As the title suggests The Revs recorded another hard fought victory to maintain their unbeaten run. The effort from all involved, not just this week, has been a pleasure to see and be involved in. The team is like a well oiled machine at the moment, with everyone vitally playing their part.
This team really has come on leaps and bounds since starting in 6aside. Games like last week and last night would have ended in a loss not that many months ago, but the attitude to fight for every ball and play right till the final whistle has made the team a force in this division.
This game had everything from crunching tackles from the likes of Phil Pinkstone, to falling over the ball when in on goal from Evans. It was pure entertainment.
I cannot play down the attitude from the team, all working together as a unit creating chances going forward and defending with heart at the back. Myers distribution of the ball really has improved so much that he seems to be able to land his kicks wherever he wants. Hartrick did his best up front but their big powerful defender had the measure aerially, only when Hartrick got down the flanks did The Revs begin to purr.
Time and time again the link up play between Steane and Hartrick put the opposition on the back foot. The width that D. Pinkstone and Beardall gave The Revs caused all kinds of problems too and with Evans providing cover in the middle and P. Pinkstone giving a masterclass at the back the only thing missing was goals.
The Revs carved out plenty of chances but were not clinical enough. Hartrick missed a few chances he would normally gobble up, Steane was thwarted by the keeper as was D. Pinkstone and Evans, well his own feet were his downfall in front of goal, especially when defender and keeper missed a through ball and it hit Evans on the heel.
However, no one let that get them down and everyone knew the goals would come as the chances piled up. Around the 10 minute mark the deadlock was broken when Steane’s shot was parried by the keeper out wide into the path of Beardall who struck a beautiful low ball into the far corner of the goal.
The opposition were no shrinking violets though and they had pace and power also, but cometh the hour cometh the man and it was P. Pinkstone who shone at the back. He hounded, harried and pushed players out wide to ensure whatever shots did come in were from long range and easy pickings for Myers.
This continued for pretty much the whole game, back and forwards with the odd break due to an incompetent ref asking the teams the rules.
Eventually the opposition did get a break though when P. Pinkstone forced their attacker out wide, but he managed to get a shot off from a very acute angle and it beat Myers at the near post. A case of misfortune and skill combining to level things up.
But this Revs side is made of sterner stuff and never let their heads drop. It was only a matter of minutes before The Revs restored their lead and it was through that man again Beardall. This time a kick in was intercepted but Beardall blocked the pass and fortuitously it fell into his path. Beardall remained composed and placed a low shot into the bottom corner past a despairing keeper, giving him no chance, but giving The Revs a deserved 2-1 lead.
With less than 2 minutes on the clock the opposition tried their best to get a goal back, but time and time again shots were blocked, clearances were made and time wasted away by all involved. Eventually the whistle blew on another victory for The Revs.
It is fair to say that The Revs, for all their hard work alone, deserved this victory and it could have been by a more handsome margin had chances been converted. But what a start to the season, The Revs continue in dreamland challenging at the top end of the table!
RTID!
