Our 1st away game for a month & it made a welcome change to just turn up and get the lads warmed up and not have to worry about nets, lines etc. The pitch looked in good condition when we got there but I noticed at the end of the game it was looking a bit worn.
Sax started brightly and after 2 mins Tom got the ball and with options left and right he decide to look up and take the shot on, His effort was a superb shot and most keepers would have struggled with the quality of it and it dipped just under the bar to open the scoring.
The 2nd came from a goal mouth scramble after a sax corner and the credit for the finish was given to Ryan we could not see from our angle but if you think it was your goal you will have to have a chat with Tim on Thursday at training. The next 3 goals came from Ed the 1st of them was set up by Arron when after some good play from the team he put a great ball through and with Ed 1 on 1 with the keeper you are usually only going to get 1 result he didn’t disappoint and stuck it in the back of the net. After that goal Claydon had a corner and after some comedy defending Connor got the ball away with a diving header. Ed was away again after some good work from the team and he put it in again to make it Claydon 0 – 4 Sax. Fish then set Ed away to complete his Hat-trick with a great through ball and again Ed was 1 on 1 and the same result with Ed sticking it past the keeper. It was after this that Tim remembered the tape and then he switched it on.
Claydon had a rare attack down the right and Finchy thought he had dealt with it but his pass was short and the Claydon attacker got the ball rounded Jack and put it in the empty net. George and Ollie came on to replace Rossi and Fish as we looked comfortable and we could afford to make changes.
The goal didn’t affect the lads and we were soon back on the attack and we were treated to some great play and John scored the next 3 Some good play down the right starting with Tom ended with a powerful shot from John coming off the far post and going in to the net for his 1st. 2 minutes later Ed set him away for his 2nd and when he was 1 on 1 there was only going to be 1 result and he stuck it in the back of the net. The next 1 came from some excellent football from Arron, Ed and John and Ed was brought down in the box. John stepped up and put in a strong Penalty that gave the keeper no chance Claydon 1 – Sax. When Claydon did launch an attack the lads at the back were too strong for them and any shot were easily dealt with by Jack. The full backs Connor and Tom were getting forward when they could and when they did they caused all sorts of problems.
Half Time Claydon 1 – 8 Saxmundham
Rossi and Fish went back on for the start of the 2nd half for Ed and John and Ryan was given 15 mins to get his goals. The start of the half was a scrappy affair and the 1st bit of action saw Jack take a free kick from the half way line which was on target and the keeper managed to flap at it and get it away. Claydon had an attack and a good shot was well saved by Jack and he got up to collect the loose ball before it went over the line. We got another free kick in our own half and Jack delivered a great ball in and Connors header went straight at the keeper. Fish then had a chance after he was played in by Rossi but the ball got stuck under his feet and he couldn’t get his shot away, George had the next chance but his shot went wide. Claydon had about 3 or 4 minutes of good play but the lads stood firm and coped with all the pressure. Jack got the ball into his hands and played it long to Ryan on the right he beat the defender played a ball in to Arron for a simple tap in and his 1st goal for Sax. 3 mins later the ball again went to Ryan and he beat 3 or 4 players before hitting a left foot shot that sneaked inside the post. On 56 Rossi out on the right got the ball after some good play from Tom crossed the ball in to Ryan who chested it down pulled out a few tricks beat the defenders and stuck in another. That was Ryan’s last action and Ed came on to replace him, he was soon in on the action when he was played in by Rossi but his shot went wide. John Came back on and Ollie went in to left back to replace the busy Connor who had an excellent game and is an example to others when he will play wherever asked to and gives 100%. Claydon had a rare attack of the half but again Jack was ready for it and dealt with it easily again. On 74 George looked like he should have got his goal but his 2nd touch was a bit heavy and gave the keeper the chance to clear it, The Sax lads hadn’t finished we had a throw that John got to Ed and he crossed it in for Rossi to finish and we thought that would be it but there was still time for more action. A Ball came back to Jack and for some reason he gave it to a Claydon player who took too long and gave Finchy time to get back and Save Jacks blushes. We still hadn’t done, Tom got the ball and worked it out from the back passed to John who looked up and rolled it over to George and the finished the scoring Claydon 1 – 14 Saxmundham.
The boys were better today and all looking like they wanted it. We won’t score 14 in a game very often and when Claydon did get forward the defence were excellent even with a changed defence with Kris moving over and Connor and Ollie doing well at left back.
Well done for the game today, we kept playing well and even though it was a high scoring game the boys did not take the mickey out of the opposition. John just edged the man of the match for his hat-trick and his general attitude since he got back in the team.
Another away game next week and let’s hope another good performance and hopefully Tim will switch on the tape so we don’t have to rely on our ageing memories for the 1st part of the game.
David
