​Buoyant from the 2-2 home draw last week the Vipers traveled to the well-equipped facilities of Dorking Wanderers on a damp, misty Saturday morning.
 
The team were depleted of some of their most consistent players, but it was pleasing to see that we could still field a strong team. The team competed well throughout the game, with the right attitude (from both sets of players) and at times some very skillful play.
 
Missing from other weeks the boys showed improvement as they were prepared to get stuck in, face up to opposition and take on some strong tackling. There was also a nice variation of play as they were prepared to take players on and run onto loose balls. Flowing play was always going to be difficult on what was a heavy pitch.
 
There was nothing between the two teams at half-time as they went in at 0-0. Even when the defence were troubled George was very solid in goal as he improves every single week and has come a very, confident goalkeeper who commands his area and voices instruction. The defence were strong and forays into the opponent’s area were really only fraughted by our common enemy of being afraid to shoot on sight just to create that extra level of confusion.
 
The Cobras were un-done in a 5-minute period right at the start of the second half. Some changes were made in players position in an effort to improve the attacking threat but lots of the boys struggled to adapt quick to their new positions and were undone by 3 quick goals by a lack of pace in defence and not tracking properly as Dorking came forward with new found confidence and in considerable numbers. Cue George “Lets get back and win this like Spurs at Ajax the champs league last year…..”
 
From then on in there really was nothing between the two teams to be honest and the Vipers certainly had the better of the midfield play. As in other games, carving out clear 1:1 chances, and threatening from corner set pieces was probably the difference and the midfield struggled a little to cover ground as they were now 3-0 down.
 

19 Mins: Charlie finally listens to the advice that he has been given for weeks from Coach Paul and Dad (in the car repeatedly) and rather than trying to play FIFA20 live he intelligently knocks it into space from midfield. Jody runs into the space and although he has quite a lot of time to think he keeps his calm and beautifully slots in past the Woking keeping just inside the left-hand post. 0-1 to Loxwood

15 Mins+6 (so 21 Mins but still in the 1st quarter): Woking Goal 1-1

29 Mins: Woking Goal 2-1

Half-time: Woking 2 Loxwood 1

31 Mins: Woking Goal 3-1

37 Mins: Woking Goal 4-1

38 Mins: Straight from going 4-1 down the boys kick-off and show that their heads are not down and real intent to get back in this game. The score is flattering at this point. William gets his foot on top of the ball in midfield and delicately controls it through to Jody, a lovely pass! Jody again keeps his composure and provides their keeper no chance as he slots it home for 4-2. Is the comeback on?

42 Mins: Woking Goal 5-2

53 Mins: Woking Goal 6-2

59 Mins: Woking Goal 7-2

Full-time: Woking 7 Loxwood 2
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​The Vipers returned back to the hallowed ground of Great Common on a warm but extremely damp and wet late November morning. New paint was delivered and what needs calling out was the team effort from all around us. Marco re-painted the pitch with assistance, goals were moved, Steve was meticulous in unwrapping rope at pains (it took almost as long as it takes to build a new stadium in Tottenham High Road) and then the marking out our respect line. Marco took linesman role and Vinny “the enforcer” Jenkinson took up the referee position.
 
The scribe of this report had lost his pen in goal movement activity. But have no fear, Brian Smith had a pen. This was a lucky pen! This was our day!!!!
 
1st Half
The game kicked off against Onslow on time after a thorough talking to to both captains by the Enforcer. William started very lively with a decent interception and Raff was composed and strong at left back (something he showed throughout). Onslow won a corner very quickly and this was expertly delivered and deflected towards goal, it bounced off a Loxwood head and 0-1 it was with only 2 mins gone.
 
Loxwood remained unfazed and Sam and Oscar showed some sensible containing defensive play. The first Loxwood chance came to Jody who industrious effort led to the ball flashing across the goal.
 
The game ebbed and flowed. Harry J was clearing solidly from defence however Onslow maintained pressure and a second corner hit the post. Sam sprinted up the left-hand side and it was surmised that the accuracy of the touchline straightness had provided him another 6 feet in width from halfway line to the corner post!!
 
Onslow won a 3rd corner and at this point George tipped it onto the post, it bounced around like a pinball and the Vipers got lucky. Onslow were shooting on sight (watch and learn Vipers) and a ball recovered by George was slippery and he couldn’t hold, the rebound resulted in a second goal (0-2) at 13 mins. These corners and the obvious practice that Onslow have put into them was showing.
 
At the other end of the pitch Charlie went through the middle and although it looked like he was upended it was a fair challenge by the Onslow central defender. He picked himself up and continued to press. Cody was now on in a left back position, there was an outcry from the crowd as he used his right foot – this wasn’t thought possible. Raff played to Jody and he was through but his knock-on ball was a touch too heavy.

The 19th minute may have been pivatol. Our linesman was caught 17 Gatwick runways away down in the bottom corner by the post as Onslow broke. They were only 16 feet offside as they took advantage to make it 0-3. The “Enforcer” wasn’t having it as the crowd protested. Marco had not raised his flag over in Croydon (or wherever he was) and therefore the goal stood!
 
At this point confidence was down. Onslow onslaught, we couldn’t clear lines, lost shape and their number 10 had nice, neat touches everywhere. A rare break saw Jody unsupported although as he managed a long attempt in from the right. Then a disastrous 2 mins….. A mishandled long shot was a lesson to all. Two players from Onslow followed up. 0-4 in the 26th min (watch and learn Vipers). Shortly after the kick-off Onslow charged again and Sam didn’t put his foot in, a shot over the keeper makes it 0-5, 27th min.

Jody finished the half with good endeavor.  A simple ball from Charlie allowed Jody and he beat the keeper but was a little wide and it flashed past the post. End of half…. A mountain to climb….. hairdryer from Coach Paul inbound in what was a sloppy half.
 
2nd Half
So 0-5 down after 30 mins, how is this going to end? Why would you even go back out on the field? Because we are Loxwood, because we are Vipers! Because we have pride….
 
The 2nd half started brilliantly. Charlie actually decided he wasn’t playing FIFA19 live on the field and started knocking the ball past players rather than dribbling. As Coach Paul pointed out “guess what? That is easier….” The balls were being played into channels and shots were being unleashed from distance. Guess what? That causes confusion! Especially when the ball/ground is slippery, and you follow it up. Using this tactic a long shot went in and Harry Smith converted. Joy all around. Hang about…….. Hang about…… Hang about…….. 17 minutes later a decision comes from Stockley Park, their linesman flags it offside and Enforcer goes with the decision. Argh!
 
Undeterred the Smith brothers were strong on the right, Charlie crunched their keeper, George made a good save from the right, William was stella in defence stopping Onslow having another very dangerous corner.  Jody was back on for Charlie who was getting frustrated and Sam came on for Oscar who was losing his way.
 
Sam made an immediate difference and carried on his good hard work from the 1st half by driving the ball forward and causing issues between midfield and attack. The boys continued to play the ball rather than running with and were finding success – in particular Raff through to Jody a few times.
 
Cody found his positioning and had a couple of strong tackles. Dads advice of trusting his central defenders to do their job and hold position was sound advice.  13 minutes into the half and no advancement on the score and Loxwood had probably had the better of the play. Onslow then show their ruthlessness again. A Loxwood defender is drifted past who backs off and a thundering shot that hits the post and an Onslow player follows it in to score the rebound (Vipers take note again). 0-6, 43 mins.
 
What we can never be beaten on is spirit. I would welcome comment on this piece, but I believe that last 10 mins passage of play was probably the best and most sublime I have seen from the Vipers in a long time. A passion for switching play, one to one passing, understanding where others were on the field, knocking balls into space and chasing it. As Steve Smith stated after the game “you can’t run faster than a well passed ball”. The voices are missing but the talent is there, the effort cannot be doubted.
 
Special mention for William for the Vipers goal. A long looping chip from the right-hand side of the pitch (think Matthew Le Tissier-esque) which chipped the keeper who was left in no mans land. It was a contender for man of the match (I wouldn’t take anything away from Onslow). this made it 1-6. The final score.
 
It wasn’t without danger; George continued to be a mountain in goal and his enthusiasm and effort was an example to all. Rightly so, he won Player of the Day from coach Paul - for the 2nd week running!
 
A tough result in the end, sure Onslow deserved the win on that first half performance. Loxwood dominated the 2nd half for a while and it was joy to behold. The vision is there. No need to call Poch yet!
 
Quote of the day from Charlie at full-time “I wanted to throw my shirt to someone in the crowd at the end of the game but they all went home at half-time” 
 
Oh, and f**k that lucky pen, what was the point in that?
 
A brilliant interview from Cody below……

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A crisp sunny morning met the 8 Vipers who made the Baku-esque journey to the remote outskirts of Gatwick. The ground was very underfoot was heavy and the players started to work out in the grass that on Harry S and William was almost waist height. Both of these items would influence the game but not as much as the Vipers being a man down against a physically strong and well-equipped Charlwood side who played with their full compliment.
 
The Loxwood army, all 5.5 of us if you include Coach Paul and Emily Smith, lined up along the side in expectation. At this point John was pulled aside for linesman duty which seemed a sensible decision for a sensible chap until Paul started to explain to him what side and half of the pitch he needed to run and also how the offside rule works!!
 
The game started strongly and brightly for the Vipers. Raff was assured in the middle of defence, Williams work rate was good and he looked like his old self again.  Both Charlie and Harry were troubling the Charlwood defence and goalkeeper with long range attempts as well as very decent pressing. In amongst all of this a warning shot was fired (literally) as George in goal repelled their dangerous #99 from the left wing.
 
A Charlwood corner bought a wicked shot which George bravely repelled with his face, Harry continued to be a menace and Sebby cleared a corner intelligently. From that corner Oscar head the ball clear and although it was obvious the numbers were making this an uphill battle the boys were holding their own.
 
A good cross from Charlie who continued to work industriously was just missed by an inbound Harry in the middle. Harry had a 1:1 and William supporting from midfield also had an effort denied. Oscar had another chance and Sam just missed the deflection. At this point Loxwood had definitely had the better of the chances. It was however at this point that the tide changed.
 
Charlwood found new life and had a multitude of chances in quick sucession. #15 went 1:1 and George saved with his feet, #21 had a shot just over, #99 again was 1:1 against George who very bravely dived at his feet.
 
Finally, it was a corner which undid the lads. Viciously flicked in and using the pace it was simply deflected into the corner in the 18th minute. A neat goal. Could the boys (now getting tired after all the effort) get to at least half-time at just 1-0 to re-group?
 
Unfortunately not… and was has become a feature some quick fire goals were conceded. Only two minutes later the useful #99 score from close range – there had however already been two chances between the two goals.
 
The Vipers continued to try and face the deficit. The sun had gone in and it had turned cold. The cold breeze reflecting the mood. At 23 mins #99 pushed it across the goal for the #14 to skillfully backheel into the net.
 
The dispirited Vipers did muster another chance as their keeper nearly made a crucial error as the ball bobbed between his legs and Harry hunted it down to win a corner. Unfortunately William had turned into Christian Erikson and was unable to deliver with his normal quality as the ball hit the first defender.
 
Two more chances right at the end of the half very quickly together and the last kick of the half enabled the #14 to score another after rounding George who really did not deserve to be 4-0 down at this point.
 
Paul was incredibly sympathetic in his half-time talk. The boys had worked hard and the conditions and outnumbering was not helping them at all. 

​The second half started as the first half ended. Dominant pressure from Charlwood. A goal was scored right at the start of the half by number #17 to make it 5-0 and put the game out of reach for certain. The question now was “how many will this be?”. They hit the post two further times before Loxwood had their first attack however with tiring legs Sebby and Oscar were struggling with positioning and being caught offside was a consistent theme of the half. Sam and William were now struggling with the pace and shape and positioning was started to become disjointed in multiple areas.
 
The boys became guilty of not knocking the ball into space but instead trying to dribble around everyone. This had their tired legs caught no matter what flashes of skill they demonstrated. “Triangles and Knocking the ball into space” was the cry from the coach and supporters.
 
At some point in the half their keeper resorted to wearing a jumper. Which was indicative of how this game was going.
 
At 38 mins a planned goalkeeping change occurred which had been pre-agreed on Georges instruction once he had decided he had enough. And quite frankly, I don’t blame him. Although William put his hand up with the physical power of this side through the middle it seemed more sensible to put Charlie in goal who hadn’t played this position for some time. What a revelation.! I could write another 3 pages on the number of one to one saves, diving saves and tips around the post that he made – my book actually says “I have lost count”. The opposing fans applauded and shouted their approval. I couldn’t be prouder!!!
 
This really had turned into shooting practice and in the end he was only undone by a deflection in the 55th minute off a defenders head. 6-0.

​Everything was against us now. Our own linesman (to the hilarity of the Charlwood fans) missed an offside against us and even the Vulture looking birds in the trees were ominous. Throughout the boys toiled. They had multiple attempts in spots, George adapted to midfield well and Raff remained composed. The final 5-minutes were a flurry. A Loxwood corner! A free kick the other way. Two more Charlwood chances denied!! The Smiths offside.
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George and Charlie jointly won the player of the day. It’s almost perverse for the two keepers to pick up this award in a 6-0 defeat but their heroics at times kept the score down to what could have easily been doubled. Video interview below..
 
I am in danger of repeating myself, but everything was against the boys today. 9vs8, the heavy pitch with long grass, jet lag from the journey.
 
Personally I am very proud of the attitude. This will turn around. BELIEVE!!!!!!
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​Great training session today which for some reason we ran at the early time of 8-8.50. Although a quick session we packed in some pass and move drills and quick press then a match. Some cheeky football was on show but my player of the day goes to Sylvester for some great positional play and last man defensive tackling.
Then we all legged it.........