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Saturday 28th November – Monkton Stadium
9am Kick Of – Ryhope FC
Another big game for the rampant Vipers…..terrorising the division with their attacking flair and defensive strength …..as it’s approaching Christmas a festive comparison is in order…..we’ve been tighter in defence than Scrooges purse strings, tougher in midfield than my Nanas Christmas Turkey and to sum the whole team up we’ve got more little “crackers” than Fenwicks window ! (and that includes the Manager/Coaches)
You will all remember the last time we played Ryhope….our 1st game of the Season and we won 5 – 0….BUT they hit the bar, post, Matt made 3 great saves and it could have been 5 – 5….Ryhope have also only lost once since that game and they are right behind us in the table….so a game to look forwards to for everyone !
Wet and very muddy conditions (as Matthews Mum will testify – what exactly DO you use to get that kit clean ??? ULTRA ULTRA DAZ ???)
Matt starting in goal – and the 6yd box was an absolute mud bath – Sam, Thomas in defence, Kaie in the centre, Kyle and Mason (on opposite flanks today) and Joe up front….James Catley & Max subs today and a big miss with James Reed unavailable due to feeling unwell – GET WELL SOON JAMES from all your teammates !!
Getting underway, attacking from the off (nice quick start which we LOVE to see from you)
Kaie and Kyle working well down the right, some good balls across to Joe, Mason supporting the attack well down the left….
The first half was a tough, hard working one – to sum it up…
Matthew – it was muddy, very muddy…very very muddy…..and you were ..well….muddy ! It didn’t put you off your stride at all, some lovely blocked shots, gathered the ball well and good clearances making the half way line regularly…
Great tackles from Sam, Thomas, James Catley & Max – all 4 making some crucial interventions, one sliding tackle from James Catley was particularly worthy of mention, as last man with 3 Ryhope players through, James shepherded the ball out of play for a corner…Thomas some great interceptions, excellent long clearances, throw ins and goal kicks….Sammy baby….improving all the time, well timed tackles and good clearances, listening to your team mates and talking together, good stuff mate, looking more composed each week….Max only 5mins played but already dominating your opponents, winning tackle after tackle which is what we’ve come to expect
Midfield, Kaie, Kyle and Mason worked well together again, in wet muddy conditions, all 3 worked tirelessly for the team, tackling well and passing the ball to each other at every opportunity….Kyle fired in shots from the left on 3 separate occasions early on, each one getting steadily closer but just missing the net…even had 1 corner hit the post and go out so great efforts buddy !
Kaie creating chances, harrying and winning the ball back so many times, Mason your running and passing was great – using your eyes, keeping your head up and showing everyone how easy the game can be when you let the ball work for you, well done mate.
Joe up front – tireless efforts first half, tracking back to help midfield but making runs left and right to create space for your team mates to pass – good couple of efforts on goal as well…
The only goal of the half came after a ball in from the right by Kaie was battled for on the 6yard line, Joe and Mason tackling well with the Ryhope defence and Mason getting the final touch to poke the ball home ! ! – 0 Vipers !!!
The only negative on the first half was that we hadn’t scored more goals – we created SO many chances but couldn’t nick a 2nd goal….we had to hope this didn’t come back to bit us in the 2nd half…..fingers crossed…in fact everything crossed..
Half time
More of the same asked for by Big Phil …(he had the nickname before Scolari)…work hard, pass the ball and keep getting the shots in…maybe take 1 touch more before shooting and always look for your options….a lot to think of but it’s all stuff you know anyway !
Kicking off in much the same spirit, straight in for the tackles and not giving Ryhope any time on the ball – exactly what was asked for – nice run from Kyle down the left earned a free kick after being hauled down….never down for long though, up stepped the Big Man for the free kick and hit a lovely shot that the keeper could only parry….Joe shiffing around for the rebound but the keeper pounced to save….hard lines !
Down at the other end, Ryhope just went past Max, running in on goal but Matthew was out and right at the strikers feet, saving the first shot then literally at the lads toes to collect the ball…BRILLIANT Matt !
From the clearance, Mason was played in by Kaie, lovely run down the right, then playing in Joe….just out for a throw in…Vipers getting goal side today which was better stuff to see…and the ball bouncing around, throw in for us, throw in for them….tackling well from Mason, Kaie, Thomas (pushed up into midfield) and Kyle….
Worryingly, Ryhope were seeing more if the ball in our half….after a couple of attacks and good clearances, the next attack was cleared by Tom but only this time back into the midfield area….their striker ran in a few yards and hit a great shot into the top corner….1 – 1 and our fears came true….Ryhope back in the game….
Not to be undone, Monkton attacked again, down both flanks, working hard, shots now starting to come in from everywhere…Kyle in particular fired in 2 LONG shots…one of them had snow on it and the whole crowd looked up to the heavens….the ball finally looping back down but the Ryhope keeper was in a great position and caught the ball magnificently….good effort Kyle…
Kaie working hard to get the ball back for Monkton, working with Kyle again and another shot fired in, just wide again, but surely one of them would go in ???...Thomas getting involved through the middle, clearing well out to Mason, then on for Joe who’s next shot was just blocked for a throw in…taken quickly but blocked again….
Max, Sam and Thomas defending at our end made a dozen tackles to keep Ryhope out…all absolutely key tackles that kept the pressure off Matthew – proud of you all !!!!
More attacks were defended well by Ryhope – who have improved since our first game – and just when we were beginning to think we had maybe had our chances for the day, Joe tackled and turned the last defender…running through on goal, literally one on one and fired in his shot…..the ball went under the keeper but he somehow sat on it and the ball stopped on the line (in the mud) …..hard lines Joe but a great turn and run…maybe take it in a little further before firing in your shot…great effort all the same mate and the tackled and turn showed just how hard you’ve been working – fully deserving of a goal !
Seconds later and it was the final whistle….
1 – 1 and honours even….
Great effort again today, you created so many chances in each half but a combination of wide shots, great saves, great defending and a big dollop of mud just went against you.
Man of the Match from Phil was to Joe who worked, tackled and shot and from Chris was Max….defended like a tiger, both great performances and at the opposite end of the pitch !
It’s another point in the bag and we have a weekend off next week so enjoy your lie in !
Well done again guys !
