Well, we couldn't have asked for a better match as our fisrt game back following the Xmas break, top versus 2nd & before today both teams were still unbeaten. Everyone knew what was at stake here today with regards to the league title - a defeat would mean we would need to win our final 2 matches to win the league - a draw would mean we would need to win only 1 of our final 2 games & the best scenario was for us to win today and seal the title to go 7pts clear with only 2 games to play.
We got off to a great start, creating one opportunity in the 1st minute which went wide but then took the lead in the 2nd mintue when Joe slotted a great pass to James who held off the defender to fire past the keeper 1-0. Brandon battled and made things tough but we showed more creativity & vision however we couldn't produce the finishing touch. In the first half alone we must have had at least 6 one-on-one's which either went wide or straight at the keeper. Our persistance paid off in the 27th min went Niall's shot found the bottom corner of the net to put us 2-0 up. Perhaps undeservedly, Brandon got back into the match with a goal in the 33rd min to make it 2-1 at half time.
In the second half Brandon were trying to play the off-side trap but we were a lot more alert to this compared to the previous occasion we played this fixture. We restored the 2 goal cushion in the 40th min when Aaron timed his run perfectly to foil the off-side trap and broke clear the calmly place his shot to the keepers left and into the net 3-1. Another couple of chances went begging to further increase our lead before good work from Owen Rooks forced the defender into a mistake and the result was an undisputable penalty. James was a little reluctant to take it as he'd missed his previously penalty but every good striker misses the odd one here and there so I had 100% faith in him and asked him to take it - no problems this time for James and he sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-1. We lost a little concentration at the back and the Brandon striker made the most of his opportunity and scored to make it 4-2. This was still a funny scoreline as another goal for Brandon would have made the final 10 mins quite nervy so I was hoping we'd grab another ourselves to make sure but it didn't happen. A few more one-on-ones went begging & Matt Coates was unfortunate not to score with 2 headers from corners. However, we kept things tight at the back & secured the win.
Joint ment of the match - Carl & Matt Johnson - to be fair, all three lads at the back were class today but Carl & Matt just shaded it with some timely interventions and great reading of the game - well done lads.
In summary - a fully deserved win today. My only slight disappointment was our finishing - the game should have been out of sight by half time and there were also multiple chances in the 2nd half to put the game to bed. This unfortunately meant with the scoreline still being so tight, I had to make some very tough choice which meant no match time for some of the lads. Big apologies but I'm sure everyone understands this my thinking on this "one-off occasion".
Well, we've been so close to winning something over the last 4 seasons & now we've finally done it & fully deserve it. However, we still have 2 matches left and a new challenge to acheive - remain unbeaten - to win the league is one thing, but to win it as an unbeaten team is something else.
