Mexoc Meteoric as Flames Doused.
Flames FC 0-6 Mexoc
Report by Kevin Johnson.
Mexoc got the season off to a flyer with a comfortable away win to newcomers Flames FC.
A first half brace from Causley sandwiching strikes by Matthews and Faulkner, along with an unfortunate O.G. left Mexoc with an deserved 5-0 score at the break.
Bilham provided the cherry on top with a late strike to give Mexoc a comfortable win and promising start to the season.
Going in against unknown opponents is never an easy task, however the away team comfortably took control of the early stages, with slick passing from back to front, putting the opponents on their back foot deservedly taking the lead after 8minutes, with Causley snapping like a turtle to finish smartly with a low drive.
Nerves settled, Mexoc continued to take the game to Flames and were rewarded for their endeavour and work rate by forcing an own goal after 19mins with good closing down on the hapless defender.
Sensing their confidence growing as the first half progressed, Mexoc pressed further. Whilst Matthews saw his effort rebound of the bar from a deftly delivered corner by Faulkner, his perseverance told in the 27 min with a textbook downward header, again from a corner.
Faulkner (pen) and Causley rounding the keeper added a couple more before the break, and in truth, the home team were lucky to keep the scoreline down. The Flames attack was equally inept, rarely venturing into opposition territory, producing nothing of note to trouble the returning Johnson in goal. If this had been a boxing match the bloodied towel would certainly have been thrown in.
Five nil, as they say, is a delicate lead at this level. Would Flames rise from the ashes like the proverbial Phoenix and mount an unlikely comeback? Alas no, however to give them credit they upped their work rate and gained more territory in the second half creating one decent chance, dealt with well by the Mexoc goalkeeper.
Overall, the extra class and experience of the away team shone through, with Sheppard excelling. Some smart inter-play between Causley and Sheppard led to the Welshman firing narrowly over from distance and the inevitable sixth goal came on 75 minutes. The marauding Glover let fly from all of 25 yards,the Flames goalie spilling it like a hot potato into the path of Bilham who finished calmly.
All in all a terrific result for the Mexonians, more importantly a good performance which should set them in good stead for the opening games in this division. They sit proudly on top of the league(alphabetically) and need to keep up the good work against ,surely, tougher opposition in the next few weeks.
