Guidpost through after Eagles push us all the way.
On a difficult playing surface and a strong swirling wind, after a great start, we never really got going, and had to grind out a result in the end. Credit to the boys that they did work hard against the wind in the last quarter to see us through to the next round of the shield.
First quarter, boys listened to instruction to get the ball wide, draw players out and put into the middle. On three minutes we should have taken the lead, good work from Sam down the right nice pass to Dylan, who fed on to Josh who just snatched at it a little and put the shot wide.
Two minutes later though Josh took a much more difficult chance, after good pressing we got a corner on the left, Elliott swung it in, ball bounced towards back post and Josh volleyed it home, good delivery, good positioning from Josh, and a lovely finish. We looked the stronger side, and two minutes later the lead was doubled, a good long shot from Elliott was parried by the keeper, and Dylan needed no second invitation to take the ball away from the Keeper and calmly slot the ball home, good calm finish. Eagles were a threat on the break, with Harry and Joseph having to do a lot of work.
Eagles with the wind in the second quarter started to have a lot more of the game and the no.10 in the middle had a cracking quarter causing us lots of problems, only some good goalkeeping from Aaron was keeping them out. At the other end Josh and Elliott had shots which just went wide. Eagles pressure got a deserved goal, ball was crossed over which Aaton couldnt get and the Eagles player was quick to react, and with good thinking back healed into the empty net, super finish.
Third quarter, and again we were with the wind and started well James getting into some good positions from right midfield. Some nice passing led to Elliott putting in a lovely cross ball just in front of the keeper and James was there to put a lovely side foot finish into the far corner of the goal, good team goal. We had more of the position but without creating that many clear cut opportunites, Before the end of the quarter we got hit on the break a crossed ball could not be gathered by Aaron and in the melee the Eagles bundled the ball over the line. End of third 3-2.
Against the wind and a fired up Eagles, we really had to dig deep, and this we did, Harry and Sam were excellent, and Aaron made three or four excellent saves. Middle of the quarter it looked like things would be tied up, the Eagles player got to the ball before Aaron, and unfortunately Aaron then took the striker out, and despite the ball going out of play for the foul in the area, Jamie pointed to the spot.
The Eagles player hit the ball hard and towards the top right, but Aaron made a good strong save pushing the ball out of play. We had a few more half scares while Dylan had a couple of runs in their penalty box towards the end of the game. But the sound of the final whistle was a welcome relief for the boys, who despite not being at their best against a decent Eagles side, had somehow managed to scrape over the line. We will need to improve tomorrow in the start of what is going to be a hard league, on our day though we have nothing to fear, key to success is going to be HARD WORK and BELIEF in our own abilities. Due to last quarter herocics, my man of the match was shared between Aaron & Sam, Elliott just behind despite having a hard game in the middle did have a hand in all three goals, but well done to all the boys, Early night for all tonight I am hoping, ready for the early start tomorrow!
