A very cold morning at Carlton park with a covering of snow on the pitch. The game could only go on after a great deal of work to get the lines cleared and marked again. I was happy to get some help and a special thanks goes out to Tim, Brian, Fish, Jack, John, Harry, and Roy. The ref deserves a mention for his patience and for allowing the game to be played when I am sure that some would have called it off.
The lads started well and in the third minute we had our first attempt at goal,George done well down the left and got in to the box he chose to shoot when it would have been better to cross but that is easier to say than do at times. Kirton launched their first attack of the game from the keepers kick and earned themselves a corner. The corner was taken but as the ball came in it was well claimed by Jack. Kirton had made the decision to try and get at us early and were closing down well all over the pitch. A cross from the right went in to the box and Kris had a swing and a miss, Rossi came in and done well to shield the ball to give Jack time to come out and collect it.
Sax were starting to impose themselves on the game and were winning more of the ball in the tenth minute Connor made a good run from left back and twisted and turned in the box past 4 players but his shot was straight at the keeper. The Kirton defence were under a lot of pressure and it looked like only a matter of time before the lads made the breakthrough. Ryan won he ball in midfield and spread the play wide right to Rossi he beat the left back with ease and crossed the ball in the ball came of Ed's heel and across the goal for a simple tap-in for Ryan to make it Sax 1-0 Kirton.in the twentieth minute Ryan played a great ball through to Ed and with him bearing down on goal the goal the flag went up for offside. 1 min later and George had a good chance to score but again he hit it straight at the keeper. On 23 Jack's Goal kick was flicked on by Kyle to George he looked up and found Rossi with a good pass but his shot was straight at the keeper. The Kirton back 4 were struggling with the lads pace but the keeper was doing well to keep the shots out. On 24 Ed done well to win the ball back from Kirton he then took on and beat 3 players and gave the ball to
George This time he got his angles right and the ball went in off the post Sax 2-0 Kirton.1 minute later the lead was extended to 3 with George being involved again he got the ball and passed it to Rossi he finished well to make it a long way back for Kirton and take us a step closer to the next round. The pressure was all on the Kirton goal on 26 we had a corner that Tom delivered it was a good ball in but nothing came of it. On 27 one of the more controversial moments of the match happened the man was down with a clear sight of the goal surely the offender would get booked at least but it was decided that Brian should pick up his flag when he is running and if you stand on it you will fall down and have a roll in the snow. (if we had been filming it we could have got £250 form you've been framed for club funds).
On 28 Ed was through again and took the ball around the keeper but his shot was well cleared off the line by the Kirton defender. Sax were playing some excellent football,one move started at the back with Connor who played it to Kyle and one touch to George some great stuff but no end product. On 35 Kirton won a free kick they put in a good ball but it was headed wide. 41 minutes saw another Sax corner Tom delivered the ball come to Ryan his shot was going to creep inside the post but a Kirton defender stuck his foot out and cleared it off the line. The next 3 minutes saw 3 more chances go begging the 1st was from George who would have got a good 3 points if it was rugby, Ryan then missed after some good play from Ed and then it was Ed's turn after Tom had given the ball but again it would not go in. the half finished with the Kirto goal under siege and Sax looking to extend their lead.
Half-Time Sax 3-0 Kirton.
Sax started the 2nd half well and in the 41st minute after a scramble in the box a Kirton defender
put the ball in the net to make it Sax 4-0 Kiton. 42 mins and we were on the attack again Ryan got the ball on the edge of the area and hit a good shot that the keeper done well to get a hand to and tip it on to the bar he the got up to collect the rebound. Kirton were struggling to stay with the speed and determination in the Sax attacks and their heads started to drop. Ben only managed 5 minutes as the cold weather was playing havoc with his Asthma and he had forgot his inhaler. 45 on the clock and Fish won the ball in midfield and played a great ball through to Rossi who made no mistake this time and it was sax 5 – 0 Kirton. The lads were playing some really good football and would give any team a good game playing as they were. 46 minutes and another good corner from Tom fell to George in the box he shot and scored his 2nd of the game and the 6th. Kirton were trying to get a consolation but every time they tried to get forward the defence dealt with all they had. On
50 Ollie crossed in a lovely ball from the right and Ed got on to it and scored with a great header .
Kirton still pushed for a consolation and the lads at the back were desperate for a clean sheet between them and Jack they were like a solid brick wall with no way through. The Game was open with Sax looking for more goals Ed was through but he was brought down on the edge of the box he took the Free kick but it went just over. 67 minutes and a great ball in from Connor hit the bar
and fell to Tom 6 yards out but he somehow put it wide. On 71 Ed got the ball to his feet and played a ball to Ryan he beta 2 defenders and slotted it past the keeper to finish the scoring Sax9-0Kirton .
We now have Bramford in the next round at home and we will have to play well if we want to progress to the semi-final, If the lads work hard and play like they have over the lat 2 weeks they will give themselves a good chance.
A great result on a very cold day and a great effort from all involved in getting the game played.
Finally thanks to everyone who turned out to support the lads on such a cold day.
