First game back from a long three week Christmas/New year break after two good training sessions the lads looked up for it and eager to get back playing.
Cup Quarter Finals was are first test of the new year vs a physical Gosport FC away at Arden Park.
We didnt start the greatest, Gosports game plan was obvious and clear from the get go, it was to get right in our faces to close down quickly and be physical and it took the lads by supprise and before they knew it a long throw was aimed into are box and with it falling to the feet of there striker he lifted the ball over Billys head into the roof of the net to put Gosport into a shock 1-0 lead on just 2mins.
Billy then had to block a one on one not long after the opening goal rushing off his line after our defence were court out sleeping.
That kind of woke us up the thought of going 2-0 behind so early on was not what we wanted as we pressed forward we started to create chances and pinned Gosport in there own half for a period of 10mins first Jack headed wide from a Cam corner, Ryan pushed forward and pulled his shot just wide of the near post, Smithy put his shot inches over the bar, Max pulled his shot wide after going through one on one it was all us but what happens when you dont take your chances, you run the risk of it coming back to haunt you and thats just what happened on 16mins a high ball over the top of the defence court BK and Sam out with BK unable to recover in time the striker lobbed Billy who came out to try closing down the angle to shock the team and send us 2-0 down completely against the run of play.
We didnt let it get to us or let are heads drop we just said simply get a goal back before half time and it was game on as the was still 40 mins left to play, as we pushed forward Zack and Cam both shot wide, then Max broke clear but his effort that looked to be going into the top corner was brilliantly saved by the Gosport keeper and out for a corner, from that resulting corner we managed to put the pressure on with Gosport failing to clear there lines the ball fell to the feet of Zack who slipped the ball home to make it 2-1 on 20mins that sperned us on Jack hit the post with a long range shot, Kieron had a header saved from a Smithy free kick.
Then on 26mins Jack played a great through ball to Zack who beat the defence with his pace rounding the keeper to tap home and make it 2-2 and before Gosport had a chance to regroup Jacks long throw on 27mins was brilliantly chipped home by Kieron to send us in at the break 3-2 ahead and well deserved as the team spirit and togetherness the lads showed after going 2-0 down was outstanding.
We made a change at half time Alfie replaced Sam with Jack slotting into defence as we did look a little vunreble there at times and with only 5mins of the second half gone Gosport started to get more and more physical and Kieron was replaced on 35 mins by joel after a hard tackle that went un noticed by the ref.
It was a little more even in the opening mins as it was still a game Gosport could of got themselves back into with an early goal, however with Jack lining up along side BK in defence we looked more stable shutting the door on any Gosport attack, the game did slowly start to open up with Zack having the first attempted of the half saved well by the hosts keeper, but in the 45th min BK grabbed the all importent goal breaking free from defence going on a powerful run his first attempt was blocked, Joel then had a shot saved from the rebound but BK was not going to let it go and smashed the ball high into the roof of the net to make it 4-2 and kill of any Gosport chance of getting back into the game as there heads dropped from then on and it was just how many more can we get.
Max and Kieron both had shots well saved however after a great ball from Alfie to Kieron he was wrongly flagged off side.
Then with 10mins to go the flood gates opened as Gosports resistance was over come by the constant Hawks pressure Max broke clear with a great burst of pace and was brought down inside the box PENALTY, up stepped Zack who cooly slotted home his hat-rick under the keeper to make it 5-2 in the 50th min.
We continued to flood forward it was wave after wave of attack after attack, Jack had his shot saved, Joel had the rebound blocked and as it looked to be going out for a corner Zack some how turned on a six pence and curled the ball home to make it 6-2 was the goal of the game at such a tight angle.
Joel pushed forward and had his shot tipped onto the wood work and Kieron had the rebound blocked for a corner, he had come back on replacing Cam on 50mins, from the resulting corner Jack again went close having his header blocked on the line.
Sam then replaced Ryan on 55mins and with the game ticking away Max who had looked like he would score all game grabbed a quick brace, first on 58mins he lobbed the keeper with a cheeky left foot strike just outside the box and just a min later in the 59th min Max made it 8-2 breaking clean through one on one after Alfie had sent him away he slotted home under the keeper to round off a great team performance and end the game 8-2 victors.
It was a slow start a little bit of rustyness from some players and as the game went on you could see the legs going from both side but we always managed to find that extra gear to propel ourselves forward or defend an attatck Gosport didnt know what to do, they just faded after a bright start maybe peaking to soon, as the never say die spirit the lads have and the pure will to win they show is untouchable.
Man of the match went to Zack who bagged himself another 4 goals but credit to all the lads its games like this that well and truly show how good you are and make me more and more proud of you..
Semis here we come well done lads same next weekend Hants cup Quarters vs a very good Grange team who were runners up last year and going well in there league so its to be a very good game.
UP THE HAWKS :)
