Saltdean Sharks Vs Montpelier View
Fish outta water!
A tide 1-0 win,
Admittedly we should have won by more but a very good performance all round.
We turned up early and got our heads on the game for a game that really mattered and I feel that helped us start strongly and put them on the back foot.
Right from kick off we worked hard and forced them into errors and never let them settle when they had possession.Alex and Philippe upfront continuously stole the ball and won it back for us and Shane putting in some real hard work going forward and back gave them no time or space to play whatsoever.
Early passing and brilliant movement from Jay Sr to Robbie gave us early opportunities only for good saves from the keeper or last ditch tackles stopping the opening goal.
Alex was a menace to the Sharks all afternoon and it was only a matter of time before they were gonna resort to fouling to stop him, fouling however was not gonna stop Philippe who showed skill and strength to break though the Sharks defence only for more classic saves to be made by the leagues inform keeper god only knows how many points he has saved them.
Some good defending by Dave King and Michael Patrick (now moved to right back) restricted the sharks to long shots and half chances, and mid way thought the first half they were forced to change tactic as the long balls over the top and through balls were not working, View just had too much about them to be caught out. And our pace and superior ability in the air meant it was going to take more then kick and run to undo our defence.
Jay Roberts and Matt King ran the game in the first half and Sharks packed the midfield trying to get back in to the game but it had little effect as when they had it they had no outlet for the ball on the few occasions they came up with it.
A few more wonder saves by sharks keeper meant the half finished 0-0
The second half started the same and Sharks were reduced to fouling Alex time and again to limit his threat, I don’t know how the game stayed card free but it did.
View had some dangerous set pieces and looked a threat every time the ball was near the Sharks box notably from corners.
The opener and winner came from a corner, a low one swung in from Alex a step over from Levi running across the front post left Mike Patrick open for him to notch a back heel and his second is as many matches and starts.
From this point the game became scrappy due to changes and a whistle happy ref. neither team wanted to take chances at the back and the lumping began. Sharks showed their desire and won a lot of first and second balls but did not have the quality to get an equaliser a two long range efforts one low drive the floor to Dazza right hand post and another that bounced just in front of him were saved exceptionally well showing that concentration was not gonna be an issue.
I think that broke the resolve as View got back to passing and keeping the ball.
Dan and Pete’s arrival kept them honest Dan’s running in behind almost set up good chances and Pete’s long range belter almost caught them off guard.
I wouldn’t have given their keeper MOM as most of his “saves” were more luck then judgment. But well done son you know you were in a game.
Special mentions,
Jay Roberts Sr,
Inspirational talk and motivational skills,
Stuart Sutton,
Brilliant attitude and talking, keeping the team going.
Lets play with this passion every week boys and teams will fold like Spurs
Levi
