Man in the Dugout reports 2000-01
New kit launched
Fixtures 2000 - 01
Your prayers please
Your Prayers Answered
Club Badge
Awards - Yes, we did win one!
2001 - 2002 - A Street Odyssey Continues
Fixtures 2001-02
Could this Be The Year? Reports 2002-03
2002-03 Fixtures and Results
Support Our Sponsors
2003-04: European Union
2003-04: Results, Fixtures
Roma Therapy
The Greatest Football Tournament in the World
2004-2005: Attack of the Minty Badgers
Street's New Training Regime
Meet the team!
Union Street's festive picture gallery!
The Union Street Awards 2004/05!
der Mann in heraus gegraben DAM diary 2005
2005-06: When badgers learn to fly
Street Talk
Knee-Jerk Reaction: Ben's Countdown to Germany 2006
Bolz WM Gonzo Diary
Pre-Seasonal Tension
2006-07: MInty Badgers Save the World
Plumbing new depths
Direkt Von Dem Dugout - Koln 2007
Union Street Awards: Season 2006 - 2007
2007-08: For a Few Seasons More
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Union boldly go where no Street has gone before...
Union hit the new season running against Nuffield Arms - their 11-0 conquerors early last season - with a passage of play in the first half that silenced the home crowd and saw them in the unaccustomed position of being 3 (three) goals up after half an hour.
Union were bossing the midfield, and with the lightning quick Ali latching on to almost any ball over the top, goals from him, lo Cascio and Buckland put the Street in a commanding position.
However, their fantastic effort in this early period was to prove a false dawn. Nuffield pulled one back before half-time, and it was Union looking more tired as they trooped off.
In the second half Union should have killed the game, but missed an early penalty. Nuffield pressed and pulled one more back, then Union had one disallowed. Nuffield drew level, Union had claims for another penalty turned down, had two free kicks well-saved, then Nuffield fired another to become unlikely winners of this thrilling encounter.
Union may not win every game this season, but if they continue this sort of performance they will provide much to entertain their fanatical following. |
Beckley - Half way There
Street's early season first-half form continued at Sandy Lane this week against the mighty Beckley, seeing the teams drawing 2-2 when they oranges came out.
With the wind behind them in the second half, Union had every reason to be optimistic, but two soft goals saw them crash to another undeserved defeat.
Still struggling to maintain a consistent selection, Street's depleted squad has done magnificent to be fair, up against as they are a string of injuries, stomach bugs, weddings and extended holidays. Thankfully though no funerals. Nor criminal charges. Nor alien abductions.
A special mention this week for Secretary of the Year Mark Ginsburg, back from the Big Apple and chasing every lost cause in midfield. Spotter's Badge for his distribution too. To paraphrase Christopher Cross (pictured): When you get caught between the Street and New York City, the best that you can do is get back here and get stuck in. |  |
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Eastern Promise Unfulfilled
Another keenly fought contest, sadly with a result that flattered visitors East Oxford, who rolled out 3-1 winners.
Consistency is not lacking for the Street: they have consistently been outplayed in the latter stages of each of these first three games of the season, and this game was no exception. They played exceptionally well for an hour, then saw all their hard work undone in those fateful latter stages.
Union went behind in the first half after falling victim to an extremely dodgy penalty decision, of which the visitors took full advantage. Street were not really troubled further before half-time, and despite losing de Silva (hamstring) in the heart of the defence, they were right back in it with an equaliser from free-scoring Buckland on the hour.
After a promising spell, Union lost their way rather, and East took full advantage with two quick strikes that led to rueful comments from the Street's legions of fans.
Make no mistake, these results are really hurting the Street boys. These games are there to be won, the opposition are there for the taking. Is it down to fitness? Probably, in which case fortunes should change as the season progresses. Meanwhile, a suggestion: |  |
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Top v Bot - Mystery Striker the Difference
Table-toppers Tetsworth might have beev expecting a relatively easy ride at Sandy Lane Stadium this week, matched as they were against a Union Street side yet to break their duck in this campaign.
If so they got a rude awakening as Street again proved they are a match for anyone, especially in the first half. There was little between the teams, both had their chances, but it was Tetsworth who edged ahead just before half-time with a well-worked opener.
Street had every cause to be optimistic though as they continued to hold back the Tet offensive. However, the goal that doubled their lead was an absolute corker, the best effort of the day, and would have graced any game. There was little that the Street defence could have done as a Tetsworth corner was glanced in at the near post with the subtlest of headers. Unfortunately your correspondent did not catch the identity of the scorer, but quality such as that is rare indeed - I doubt that player will remain at this level for long.
Another excellent penalty save by goalkeeper Body kept Street in touch, but a third strike left the tie in little doubt, albeit that the scoreline flattered the visitors somewhat. Make no mistake: Street will soon have their day. |
Dontcha just eight it when that happens?
There was nothing reserved about the North Oxford lads in this testing encounter for the Street. It was a case of (fit) boys against (mostly old) men in an encounter which Street were heartily glad to see the back of.
It wasn't that Union played badly, more that the other lot were, in Pulp's words, 'Different Class' - particularly going forward, which is to say 99% of the time. They bulldozed their way through the meagre Street defences 8 (eight) times, while we could only muster a penalty goal in reply.
It is not the Union way to be in any way negative or cynical, but it is hard to see how any pleasure will be gained from any future fixtures against this lot. Still, you never know. Hello, is that my local police helicopter going past my window? You see, there is always a chance.
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No-Goal Thriller No Recipe for Disaster
The Street are noted for spicy, high-scoring games, but here was an exception: a game with so few goals as to be in fact completely bereft. What it lacked in the onion-bag department it more than made up for with a forking good all-round performance.
It's fair to say that Union have served up some supperb performances in the Doug Hobbs Cup, but Tetsworth are no mugs & last week's beatiing suggested Street would hand it to them on a plate.
This Street team were in no mood to be bowled over. They put in a souper performance. Defenders were as keen as mustard, even though Tetsworth peppered the goalmouth and almost cooked Union's goose when their attacker spooned the ball over from six yards out.
Street milked the applause at the end, and the result was the saucer much amusement in the post-match dressing room.
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I Claudius, You Janus
Thumbs down for an abject performance from Street in the arena of the Sandylanium of Light. While every player slaved away there was far too little co-ordination through the team, with players romeing out of position while the Gladiators toyed with them like so many lions toying with Christians at a gladiatoral event in Caesar's Palace. Co-incidentally, Street meet Oxford Community Church in a fortnight's time.
Gladiators netted six times, racing through the Street defences like so many chariots in a chariot race in the ancient civilisation of the Roman Empire.
Street's fall into decadence was complete, and the post-match dressing room was the forum for a heated discussion among the players as each claimed responsibility for the drubbing. All that could be heard was "I'm Spartacus! No, I am Spartacus! No, I..." et cetera
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Winter Draw's On
After their 8-1 drubbing by North Oxford Res a few short weeks ago, it looked a big ask for the Street to take anything but pride away from this game.
However, how wrong the pundits proved to be. Street drew on all their reserves to draw with these reserves, and their celebrations at the finish of another pulsating game were anything but reserved.
The game began with the expected onslaught on the Street's goal, and after numerous near misses NO Res had the ball in the back of the net - only for it to be denied by the eagle-eyed Street linesman's flag.
Street rode their luck and came back into it, taking the lead with a fiercely struck shot. Then NO Res finally broke through to level the scores, and shortly followed up with another strike to take the lead. Street were never out of it though, and re-levelled the scores with a sweetly taken finish by top-scorer 'Bag a Brace' Buckland.
Both teams had chances to clinch it, with Buckland finding the net again only to be denied by the linesman. Street took all the plaudits at the finish as well as another hard-earned point in the Doug Hobbs. Out of Interest, here is Doug Hobbs of the Portland Football Officials Association Roster:
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Street Ponder What Mitre Been
Christmas came early for Community Churches as a last-minute pass-back of a free kick bobbled through the shambolic Street wall and despairing grasp of goalie Rob Body into the net, allowing the Christians to take all three points from a scrappy game that neither side deserved to win.
Street were not at their best after last week's rousing performance, and despite leading 1-0 at half-time, their overall shape was poor. If they were a cucumber or carrot, they would have been deemed too curly and unfit for sale by EC Commissioners. Were they a banana, too straight. If a parsnip, too forked. If a pair of plums, too gnarled and wrinkled. And just as with these specimens, while Street's spiritual core remained tasty and sweet, the overall appearance was badly disfigured.
Led by the Church into a dour battle of attrition, and losing all panache in the process, Street may well look back on this religious encounter without any uplifting memories.
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Old Headington, Same Old Street
Another incident-packed game with Street going in front through a superb da Silva chip-lob cross-shot. He was then floored soon after by a less than sweet strike from an infantile Old player who consequently received his marching orders.
Street should have consolidated from then on but Old soldiered on. Enforced changes affected Street's rhythm, and Old fashioned four goals that capitalised on Street's disarray. Old glory followed as they ran out easy winners.
For Street it was the old, old story of promising much but failing to deliver, old heading to new pastures with the points in the bag.
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Nuffield Arms Mangled
Stung by last weeks' defeats, Street were in bold mood today, and the team put in probably their best performance to date.
In a faultless display, they took to the cleaners their once-mighty 11-0 conquerors the Nuffield Arms with the kind of daz-zling team effort all experienced Street-watchers knew they were capable of, but has only previously been apparent in tantalisingly short spins.
Their 3-0 win smelled extra sweet as it was a lead of that magnitude that Street had thrown away against Nuffield in the first match of this season. Clean sheets are a rarity with the Street boys, but today their laundry was crisp and white, with the defence demonstrating ariel superiority. Midfield were persilstent in their tackling, and the attack pegged it along the line tirelessly.
3 points to the Street!
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Forget It
A dreadful pitch, a freezing day, several Streets below par, and Beckley fielding former Street star Sajad Ali on the bench. This was a recipe for disaster for Union, and so it proved.
A combination of defensive errors and general lacklustreness led to them being 3-0 down at half-time and facing a thrashing to end their unbeaten run in the Doug Hobbs. Things improved somewhat in the second half, the final scoreline reading 4-1, but in all fairness this is one the Street and their followers will want to put behind them quickly.
Let's hope for less of this in 2002, and more of last week. Merry Christmas Street fans everywhere. And as a special seasonal gift, here's a picture of Doug Hobbs, a manager at EQE International, Houston Texas:
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New Kit Lunched Out - Doug Hobbs Progress Hopes Recede
In the Doug Hobbs Cup, preparation is everything. It will be remembered that Street gained an unlikely point against the mighty North Oxford Reserves a few weeks ago in this tournament, this after Res had inflicted Street's heaviest defeat of the season a few weeks earlier. Many insiders will tell you that the difference in the second match was all about preparation. Players arrived to find their kit neatly laid out in numerically consecutive fashion, and this gave them an immediate psychological advantage.
This week, Street found themselves up against Gladiators: the team who had inflicted Street's second heaviest defeat of the season. Preparation, or on this occasion lack of it, was the key to the end result. Players arrived to find no kit neatly laid out: indeed no kit at all. It finally arrived 5 mins before kick-off.
Street's is not a blame culture, so the fact that this week's kitman James clean forgot to add the kit to his list of things to bring with him to the match should under no circumstances be held against him when one considers that Street lost 4-2. Let's just hope that lessons have been learned, and collective responsibility wins through.
Not to worry, eh? To cheer you all up, here's Doug Hobbs, the Assistant Director of Buildings and Grounds at the Irving Independent School District, Texas:
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Couling 'Off' Period Leads to Heated Exchange
Union's mission of playing the beatiful game in a spirit of fraternal goodwill was sorely tested today as tempers frayed during their second encounter of the season against Old Headington.
Knee-high two-footed tackles and playground-level abuse appeared to be the order of the day, and remonstration with the referee led only to the booking of Street's handsome, prolific, latin-tempered lothario lo Cascio.
1-0 down against a tough team, Street refused to lie down, and it was only in the last quarter of an hour that the game slipped beyond them, ultimately losing 3-0.
Of the RT Harris cups, the Couling towers over the others as the one to win, but this will not be Street's year and they must now consolidate their near-mid-table standing in both the league and Doug Hobbs. Good luck, Street, your corinthian spirit continues to inspire this column.
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12-Pointer Tension - Street Snap
Double trouble for the Street as they foundered against a there-for-the-taking East Oxford 3-1. The match counted for both the Doug Hobbs and the league, so was a costly loss.
It was a game Union could and should have won, but it seems that like Andy Williams in reverse we can't get used to winning.
However, if you look closely at the picture below, you can see Doug Hobbs of the Habitat for Humanity De Kalb County chapter, standing top right.
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Arms Cash In on Street's Meagre Resources
Nuffield Arms raced to a 6-0 half-time lead against a Street team decimated by 'visiting friends', 'injuries', and mid-winter breaks that forced 5 changes to last week's team and only 10 men on their half of the field.
Nuffield, unlike Street, still had a chance of progressing in the Doug Hobbs, and they did that chance no harm at all by improving their goal average by 7 at the finish.
A sorry day for the Street. Still, here's Doug Hobbs, to cheer us all up, on a trip to Niagra Falls in 1967. He is of course first on the left at the back.
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Street Get The Point
A cracking game this one in all senses of the word, particularly for captain Neil 'Marvellous' Murphy, who may have broken something in his foot. Hurrying off to the casualty department at Roman Way Sports and Social Club after the game, he iced it and kept it elevated for an hour, as well as getting his foot attended to, so hopefully all will be well. Neil - all the best, son.
Back to the match, and fair-do's to Fairview who played their part in making this such a fine game for the neutral. Taking the lead after 5 minutes, Fairview were somewhat taken aback by the ferocious Street response, as they raced into a 2-1 lead at half-time courtesy of a Mozley missile and an og.
Street have to learn how to kill games off though, and having missed several chances to do so they succumbed with 10 minutes remaining, the spoils ultimately being shared. Special mention to Danny 'Kaye' Kavanagh for a great stand-in goalie performance.
A draw was probably a fair result. It'll come, Street, it'll come!
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Special Coen Brothers Report
Having beaten East Oxford 15-1 last week Barton clearly expected a similar result against Street to be a bloody simple matter. But we were prepared. Raising our 'zone' attitude before the game, we frustrated the opposition.After half an hour of Street's stonewalling, Barton's demeanour became considerably more bitter, as if they collectively had sucked a poxy lemon.This humbling experience surely made Barton think twice about taking the Street for granted.
With a strong wind that would suit only a team of millers, crossing accurately was a challenge, and quality long balls were at a minimum.
It's a measure of how far gone the Union team are in their fanatical support for each other that they had 5 willing substitutes on hand today. Comparisons with the self-sacrifice of the Spartans could in no way be considered to be glib. Our ski-ing expert Martin Scarfe returned from the piste to be among their number, and came on to rapturous applause in the second half.
Barton finally broke the deadlock and won 5-0, with the Street faithful thinking "Oh bother!Where are those victories to come from?" A thought to allay those worries:
Since East Oxford lost by 14 goals to Barton, and we only lost 5-0. and even though East Oxford have (flukily) beaten us 3-1 twice already this season, then it follows that we are capable of beating East Oxford by 5 clear goals all things being equal. You know it makes sense!
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Garbage
2-2 at half time
2-8 at full time
What else is there to say?
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Our Friends in the North Win Out
A match dominated by the friendliness between the teams, contrasting with the rather less amicable exchanges within the teams - perhaps a touch too much blustering on an ironically calm day weather-wise.
Like a defective binary code, this game had 0-0 written all over it. Street were ahead on balance at the end of the first half, and though North were shading the second there looked to be little in it.
One cruel piece of luck saw Street slip to another defeat as the ball was tucked inside the post just out of reach of the despairing Body. One was always going to win the match and so it proved, with North claiming all three.
The only other points of note were the two bookings, or as we would prefer to say misunderstandings, incurred by the Street. The first when our Spanish midfield maestro Ramon had a deft flick interpreted as kicking the ball away, and the second when a polite enquiry of the linesman by Buckland was somehow heard as a torrent of vile abuse. As if the proud men of Union Street would stoop to such misbehaviour!
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Recent Resume
Hi sports fans. Man in the Dugout has gone to the Farmoor Riviera for his midwinter break with a bevvy of beauties and a gallon of rum. In the interim let me fill you in on some recent events for the Street.
There have been two more games played, against Cavalier and Gladiators. The Cavalier game produced a ref who hardly deserved the title, and the game was ruined by a man more whistle-happy than a boiling kettle. Street lost by the narrowest of margins 3-1, but played all the football.
The Gladiators game was Street's first foray into the day/night match, and their rather more relaxed approach resulted in a 6-1 defeat to the team who treated it as a warm up for their Saturday game in the Doug Hobbs Final, which they also won, albeit by a narrower margin. So congrats to them, and hey, Street, next midweek it's the Community Church. What more incentive could one need?
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Street Suffer from Chance Conversion
Street gave themselves little chance as Churches converted two of theirs in another fairly dour religious encounter. Solid enough defensively, Street had little to offer going forward, chance creation nothing more than a myth, replaced by an endless purgatory of misdirected passes.
The dry, arid surface reflected the condition of many Street players' joints, and it is possible that the missing ingredient for the team is a skilled physio, to put the team 'in good hands'. Whilst most of the team have attempted to find some solace by administering their own soft-tissue manipulation, it may be that a more professional approach could provide greater relief. Please apply in complete confidence via the guestbook should you be in a position to offer assistance.
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Glad it's All Over
Union entertained Gladiators at Sandy Lane with a strong first-half performance which promised great things, the score being as it was 0-0 at half-time.
Sadly this proved yet another false dawn for the Street. Gladiators' star shone brightest with a wonder goal which was the beginning of the end. Street succumbed to relentless pressure, and Gladdies bloomed with a 3-0 finish.
As with ITV Digital,the Street are so far finding midweek fixtures highly unprofitable.
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Four-gone Conclusion
Beckley away - always a tough encounter. But 0-0 at half-time, and having hit the bar, gave hope.
That hope was met by less to describe Street's early second half performance. 4 goals in 20 minutes ruined all the earlier good work, and the frustration was compounded by street's performance in the latter half, when they threatened to get into Beckley's last third at least twice.
An unsavoury incident at the end of the game leading to a Beckley dismisal spoiled an otherwise friendly encounter, but then the lad could perhaps be forgiven his indiscretion, given that his brain cell was clearly a stranger to him. Let's just hope he finds it soon.
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Street fails Latest Tet Test
An eccentric defensive lineup forced upon the Street by various injuries, unavailabilities, and disabilities was always going to struggle against a strong Tetsworth team.
So it proved with more midweek misery for the Street, this time conceding five without reply.
Hats off though to the warm and friendly Tetsworth welcome (bar one crazed fan) and the excellent post-match refreshment. Why are village teams' refreshments always the best?
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Unbeaten Run Extended
The wheels came off Cavalier's season as they crashed in the Street's fortress Sandy Lane. The 2-0 scoreline hardly did justice to a dominant Street display, with back-to-fitness first-choice keeper Body barely called upon in the second half.
One goal in the fifteenth minute of each half was enough, though more could easily have come, with long periods of Street pressure. This was the all-round team performance par excellence Street has been threatening to put on all season. Rather than the usual 'good half', today we were treated to a display of vintage quality. Congrats also to stand-in ref, Mark Ginsburg, whose calm authority exuded from every pore of his almost too-perfect skin.
Counting the last ten minutes of the Tetsworth game, Street have now gone over 100 minutes without conceding a goal. Add to that the time when Street are not actually in action, it is now several days since Street conceded. Well done lads!
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Street Beaten
Street's last midweek fixture of the season at Sandy Lane against North Oxford Reserves brought little but pain and torment after Saturday's scenes of unconfined joy. The torment of losing 5-1 to a team they have previously drawn against, and the pain to the head suffered by midfield playmaker Alex, poleaxed by a thuggish punch and forced to retire hurt from the game.
His assailant was ordered from the field, but the loss was most keenly felt by the Street, who up until that ugly incident had, like so many footballers in a defesive wall, been holding their own.
Two more to play - can Street gain the points that might, like so many large sophisticated flotation devices on a barnacle-encrusted wreck, lift them off the bottom?
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Barton Bag Brace Plus One
This was the sort of game Street would have got thrashed in last season. It is a measure of their progress that they held their own until a couple of knocks to key players dented their legs and the team's shape.
'Wunderkind' signing Rech was proving a handful for the Barton defence until a 'full blooded' challenge led to his substitution at half time. Shortly thereafter rock-like central defender Ben was equally unceremoniously flattened, and had to withdraw. Street's shape went somewhat, and they ended up going down 3-0, having hit the bar and had other chances.
Perhaps the number of recent 'firm challenges' and unsavoury incidents are a measure of opposing teams' frustration at the indomitable spirit of the Street, refusing as they do, unlike so many Reliant Robins, to roll over when cornered?
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Goals Galore Floor Fairview
3-0 to the Street! As Errol Brown might have sung,
"So Une win again
We win again
Fairview stand again
The losers
And just for fun
We start an unbeaten run
The run has just begun
It will confuse us"
Indeed, Union's best ever end of season run-in may yet see them lifted off the bottom of the table. It's all in other teams hands, up for grabs in the lap of the gods. Whatever, the 'view' will be set 'fair' for Street next season. Well done one and all!
(Mr Errol Brown out of 'Hot Chocolate' and his 'winning' smile)
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