This was a great team performance considering this was our first outing in pre- season. To beat a side as accomplished as Washington JFC 4-1 was very satisfying and the style of football we played although on an excellent surface was even more pleasing.
Both teams kept possession well during the first half but Gary Draper did have a good shot well saved after 3 minutes. Sacriston then wasted several promising positions in and around the box with a bad final pass but the approach play was excellent.
Chris wood looked good on his Segga debut and showed some nice touches before coming off injured after 15 minutes with a bad knock on his knee. Greg Coates fresh from his holiday in Benidorm came on to replace him and with his first touch he set up Ward with a great pass and Ward waited for the keeper to come out before lobbing him to score with a deft volley to make it 1-0.
Sacriston were forced to defend well at times during the first half when Washington did get in behind us but we dealt well with the danger.
The players were being constantly rotated but whatever position our lads seemed to play in they seemed comfortable and our confidence was getting bigger by the minute.
Then on 68 minutes Grant Boyd played a great diagonal ball from left to right which Coates took down into his stride and he finished brilliantly into the bottom left hand corner of the net to make it 2-0.
Ward made it 3-0 on 75 minutes when he robbed the Washington defender of the ball just outside of the 18 yard box and he calmly placed his shot into the bottom left hand corner.
Anthony Ward’s cleverly cushioned header set Coates away again on 80 minutes and he finished well again firing his shot into the net from 14 yards out to make it 4-0.
Washington were awarded a consolation goal when Potts who had done well on his 2nd debut for the club fumbled a shot which went behind him but he got back well in time to scoop the ball to safety. However the referee had other ideas and from his position some 50 yards away decided to award a goal. The worst decision I have ever seen in a football match.
Marc Bladen thwarted Washington at the end with a great block from a goal bound shot which would have been harsh on us because the 3 goal margin was more than a fair reflection on the balance of play.
Overall a good work out and a good performance and the back 3 were very solid and looked as though they hadn’t ever been away at times the understanding was there from the start with the new goalkeeper Potts. Ward and Coates were outstanding up front and the wing backs got forward well with the midfield putting in a good shift also.
