On a pitch that was more like a rabbit toilet than a footballing surface we faced our 'Nemesis' from the 1st game of the season! Sprotborough always make life hard for us and so they should. I have to thank Simon and his team for giving us a big boot up are backside on that 1st day. They knocked us down a peg by beating us and then Bessacarr the following week tried trampling us into the turf. Luckily for us we are made of sterner stuff and 2nd half against Bessacarr we started to fight, bit too late to win the Bessacarr game. From then on we are unbeaten in all competitions and to be frank we are winning without playing particularly well!!!
We had one unforced and one change to make, Caddy out Kea in and Simon in for Big Jake at full back. We asked for patience and to get the ball wide particularly to Calum (whos starting to hit a bit of form).
Straight from the off it was like the ALAMO, we piled forward and it was only a combination of good keeping, last ditch defending, luck and poor finishing that stopped us getting 'half a dozen ' in the first 15 mins. We created too many chances for me to list, but Kea had one of those days. He missed a few then scored and was given off side.
We had to wait while the 20 minute mark to open our account, Jimmy 'the giraffe' Davis stretching that lomg neck to nod in at the far post after a melee. Sprotborough didn't collapse and thanks to their central defender and goalkeeper managed to last another 10 mins or so till we got another. Maddo followed in well and smashed home from close range after another seige on their goal. (32 mins 0-2)
Half Time 0-2
We made a couple of changes at half time Danno on for Troz and Wardy on for Kea. The thinking was that Danno is a good attcking player gets forward and from left back were Sprotborough always leave that side blank he could bomb on and stretch them even more. Wardy is the predator and i always expect him to notch in this type of game.
It took us five minutes of the 2nd half to get the third goal and it was worth waiting for. A good move saw the ball played into Fergs feet and with Maddo already on the move, Ferg put through a lovely defence splitting pass. Maddo raced onto it and finished with aplomb! 0-3
Wardy popped up with the 4th on the 55 minute mark. Always the predator he slotted home from a good run and pass from Maddo 0-4
Sprotborough did manage to bloody our noses. 60 minutes gone they got a break when Big Jake should have headed the ball a way on the half way line, he let it bounce, cardinal sin! To be fair they still had a lot to do. But a few passes later the ball was in our net 1-4
Obviously smarting from this we scored straight from the re start, Maddo completing the hat trick following a almighty scramble. 1-5 sixty one mins played.
The scoring was completed with five mins left. Maddo on a maisy run was up ended in the box. No arguing about the penalty decision. It was time for Troz to step up and show us his prowess from the spot. He duly obliged, smacking the ball nicely into the right hand top corne for 1-6
FULL TIME Sprotborough Crusaders 1-6 Carcroft Village Boys
Conclusion - a good days work today we were without our main striker out injured and yet again we managed to carry on seemlessly! Although Rodders didn't get much of a mention in the right up, i must mention him in despatches. He put a right old shift in today. Good energy and link up play, could look after the ball better and i still think he can do even better, which is good for us.
Pleased overall, a good win without getting out of 3rd gear. We had a few pops today regarding the substitution policy, we haven't got one as such. What i will say is we know most of your attributes and weaknesses so i'd like to think as a management team we know which games are likely to suit which player.
eg in the big physical battles we might play all our big strong battlers if you lke, in the games when we need a goal we get the goalscorers on, in the games when we are dominating possesion you want all ye good ball players and passers on the field and so on. Its horses for courses!
What a great position, we have a squad with loads of different skills and attributes it means we have a horse for any course! Think about it! One last thing, remember there are a few of our squad who definatley dont get as much game time as others, think of these guys before we complain too much!!
Well done again another win and closer to our ultimate goal the title!
