After a few of us being sent to the wrong place with the dodgy sat navs it was difficult to dish out a punishment for lateness so the pink wig remained in the bag!!
After finding somewhere to park and then heading up to the pitch that was so high up I felt like I was high altitude and achieved 1 of the 3 peaks challenge! Everest will be a piece of lids compared to Telscombe haha!
A shoddy warm up earned the lads a bollocking from Dan pre match. Oliver Lucas asking ‘am I going in goal’ was the tipping point.
After livening them up, running through the jobs with some late changes to the team (Connor still injured and Kian unable to get to the game) we were also down to 1 sub.
When the game kicked off, we looked sharp and always comfortable. Jack and Oscar looked like Hansen & Lawrenson (players too young to remember but the parents might), so composed and relaxed on the ball it was frightening.
We looked great in the full back areas too, Aiden and Oliver B always looking to play forward and working tirelessly when out of possession. A good 80 minutes for both of them!
Where we looked a little out of shape was, no surprises, the centre of the park. CAM’s pushed to high when out of possession but always looking full of running and energy when we broke forwards. You have to do the graft in both directions! Definitely something that improved as the game went on but it took the GK and big lump of a CB to put the ball over the top about 5 or 6 times before we reacted, even then it took the coaches to point it out.
3 key areas that won us the game today lads: 1. Tyler in CDM played like he had all the time and space in the world AND HE DID 2. Owen making the runs out wide of Ben allowed Ben to cut in and take the space left by Owen to cross, pass or shoot 3. Rio, back out wide for this game, beating players and delivering into the box non stop
Antos, non stop running, played a little higher up and you could see he clearly enjoyed it. After getting used to knowing that you still have to defend, he did a great job.
Ty and Tommy worked hard up front putting the defenders and keeper under continued pressure and both earned their goals today! Ty had a glorious chance 5 mins before that was a replica of his goal, after listening to the coaches and keeping his focus, he nailed the 2nd one!!!
Oliver Lucas should be really chuffed as there wasn’t much to do in terms of saves, he was focussed on the job in hand and played a key part in our first clean sheet of the season.
Ben and Aiden had stonking games today, as has come to be expected this season, but Rio outperformed everyone in every department from work rate, positivity, listening and delivering what coaches have asked of him, technical ability and game management. Not to mention a goal and another 3 assists. Top lad and well played mate.
Last thing on the football side, Owen’s first goal and Antos’ last goal were wonder strikes that I’ll share with you all later ??.
A massive thanks to all of you that came to support today. It really boosts the lads on ??
Love this squad Up The Hawks ????
