against
Reynolds who are currently sitting top of the league above, lets have a right old go at em. First things first though we
have to face the Plume again in the last sixteen of the Arnold and May Cup this Sunday. They will be out for revenge so
we will take nothing for granted. The last two weeks we have set the standard that we now demand for the rest of the
season. If we continue to produce performances like that then who knows, anything is possible and as DC rightly says,
the treble is still on.

Lets look at this realistically. The Plume are in the top league, have won countless league titles and cups over the years
and have to be regarded as one of the more successful sides in the Kent Sunday Surburban League. And yet here we are,
the Welsh Tavern Reserves, going over there as big underdogs, down to 10 men after 15 minutes and facing a penalty to go
1 - 0 down, and yet we still pulled out an unbelievable performance/result and deservedly so. Put this in the same mould
as say San Marino beating Brazil, that is how good it was.

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

Eastgate 2 - Welsh Tavern Reserves 4

Well back to what we do best, winning.

The boys didn't need reminding how important it was to bounce back after the disappointment of both the performance
and result against Welling Athletic a couple of weeks earlier. And bounce back we did and in complete style too.
We set out our stool right from the off and put in a very convincing performance. Considering it was a new formation
that we was trying out for the first time, we played it as if we had been set up like that all season. Even with a
few people missing, we still went with a strong thirteen. We worked tirelessly up front, was relentless across the
middle and solid at the back. Away to Plume this week in the Quarter Final of the Betts Cup, another big test and
one that I know the lads won't let us down.


The treble is still achievable.

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

Welling Athletic 3 - Welsh Tavern Reserves 1

Well, Sunday couldn't really have been any more disappointing. For the biggest game of the season we just didn't
turn up. Although Welling were worthy of the 3 points, things could have turned out so differently had we deservingly
been awarded a penalty shortly into the second half and only trailing 1 - 0 at the time. After Wisey had gone on a
run beating 3 or 4 players, he was subsequently brought down by the last man. Had the spot kick been given, it would
also have had to result in their centre half being shown a straight red card. We would have obviously then scored
the penalty and gone on to win 9 - 1, unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be though.

Although it was a bad day at the office, lets not forget that we are still sitting top of the league with 5 games to go.
Sure Welling can overtake us if they win their games in hand, but lets just keep our fingers crossed that they slip
up somewhere along the line. If they do, I am certain that our guys will not make the same mistakes as they did on
Sunday and we will capitalise this time around. By no means are we out of it. Lets now go and win our remaining matches
and see what happens. We will push them all the way. Ozzy may have come into our changing room afterwards with a sly
smile on his face, but he almost left without one. By the way, if you read this Ozzy, you owe us 50p for the ref.


Get this glory train back on track this week guys away to Eastgate in the Betts Cup. We have a point to prove.

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

Camden 2 - Welsh Tavern Reserves 3

Over the half way stage now and still in there with a shout, deservedly so as well as we have played some fantastic
stuff at times.

When it has come down to it this season, the lads have not disappointed. When the big games come along we are always
there to be counted, and this has to go down as a big win. After drawing 3 - 3 against Camden the week before, this
was never going to be an easy ride and it proved to be that way. Even after being 2 - 0 up inside five minutes
through Jay and Bappsy, we still found ourselves staring down the barrel of another draw with the scores level with
about eight minutes left. Jack Longhurst fortunately got the decisive third and we deservedly picked up all three
points. With big games coming thick and fast now until the end of the season, the old cliché of one game at a time
has never been more true. With this Sunday's encounter with Welling Athletic being the biggest game of the season so
far, the lads have got to prove yet again that when the big occasion comes along, there is none better than us. We
will no doubt stand tall in the face of everything that will be against us this week and I trust the guys to pull a
big win out of the bag and take us into the last five games of the season in a very good position. With Ozzie's Best
Mate and fellow Committee Member refereeing this fixture for the sixth time in a row, most suspicious minds would
wonder how that continues to keep happening, not us though. Hopefully the league has a back up plan in motion in case
as suspected, Bradley Branning is arrested for the Murder of Archie Mitchell on Friday. We will be watching with a
very close eye.


Roll on Sunday, don't be late.

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

Abbey United 2 - Welsh Tavern Reserves 3

Well after what seemed like an absolute age, we finally got back to playing again. And in all honesty, it was as
if we had never been away. The guys were absolutely superb. Playing against Abbey United, the only other unbeaten
team in the division, it was always going to be a big game and vitally important that we took all three points if
we wanted to maintain our push for silverware. And that we did and in style too. A 3 - 2 victory which was far
more convincing than the scoreline would suggest. From start to finish we showed commitment, quality, togetherness
and a desire to win which has been there for all to see all season. Our never say die attitude and buzz we have
going in the dressing room is proving to be invaluable in our quest for success. Me and Webby tell the guys week
in week out that we have the chance to do something good this year and they are not disappointing us. With changes
needing to be made throughout the side, those slipping in did so with absolute ease. None more so than Deano who
slotted in at right back as if he had never been away. DC (aka Franco Baresi) dropped in at centre half alongside
Hergo to make up our new look defence in front of The Monk and Jonesy filled in his normal position of left back.
Jack Longhurst came in for his first game with the reserves on the right side of midfield and proved an immediate
hit, alongside our new look central midfield pairing for the day of Bappsy and Jonny Ashdown. Wisey gave us the
balance on the left of midfield and was a constant threat with his quick counter attacks. Up top was Jay Chambers
and Rainsy who were linking well before Rainsy suffered a recurrence of his knee injury and unfortunately had to
be withdrawn. Webby replaced him and joined Jay up top to keep our physical presence up there. We were down to the
bare bones this week but still had a great 12 plus me. Unfortunately we have another long term injury casualty to
go with Kev Webb in Clayton Probets, who ruptured his Achilles Tendon in a midweek match. Clayts will be a massive
loss as he gave us that composure and quality whether playing centre half or in the middle of the park.

All these things add up to trying to de-rail our glory train but at the moment we are hanging in there and doing
it with a touch of class as well.


The treble is still on.

Next please.

We are top of the league say we are top of the league.

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

Welsh Tavern Reserves 1 - Dartford Celtic 0

Well after three weeks without a game, finally we managed to fit one in again. Unfortunately, I was unable to be
there with the boys on this one but they know I was there in spirit. With The Webb taking the reigns against a
Dartford Celtic side that had beaten Welling Athletic the week before, this was going to be another massive test
for the boys and one which yet again they passed. From the report I have received from Webby and many others,
it was a job well done. Created plenty of chances, dug deep when we had to, stuck in there with one another and
had The Monk to thank with some Claw like saves. On another positive note, we had Rainsy back for his first game
in a few months after a knee injury had been keeping him out. The more options we have the better.

With Wisey and Ashdown missing, Paul Challis going with the firsts, and some no shows on the morning, Webby was
forced to re-shuffle the pack. Deploying Clayts in his preferred position of the middle of the park proved to be
an inspirational decision, with him getting the all important goal which clinched the three points and kept up our
unbeaten start to the league season. With no game scheduled for this week, Five Wins, Two Draws and No League
Defeats means it looks like we will be going into the New Year sitting at the summit of the division, we'd have
snapped your arm off for that record at the start of the campaign.

As I say, no game this week at the moment but lets get everyone out for the first teams game at home to Barnehurst.
As it is the last Sunday before Christmas, hopefully everyone will be out for a beer down the Welsh still. Don't
tell your wives and girlfriends/boyfriends (we won't judge you) that there is no game, as they will make you go
shopping or something. Get down the Welsh in the morning, we'll go for a quick fry up, head up the Rec to watch
the first team and then straight back down the Welsh afterwards for a Super Sunday. Try and make it guys. Details
will be confirmed at training on Wednesday.

That leaves me with one last thing to say before signing off:

"We are top of the league say we are top of the league".

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

Well, from what should have been a fairly straight forward day at the office, turned out to be a bit of a
nigthmare to be honest with you. Circumstances aside, this must go down as two points dropped and an opportunity
lost to increase our lead at the top of the table. With Welling Athletic and Abbey United ion particular playing
one another in the cup, this was a chance to pull away and put more pressure on them and the rest of the chasing
pack, especially with the visit of Abbey United to The Rec this Sunday.

2 - 0 down and reduced to 10 men after Jonesy was sent off for handball on the line with 20 minutes on the clock,
left me and Webby scratching our heads in complete shock on the touchline. Half time couldn't come quick enough.
If we got to the interval with the score as it was we knew we were still in it, as we had started to create chances
as half time approached. We got the lads in and regrouped. One thing you cannot knock these guys for is there
willingness that when the chips are down, they stick together and that has been a major part of why we are where
we are so far. Team spirit, that togetherness. Even with our backs against the wall like they were on Sunday,
no matter who we are playing, these guys have given us the belief that we are never out of any match, no matter
what happens. Bappsy got us back in it with plenty of time to push the game on and turn the screw even more. 2 - 1.
Trying to commit suicide again we gave them another goal. 3 - 1 down. The ref did even the sides up with about half
an hour left with one of their players receiving 2 yellow cards for kicking the ball away twice. Chance after chance
went begging, with their keeper pulling of a few great saves, before even the post decided it was going to try and
break our unbeaten league start. You could forgive yourselves for thinking that this just wasn't meant to be.
10 minutes left and Wisey gave us a glimmer of hope. 3 - 2. By now I couldn't tell you what formation we were playing
but it resembled something like 1-1-8 (got your number). Webby launched a free kick to the far stick in injury time
where Paul 'Jordi' Challis was on hand to get the well earned equaliser. There was still chance for DC in his painted
on bottoms to lob a 60yard free kick goal bound, but unfortunately their keeper tipped it over and the ref blew for
full time.

Although the lads are disappointed  with only a point, lets take the positives out of it. Playing for 70 minutes with
10 men, 2 - 0 down at half time, 3 - 1 down with 10 minutes to go, the keeper having a worldy, even the post coming
to their rescue, we will take a point and crack on again next week. We are still unbeaten, we are still top of the league,
highest goalscorers in the division, you tell me who in the division is going to want to come up against us.

As I've said all season, this is a great bunch of players that I have at my disposal and me and Webby seriously believe
the potential is there for us to have a good season. Don't let this result turn into too much of a bad thing as you
guys have the chance to put it right this week against what looks like one of the sides that is going to be up there
challenging, Abbey United.

The glory train was almost derailed but not quite. It gets back on track this week, we demand it.

Don't be late!!!!!!

Duncan "Fabio" Finch

This weekend saw us take a break from the nitty gritty of the league schedule and put us up against Dartford
Invicta in the Arnold and May Cup, which we came out of 2 - 1 winners. Well for those that saw the game this
wasn't a vintage performance by any means, but the lads stuck with it and got the result they deserved.

One down at half time and it could have been worse if not for The Monk pulling a worldy out of the top corner,
it was going to be a tricky second half going up the slope. We had everything to do to progress to the next
round, but as we did against Welling Athletic in our last game, our strength and willingness to stick together
and battle it out for one another shone through. First up came another goal from Bappsy, getting us back into
the game early enough in order that we didn't have to hit the panic button. This allowed us to press and assert
our dominance for the remainder of the half. With Hergo and Clayts controlling the back four and keeping things
nice and tight, the platform was there. Poor old DC in the middle of the park will probably have to take a couple
of days off work at the beginning of this week as yet again he did all of Beatts running. An inspirational
substitution saw Paul 'Jordi' Challis thrown on in place of the injured Jonny Ashdown and as they say, the rest
is history. Top corner, have some of that. Next round here we come.

Well this week sees us return to league action against the only team to take any points off us so far this season,
Crayford FC. We will be looking for another 3 points to keep our hold on the top spot and continue to push on in
the right direction. With the squad pretty much the same week in week out, we now have that consistency and
continuity that all good sides have.

As a treat for all the lads down the club and a continued morale booster, we will be going away to Old Bexley
for a mid-season break this coming Friday night. Get yoursleves out and lets get messy.


Duncan "Fabio" Finch


'Flying high up in the sky, we'll keep the Welsh flag flying high'


Well, Sunday was a big test for the lads against a Welling Athletic side who are always there or thereabouts
at the end of the season and will be again this year. And what a great result they pulled out of the bag.
Going into the interval a goal down and having played pretty well must have been hard to take. It would have
been all to easy to let our heads drop, especially as the second half would see us have to contend with not
only the slope but also the hurricane winds that DC talks about in his match report. But the lads didn't
disappoint. After an inspirational half time team talk by the management and backed up by their continuius
belief that the boys have the capabilities to do something special this year, the lads came out of the blocks
and got on with the job in hand. Inspired by The Monk in between the sticks who had pulled off a couple of
worldy's in the first half, we pushed on and started to turn the screw. Solid at the back, energetic across
the middle and threatening up top, poor old Ossie didn't know what day of the week it was. He almost ran off
and hid when he saw Beef and The Wand warming up on the sidelines, life couldn't get much worse for him. It
certainly couldn't when Johnny Ash and Jay Chambers got the all important goals to put us 2 - 1 up and cement
our place at the top of the league (where we belong). It's early doors but four wins and a draw in our opening
five fixtures is a pretty good start. If we keep this group of players together and with a couple of players
to come back in as well, we have the potential for a good season.

No game this week will see the lads have a well deserved rest. Next up is Dartford Invicta in the Arnold and
May Cup, so by the time we next play a league game, we will see who is there with us. But at the end of the day,
I say it each week, you can only beat who is put in front of you and at this moment in time we are pretty good
at doing that. Get in there!!!!

I couldn't end my report without a little mention of a close relative of mine from the first team. After Smudger
had put the Welsh 1 - 0 up at the weekend with an absolute peach of a strike apparently, my close relative
Darren Wright went slightly better and scored an absolute Worldy to make the score 2 - 0 and make the game safe.
Textbook stuff apparently. Knee over the ball, head down and eye on the ball. Sublime. Anyone who wants to learn
this technique, Wrighty will be at training on Wednesday to help you perfect it.


Signing out,

Sir Carter Junior


Reserves steam on!!.


Well the glory train hasn't been de-railed yet, however, I think our strongest test of the season so far
will come this Sunday against Welling. On the same token though, Welling won't have come across a side
like us yet either. 23 goals scored in 4 league games says it all. The lads should be going into this
one full of confidence.

I personally go into Sunday's game in buoyant mood and am confident that if the boys stick together and
continue to play the free flowing football that even as DC puts it, Ossie Ardiles would be proud of, a
result is well within our grasp.

At the end of the day, you can only beat who is put in front of you and from that we thoroughly deserve
to be sitting at the summit of the league and that is where we want to stay. We know it is too early in
the season to start getting over excited, however, as I say to the lads each week, this is the strongest
squad of players that I have had at my disposal since taking over the Reserves and this group is capable
of doing something good this season (apart from winning the Kent Cup that is!!!!). Sure there are a few
bits that need the touch of Claudio Ranieri (The Tinker Man) but we are heading in the right direction and
that is the most important thing. There is a great buzz within the ranks and a stability where we have a
core of players that are regularly there week in week out now.

Any neutrals who want to hear the best of Boyzone, Take That and Westlife, with a bit of Neil Diamond and
The Proclaimers thrown in to spice it up, get yourselves down the Welsh this Sunday lunchtime where
hopefully this train will still be on course for Glory Central.

See you Sunday

Duncan 'Osvaldo Ardiles' Finch