Well then, after last weeks encouraging team performance, and the high standards set there, we would have to repeat that today if we were to get anything against a very strong AB Juniors team, that had turned us over a couple of times before.
Only Arron absent today, so 10 eager Tigers well up for it on a lovely mild sunny afternoon, we started with Kai in goal, Alex and Lol, Mark on the left, Ben in the middle, Bryan on the right and Max up front. Ben H, Sam and Matthew were to get on after the first period.
AB started the more brightly, but that was no slight on our players as they got stuck into the task with relish, you could see how they were up for the battle with crunching tackles coming in from Lol, Alex and Mark, who, all three did a sterling job in this first period. Kai made a couple of great saves, diving very bravely at the feet of attacking AB players. Max again was totally unselfish up front, always looking to pass to Bryan or Mark as we pushed up to cause more than a few problems for AB.
Bryan had a shot well saved, Max shot wide as we started to come into the game, Ben was doing a more defensive role in the middle to slow down their fast moving passing game in the centre. The Tigers played out the first period with no more scares as it ended 0 -0.
2nd period, and Ben H came on for Ben for a straight swap in the middle, Sam replaced Max up front, and Matthew came on the left for Mark.
The three replacements equipped themselves very quickly as we were pushed onto the back foot straight away by AB, Ben H was getting stuck in strongly in the middle and where we could break away, fed Matthew one or two delightful passes. Sam did well to break up play by holding onto the ball and Matthew put in some very hard work, defending sternly, and breaking away, one run took him past 4 AB players with an unfortunate finish wide.
But just as we thought we could re group and weather the storm, an unfortunate kick by Kai, saw the ball go straight to an AB forward, who returned it straight back at the goal, and in it went, 1 - 0 to AB Juniors. Alex and Lol stood superb, some great defending, the rest of the team also helping, Bryan playing more of a right back role in this period as we attempted to get back into the game. However, the second period ended at 0 - 1.
Third period, and Bryan went in goal for Kai, Matthew switched to the right, Max back up front, Mark back on in front of lol to give Alex a rest.
Heads were still up, and Tigers went for it good style! great passing from Max, Matthew and Mark, saw 2 or 3 good chances go begging. Bryans kicks were reaching a distance which took a little pressure of Lol and Mark and enabled us to get a good platform to go forward. AB were getting rattled, probably not expecting ourselves to get this 'second wind' and began to give away some needless niggly free kicks.
Max earned one such free kick of the edge of AB penalty area for being shoved in the back, Tigers players all moved forward waiting for the ball in, but Max had other ideas, and curled a delightful free kick straight into the goal! 1 - 1!
A deserved equaliser, AB players didn't like that and were arguing between themselves, so, sensing the opportunity to go on further, we through Ben on up front, swapped Lol for Alex, as Lol had ran himself ragged, and put Sam on as well! Tigers, with 5 forward players on, all pushing up front, put tremendous pressure on the AB team and Ben shot wide, AB keeper saved from Matthew, phew, what a barnstorming end to the game, saved only at the end with Matthew and Alex making fantastic last ditch clearances.
Game over, 1 - 1 final score, as said at the start of this report, we had to go some to match last week, and some we did! well done the squad, each and every one of you, another great team performance against hard opposition. Matthew shaded MOM today, but please be proud of all of them as we would now love to carry this form all the way to the end in our final 5 games.
thanks for listening, have a good week ahead everyone, Thank you,
Lyndon
