Today we travelled to Studley juniors for the first of 2 games back-to-back with them, looking for our first away win since September when we beat Sheldon in the cup.
Shuffled the pack today to give some opportunities to lads who may not have had as much playing time last week as they would have liked.
Studley started bright and fizzed an early shot just wide of the far post, clearly showing their shoot-on-sight policy. Hampton started to get warm and soon started to dominate proceedings, with Fin and Rushy causing problems down either flank.
Hampton on top, but unable to get any clear shots on goal, but the momentum was certainly with us.
Jack & Omar joined the game after 20 minutes and made an immediate impact, with Omar’s lovely flick inside finding Jack in space and there was only one outcome as he smashed it into the far corner, 0-1.
A few minutes later Omar was on the scoresheet, after some great work from Rushy down the left, Omar put one into the top right corner, 0-2.
It was all Hampton at this point, with Jack too hot to handle and the Red wall of JP & Kielan as solid as ever. Jack cut back in from the left hand side and cracked a great strike heading for the far top corner, but their keeper was on hand to tip it excellently around the post.
Some really good play in the first half with the lads taking our training comments on board and trying to play the ball around rather than just clearing their lines every time, which gave us a great foundation for attacking play.
No more goals though, HT 0-2.
The second half started in the same fashion, with Hampton dominating most of the play and keeping Studley at arms reach. 2 would soon be 3, when Studley thought there was a handball and made the cardinal sin of “not playing to the whistle” but one person who was not stopping was Rushy, who raced away on goal and slotted home in typical fashion, 0-3.
Studley, now looking more and more frustrated, couldn’t get a grip on our midfield and further chances would come with Rushy, Jack, Harry all going close, as well as Charlie who almost hit a worldy but just went over the bar.
Hampton getting a little over-confident and lost our positional discipline a little, giving Studley a clear run on goal where the attacker was bundled over for a penalty. However, the imposing figure of Harrison must have put the striker off as he blasted wide.
With Hampton so comfortable in this game, Fin (having taken a whack in the first half) was rested in the second half and Omar’s game time was limited as he’s having some knee pain too.
A momentary lapse in concentration in an almost faultless display by Harrison who looked freezing cold when he played a short pass out wide which was intercepted by the attacker, but they couldn’t capitalise, a let-off but it would have been an undeserved way of losing that well-deserved clean sheet!
No further goals would arrive and it ended up 0-3 to the Reds.
Great to have a clean sheet as well as 3 good goals, with some excellent performances all over the pitch.
I think Omar only played 20 minutes today and contributed an assist and a goal, impact.
Jack and Rushy at the top of their game today which was great, I could literally list everybody today to be fair.
Golden boot race looking interesting with Rushy currently leading the way on 12, but Omar hot on his heels with 11 (plus 4 assists) and Jack in contention with 7 (plus 4 assists). Would love to see some other names chipping in with goals over the remaining 8 games!!
MOTM went to the colossal JP, with him and Kielan magnificent in the centre of defence, JP just pips it having performed like that after hurting his knee on Friday, well done JP!
We have them again next week at home, so no complacency and same again please lads!
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