Drought Ends!!!
This morning we travelled to Bedford Park to take on Hawkins FC, in our last game before Xmas. We knew that after a 7 game winless run, we needed to show up.
After a chat a few weeks back after training, the lads all seemed ready to go and the majority were fresh ??.
We started the match with a 4-3-3, setting up as:
GK - Big Dave
LB - Jack CB - Joe CB - Shane RB - Bandy
CM - Chris CM - Cain CM - Jason
LW - Mads ST - Kingsley RW - Pogs
For once, we started the game with fight and took control early on. Controling the game and moving the ball around on the ground, we didnt look like the away team.
Our first goal came as a freekick was awarded a few yards inside Hawkins half. Chris Patrickson delivered a ball into the area, the defender only mangages to head it up, and as it came back down, Jason putting pressure on him, made the defender head over the on rushing keeper. 1-0.
Our second came from a corner, as Kingsley whipped the ball into the area, and the defence didnt clear the ball out, and the ball falling to Cain Hamilton-Boyle inside the area, tucked it away into the keepers bottom right.
Chances came for Raptors as a surge forward from left back saw Jack unleash a rocket, that went wide, Mads had a couple of chances, that saw him narrowly miss, Pogs had the chance to smash a shot home, but cut back to try and find a pass to a team mate.
We were awarded for the amount of chances created, as Cain picking the ball up in the area, was fouled, and the ref pointed to the spot. Kingsley Lambert stepped up and slotted it home. 3-0.
Halftime and the following issues were addressed.
. Keep the communication up - We started well with talking and keeping the communication high, but dropped off it in the final 20 mins of 1st half.
. Be authoritative when the ball is there to be won - At times 2 players going for the same ball, just needed 1 to make the call.
. Dont get complacent - Though we were 3 up, Hawkins should've had 3 or 4 goals, and we needed to make sure we didnt fall off the pace.
No changes were made at halftime.
The second half, again we started well, and were very unlucky not to have our 4th. Jason picking the ball up and driving towards goal, unleashed a venomous strike that smashed the bar and came out.
It wasn't long until Jason Fleeting got his deserved goal. Mads with some excellent work down the left, dinked a ball over the defender into the area, that fell to Jason, who cooly finished it off, with the help of the bar. 4-0.
Jason had another chance to grab a brace, after Kingsley whipped in another ball, that saw Jason leap higher than the defender, only to see his header smash off a defenders face.
On the hour, 3 subs were made and a swap in formation to 4-2-3-1 took place:
Kingsley for Tommy Danny for Jason Brendan for Pogs
Within 10 minutes of coming on, Brendan Cunningham was on the scoresheet. Another brilliant bit of play from Mads, saw a peach of a ball crossed to Brendan, who smashed it home on the volley. 5-0.
Thomas Tompkins On for 30 minutes managed to get a dive away ??. Next season, if they bring in dissent for a dive, Tommy could see the sin bin more than the pitch.
With David Adams not feeling great, but turning up to play, another clean sheet was what he deserved. Huge praise to Shane Dennis and Jack Gale who both cleared the ball from the line, to give Big Dave his 3rd clean sheet.
Man of the match went to Ryan Maddock who played brilliantly. With his off the ball runs and attacking causing Hawkins problems to his 2 assists. Ab absolute delight to see the young man play like that. After he emptied his pockets after the match, their no 6 fell out. Poor bloke had a mare thanks to mads, which resulted in him falling face down in the dirt twice ??
Ratings
Big Dave 8 Bandy 8 Joe 8 Shane 8 Jack 8 Chris 9 Cain 8 Jason 9 Mads 10 Geo 8 KIngsley 8 Tommy 7.5 Danny 7.5 Brendan 8
Huge praise to Ryan Frear who took the linesman duty for the whole game ?? and to the small gathering of fans Jamie Frear, George Hooper and Tom Noah Shopland
