Faversham Town Colts 1 v 3 Hugin Vikings FC
Managers Notes:
Hugin put in a terrific performance away from home in the Albert and Gill Baines Memorial Cup against a very good Faversham Town Colts Team. In the first half we played some great football, Calum Piper and Delroy ran the midfield today. Delroy linked up superbly with Mateusz whilst Calum played some great balls out to Charlie Steine was also Man of the Match for me today along with Michael Tran. (I know you can only really have 1 man of the match, but it deserved 2 today!) Charlie Steine today showed what a fantastic winger he can be and capped a fine performance with a brilliant goal to put us 2-0 up.
The back four of Tom, Tom, Mike and Marcus was solid and limited Faversham to very few opportunities. Lewis had his best game for Hugin in goal without question, making some great saves, particularly the free header which he tipped over the bar. Sean and Joey played superb also in the first half, Sean was unlucky to have his goal ruled offside as well. Joey's work rate was brilliant, he never stopped looking for openings, playing Charlie Steine in down the right on several occassions and opening up the defence constantly.
Also not forgetting the substitutes of Galin, Sam, Finley and Charlie Howard. To have that amount of talent on the bench is fantastic and it really shows when the fresh legs come on.
Well done to Sam Lawton for his assist, that goal is coming soon for you but that assist was absolutely crucial today for Delroy's goal.
Well played everyone today, a very very good solid performance. Next Round of the Cup, Canterbury City FC who are currently sat second in Division 2.
Alex Steines Full Match Below
Three weeks ago we came here for a league visit and enjoyed both a sunny warm day and a 1-3 victory. Today had a touch of deja vu about it. Friday night's training had fourteen men vying for a call for the game-Finley suffering from a viral infection had promised a recovery, and to be available. So it was that a complement of fifteen arrived. The confidence within this group of young footballers is now perceivable-they were relaxed, but focussed. We began in solid fashion and moved the ball fast and sweetly-we looked good in the early exchanges with Lewis gathering a low cross and at the other end fine interplay saw Callum give the ball to Charlie Steine. A good low shot was pushed for a corner. The kick allowed Marcus to steal in and he hooked a shot at goal. In the eighth minute Charlie Steine-now growing into this new position-carried the ball deep into their half and put a fabulous ball across goal for Mateusz, hurtling in from the left. He swept it confidently into the net, 0-1. Sandwiched between our goals was a comfortable take from Lewis-his game was to be inspired today.
Our second arrived on the ten minutes mark. Charlie Steine enjoying a fine opening spell, picked up the ball coming in from our right. He dribbled inside beating a couple of defenders, checked back and found a powerful shot when he needed to. His well placed shot from outside the box flew past the keeper and the net bulged, 0-2. We were on top and the two goal cushion was a very good platform for us to put our footballing prowess into the shop window. Joey, involved in much of the play through the centre, linked well on our right-he has a natural propensity to drift to the right, a favoured position of his, with prompts from Callum and playing off Charlie Steine, they made a neat and dangerous triangle. We had little triangles of play all over the pitch. Mateusz and Delroy linked exchanged passes with Callum, for a triangle on the other flank.
Meanwhile Tom Skinner commanded the back line with a steely reserve. He won a succession of dropping, long balls with defence clearing headers. Michael was strong in the tackle and was to get a knock late in the game from his endeavours. On seventeen minutes a foul on Sean allowed Joey to put the free kick just over. Sean was creating problems for their defence with his movement and found Charlie Steine who arrowed in a shot which the keeper gathered. From a corner Callum managed a header at the near post. Halfway through the first period possession was lost on our right, the ball was whipped in and a free header was powered towards goal. Lewis pulled off a save of the season type leap and deflected the ball over the bar-superb! The next ten minutes was a holding mode for us. We continued our speedy attacking, aligned with solid defending. Callum was releasing our front runners constantly-he was having another influential game. Mateusz was a thorn in their side with his forays down the line. What was noticeable was his support for Marcus in that his tackling back was very obvious-once in the second half he chased around fifty yards to win the ball. This is a dimension of his game he is developing exceptionally well.
On the half hour mark Joey found Charlie Steine who hit the line and put in a great cross along the six yard box. Sean came rushing in and buried the ball brilliantly. The offside decision looked quite suspect to me and after the game Sean assured me that he was onside. Perhaps his goal will come next week. A moment later a crash-tackle on Charlie Steine gave us a free kick, a minute or so later he jinked beyond the edge of the box and dinked a pass to Sean who hit a shot that the keeper just held. We were ending the half in good style. When a Faversham forward broke Tom Barker came hurtling across and won a wonderful tackle eighteen yards out-it brought exuberant cheers from our band of supporters. We had many intricate and flowing moves throughout which gives credence to the insistence that we are a footballing side. Five minutes from the interval saw Galin find Charlie Steine, he slipped the ball to Callum, he in turn fed in Joey who forced a corner. It was a delightful pattern of play. There was still the need for the defence to hold off an attack, Tom Barker and Marcus held up play, Tom Skinner won a tackle, Michael rushed in as the ball spun loose. A weaker snatched at shot was gathered by Lewis in his midriff. Tom Barker has a very upright style of play and can almost look elegant on the ball, but his crunching tackles are quite impacting on the opposition's forwards-they get no easy passage from him The half ended, 0-2. Despite his claims to the contrary Tom Skinner has harnessed his verbosity. His commands are much more beneficial and his exceptional defensive positional awareness is now being translated more coherently to the defence, and other players in the side. Good work Thomas!
The half began in a pumped up fashion. Marcus won an important header from their right wing cross. Lewis again found Fin with a long kick. He ran on and hooked the ball over his shoulder, the ball hit the base of the post. Fin was fouled outside the box in another attack and his free kick was held by the keeper. A moment later Mateusz gave a crossfield pass to Finley who forced a corner. Marcus once more won the ball in the air but headed over. On forty seven minutes a ball was controlled by their number '14', he moved across the edge of our box and found a killing pass through which was tucked away from close range. We were now dragged back to a 1-2 score line, despite us having chances to put the game beyond them. A time to exert ourselves was required. We had become a little too gung ho in our play to the detriment of our midfield. Galin was the player to seal any leaks.
For the next ten minutes we pushed them hard, our response was good. Finley was fouled; Callum's free kick went over. Charlie Steine went on a long run carrying the ball deep, and won a corner. He took it and Mateusz was first to the ball but his goal bound shot was blocked. Then it was Mateusz's turn to dribble forward, he found Finley but his shot was comfortably held. Charlie Steine, received another intelligent pass down the line from Michael; he then made another thrusting run through their midfield, slipping the ball to Finley, his shot was smothered and it broke to Mateusz but he put the follow up shot wide. An intense period of attacking play.
To relieve their defence from our constant foraging for that third and vital goal they relied on long ball clearances. On one occasion it eluded Del and Charlie Howard, but Lewis playing a sweeper's role, hurtled from his line to win the ball in the tackle. On fifty seven minutes Michael limped off with a jarred leg, which he earned in a tackle. Charlie Howard, his first game for a while had slotted in seamlessly and made an important interception. Del moved the loose ball away. They had a corner a moment later which was flashed wide of our far post. They had begun to overrun our midfield in our urge to score a third-those chances hadn't been taken when we were in the ascendancy after the break. Galin's introduction was a positive step in repelling their intentions. In the sixty fourth minute they won a corner, which Lewis flicked away for a corner on the other side. We broke from the ensuing corner. Del slipped a pass to Charlie Steine. His run resulted in a deep cross-it drifted close to the goal and their keeper clutched the ball from under the bar.
We now had Sam holding the ball for others to play off; although performing a similar function to Sean their differing styles cause defenders to defend against them differently. Callum found him and he hooked a shot wide. It was giving their defenders different questions to ponder. Then in the seventy first minute we enjoyed perhaps our best move of the match-we did have so many therefore it is a subjective view-which began with Galin winning the ball powerfully in midfield. He had entered the fray and added a band of steel to our midfield, which had given Callum the confidence to advance. Having won the ball it ran loose to Callum he knocked it to Charlie Steine. He went on a customary run, driving at the heart of their defence and chipping the ball up to Sam. His header found Del speeding in, and with absolutely wonderful composure on the ball he placed the ball beyond the keeper into the far corner, 1-3. A couple of moments later a Charlie Howard clearance found Del again who shot wide. We were dominating once more. Another great slalom run by Charlie Steine had their midfield in a tangle-he found Mateusz who had his shot blocked, then a couple of minutes later he dinked a pass to Sam who hooked his shot wide. We were ending in a flurry. The final whistle sounded with us still in possession looking for a fourth. Into the Quarter-Finals, and a home draw against Canterbury City, well done, but now we concentrate on the league!
The manager has stated his views and I would add to them, by saying what you are now beginning to expect me to say. We are a very good side, with a squad which complements itself. The training was good again on Friday, and our fitness levels are improving, there is every reason to perhaps crank that up. Individuals can make those decisions for themselves. Charlie Steine is making that decision right now. The pitches will start to get heavier and the going will get tougher. The competition for places is upon you gentlemen. Survival of the fittest?
Circumstance has decided that next Sunday we return to this venue to play this team again in the second of three league meetings. Can we please make it a hat trick with our third win, please? Gentlemen you were wonderful today, thank you so much, it was a joy to watch. Well done to the manager, too! David, you are bringing along a very good footballing side, with great spirit-so a big 'thank you' to you, also.
