Hugin Vikings travelled back to the Seaview Caravan park looking for their first win of the season. This hasn't been a good ground for us in recent times so we were wary of the opposition.
Hugin Vikings have struggled in recent weeks to get a consistent starting 11 and today was no exception with us fielding a different starting 11 to that of the last game.
Hugin Vikings started well, getting control of the game early on. Galin and Mateusz being strong in midfield and winning the key battles. Galin showing strength in the middle to head clear a ball out to Charlie Steine who travelled forward with the ball then slotted a perfectly weighted pass to Mateusz who smashed the ball home and opened his goal scoring account for the day.
Ryan James worked tirelessly up front, a postion he has never played in, he didn't give the defenders time on the ball and pressured at every opportunity. It wasn't long before he forced a mistake and played Mateusz through on goal again who finished top right hand corner for 2-0.
Tankerton had a couple of half chances which were quickly cleared out by Brad and Thomas in the middle of defence. Charlie Steine played some superb balls down the line for Cieran to run onto one of which resulted in a corner. Ryan whipped the corner in which the keeper spilled and Mateusz again on hand to tap home for 3-0.
Hugin were starting to enjoy themselves and started to become a little sloppy all over the pitch, we needed to get our shape back, Tankerton broke through a couple of times but again Finley Cowell cleared the danger.
Another Tankerton attack came, this time Charlie Steine controlled the situation and this time played in Jack Brown who used great strength to turn his defender and hit a sweet strike which unfortunately hit the cross bar but Ryan James anticipated and gambled that something could break for him and side footed the ball home for 4-0.
Tankerton came forward again, this time we allowed them the time on the ball, the nearest player did not get close to the player and the Tankerton player hit a ferocious strike straight into the net, a cracking goal which gave them a lift and us a warning we weren't clear just yet.
Hugin Vikings were trying to play some neat football and at times we did, Ryan James again putting pressure on the Tankerton centrebacks caused them to slice a clearance which he ran onto the loose ball, he calmly drove forward 1 v 1 with the keeper and side footed the ball home to make it 5-1.
Hugin pressed again from the restart, Mateusz into Ryan, Ryan to Cieran, Cieran done some great work and slotted the ball across for Ryan who shot over the bar.
Just before half time Tankerton won themselves a corner, Hugin failed to pickup the attackers and in all honesty Tankerton headed home totally unopposed to make it 5-2 going into the break.
I made the lads aware that they were in a game now and a 3 goal lead is nothing at this level. We needed to keep the tempo the same and push on and kill the game off. Something we have failed to do previously. We also needed to play more as a unit, the challenge was to not concede in the second half, no shots!
We started slow, but within minutes we were back and wanted the game more than the opposition. The back four playing much tighter together than the first half. Alfie Brown came on to the left back position and Finley Cowell was moved onto the left wing, this made us a greater threat down the left hand side. Alfie Brown keeping the Tankerton winger at bay and Finley Cowell providing a great attacking option on the left wing.
It wasn't long before Alfie Brown swept a neat pass out to Finley Cowell on the left wing who then backheeled it back to Alfie Brown who made the overlapping run, Alfie Brown then with his head up travelled and played a great ball to Mateusz who went through and scored his 4th goal of the day. Great team work from Alfie, Finley and Mateusz for this total team goal.
Tankerton did then have a half chance and Marcus Debling kept goal superbly today, he was playing an almost sweeper role for long periods, clearing up any long balls. His distribution was also very good. He kicked the ball from his hands forward and Mason King with a superb flick on sent through Finley Cowell 1v1 with the keeper, Finley Cowell sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 7-2. A superb finish.
Finley Cowell continued to take on the Tankerton number 10 and it was turning into a good battle which Finley was getting the better of. Finley Cowell managed to get in a few crosses and Mason King who worked hard up front just failed to toe poke it past the keeper as he held onto it.
Ryan and Cieran played some nice linked up football again, Ryan into Cieranwho crossed the ball to Mateusz and yes you guessed itm he smashed it home for number 5.
Even at 8-2 we continued to press and fight for every ball. Captain Tom Skinner had a fine game at the back and gave his all today and was unlucky to have a penalty given against him when he was adjudged to have fouled the advancing striker.
Marcus Debling between the sticks, the striker shot and Marcus made a fine save to keep the score at 8-2. Hugin went straight down the opposite end and won a corner Finley Cowell taking the opportunity to take a quick one, passed it to Charlie Howard who hit a great shot into the top corner the keeper got a hand to it but could not keep it out 9-2.
Ryan tried but could not get his hat trick, he even hit the bar from 30 yards out it was just not meant to be.
All in all a much better performance, and a great scoreline to go with it. Bring on next Sunday and hopefully the same performance. Well played to all the lads, you got the result you deserved today!
Man of the match - Mateusz, fought really hard, anticipated and read the game well and bagged himself 5 goals.
