COSMOS 5 - BEESTON BIZ 3
Well after a million texts from my sick bed, and accidentally telling Rog it was Saturday game. I managed to get a squad of 13 players down. I was too ill to play so ref'd. Only Mark and Barry were ex Pirates.
Starting 11. Mark - Ryan Joseph Lewis Danny Ash - Barry Ricky CraigAdam - Rog Miguel.......subs: Rocco/Derek.
They were a more experienced and bigger side who showed no signs of being slower or un-fitter. They came at us fast testing our midfields tackling and our defences heading abilities. Joe and Danny at the back both soaked up every high ball with ease and played on the floor comfortably too. Ryan and Ash did well getting back and making sure their wingers didn't get a free road in behind us. We did get caught a little weak at times in this regard.
Ricky and Craig in the middle were great on the ball but didn't have the physical presence in the air, which is where we were also weak. Up front Rog held the ball up well and tried to bring midfield into the game, and Miguel ran his socks off like a bull in a china shop, somehow always coming out with the ball! Barry had an excellent game, he got stuck into every challenge, ran at them, ran back and made challenges and almost set up a couple. Young Andy, did ok but looked a little timid.
1st half we were rusing to get the ball up front, dwelling on the ball for 2 touches too many, and passing it to the 2nd man instead of the 1st man. but eventually we did calm things down and started linking up with small sharp triangles to feet like I asked. ricky and Craig especially.
Goal 1: Ash fouled their guy, catching his trailing leg in the box - penalty. 0:1
Goal 2: Ricky in their box, twinkle toes. hacked down, PENALTY!
Rog dispatched with ease. 1:1
Goal 3: Craig won a free kick 30 yards out: Danny ran up and laced it head height around the wall and in the corner about 5 feet high. scorcher! 2:1
Goal 4: They crossed the ball, it was spinning heavily, Mark came to claim it bu th bounce took it away from him and their man gambled and put his head in the danger zone somehow squeeing it passed Mark. 2:2
half time: (inspirational words)
Matt/Derek and Rocco had been on 10 minutes at the end of the first half and were both geting stuck in pressuring and getting on the ball. Rocco up fron Derek on the wing.
Goal 5: Craig was fould on the righ side of midfield 28 yards out. He lobbed the keeper, even though he seemed to be a yard off his line. superb! 3:2
Goal 6: Ricky had already worked himself 4 great shooting chances but didn't have the power, one even hitting th epost and rolling across the line into the keepers arms., this time he turned on a sixpence like a dragonfly in flight and used his toes to roll the ball in the far corner from 18 yards! may have been a slight deflection, sexy goal! 4:2
Goal 7: Miguel started dwelling on the ball a little too much trying to get himself a goal, but in this instance it paid off, he side stepped whacked it it took a slight deflection but shot in the far corner! 5:2
Goal 8: Mark threw the Ball to Ryan even though they had men 10 yards away, the ball was lost, passed across the area and a shot to Marks left saw him only able to parry it into the corner. 5:3
Miguel turned their big centre half in the area and was caught, it should have been a penalty, but I let the ball play on as it went to Ricky but nothing came of it.
All in all a great game lads, lots and lots to be looking forward to! especially with the majority of our usual 11 out! competition is healthy!
Good news: Miguel and Danny both signing and new lads, ash, matt/derek, also interested.
