Well after the rain yesterday.....what a lovely day to play football. We started our home league game against Netherton with a strong squad. Matthew in nets, Tom & Adam at the back, Toby, Oliver and Jack W in midfield, Nathan up front and Jack H started as sub.
Wonderful team performance from all of the lads and a first for this Crofton team as we scored 10!!!
We started with intent and went at Netherton from the whistle. We were quick to close down, strong in the tackle and looked & did play "our" football. Strong early running from Jack W on the right showed promise and Oliver did likewise on the left. Nathan unfortunately had to go off after five minutes with a groin strain. Jack H came on and did admirably up front. Tom & Adam's growing partnerhip at the back looked solid from first to last. Adam in particular looked assured on the ball and run out of defence well.
Our early pressure was rewarded after five minutes when Toby's shot inside the box crept through the keepers hands. Our lead was soon added to when Toby seized on a weak clearance to shoot passed the Netherton keeper;2-0 after nine minutes.
Jack W was playing very well and on sixteen minutes his persistance paid off when he ran and fired high into the net from a great solo run; well done Jack W. Not to be out done, Jack H got in on the act and a minute later made it 4-0. And just as the first half was drawing to a close, Jack W went on another run and shot low, beating the keeper well. Superb first half effort and we ended it 5-0 up.
Most pleasing things about today......1) we played team football, 2) we kept a clean sheet and 3) we kept on pressing right till the end.
Second half we started brightly, forcing a number of corners and from one of these the ball fell to Tom just outside the box. He wasn't closed down he let fly with another great strike; 6-0 on twenty three minutes. Four minutes later Tom did the same again and saw his effort creep just inside the far post; great strike again Tom.
Not to be out done, Jack H pressed on, tirelessly chasing passes, defenders and long balls. His effort was rewarded again on thirty six minutes when he beat one defender and shot low into the net. Well done Jack H - persistence pays off.
Throughout the second half we looked for the pass, looked for the return ball and created a number of excellent crosses and scoring opportunities. Wonderful to see us play like this - and our reward was further rewarded when Toby scored nine and ten in injury time. Toby well played again.
Choosing a MOM was hard - it was a team win BUT through his effort, strong tackles, great runs and two goals, Jack W was a worthy MOM. Superb Jack W - now do it again next week.
We played a friendly afterwards and Thomas C played fantastically well up front, fighting for lost causes, playing some excellent lay offs and tackling his heart out; lovely to see you get stuck in Thomas. Michael played a full game on the right side of midfield - again ran well, tackled and played his part in a team win. Jamie played in nets and on two occasions ran off his line to stop a Netherton attack. To Thomas C, Michael and Jamie - well done yets again. For the record we won the friendly 2-1. Tom equalised in the first half and Adam scored his first for Crofton and the winner with twelve minutes to go. A close game, played in a good spirit with some faboulous team play and support from all.
See you next Saturday at training lads.
