Medway Magic opened their competetive fixtures in the pre-season MMSFL Cup yesterday and ran out convincing 4-1 winners against Sovereign Sports. Magic had been drawn against arguably the best opposition in a tough group, their opponents having been crowned Division 4 Champions last year and losing only 3 games all Season but this counted for nothing as they were taken apart in the Second half and we ended up comfortable winners.
That said, whilst this was a very good team performance, there are clearly improvements to be made on our individual performances and for once in a while luck was on our side at times.
Switching to a 4-4-2 performance and including a debut for Femi Peter Magic started comfortably and we were probably just on top in an even game of no clear cut chances before we conceded one of our trademark goals to go one behind. The defence dealt with the free kick into the box but again we were slow to react to close the ball down on the edge of the area, allowing a shot through players that Jack could only palm into the net.
We were soon level however with a goal of the utmost quality from the Captain for the day Shenton Green, a move involving Ola and Austin making its way out to Shenton who from thirty yards out arrowed a left foot shot into the top corner to level things up.
The referee then disallowed two goals in quick succession, the first a headed Sovereign goal from a free kick for offside and then a Magic effort in which Rochard Enderby stormed forward from left back exchanging passes with both Ola and Austin before storming into the box to beat the keeper and watch his shot trickle into the corner. Celebrations were cut short however with a debatable offside against him.
Then disaster struck for Shenton. Involved in a tussle with the Soveriegn forward which the referee allowed to go on he was callously taken out on the ankle and forced off. Bad news followed after the game with a Hospital X-ray showing ankle ligament damage and an unknown spell on the sidelines.
Sovereign had a another goal disallowed for a clear offside and that wound up the first half, Magic having to re-shuffle their team once Alex had replaced Shenton. The Second half had Magic playing uphill but this ultimately counted for nothing as it suited the passing game we profess and we took complete control of the game as it progressed.
Richard Enderby was to take revenge floating a free kick to the far corner where under pressure the Sovereign defender merely helped on into his own net. Femi capped a fine debut with a run and fierce cross that was again only helped into his own net by the hapless Soverign defender for 3-1 before Dan Williams came on to setup Austin with his second touch of the game, Austin lifting the ball over the advancing keeper for 4-1.
Sovereign pushed forward but our defence remained largely untroubled and the best move of the game involving 4 or 5 players almost gave us a fifth with Ola unable to find the final ball back across goal to Dan or Femi and it harmlessly rolled to the keeper.
An outstanding result for our first match back and it sets things up nicely for next week against Beausports Reserves who won the other match in our group 1-0 against Cuxton and Strood United.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Shenton. We will keep the Captains armband warm for you!
Man of the Match was Femi for a great debut run extremely close by Joe Akinola playing out of his comfort zone at centre back but really it was the team performance that won the game.
