Both sides started this game wanting to get and maintain possession. There was some probing by both but the defences held strong and with the midfields cancelling each other out the possession was pretty equal and chances were few and far between. Ethelberts were restricted to long range attempts and whilst we seem to be working better positions we weren't clinical in front of goal when we could have been working their keeper more.
Jason and John R both came close with shots that went just wide and Rob J also came close with a deflected shot that went high. Despite this, we hadn't really settled and we were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply and giving free kicks away through contact and not walking.
With half time approaching and it looking like we would go in all square, we were gifted a penalty when an Ethelberts' defender walked into his own box. The spot kick duties fell to Jason and he despatched the kick low to the keepers left having sent him the wrong way.
There was little time left after the restart and we took this slender lead into the half time break. The team talk was about keeping our shape and keeping hold of the ball as well as cutting out the indiscipline. We wanted to play the ball swiftly but to feet and agreed that taking a touch before passing was going to be better than trying to flick the ball on.
We started the second half with more energy. We pressed high and their defence struggled to get the ball out with Jason and John R intercepting wayward passes and creating chances. Within minutes we doubled our lead when Jason latched on to a poor pass out and beat the keeper with a low hard shot that went in off the post.
We were now in complete control and after a change of personnel to refresh legs Mike came on in defence and Paul was pushed forward to play wide left in the midfield. We were making chances and willing to take the strikes on with all of the outfield players getting shots away. Jason hit the bar with a rocket and Rob J came close with a shot just wide. Our pressure was telling and Ethelberts just couldn't get close to our goal with Steve E becoming more and more of a spectator.
Our third goal came from quick thinking and fast footwork. We won a throw in on our left which ball quickly took intending the pass to go to John R who was free in the centre of the pitch. Jason, however, took the ball and his swivel and pass on to John, who had now moved further forward. John put a first time ball through between the defenders to Paul who took a touch and then hit a strike hard into the roof of the net over the diving keeper.
This broke the Ethelbert spirit and their heads dropped. They made substitutions to try and refresh legs but we remained resilient in defence and always looked like scoring as we moved forward. Rob J was always an out ball and his interchange with John R and Jason saw us make good progress up our right hand side. One such incursion saw these three passing quickly between them and around their midfield and then the defence before the ball came back to Jason in front of goal and he completed his hattrick with a hard strike into the top of the goal over the sprawling goalkeeper.
We continued to make chances and could have increased our lead if it were not for deflections and blocks by their defence. We, on the other hand, were strong in defence with Phil marshalling everything well and Mike keeping their strikers at arms length. There was no further scoring and the game finished Canterbury 4 - 0 Ethelbert Wanderers.
This was a fantastic team performance. We worked hard for each other and communicated well. We showed in the second half just how good we can be with an extremely professional performance from back to front and we didn't give the opposition a sniff at goal and we held our discipline throughout. Everyone gave their all throughout.
My thanks to Richard K who turned up as ever but was, again, an unused substitute.
My sincere thanks also to the spectators that turned up, despite the temperature and the constant risk of rain, to support the team. Their vocal encouragement and suggestions from the side lines was much appreciated and never ignored.
The POTM was awarded to Jason.
Paul
