Fantastic result this morning with Sports getting their season off to a flying start and sitting 2nd after game 1, let’s hope that continues. Sports travelled fearing the worst with 7 players away and up against Hallow who were playing Prem football last season. Sports travelled light of players and had 3 new faces turn up to help out if needed, 2 of which came on late in the game and we are pleased to welcome them all into the team set up. Sports player situation wasn’t helped with a ‘no show’ from Matt Purser. The referee granted permission for Jamie Owens to play with his arm cast on and that proved a massive boost for the Sports who were then able to field 11 recognisable faces to start the game.
The game started and Sports were initially out paced, out thought and out manoeuvred by a quick starting Hallow. The pace of this year’s football shocked a few of the Sports players I feel who will be playing at the highest standard of their careers. No damage was done in this time however and Sports settled into the game nicely. Alan Parkinson put Sports ahead after a defender had failed to head clear a Gaz Williams long throw in. The ball at Parkinson’s feet he cut inside and released a left footed shot that hit a couple on the way but went it. The rest of the half saw plenty of half chances for the Sports and some long range efforts from Hallow. Hallow did get a couple of scrambles late on in the 1st half but some last minute defending from the team kept them out. Owens for the sports was 3 times denied shooting chances by the impressive Hallow centre half. Corners and long throws created flicked chances and headed attempts but no more goals.
Second half and Sports started very slow again and nearly let Hallow back in. Once settled Sports won a corner which was taken by Chris Lewis. What followed was the strangest goal we might see this year. Lewis fell over as taking the corner and the ball bobbled its way across their goal. Simon Taylor had come up from the back and managed to awkwardly slide in and tap it home. 2-0 Sports and starting to feel confident. Hallow pulled one back after Taylor was pulled out of sweeper position to cover and press the ball. Bishop tried to play offside for his through runner but the decision did not come (possible right back playing on). The Hallow player ran onto the through ball and rounded the out coming Tom Kings in goal and inch perfectly slotted home as Bishop slid in desperately to cut out the shot.
Sports 3rd goal was the best goal of the game. With our 2 strikers doing exactly the type of positional play they shouldn’t. They were both on opposite sides of the pitch bit managed to switch the ball to each other twice, before Parkinson crossed to the back stick for Owens to tap into the roof of the net. Sports last goal came in the last few minutes after Bishop had initially held the ball up in their corner from a throw in, he managed to escape the 3 Hallow players surrounding and play square to Lewis, who in turn squared to Parkinson. Parkinson’s shot was saved but only found new boy James Barnes following up to hammer home.
A really good performance and a great win. The talking form the whole team today was brilliant and the team work was outstanding. Combined work rate and organisation was the difference today and from being infront Sports always looked comfortable. A great start but we know every game is a cup final this year.
