Well played to the whole team today, even with more changes being made to the team we managed to get a very good result against a team that looked to be putting in some decent performances themselves just lately. Well done everyone.
Man of the Match was Ryan James, closely followed by Charlie this week.
Same result again next week please.
Thanks To Alex Steine for this weeks report.
Another bright and sunny day saw the team preparing for the game, knowing for the third time in recent weeks that the bare eleven were available- hold that thought! Due to a misunderstanding only ten men appeared at the ground. Cue David making an emergency, enquiring phone call, and Michael-the missing player-rushed to the match. I was consigned to the lacing of boots, picking up smelly socks, and hurrying Michael along, at last I have found my true vocation! (water finds it's own level). Charlie Steine was given the role of playing behind Mateusz and performed well in his new position. This is the way forward I believe. Playing up the slope for ten men wasn't an ideal way to start, but the team stayed compact with Tom and Charlie Howard the fulcrum in the centre-they are developing a good understanding, (though the rest of the defence struggle a bit when Tom gives his instructions in fluent Mandarin!) Sorties into enemy territory were occasional, but both Finlay and Mateusz were having fine games and causing their defence problems.
Michael arrived, and without much help quickly found his way onto the pitch, ("It's that big green area over there, Michael!")-just over a quarter of an hour had been played-with cries of, 'We need you!' ringing in his ears he joined the match. The extra man allowed for more freedom of expression from the side and the chances began to arrive. To this point our best opportunity had been a good long range effort from Tom; though in the 23rd minute that changed, when a fabulous strike by Ryan rocketed into the goal for a well deserved lead. We only had to wait six minutes before doubling our lead when Finlay jinked his way into the box and finished high into the net. The eleventh man was paying dividends. There followed a succession of attempts from long range- the best of which was Charlie Steine, glancing up and measuring a delicious 45 'yarder' goalwards-it dropped agonisingly over the bar with the keeper off his line. There was some wonderful inter passing between Mateusz, Finlay and Ryan, which created another fine chance, as half time approached. Then a couple of minutes before the break Marcus had to come off his line smartly, to smother a rare chance for the Colts.
Within two minutes of the restart Tom swept the ball away for a corner. A moment later Mason cleared the danger from the resulting kick. The defence looked very strong in general, with just a few fleeting glimpses of uncertainty. Mateusz received a good ball from Jack and fired the ball home for a match-winning 3-0 lead. The same two players immediately combined from the restart- the ball went loose and an over the shoulder hooked shot by Charlie Steine would have crept into the top corner, but for the keeper being to that side of his goal through loss of his central position. Three minutes later and a long ball brought a stop from Marcus, the loose ball was headed behind by Charlie Howard, as he tidied up nicely. Normal service was quickly resumed when a stinging shot from Jack whistled wide. Drama ensued as within a couple of minutes Mateusz received a yellow card for dissent. From my position it appeared as if the incident suggested Mateusz had clipped the defender's boot when the players came together before falling, he saw it differently and informed the ref of his mistake-a yellow is the price you pay! ( I too don't understand why referees don't accept our version of events Mateusz-puzzling isn't it?) In the 56th minute Finlay latched onto a through ball to net, but not for the first time this afternoon a dubious offside decision ruled it out. In the 58th minute a clattering tackle on Charlie Steine-not the first of the afternoon, ( holding the ball draws fouls Charlie-use that knowledge)-gave us a free kick. A superb strike from the dead ball by Ryan brought a good save by the keeper. A minute later and a wonderful recovering tackle by Galin stopped an attack on our right-he was again a perfect shield. They were still causing occasional problems and a minute later a lofted high ball bounced over Marcus and hit the bar before continuing it's journey out of play. Three minutes later and the lively Finlay made it four after good passing between Ryan and Mateusz, which forced an opening for Finlay to blast home.
The bit was between our teeth and pressure from the combined talents of Finlay and Mateusz led to a corner, which in turn led to a second-the team were hungry for more goals, and the move ended with a shot by Finlay which went wide. The Vikings were rampant as the game entered it's final phase with good dribbling through the middle by Charlie Steine. The ball found it's way to Michael who made a driving run down the right flank, a pass to Finlay resulted in a shot which was gathered comfortably by the keeper. David decided to lock up the defence to protect what would be our first clean sheet of the season. He drafted Charlie Steine into a revised back line, which aided the accomplishment. Within a minute a ball by him out of defence found the attack, and Finlay passed to Mateusz who finished with aplomb to make the score line 5-0. Marcus made a smart save shortly after, pushing a shot around the post.
In the 72nd minute a run by Ryan was nearly brought to a halt by a clattering challenge but possession was retained; play was allowed to continue and Michael slammed home. That oddly fluttering flag was once more raised-ruling out the goal. The referee, having played advantage brought play back. Ryan's free kick hit the post but the rebound fell to Michael who headed it into the net. Justice was aptly served. A 6-0 score seemed a fair reflection on the balance of play, but there was still time for a curled shot beyond the far post by Ryan, and a good policing of an attack by Mason at the other end, who ushered the ball out of play. From the corner the ball was lofted over. The final whistle signalled the first win of those last three matches-one down two to go Tom-the owner of last week's mystery voice, he who insisted we can win our last three. Do it gentlemen, and fourth place is assured. MotM was justly awarded to Ryan, who perhaps gave the best individual performance of anyone in a match this season. Well done young lion heart!
