Athletico Excelsior v Marshall Court
Once again the rotation system is in play for this next league game for Excelsior. A few old faces returning from injury and absence means Athletico has yet another re shuffle. A weeks rest in the lead up to the game seemed to have paid dividends for a fresh and keen Excelsior side.
First half
Excelsior are playing with the wind in the first half and it pays off with our boys looking the aggressors in the first ten minutes seemingly having a physical and technical advantage over the Marshall Court boys. Playing superb link up play and constant team pressing sees Excelsior in the ascendancy a first goal is sure to follow and it does...
Marshall Court look to bring the ball forward and it is intercepted quickly by Ben whos astounding tackle rebounds fiercly towards the Marshall goal. Chris uses his strength and pace to attack it just outside the box but through on goal. He dosen't even take a touch and rifles it into the bottom corner with his left boot. I have looked forward to saying this phrase since starting writing these match reports...'the keeper had no chance.' 1 - 0
Marshall Court look the much weaker side with Excelsior counter attacking at will. Speaking of Will he finds himself in acres of space and whips the ball into the box and Seans flick on sees the left back Marc overlapping. He takes a touch which bounces up to chest height. Waiting for the ball to come down he calmly disposing a high footed volley past a poor Marshall keeper. 2 - 0
The next goal finds Excelsior three goals up within the half hour and looking extraordinarily confident. Carl finds himself in space yet again on the right with has been an avenue of success for Athletico in this last third. He puts in a fantastic ball between defenders and the goalkeeper which the defence struggle to deal with. A calamity ensues and it falls to Banny with his back to goal. He could have laid off Carey, he could have spread the ball wide but he produced sublime skill and backheeled it into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Brilliant finish. 3 - 0
You can just see it. The confidence. Excelsior look like a team possessed and all the players are giving it their all. Some periods of play are just simply brilliant with Will running things at a deeper position than usual and Carey mopping up every single loose ball and Ben/Ricky at the back coping superbly. The one big shout out must go to Andy Willacy. He is controlling the back four. I have never seen the line responding to each other like it before. Cover is established when defenders push forward and he is almost playing a sweeper role barely using his hands in the whole of the first half.
Will again is at the centre of the action. Winning and taking the throw in from the right hand side. It is long and onto Jacques head who directs it towards goal and past a static keeper. 4 - 0
Then the best pass of the game. Carey picks the ball up takes on two men and gets into space pushing the ball through the eye of a needle through three defenders and onto the foot of Chris whos pace alone is a nightmare to deal with. He round the keeper and slots it home. 5 - 0
Second Half
The teams stay unchanged and Excelsior now face more of a challenge playing into the wind. It shows it the first twenty minutes of the half although Excelsior have the vast majority of possession despite losing the ball in vital areas, the final ball is sadly lacking. Shane McKenna makes all his three substitutes at the same time. With 25 minutes yet to play.
Joe Davies for Jaques McKenna
Andrew McFarlane for William Moreau
Darren Worrall for Carey Baird
Will and Carey have had a great game and were imposing characters in the first half both in line for a tussle for Man Of The Match up to that point. Excelsior could have been affected but something strange happened. In the first half Athletico had been playing counter attcaking football on the whole but now with the much older generation gracing the pitch it turned to possession football. Every man on the pitch had a touch in the build up to the first goal of the Second Half, movement control and pace saw the ball leave Andy Willacy and arrive at Bannys feet in the box for him to non chalantly skin the keeper and push the ball home. 6 - 0
Just moments later Excelsior were in heaven with a seventh goal, it came from a Marshall Court freekick that landed at Maccas feet. He pushed the ball in front of him and by his own admission tried to chip the keeper. It didn't quite finish that way. He mis-hit it and it bobbled at pace towards the keeper and taking a big sideways leap on the final boucnce went through the goalkeepers legs and dribbled into the goal. Go on Macca. 7 - 0
The final goal came in the 81st minute. It once again was built up brilliant by the team that despite tired legs and an extravagant lead were fighting to the last. It ended with Sean Lonsdale supplying the killer ball for Banny to seal his hat trick with a composed finish. 8 - 0
There were a couple of other chances falling to different players around the pitch and an unusual move had seen Andy switch with Banny in the goal. Then the hat trick hero saved Andys clean sheet as well, as a snap shot from a Marshall centre forward seemed destined for the top corner only for Banny to stretch out a monstrous hand and turn it wide.
Final Score 8 - 0
Yes this side were not the best we are going to play in this league but honestly today I don't think it would have mattered. Excelsior looked like a team. A team with ability, and drive. With trust in one another and capable of changing strategies when required with a very good set of players who all could make the starting line up. This was the confidence boost we needed and the start of a resurgence for Athletico Excelsior. We start now. We begin from here. Make no mistake lads there will be tough challenges ahead but approach any game with the zeal, passion and positivity of this one and any team would struggle to deal with us. I have given everyone equal ratings today even the man of the match and the subs. We win together and we lose together. Its our first win and we have all worked hard to get it. Its not about personal glories or achievements. We were great but we can be greater with hard work, pride and a belief in our team. UTAE!
