A game of two halves, a first half where we barely got out of first gear, the lack of football over recent weeks showing with a 1-1 scoreline and half time, and a second half with saw us hit 5 goals without reply as we eventually cruised to a 6-1 victory.
Having arrived at the ground for 9.30 to ensure we gave ourselves time to prepare and have a decent warm up after several weeks of no training and games, our plans were disrupted at first by heavy fog which covered the ground and by our opponents apparent time wasting to ensure they had 11 players to start the game, we eventually kicked of at 10.50, all the additional waiting around did us no good, sometimes the teams we come up against have such a lack of organisation both on and off the pitch and it becomes so difficult to avoid being reduced to there level. This was the case today as a sloppy start with both teams struggling to play any good football on a bobbly surface, we had a few early corners which come to nothing along with a free kick from shaun coker which missed the target by a couple of yards. We did produce a bit of quality football on 17 minutes which resulted in the first goal, Dave roberts who enjoyed a really good first half recycled possesion 30 yards from goal following a corner and played the ball wide to piercey who sent in a superb cross which was met perfectly by Shaun coker, whose header gave the goalkeeper no chance 1-0. The game reverted to type and for the remainder of the half a game of low quality continued, and we appeared to be amberling to a half time lead, until some sloppy play saw the opposition equalise 1-1.
At half time a change in formation saw us revert to the 4-2-3-1 system that has been succesful majority of the season. The change seemed to have the desired affect as the width provided by Carpenter and davies immediatly caused more problems, we got our second goal just short of the hour mark when a corner caused a goalmouth scramble eventually falling to skipper gunnell who stuck away the chance for his third of the season 2-1. This goal settled the team down and appeard to break the back of the oppositions resolve, manager gunnell made a double change with man of the match Roberts and green making way for kingston and wilkinson. Shortly after Shaun coker bagged his sixth of the season courtesy of a nice finish following an excellent Davies pace 3-1. Davies added a comical 4th goal shortly after, having the attempts to put he all away following and allmighty goalmouth scramble the prolific midfielder toe poked the ball under the keeper 4-1. With all the play being in the oppositions half Wilkinson got free down the right hand side a floated a lovely cross into the box, the opposition centre back under heavy pressure from Davies could only plant his header into the bottom corner 5-1. A sixth and final goal arrived roughly 10 minutes from time, davies playing Kingston in and he smashed the ball home from 20 yards out, and excellent finish from the youngster on his competitive debut. Piercey had the games final chance but steered his shot just wide of the far post. Full time 6-1.
Good result, important to start the new year with 3 points and a boost to our goal difference. Never easy after so much time off, we have bigger challenges to follow in january and will need to lift our performance levels if we are to take points of Trix and progress in the Berks and Bucks cup.
Dave Roberts was awarded man of the match, a tireless performance in midfield, closing down and pressing of the ball was excellent, in a first half when so many people struggled he stood out and was the best player on the pitch in my opinion.
