Casuals and Pelham made it three league games on the bounce unbeaten with a hard fought 2-1 victory over White Roding FC. Both teams started well and were fairly evenly matched all over the park. Pelham couldn't quite get their foot on the ball to get their passing game going, however they did manage to carve out the better of the early chances out of the two sides. Dan Boyce had an effort from long range which was saved well and tipped away by the White Roding keeper and Sam Carter came close to ending a good passage of play only just to see his shot fly inches past the top left hand corner. However as the half went on White Roding started to create chances of their own, although it once again wasn't from their brilliant own play but Casuals and Pelham putting pressure on themselves through their own mistakes. White Roding got in behind a few times and on the half hour mark it was one time too many. Pelham knew the ball would run through if they let it bounce on the keepers kick, however they let it bounce and it bypassed the back line for the away sides striker to latch on to, forcing a save from Dan Monk but the ball broke to another White Roding striker for him to tap in to an empty net. That goal turned the tide a bit and Pelham stopped creating chances for themselves and once again found themselves under pressure from their own mistakes and not being able to get their own game going. The last 15 minutes were played mostly in the middle of the park and with that Pelham went into the half 1-0 down. The second half would get even tougher as Pelham were losing 2 players at the half and only having one sub to replace them meant the second 45 would be played with ten men. Pelham knew they would have to defend well and work together as a unit and a team and settled quickly into the second half. At times it was get men behind the ball and defend well but with George Wappett, Grant Calrk, Sam Carter and Steve Callan bursting forwards, they managed to break away quickly to create further chances for the home side. After some hard work from Pelham the home side got their deserved equaliser just before the hour mark as Grant Clark on his return to the side found Sam Carter who curled a shot from 25 yards out and beat the keeper. Pelham continued to defend and work together well and once again managed to hit White Roding on the counter attack, and got their noses in front making the score 2-1 when Steve Callan was bearing down on the opposition goal, getting in a tangle with the keeper. The ball then broke to Grant Clark ten yards out who slotted home making it 2-1 on 80 minutes. The last 10 minutes were frantic for the home side and although Dan Monk only really made one notable save with his feet during the second half, it was backs to the wall defending at times from Pelham and they rode their luck at times. However you need a bit of luck with 10 men and managed to see the game out for a well deserved 2-1 victory. Good result again today boys and although it's been a bit disjointed in the last few weeks with the squad (which I will be putting right over the next couple of weeks making some more signings) that's now unbeaten in the last 3 league games, keeping us in 3rd place in the league and a gap now forming between the top 3 and the rest. Two massive games coming up against the top 2 next In the league so need to get a couple of decent results in those games. Micks man of the match was a tough one this week as he said any of the 10 in the second half deserved to be named man of the match (cheers Mick, thanks a lot, that's me and you shot down Liam Perry). Special mentions go to Gav and Wappett who worked their absolute socks off in the middle of the park in the second half and Grant Clark who scored one and assisted one on his return to the side, howvere Micks man of the match goes to Sam Carter this week who scored a brilliant goal to get us back in the game and got through a huge amount of work in the second half, not only helping out the back four on numerous occassions but also stretching their defence when attacking down the right hand side. Like I say half decent start to this season boys but two huge games ahead in the league now against the top 2 over the next 3 weeks so if we can get a couple of results in those we will be right in the mix up the top of the league. So rest up this week and let's get a good number of lads along for the game next week. COYCAP!
