It was a polite welcome to the rough n tough world of 6 a side footy for the brilliantly named Crystal Phallus. They provided the Allsorts with a new test which they were very fired up for. The warm up was good, and they looked ready to roll. Chris Mitchell was paraded with the captains armband before the game, an extremely high honour for the lad.
To the game, and it proved to be a huge shock for the Phallus, as the Allsorts got right up in their grill and caused them allsorts of problems. Within 5 minutes, the Allsorts were 4-0 up, and the game was effectively finished. However this did not mean that they would let up, carrying on with their relentless high pressure balls to the wall style of play. Phallis had no choice but to revert to the long ball style that seems to occur against these lads. The attacking football was creative, innovative - dicating the pace of the game and the movement was first class. Phallis could not handle the pace being thrown at them. Come half time, they were 7-0 down, Allsorts were rampant.
2nd half was slightly improve from Phallus, but the Allsorts were coasting, with their players floating around at will. They slowed the pace right down, passing the ball around very nicely. Never have they looked so good on the eyes, showing there is more to their game than just hustle and bustle. The game finished 10-0 to Allsorts. A fabulous victory in what was supposed to be a tougher test. Flying colours.
So where was the game won? The first 5 minutes they pressed them high, penned them in and got the ball back and attacked at pace. When the ball went out, they got it back into play immediately. Phallis couldnt handle this, but also couldnt replicate what the Allsorts were doing. Theyre only choice was to hump it long and the Allsorts managed to get bodies forward in attack, but cover and help out defensively when needed.
Credit to the keeper as well. It isnt easy to remain alert during such domination, but he pulled off a couple of very nice saves, and was very sharp in getting the ball back into play. This team remain very switched on and are making eachother lives easier. Their first clean sheet was well desereved. They keep the high tempo however they can.
The man sitting infront of the skipper always had achres of space to dictate. The centre of the pitch was wide open, with Sam and Dom spreading out wide, Adam and James could drop in the huge gap left open.The man infront of the skipper was always free, and this allowed the deepest man to overlap if needed too.
Whenever the hoofed it long, Chris was allowed time to read it, knock it down to someone in front of him and then the attack would start again. It was too easy. Phallis had no plan B.
The Allsorts are blessed to have 2 energetic wingers who are willing to get up and down all game, and the 2 central players cover plenty of ground, whilst everyone helps the last man at the back. Many tend to go for a rigid formation, however the Allsorts have a very fluid formation, with workrate the backbone of the success. 2 out wide, 1 staying back is how they approach it, but everyone interchanges covering eachother and attacking space.
They are carving teams apart - 21 goals in 2 games. Not bad for a team with no out n out striker.Idread to think how many complete/total passes each side made too.
Add to the fact they have only conceded 2 in 90 minutes of football.
Whilst the Allsorts claim that they remain humbled, you cant argue that they have the right to think they mean business now.
Written by guest reporter James Mitchell
