Casuals and Pelham rounded off their pre-season with a final friendly win against SC Birchanger, running out 8-2 winners and making it 3 wins out of 3 in a row against premier teams. Pelham unfortunately only 12 players which is a lot less than the last two weeks and a lot less than they will want over the season. However even with a small number, Pelhams strength and depth was proven from the start. The home side broke the deadlock on the ten minute mark as a through ball from Liam Perry was latched onto by in form striker Tim Shaw who slotted past the keeper to make it 1-0. Just under ten minutes later the home sides lead was doubled as Steve Callan this time, who replaced Hals on the 15minute mark after he took an elbow to the face, latched on to another Liam Perry ball and again slotted home. Pelham pushed for that vital next goal and made it 3-0 increasing their advantage again around the 25 minute mark. A Gavin Brace corner was met with a bullet header by Tim Shaw to get his second and Pelhams third of the game. Pelham couldn't hold on to that clean sheet for half time and SC Birchanger scored from a corner about ten minutes later making the scoreline 3-1, which is how it stayed at the half time whistle. The second half started very much the same as the first with Pelham capitalising by scoring their fourth after five minutes of the second half. Steve Callan getting his second of the game after the ball broke to him after a freekick. Four soon became five on the 56 minute mark as Tim Shaw turned from scorer to provider setting up Dan Arran to get his name on the score sheet. Two minutes later it was 6-1 as Steve Willett notched his second ever Pelham goal from another Tim Shaw assist. With the game well and truly beyond Sc Birchanger, Pelham took full advantage making it 7-1 as Dan Arran scored his second of the game 10 minutes later with once again another Tim Shaw assist. The away side struck a late consolation on 71 minutes scoring their second of the game, once again from a corner. With the score line at 7-2, Pelham completed the scoring and the rout as Dan Arran struck his third and completed his hat-trick and once again from a Tim Shaw assist, capping off the scoreline by making the final score 8-2. From Mick: again with the scoreline as it was, another fantastic performance from everyone and a great win to cap off a fairly decent pre season before heading into next weekends first league game. With the score finishing 8-2, you can imagine there were some great performances all round, again notably from Dan Arran bagging a hat-trick and Tim Shaw grabbing a brace as well as five assists!! However despite both these facts (sorry guys) Mick has named his man of the match as Liam Perry, who gave an industrious performance and never gave up on anything, capping his game off wit the first two assists to get that early lead. Great result boys and it's going to be a tough decision picking that first starting 11. With some great results in these last few weeks of pre-season we can take confidence into that first league game, but need to avoid complacency thinking that we are going to walk this league. This season there are no easy games and we need to be at our best to be winning trophies again. Our focus turns on to next weeks game and it would be great to send a statement out to the rest of the league with a great performance and even better result. On to the first game of the season now!!! COYCAP!
