A little behind I know but it has been a busy time.
A Thursday night game at Underwood and again we are trying something different. We need to start getting some wins. We have got Zac at centre-back and Ryan in midfield and Ryan is wearing an orange training bib over his red/black shirt because he forgot it was orange shirts.
The game was very even in the first 15 minutes with neither team making a clear cut chance. The pitch is very hard with lumps and bumps all over the place. A great ball from Dom found Ollie down the channel and he was able to feed Foxy who was unmarked in the middle, but at full stretch he just couldn’t connect. From the goal kick, the ball bobbled away from Brad leaving a 2 on 2. The Underwood player went on his own and found another bobble as he shot, the ball went about 20 yards wide.
Underwood capitalised on 23 minutes when Elliot and Adam failed to clear or collect a ball down our right. The home player nicked the ball and had a simple finish. We got back on level terms six minutes later when Sam went on a great run down the right. When we thought he had got to a dead end, he twisted his way through to the bye-line and pulled the ball back for Cory to stroke into the net from 10 yards. Underwood had a great chance to regain the lead on 36 minutes. We were caught out at the back leaving Underwood with a 2 on 1. The square pass left the forward with Adam to beat but he made himself big and saved brilliantly with his left leg. Just before half-time Dom collected an Underwood clearance and played the ball to Ollie, he knocked a one touch ball through to Foxy and his first time shot just didn’t curl in enough and went inches wide with the goalie beaten. So half time was level pegging.
The second half started the same way as the first with lots of hustle and bustle but no chances. Simon came on for Moo five minutes in. Then on 52, an Underwood corner is swung in to the near post, Jack’s header away is a weak one and the ball is fired high into the net. A minute later we are at sixes and sevens and Underwood should have wrapped it up but the shot from 6 yards cannoned back off the bar. Elliot found the going a bit much after Underwood moved their quick player out to their left, so Ryan moved to a more familiar defensive position and Moo came back on for Elliot. Then Adam got a nosebleed so Elliot was straight back on...in goal. He had to be on his game on 69 minutes when a ball was played over our defence. Zac and the home team player raced after it, but the bumpy pitch took the ball away from Zac, the striker shot powerfully but straight and it was well saved by Elliot. There was another quality save from Elliot 4 minutes from time, as we were pushing for an equaliser. Somehow there were two players bearing down on him from a ball from the right, but he kept his cool and as the ball bounced up in between them all, Elliot neatly palmed the ball over their heads and away. A minute later and Underwood send a poor cross in from the left that looked to be sneaking just under the bar at the near post. Elliot got a hand to it but it looped up and dropped almost on the line at the far post and was touched in.
With a minute to go, Zac’s clearance found Foxy and his neat touch inside reached Sam who controlled well, checked what options were available and lobbed the keeper from 30 yards. We had some good pressure in the dying seconds and gained a throw level with the edge of the area. As Dom launched it deep into the penalty box the ref blew for full time. What a ........ridiculous way to end a game either let the play develop or blow before the throw is taken.
A much improved team display including great performances from Graney, Foxy and Adam and Man of the Match, Zac.
