Challenge Cup First Round
Fleet Sociadads 1 – 3 Holybourne Vets
THE VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT:
An accomplished controlled performance against the Div 6 newbies.
We started the game with great intensity and pace and took the game to them. They were feeling confident after their 6-0 win in their first league game.
Our first goal came after only 2 minutes after a quick flowing move and fine individual finish from Simon Fothergill.
An early goal and as a Div 4 team we were looking comfortable in possession and superiority stood out. A second goal soon followed from a 30 yard free kick from Skipper Kim Lydon.
2-0 after 10 minutes and it looked like it was going to be a comfortable game. We had several further opportunities to extend our lead including a goal that was disallowed for offside and some good saves from their keeper.
Half Time 2-0 Holybourne.
The 2nd half was a little laboured and we didn't really get going. Credit to Fleet as they kept plugging away and were dangerous on set pieces. Against the run of play we scored our 3rd goal and what a goal it was. A fine 30 yard half volley shot from Simon Fothergill which caught the keeper off his line. 3-0 and looking good.
We slowed down and we took our foot off the pedal and credit to Fleet as they kept going and scored a nicely worked goal to make it 3-1 .
Further pressure and a few half chances fell their way but overall we were in control. An accomplished performance which sees us through to the next round .
THE VIEW FROM THE PITCH:
Fleet entered the game with bags of confidence having put 6 past Medstead in their previous game, and the backdrop for the gaffer's pre-match chat was a against a Fleet team doing one of the most professional looking Sunday league warm-ups ever witnessed.
The gaffer’s team talk was simple, take the game to them and bag a couple of early goals.
Kicking off with a slight incline in our favour, Holybourne did exactly that. Holybourne showed a desire to win every ball, make every pass and create chances from the off. We looked at our best with some attractive two touch football, creating space, using the width of the pitch and when Mickey’s header found Fobby after Big Dave’s kick, we took an early lead. With Fobby through on goal 1 on 1 with the keeper, he dribbled the ball around the keeper for a routine tap into the empty net.
With the early goal lifting spirits, the football started to flow, with occasional breaks from Fleet, very well handled by the centre pair of Dan L and Kev B. Of the two early attempts at goal from Fleet, Big Dave saved very well, plucking the ball out of mid-air after a good strike from one of the Fleet ‘Dads.
The high tempo activity in midfield was starting to draw fouls from Fleet, especially from Mike and Mickey who were causing problems down the flanks. Mickey drew a foul about 30 yards from goal. Kim stepped up and spanked the ball into the danger zone and it beat everyone, including the Fleet keeper before sneaking into the bottom right of the goal. 2-0 was nothing more than the team deserved and to everyone’s astonishment, we’d listened to the gaffer’s pre-match pep talk and managed to execute his game plan.
Holybourne continued to press, putting the Fleet side under sustained pressure, orchestrated by some select balls from Dan H, some great hold up play from Ben, and Jenks teaming up yet again with Mickey on the left flank. Mike having several surging runs, troubling the Fleet left back and forcing a couple of set plays. A few corners created half chances, a great header from Dan L from 12 yards flying narrowly over and after another Holybourne surge, Mickey scored to make it 3-0, only to see his effort overruled for off-side, despite being about 15 yards on… Fleet threatened with the last header of the first half but the defenders did enough to make the chance too difficult.
0-2 to the boys at half time, it could have been more but we looked good throughout the half. Kev B was replaced by Peggy due to Kev B suffering a calf injury (get well soon, Kev…) and it was Fleet who brought the game to us.
Holybourne found it hard to settle into a rhythm and re-establish the first half dominance. The back four found themselves under prolonged periods of pressure and a couple of decent substitutions from Fleet put us on the back foot early on – especially when that big unit ‘accidentally’ steps on your toe... Ben, Fobby, Mike, Sam (on for Ben) and Mickey still looked threatening during occasional attacking spells. Kim and Dan H marshalled the team from midfield looking to spread the ball to the flanks to give the team space and time to settle.
Then the goal of the season (so far…) happened. Mickey with technically his third assist (if you count the freekick he created) put a through ball into Fobby who from just outside 30 yards, lobbed the Fleet keeper to try to put Holybourne out of sight. Fobby would claim spectacular, Mickey deemed it lazy!
Fleet managed to grab a foothold in the game, Peggy and Jenks keeping them at bay with some solid defending but after one of several free-kicks in the Holybourne half, Fleet made a breakthrough and fired into the corner of the goal. 1-3.
With about another 20-25 minutes left to play, we really needed to close the game out and put some Fleet heads down and it almost happened if it wasn’t for Pingu and a woeful attempt at the back post after a cheeky run from right back and denying Fobby an assist.
Dan L was the next casualty, limping off with 10 to go, Gary bolstered the back four by coming in at right back and immediately winning his physical battles and still Holybourne had good spells and a couple of great corners from Sam which were dealt with well by Fleet.
Full-time 1-3.
A tale of two halves. Fair play to Fleet, they will definitely be a team to watch and they’ll be among the front runners in Div 6, their determination got them back into the game and credit to them, not once did they let their heads go down.
They should also win the trophy for ‘Best Named Team of the Season 2018/19’. Is that a thing?
MOTM – Lots of nominations. It goes to Fobby.
