Tornadoes battle for a point! In a tight affair, two lapses of concentration, and some just slightly wide finishing was the difference between gaining a point instead of taking all three.
Over all it was a decent team performance, but once again we need every player to work hard and focus the whole time. Also attitude continues to be a problem with a number in squad. We need to go out play hard, concentrate and do our best at all times, not worry if asked to play in defence or get subbed or who does what in the team. Emphasis should be on working together as a team! Our passing today at times was fantastic, some lovely one touch stuff.
First Quarter - Good start to the game and we generally dominated, on just two minutes Elliott was fouled and from the free kick Dylan just put an excellently hit shot wide, A minute later and Elliott just hit a good long range effort just wide, at the other end Aaron made a good catch, and had to come out well on a number of occasions. Elliott got a deserved goal when he hit a wonderful shot from distance and this left the keeper no chance, a sweetly hit shot flying into the corner. Elliott playing with lots of confidence had another well hit shot just go wide, and Sam after good passing football put his shot wide. With a bit of luck we could have been well clear at the end of the first, but had to settle for a 1-0 lead.
Second Quarter - Town responded well after the team talk and they dominated this quarter, we hardly got a kick in as we lost our way quite badly. They kept forcing corners after some desperate defending and clearances from James and Aaron. This built up pressure paid off when we didn't clear strongly enough and they managed to scramble the ball in nicely for the equaliser. Poor attitude then led to a substitution, and the response from whole team was quite negative as we just didn't get going. Unfortunately a couple of minutes later a defensive error from a long ball led to the impressive striker finishing nicely to give Town the lead. Our only threat on goal was from a long range free kick from Elliott which just went to the side of the post. 2-1 to Cramlington Town.
Third Quarter - Sam was moved to the centre of defence, and this made us look more secure at the back, as his pace was more than a match for the Cramlington Town front man. Our passing was starting to get going, and James playing up front was battling hard for the ball. Elliott again just going wide with his shot, and a Joseph shot just going over the bar. James hassling led to a rushed clearance, and Josh found Elliott with a good pass who took the ball on well, and then his heel was clipped inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot. With Dylan our regular penalty taker off the field struggling with his ankle, it was left to Elliott to bravely take the responsibility, and he regained his penalty taking confidence, smashing the ball hard and just to the right of keeper giving him no chance. End of third 2-2.
Fourth Quarter - So we were in exactly the same position as last week 2-2 at the end of the third, this time we compete much better, as it was end to end stuff, Josh causing them lots of problems down the left, and Elliott continuing to be a threat with some excellent long runs. At the back Sam, Joseph and Aaron worked hard to keep the threatening Town out. Despite the best efforts of both sides, the game ended up all level, which on balance of play was probably the correct result. Both our games v Town have been entertaining competitive games between well matched sides.
This hard earned point taking us off the bottom of the league.
For man of the match awards the Town manager couldn't split Elliott, and Sam (when you were in defence that is Sam!!) For home managers choice, Aarons handling was excellent, Sam was superb at the back making two or three goal saving tackles, Joseph tackled and passed well, while Elliott worked hard all over and was unlucky not to get an hat-trick, James battled hard when put up front, Dylan struggled a little today with injury but still managed to make some good tackles and was unlucky with free kick, while Harry made some nice tackles and runs, just needs to be that little stronger when challenging and kicking the ball. For man of the match, for putting it in for the full 50 minutes, some great runs, hard tackles!!! and some excellent passing Josh was my choice. Keep it up Josh, you have done really well playing superbly for both sides this weekend.
Not sure on next weekend, we may be playing Sao Paulo next Saturday just waiting on their coach getting back to me. Training weather permitting will be on the school field Wednesday 5pm.
