A break from the league today and a trip to the walsall wolverhamptin uni campus for a cup match against division 1 St Matts.
LHC lined up in the usually 4-4-2 formation and from the off put the pressure on the home side. LHC managed to grab a crucial early goal when Foxy flicked the ball over the St Matts defence and into the path of Brainy, who powered his way towards the goal and rounded the keeper to tap in from 3 yards. 0-1. From the restart, LHC put the pressue on St Matts again with Shane having a few shots and Webby going close with a freekick. The referee had a big call to make just before the half hour mark when Bob played a through ball which Brainy latched onto. Running towards goal he was tackled from behind by a St Matts defender who looked to be the last man. The referee awarded the freekick but decided no further punishment was required for the st Matt's player. For the last 15 minutes, St Matts started to get back into the match and managed to fashion a shot or 2 on goal. No of which majorly tested Carl. At this point a second goal for LHC was vital and it came on the stroke of half time. Bob chipped the ball over the St Matts defence to Brainy. Spotting the St Matts keeper off his line he sprinted with the ball towards the goal and slotted past the keeper. 0-2 half time.
The second half was a bit more open to start with. Brainy had a shot on goal that drifted wide and St Matts broke through the LHC defence but Carl got off his line and dived at the players feet before he could get a shot away. The third goal of the match came in the 65 minute. Brainy chipped a ball down the right hand channel for Shane to run on to. Charging into the box, Shane dodged a tackle from the keeper and squared the ball for Brainy to tap in for his hat-trick. 0-3. Within 5 minutes LHC made it 4, Shane battled down the right hand wing and was fouled in the corner. Brainy took the freekick and put the ball into the box, heading across the face of goal and towards the back post, only for a St Matts defender to throw himself in fornt of it and head the ball into his own net. 0-4. LHC continued to pressure and 10 minutes from full time the 5th goal went in. This time Bob beat 2 St Matt's players in jumping for a header on halfway, the ball went into the St Matts half and landed at the feet of Lee who had cut in from the left. Running into the box Lee shot the ball, the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball but couldn't stop it going into the net. 0-5. For the last 10 minutes, St Matts pushed to get at least 1 goal but were rewarded with 2, both coming from corners. Full time 2-5.
LHc showed why we are pushing for promotion this season with a dominant display against a struggling Division 1 side. Everyone put a shift in and its hard to single out one person for man of the match. The team voted for Matt though, his performance in defence was second to non today. Shane had energy to burn this morning and was a thorn in the side of the St Matts left back all match. Brainy and Bob up front worked well together with Bob getting 2 assists and Brainy getting his Hat-Trick (although he will say he scored 4!). Also a big mention for unused sub Grovesy today! With Luke needing to come off the pitch, Grovesy pushed Jase forward to play instead of taking the selfish option and going on himself! Well done!
Back to the league next week, travelling to All Nations. A win is a must if we want to stay on track for promotion and keep on the heels of Rockmount in the title race.
