Report by Tom Beck

Watford IFC extended their unbeaten run to eight games, seven of which victories, with a convincing 6-1 away win at Hampton & Richmond IFC this Saturday. The win was also the club’s 300th in all competitions since formation in 1997

The Internet “Orns, fresh from a coveted ‘six point Saturday’ the previous weekend, kicked into strong winds in the first half but dealt admirably with the conditions to lead 1-0 at the break. The opening goal, which owed much to Ben Kelly’s persistence down the left, arrived on the half hour mark with Mark O’Connor slotting home from close range. The effort was the striker’s eight goal in his debut season for the club, pushing him clear in the scoring charts. The away side had chances to extend their lead before the break too, the most glaring of which falling to Ross Connor but the usually clinical striker couldn’t score when well placed.

The second half started in similar fashion and before long WIFC had added a second goal, a Hampton player getting the final touch as a ball was whipped across the six yard box. This was the start of a superb fifteen minute spell for the men in yellow in which they added two further goals. Ben Kelly’s deft touch from a cross field ball made it 3-0 and opened his scoring account for the club, player-manager Rich Walker then curled in the fourth directly from a corner.

The visitors flooded forward in search of further goals but, much to the annoyance of the excellent John Sitkowski at centre back, failed to notice Hampton’s industrious left winger on the break. He finished superbly from the edge of the area to reduce the arrears, notching the goal of the game in the process. The home side came close to a second shortly after, however captain Matt Williams found the side netting with the goal at his mercy. Watford heeded the warning though and removed any doubt about the result with further goals from Stu Nicholls, who tucked away a penalty after O’Connor was fouled in the box, and Ben Pegram’s late strike from an angle, taking his season tally to 4.

Team: Tom Beck; Matt Ainsley, David Sitkowski, John Sitkowski, Stuart Nicholls; Ben Pegram, Dan Butterick, Ben Kelly, Richard Murphy, Ross Connor, Mark O’Connor.

Subs (all used): Richard Walker, Stuart Holdham, Ben Bateman, Brad Simmons.

WIFC extended their unbeaten run to 7 games with a six goal win against Walsall, on a cold West Midlands morning. Having taken one of the largest squads to an away game in a long time, all 16 players saw plenty of action. A ten minute spell in the first half effectively settled the outcome and completed the first half of a ‘six point Saturday’ win double thanks to the big boys win at Aston Villa.

Andy Myall was first onto the scoresheet when he collected a fine Richard Murphy pass and finished in style. The lead was doubled almost immediately when a half cleared corner was returned with interest by James Jenkins. Lamar St Cyr then burst in from the right wing to finish from an acute angle. Right on the break, WIFC added a 4th when Tom Smithson connected with Joel Moody’s corner and sent a thumping header into the top corner.

Any hopes of a Walsall comeback in the second half were quickly removed when Myall added a second, tapping home after a goalmouth scramble and Dave Soloway completed the scoring when teed up perfectly by Moody. Keeper Tom Beck then made a fine full length save to ensure his first clean sheet of the season. The whole defence contributed, none less than Matt Ainsley, who put in a man of the match performance as a makeshift centre half and the returning stalwart Paul Labbett.

Team. 4-4-2, R to L. Tom Beck; Cleveland Brandy, Matt Ainsley, Dan Butterick, Ben Pegram; Lamar St Cyr, Richard Murphy, James Jenkins, Andy Myall; Jeremy Hinds, Mark O’Connor. Subs Paul Labbett, Joel Moody, Ed Sterry, Dave Soloway, Tom Smithson.

HAVING opened the 2015/16 season with 5 defeats, WIFC extended their unbeaten run to six games with a comfortable 5-0 win against Leyton Orient at a soggy Woodside today. The home side were off to another fast start when Tom Smithson headed home a Ben Pegram corner with only a minute on the clock. Smithson then turned provider to feed Dan Butterick, who showed some neat footwork to dig the ball out from under his feet and curl a shot into the bottom corner.

Joel Moody’s missed penalty didn’t distract the Internet ‘Orns too much as they kept the pressure on their hardworking visitors. Captain Ally Hill opened his account for the season with a close range finish at the second time of asking and then turned provider with a storming run and cross which was finished with a crafty chip from Charlie Wood, who followed his hat-trick against West Ham with his 4th of the season.

The second half arguably saw WIFC play better and create more clear-cut chances than the first, but a combination of wayward finishing, good goalkeeping and last ditch defending from a dogged Orient side kept the scoreline at 4 until Ross Connor finished high into the corner after a great pass from Hill, whose goal and 2 assists saw him named man of the match.

Team. 4-4-2, R to L. Jez Hinds; Brad Simmons, John Sitkowski, Ben Bateman, Dave Sitkowski; Ben Pegram, Ally Hill (c), Dan Butterick, Joel Moody; Tom Smithson, Charlie Wood. Subs Paul Withey, Ross Connor, Ed Sterry, Richard Walker.

Watford IFC ended a 17 game winless run against West Ham supporters this Saturday, with an entertaining 5-3 win at Cassiobury Park.

Despite not beating their East London opponents in a full fixture since the 2007/08 season, the Internet ‘Orns dominated the opening 20 minutes and found themselves 3-0 up. First Tom Smithson grabbed his second for the club, after notching in a recent victory at MK Dons, then Charlie Wood opened his own account with two well taken finishes. Whilst bucking the recent trend again West Ham, the 3-0 scoreline was the least Watford deserved for a high tempo, direct, and disciplined opening period of the match.

The home side couldn’t carry this performance through to the break though, West Ham capitalising on slack marking at a set piece to head themselves back into the game. At this point the visitors were enjoying more of the ball, winning the 50-50s, and pushing WIFC increasingly back to their penalty box.

It was the home side who’d score next though, and take a 4-1 lead into half time, as Ben Pegram’s cross come shot took a fortuitous bounce over the shoulder of the West Ham keeper. It was very much against the run of play and masked the visitors latter dominance.

Although warned at half time, WIFC struggled to match their earlier fine play and again conceded. This time a poor clearance fell to West Ham’s Will Bush and he bent a shot in from the edge of the box. The home side were then indebted to Jeremy Hinds’ fine reaction save, tipping a close range header onto the underside of the bar.

Much like the first half, WIFC found themselves up against it but broke to score a decisive goal. Charlie Wood battled down the left before cutting in and grabbing his hat trick with a firmly hit effort. He becomes the second player to open his scoring account for the club with a hat trick this season, following Mark O’Connor’s four goal haul against Tranmere.

As time ticked on West Ham would score again, this time from the penalty spot, but Watford held on and extended their unbeaten run to five games. It was a deserved win on the balance of play and nicely set up a six point Saturday, with the big boys following suit in the afternoon.

Team: Jez Hinds; Dave Morren, Mike De-Crescenzo, Dan Butterick, Matt Ainsley; Richard Murphy, Stuart Holdham, Ally Hill, Ben Pegram; Charlie Wood, Tom Smithson. Subs Tom Beck, Panos Fellas, Andy Myall, Mark O’Connor, Ben Bateman.

AFTER notching their first win of the season last time out, WIFC racked up a convincing 7-2 win at MK Dons this morning. After 5 defeats on the spin since the start of the 2015/16 campaign, WIFC’s 20th season of IFA football, the Internet ‘Orns have struck 12 times in the two wins to get the season back on track.

Manager Richard Walker rallies the troops pre-match

After a fast start during which Tom Smithson and Dave Sitkowski both went close, WIFC took the lead after Smithson was tripped in the box and Ben Pegram slotted home the resulting spot kick. WIFC were indebted to a Jez Hinds save as MK attacked from the restart and it was soon 2-0 as the home keeper dropped a high Pegram cross and Mark O’Connor bundled home the loose ball.

Mark O’Connor continued his goalscoring start in style

WIFC kept up the early pace and O’Connor scored again shortly afterwards, sliding in to convert a low Smithson cross, while Smithson and Dan Butterick both drew good saves from the home keeper. WIFC completed a strong first half display when Dave Soloway powerfully headed home a Pegram corner.

The challenge for the second half was to keep performance levels high, but it took a dubious goal from the home side to spark WIFC back into life. A superbly worked free-kick restored the 4 goal advantage when Jimmy Davis’s smart chipped free-kick set Lamar St Cyr away, his cross diverted for a deserved first goal for the club by Smithson.

Jimmy Davis capped his latest return from injury with a fine display in midfield

MK Dons added a second when a long ball was converted by the centre forward but as legs tired and gaps opened, WIFC were able to add two more. Davis finished smartly after good work from Solway, then O’Connor completed consecutive hat-tricks when he tapped in after being teed up perfectly by Richard Murphy.

John Sitkowski’s excellent display, after being moved inside to centre half after an early injury to Moz Clarke, saw him win the inaugural ‘Morecambe Pennant MOM’ award

Hampton & Richmond await next weekend, while the 2014/15 awards will be dished out that evening at the traditional venue, Ali Baba’s in Watford.

Team. 4-4-2, `R to L.
Jez Hinds; John Sitkowski, Moz Clarke, Stu Nicholls, Dave Sitkowski; Ben Pegram, Dan Butterick, Lamar St-Cyr, Richard Murphy; Tom Smithson, Mark O’Connor. Subs Cleveland Brandy, David Morren, Dave Soloway, Jimmy Davis.

All the results and stats from 2015/16

Overall Record

Results and Scorers

Appearances

Scorers

WIFC will close their 2014/15 campaign with a trip to the North West tomorrow, to take on the fans of Preston North End on their hallowed Deepdale turf. The match is being played as part of PNE manager Simon Grayson’s efforts to raise money for Prostate Cancer, with both teams making a contribution to the fund which currenty stands at over £20,000.

Deepdale will host the IFA teams of Watford and Preston tomorrow.

The game holds a further significance for the Preston supporters team, who celebrate their tenth anniversary in 2015. ‘Watford were our first ever opponents back in 2005 and as we celebrate this, our tenth year as an IFA side and our 50th year as a supporters team, it’s right and fitting that Watford will again be our opponents to mark this occasion’ explained PNE manager Steve Cowell. ‘We will follow the Watford boys back down the M6 as we make our way to London for Sundays League One Play Off Final V Swindon. To say we’re looking forward to this weekend is an understatement’ added Cowell.

Plenty of fresh faces on show for both teams in that initial 2005 meeting

For WIFC’s part, the game is a fitting end to one of the best seasons for years. Currently 3rd in the national league, the team is once again going from strength to strength as the Internet ‘Orns finish their 18th season of IFA football. ‘We are delighted to have been invited’ said WIFC’s Dave Messenger. ‘We’ve had many an enjoyable game with Preston since being their first opponents and are looking forward to another on the famous Deepdale turf tomorrow. It’s also a feather in the cap for our brilliant fixtures organiser Tom Beck, who has been instrumental in getting this game on.. our 24th of the season and we’re suitably delighted to have made the new mark for league games’.

Action from one of the many good games between the two sides

The game will be the 12th meeting between the two sides since that 3-3 draw back in August 2005. The 2008 WorldNet final was the most memorable, as two regular IFA league sides contested the final of the IFA’s showpiece tournament for one of the few times in the history of the event. Preston won by the single goal, while Watford were left wondering what might have been had Paul Watt converted a second half penalty.

The huge ‘what if’ moment as Paul Watt lines up his spot kick in the 2008 Worldnet final

A full record of WIFC’s games against Preston is below.

Details of Simon Grayson’s fund-raising for Prostate Cancer can be found on the link below;

https://www.justgiving.com/Simon-Grayson2015/

WIFC finished another great year of IFA football with a 4th win in 5 games against a typically spirited Dagenham & Redbridge side at a frosty Met Police this Saturday. Ross Connor got the Internet ‘Orns off to a flier when he tapped in a Steve Eustice cross after just 5 minutes, and Connor doubled the lead with his 12th of the season soon after, when he finished sweetly following an excellent cross-field pass from Joel Moody. Dave Soloway completed the first half scoring when he scored his 4th in 3 games and 6th of the season from close range at the second bite of the cherry, following a good stop to his initial effort.

The second half saw more chances and it was Moody who scored the 4th, though the visiting keeper will feel he could’ve done better with the low strike. Soloway also had the ball in the net twice more though both were ruled offside. At the other end, with Tom Beck closing in on a first clean sheet, the visitors efforts were rewarded when Ben Bateman slice into his own net. WIFC restored the 4 goal cushion when Mark Brennan’s left foot finish completed the scoring.

ASKED to give all they had to deny a talented West Bromwich Albion side the room they craved to operate in, Watford IFC responded in quite magnificent fashion to manager Richard Walker’s instructions. No one personified the high-tempo pressing game which kept the scores locked at 0-0 for nearly an hour more than Stuart Nicholls – who led the way from the front alongside Ross Connor.

Richard Murphy and Rob Stone provided effervescence and top-notch graft in midfield while Matt Ainsley and Brad Simmons impressed in the full-back positions. Just before Boing FC notched their first of five high-quality second-half goals, Warren Flanagan – in WIFC action for the first time in over a year – enjoyed the host’s best chance when put clean through but slipped the ball just wide of a post.

It was one-way traffic once visitors Albion broke through but there were opposition compliments aplenty at full-time for a defiant WIFC display which epitomised the spirit and togetherness shown in recent weeks.

Man of the Match Stu Nicholls led from the front

Position – Right Back
DOB – 26/3/1996
Debut v Barnsley September 2013

Matt is another of the players who is ridiculously close to being younger than WIFC itself – he was a mere 14 months old when the club started. Despite this, he’s been welcomed into the fold along with his Dad, Jerry and has improved vastly since his debut, winning his first MOM award at Gillingham during 2014/15. While at Nottingham Uni, Matt made a useful start to his stint with the WIFC pikey student mantle, eating a load of sauces to win some loose change in a pub before the Charlton game.

Matt’s Q and A

Describe yourself in a sentence
(They obviosuly don’t teach reading at Nottingham Uni, Matt didn’t answer this one. Idiot)

What was the first WFC game you went to and what can you remember about it
Can’t remember first game however first away game was Macclesfield in the third round of the fa cup. Won 2-0

Finest ever WFC memory
Finest memory was beating Leicester in the play offs

Worst away trip
Bristol City on a Tuesday night drew 0-0. Smith missed a penalty.

WIFC Playing highlight
Ipswich home

Favourite WIFC moment
London Cup final

All-time favourite Watford player
Helguson

All-time favourite Watford XI (not the best players – your favourites)
Foster, Hodson, Dyche, DeMerit, Taylor, Smith, Buckley, Abdi, Young, Helguson and Forestieri.

Red shorts or black?
Black shorts.