When the wind blows! (No, not a nuclear fallout!) but Betley getting the wind in their sails!!
On a blustery afternoon, where the conditions were as much as a threat as the opposition, the Tigers were looking to continue the good form found last week.
An important part of the tactics today were for Sam (the captain) to win the toss! and to remember to choose the right end! With good fortune he did that, and with a little remindering! he choose correct, and it helped that we had two periods with the wind behind us.
The match started with 10 Tigers in the team today, Kai returned in goal, trusted Alex and Lol at the back, in the middle was Matthew, Ben and Bryan and Sam up front.
A bright start and Betley for once not doing their customary trick of conceding in the first minute, in fact Sam played Matthew in who shot wide. Bryan then crossed in to Sam, who laid it back for Ben who shot over, a confident begining.
Matthew on the left provided a good cross that no one got on the end, Tigers were pressing well but Sam got a nasty kick in a collision with CB goalkeeper and had to come off to be replaced by Max.
Bryan played a glorious pass into Max who rounded the keeper but shot wide of the post, Tigers were palying well, passing well and assisted with the wind behind.
At the other end good concentration by Lol and Alex saw the odd breakout by the Allstars snuffed out, at the end of the first period we went into the break 0 - 0.
2nd period, and Ben Hin' came on for Ben and moved up front, Max dropped into the middle, Mark came onto the left of midfield. Alex and Lol and Kai now knew they had some work to do as the wind was in their faces.
Betley started the brighter again and two good corners from Mark resulted in Max shooting just wide but the CB Allstars started to take advantage of their turn with the wind and the pressure was on!
Hard balls were played through the middle, down the flanks, in the air but Tigers stood firm, Alex, whose game has been solid for the last few weeks, was a pillar of strength, Lol was Mr cool, and Bryan and Ben H and Max were always on hand to cover back and help, the whole team knew the importance of getting through this period without mistakes, and they were all exceptional.
Kai made two good saves from hard shots and the defence held out to go into the break again at 0 - 0.
Final period, and Ben came on for Bryan, Max and Kai exchanged places, Alex got a well earned rest with Sam coming back on and Mark dropping back into sitting in front of the defence, as solid as stone.
Mark played a lovely pass into Sam who shot wide, Lol was called in for a superb stop on the edge of the area, then a lovely move with Mark to Sam, who played in Ben, who in turn teed up Matt, who shot wide! Ben was stoking the ball all over the middle and the pressure was now heavily on the CB goal area.
Then, with the clock ticking, and CB tiring a little more, Ben passed to Matthew, whose weighted pass through to Sam, saw Sam hit a wicked shot hard into te corner of the net! great goal! 1 - 0 tigers!
Bryan came back on for the hard working Ben H to shore up the midfield, and had a great run and shot well saved. Betley made sure they kept the ball and saw the game out 1 - 0.
To a player, they all played well today, difficult to award the MOM but Ben shaded it for his unselfish passing in the middle, but no bad performance from anyone and it was pleasing to see some of the training being put into practice.
A well deserved win, another clean sheet! thats 3 out of 4 league games! and the winning habit breeds confidence, lets hope its a hurricane next week!
thanks for listening, yours, Michael Fish!
