After a run of poor form by 3M's standards they bounced back with a fine 4-0 victory v Prince. After a couple of withdrawals we welcomed back to the fold Fletcher and Noble. Fletcher went straight into the starting line up as 3M looked to change their fortunes by ditching the 4-3-3 which had served them well over the past year and a half and opted for a 4-4-2 formation with Fletcher being paired with Bailey up front. As with most matches this season 3M once again looked to dominate possession and territory against a Prince side who have caused a few problems in the past. Not long into the game and from a Tyler corner Green rose to head the ball goal wards, the keeper standing well behind his goal line pushed the ball away, the ball found it's way to Bailey who's shot was blocked and went off for a corner, or not as the ref decided it was a goal kick much to Bailey's amazement! Having seen the TV replay's and frame by frame shot's it was inconclusive as to whether Green's header had crossed the line. Tyler and the camera crew claimed the ball had crossed the line, despite the ref being in perfect position was it a case of being too close to see?? Surely goal-line technology has to come into play soon! Was this to be another one of those days for 3m, fear not as Tyler lashed home a volley shortly after following Bailey's flick on from Stark's throw in for his tenth goal of the season. Fletcher and Bailey were causing problems with their movement and pressurising the Prince defence. With Atkinson and Dixon giving plenty of width down the flanks. A couple more chances came 3M's way with Earl and Tyler having a couple of long range efforts each and Bailey and Fletcher combining nicely but without a goal arising from some good play. 3M did double the lead just after the half hour make when Bailey closed down a defender and robbed him of the ball, he broke into the box and squared the ball for Atkinson to net his first goal of the season. 3M's defence had rarely been troubled the whole half but in what may have been a decisive moment in the game a throw in was header on by a Prince player which had Atkins back peddling to save the ball, his save though fell at a Prince players feet, from 6 yards out he surely must score, but no, as Atkins fell to the floor the Prince player fired straight at Atkins who managed to cling on to the ball. So half-time, 2-0 and cruising, with seen this scenario before!!
The 2nd half began in the same manner as the first with 3M having lots of possession and looking relaxed stroking the ball around the pitch nicely. Earl and Tyler were bossing the midfield but not much was happening either end in terms of goal mouth action. Bailey and Fletcher had a couple of strikes at goal but fairly comfortable for the Keeper. Having left this a while before writing i can't remember which came first but Prince did manage to hit the crossbar with a strike from just outside the box in what would be there only really effort of note in the 2nd half. Atkins took it upon himself to go on a mazy run to the half-way line before carelessly giving the ball away, obviously bored as he'd asked for a coffee and a sandwich such was the attacking threat from Prince. During all this excitement 3M bagged 2 more goals in quick succession. Firstly Tyler doubled his tally in a similar move as his first goal arriving in the box to steer the ball home between the keeper's legs from Fletcher's flick. Within a minute 3M made it 4-0, to top off an impressive performance from Earl he latched on to the ball after Atkinson's block tackle. Earl surged into the penalty area and rounded the keeper and slot the ball home. All in all a very impressive performance with several players putting in top notch efforts. In what was a tough choice to make, Tyler was given the mom for his 2 goals, constant running and some sublime passing. Earl ran him very close as the pair dominated the midfield which lay the platform for the 3 points.
