Report

Parks reserves completed the 2011/12 season with the long trip to Richmond to face relegation threatened Weirside Rangers and returned with a deserved victory despite a host of absentees.

Rich Cawser made his first start in goal and Faical Orakzai his first start in attack, replacing Tom Clark and Jack Sykes-Wood respectively, Matt Hart replaced Ed Buxton and the only other change from the game against AP was the return of Andy Jackson to partner Dave Jones in defence, and Rob Melvill returning on the bench.

The pattern of the game was set early on with Parks having the most of possession and Weirside looking to press for mistakes. With the visitors struggling to penetrate a well organised Weirside back line there were few chances at either end.

Parks were dealt a blow after 15 minutes when Jackson was forced off with a knee injury and Jones injuring his ankle 5 minutes later which limited (his far from impressive anyway....) mobility significantly. Melville came on for Jackson and slotted in excellently.

It is fair to say the first half would not make many highlights reels as Parks struggled to move the ball with the quality they have throughout this season and the hosts struggled to get in behind Parks back four, unsurprisingly it was goalless at half time.

HT: Weirside 0-0 Parks

The hosts had their brightest spell after the break but struggled to create any clear cut chances. Their only clear cut opportunity in the game came when their right winger broke through after an excellent reverse pass but as he lined up a shot his effort was blocked by an excellent recovering challenge from Graham Holiday.

With the effect of their pressing game becoming evident the hosts began to tire as the match progressed. With twenty minutes to go their defender tried to shepherd a hopeful ball out of play but was dispossessed through the persistence of Orakzai, who having won the ball, cut inside and lashed an excellent shot past the keeper.

The game began to open up in midfield with both sides having more space as the hosts pushed men on searching for the equaliser. Joe Simmons almost doubled Parks lead when put in space by Dave Worthington's excellent switch, but his delicious 20 yard effort sailed inches wide of the post with the Weirside keeper stranded.

Parks got the goal which killed the game off with ten minutes to go. Having bundled through an initial challenge Worthington beat two more defenders with an excellent dummy and then squared for Orakzai to tap home from close range.

Matt Hart had a couple of long range attempts late on which would have rounded off an excellent display from the youngster, whose performance illustrated the strength in depth that Parks have coming through the club.

FT: Weirside 0-2 Parks

Parks finish their season with a win and in earning more points than last year and winning the Old Boys Cup this can be considered a good season but those involved with the Reserve side for the last couple of years will be hoping for promotion next year. We wish Weirside the best of luck in their remaining game and their quest for safety.

Lastly, I will copy Jamo and sign the season off with a tongue in cheek look back at some of the highs and lows of those regularly involved with the 2s, I hope you all have a good Summer:

Keyser - High - most assists by a GK in Parks history. Low - being made to play in goal every week

Bancroft - High – terrorising Waterloo station following the Old Boys Cup win "My old boy's Cup medal, mmmm this is awkward…...” Low – having intimate parts of his anatomy being broadcast online every week and making up football cliché’s: “Big Switch”, “long short”, “Don't be heroes”, I could go on....

DJ – High - making Pacino's speech sound like a ramble and a 100% success rate with the 2 pint trick in season 2011/12 (and thanks again to Leon and Buxton). Low – walking half a mile to buy himself a “decent” pair of goalkeeping gloves ahead of his debut in that position and conceding 75% of the efforts on target he faced.

Jackson – High - saving the best performance of his career for a Cup Final. Low - introducing Buxton to his girlfriend.

Doree – High - spreading observational put downs all the way to Hounslow (#beakface), Low - Big H's "you've got your mothers knees" diagnosis of his ruptured knee ligament.

Nappy – High - retiring on the back of an Old Boys Cup Victory which included scoring a "worldy". Low – trying and failing to sell himself as a gambling consultant (#nappysfoorytipsmyarse).

Cantwell – High – “I've taken a side to a Cup win, what have you done?” Low - forgetting he had a half time team talk to do at Old Finchleans.

Burt - High - coming from nowhere to become a mainstay of the Reserves side. Low - letting himself and his family down with his attempt at filling that bottle after the semi-final, "I'm desperate, I'll have to get off, tell the driver to stop the train"

Leon – High - frimponging the post Old Boys Cup victory sing song. Low - reaching lows an Oxford graduate (even if it was only English Lit) should not on the train post the semi-final victory.

Sykes-Wood – High - being mistaken for Fernando Torres by an 8 yr old Cup Final spectator, marginally beating the Cup Final winning goal itself. Low - bringing the greatest football tactician outside the professional game to help with the team talk away at Lats.

Simmo - High - earning five very intoxicated Parks a free night at the Savoy. Low - tough call between the purple diamond encrusted watch or the "shinny superglue" post Xmas hair product.

Buxton – High – giving all team members the platform to put “Are yoouuuu” in front of any two syllable word and sound like they are from the ghetto. Closely followed by his believing he has the physical strength to overpower anyone in the SAL and "the most powerful shot in the team", Low - mentioning it in his one and only match report.

Tromans - High, making Martin Keown's celebration of Van Nistelrooy's penalty miss look timid in the wake of our last minute equaliser at Cholmelians. Low – only finishing second in the “wrecking your knee to win a Cup” competition.

Worthington – High - guaranteeing at least one defence slicing mazy run every game. Low - guaranteeing at least four misplaced back heels every game (I'll ignore the weekly attire, turtle headers, the shortest appearance in Parks history, etc...)

From me, that’s your lot….x