A strong display today sees the Spartans victorious and another 3 points on the board, in our 2nd away win of the season.
The keeper and back 3 were unchanged today with Jordan in the net, Gregson right side, Baker on the left and Jan in the middle. There was change at wing backs and in midfield with Kris and Jano back in there favoured holding roles with Rubis and Hudak eithier side on the right and left respectively. Jordan started further up this week just behind the strikers meaning Iccy was also pushed up the pitch partnering Tom in the front line.
The game started slow with Sparta struggling to get going, we were caught out with our shape and a few miss timed passes letting Aylestone get in and have a few early chances which they should have done better. Some good defensive work from centre half’s Baker, Gregson and Jan supported by wing backs Rubis and Hudak kept the score level.
After 20 mins we started to get our shape and began to take control of the game, the midfield 3 of Kris, Jano and Jordan looked to create every chance they could and made the middle of the park a real dog fight for the opposition. A few chances passed by with strikers Iccy and Tom coming close on a couple of occasions. Eventually we broke the deadlock with a lovely bit of football through midfield and a ball was played out left to Hudak, who went on a powerful run down the line beating his man and whipping in a rocket of a cross. After a great bit of strength to beat the centre half and the keeper in the air the cross was met by the head of Tom who finished for a well deserved goal 1 - 0 Sparta.
We continued to build momentum for the remainder of the half, through some creative play from Kris and Jano and some great work rate from Tom, Jord and Iccy in the front 3. Hudak, Rubis and Jord K were constant outlets looking to play out wide and from the back whenever they could.
The 2nd half began much like the 1st finished with Sparta dominant all over the pitch and very well organised starting from the leadership of Jan, Gregson and Baker at the back.
After just over 15 minutes the first subs were made. Centre half Gregson made way for Leighton as well as Dawid coming on to replace Rubis on the right hand side to both give us fresh legs on the right.
We were still in complete control and the fresh legs had only helped to that, more chances came and went by without us making the most of them. Until around the 65th minute mark. When Leighton won a strong tackle in his own half he played a perfectly waited ball into the path of Jord W who cleverly flicked the ball first time behind him to Tom who took a touch to beat the man just inside the area an slip the ball out right, which was met by a well timed run from Kris who stroked the ball past the keeper into the bottom corner with a cool finish. 2-0 Sparta.
More changes were made to give us fresh legs late on with Aiden coming on for Jano in the middle of midfield, last weeks match winner Matej came on Tom who was tremendous today and finally young Brad came on for his older brother Jordan playing just behind the front 2. With the changes made the game started to shift back more to and end to end contest. Leight, Baker and Jan were being well worked and needed the support of Wing backs Dawid and Hudak as the opposition altered there formation to throw more man forward. Kris and Aiden were we’re continuing to not let Aylestone play through that middle while Matej and Iccy with the Support of Brad had a few very close chances as the game drew closer to the end.
Eventually the opposition found the back of the net with a well worked goal. 2-1. After some poor refereeing decisions in an ever frowning tenser game. Midfielder Aiden was sin binned putting us down to 10 but Sparta would not lie down. With Aylestone playing most of the players in our half Leighton won back possession just outside his own area and seen the space to attack. He took the ball and drove down the right hand side beating man after man forcing his way all the way to the opponents box and driving in a lovely cross across goal which was unlucky not to be met by Brad who was inches away arriving late. Full time.
