A sunny but windy morning down at the Sidings. How this would play a part in the game today!Well after a couple of late withdrawals we started with nine and no subs! But a settled team as usual with Matthew in nets, Charlie, Tom and Adam at the back, Toby, Jack Whitaker and Jack Hewitt in midfield and Andrew and Nathan up front.
We started brightly and were keen to take the game to Staincross. In midfield we looked to get the ball forward quickly and Andrew was full of running from the off. Good link up play between Nathan and Andrew led to our first goal. Nathan fed Andrew who beat the opposition for power and pace to shoot beyond the keeper. 1-0 with three minutes played.
Well I don't know whether this early goal woke Staincross or sent Crofton to sleep? We took our foot off the gas, stopped playing and allowed our opponents to exert sustained pressure. We stopped talking, stopped defending as a team (that's everybody) and in the space of seven minutes found ourselves 3-1 down. Yes the wind was a factor BUT we can play better all round football.
Half time couldn't come quickly enough. A quick chat, the need to play with more pride and a belief we could win was talked about. Off we went again.
Well I must say that for thirty minutes there was only one team in it. Andrew chased down and beat the Staincross defence time and time again, Tom hit the bar and post with great strikes, Jack Whitaker started to have joy down the right wing and created chances and Nathan worked well up front with Andrew. In defence, when we were called upon in the second half, Charlie and Adam were solid.Matthew dealt with the odd long ball through very well and cleared with distance. Jack Hewitt kept working on the left hand side and Toby alongside Tom ran midfield. Andrew got our second on fourty two minutes. He powerted passed the defence to beat the keeper. Seven minutes later we levelled the scores when excellent quick thinking from Tom released Andrew who yet again beat the defence and keeper; a hat trick and it was 3-3. The lads heads were up and we pressed for the winner. It came on fifty one minutes when the ball fell to Jack Whitaker on the edge of the box he cut outside of his marker and fired a lovely shot into the top right hand corner. 4-3 Crofton!!
We pressed for a fifth and on a couple of occasions Staincross broke forward but overall we held on with something to spare at the end. Our second half display ensured that we were good value for the win. If we can play like that for sixty minutes?????
Andrew played well and got his second hat trick in successive games. Nathan worked well up front. Jack Whitaker was a hand full and Toby ensured the midfield fight was won by Crofton. But Man of the Match went to Tom. Quick thinking, never say die attitude, lots of commitment and two efforts on another day that may have seen one or maybe both go in. Well played Tom.
Next week we play Wombwell on Wednesday and Methley on Sunday. Lets ensure we are awake for both throughout the whole game. Well played lads....your second half performance was superb. You like to make it difficult for yourselves!!
