Welcome back!
Following a very useful friendly last week against Goostrey, it was back to the 'bread and butter' of maintaining our good form in the league, and today we were up against cheshire Blades, who we had a very entertaining game against earlier on in the season. Here's hoping that this would be just as good, with a simular result.
Tigers had a full squad yet again to choose from, so Andrew and Lyndon had to rotate as best as possible to allow the squad to get on the pitch and strut their stuff (hopefully as classy as the moves at the disco the other evening), we wanted to see nimble footwork, close footsteps, but no body popping!
Anyway, enough of strictly come dancing, our 'celebs' had work to do, so it was that we set out with a standard formation of Kai, Alex, Mark. In midfield Bryan, Ben and Matthew, Max up front.
The first period quickly turned into a fair contest of 50 / 50 share of the ball, Matt had a great cross cum shot which hit the bar with Cheshire Blades goalie stranded, then at the other end Kai saved well on a one on one and Alex stood firm. Mark was begining to dominate the area in front of the defence as the holding midfielder and his passing was exemplary, Bryan had a good shot saved well and Max was excellent at Holding the ball and passing out wide. In the six minute, Ben fed Max whose low shot hit the post, two woodworks now! The period ended 0 - 0 but definately not for the want of trying, this was again turning out to be another exciting encounter from two teams trying to play the right way.
Period two, and changes made, Lol came on for Alex, Arron for Bryan, Sam for Matt and Ben H for Ben. Max moved into centre midfield whilst Ben H moved out to an 'unacustomed ' left wing, but did a great job bustling and hassling, well done.
Tigers started well again, thankfully the changes didn't disrupt the good flow and passing unlike some previous games, the game ebbed and flowed at both ends, Mark again was solid, his best game so far this season. Arron looked full of pace and Sam was always moving into space which was good to see. Corners for each side saw plenty of goal mouth scrambles, but just as the second period was drawing to a close, Tigers struck! A glorious pass down the left by Mark, to Sam, whose low cross was met by Arron on the run from the other side, his first attempt saw a slight mis kick, but he regained composure to slot the ball under the keeper, 1 - 0 Betley! right on the whistle!
Third period, Bryan back on in the middle for Max, Matt for the hard working Ben H and Alex gave Mark a rest, half way through Alex got a slight knock so Bryan dropped into defence and Ben back on in the middle. Again it was good to see that even though some players were not in their 'usual' positions, they stuck to the task well.
It had become a really entertaining game again, Cheshire Blades were trying to get back in it, Kai again made a brilliant reflex double save when the pressure was down at our end, at the other, Matthew had good runs resulting in Bryan just going wide.
Then, with 5 minutes left, a fantastic team effort, Ben got the ball out to Sam, who in turn, passed to Matthew, a good run an clever pass back to Sam, who unselfishly looked up, Saw Arron running in again and passed for Arron to neatly place the ball past the dive of the disparing keeper! 2 - 0 Betley! great great goal.
The clock was ticking, Sam had a long shot that hit the post, but with a minute left, a good through ball for Cheshire Blades saw Kai no chance as the forward slipped the ball under him, 2 - 1. No time left, and we had got back to winning ways with a well earned victory, training had paid of, with plenty of cover from all as we lost the ball today, well played everyone, with Mark 'Travolta' Dawson shading man of the match.
thanks for listening! Lyndon
