Match Report

This win should not be underestimated. The opposition was capable of dragging us in to a dogfight but we continued to believe we could win, playing aggressive attacking football and won comfortably.

6-0 and all in the second half! Our second half performances this year already reads scored 9 conceded 0. We had not won since 4th December 2004. A couple of the new players were already saying that we need to get into the habit of winning, and believing in ourselves. The first half we hit the post, crossbar and had a couple of one on ones saved or go wide. Really the same as the other games, however this time we were combative at the back with Steve and Todd aware of the threats that came raining in. Colin B on the left, easily getting the better of his man, and attacking and linking with the midfield. Joe on the right really looking composed at this position now and beginning to see signs of keeping goal side and putting in the crucial tackles. Our midfield was excellent, Alex hardly losing a single header all day, and running at the full back, Richard C really challenging and creating, Neil driving forward (and back!) to snuff out the Wickham Park midfield and Ben Tompkins having a great game getting in the challenges and attacking down the wing.
Chris V upfront running into excellent positions and very quick to turn a half chance into a scoring effort. I was doing the donkey work, getting the ball for the others to run on to.

Ivor was hardly troubled in the first half, (forward bumped into him early on and he quietened down after that!) which again was a sign that we are learning to keep the ball and wait to pass into good positions instead of hitting and hoping.

With 10 minutes gone in the second half, Ivor passed out to Steve, who passed along the back four to Colin, he got the ball to Alex who was flying in from the wing, passed a player and fired it into the top right hand corner from 25 yards, a blistering goal!

Then we continued with attacking, not content with a goal we all felt there was more to come. Alex getting a headed second from one of many excellent corners taken by Joe that flew into the roof of the net. Chris V was next after a great pass down the line from Colin, for Chris to run on to and slot home. Then it was Ben’s turn to receive the ball from me down the line and continue a darting run, cut in and fire past the keeper at his near post. Alex got his hat trick after a cross from Ben found Chris who hooked it on to Alex to deservedly complete his 3 goal jug. Ben finished nicely with a screamer across goal after again running and taking on a player.

Naturally the goal scorers should take credit, but it was down to commitment from the whole team that we did not concede. Ivor took the pressure off with good kicking. We kept good possession in midfield and the forwards did their bit to allow the midfield to have the ball wide and get a cross in, for Richard, and Neil to challenge and win more possession.

Colin R and Lee S both came on with a good 15 minutes or more left. Both did very well, with Colin solid and calm under pressure, and Lee setting up Ben’s last goal with a slide rule pass. Those last 15/20 minutes are crucial in every game and it was great to see the subs coming on and being really up with the whole tempo of the game from the start. As a squad (not squid, if you read last weeks report!) we can be successful.

Cup game this week, let’s enjoy the game, and remind ourselves how much we enjoyed the rest of the weekend by winning again!

ps curry at the Village Cuisine this Saturday evening!!!