The starting line up was Ben K,Tom,Marcus,Jed,Ben P, Luke, Josh, Oski,Arran with Zak in reserve.
The boys welcomed Castle Vale for the first time this season to a sunny but blustery Aldridge School.
Looking at CV they were a big athletic team, but with the wind behind them in the first half Starlands looked to get amongst them.
Tom made an early mistake in failing to clear the ball, not once but twice which allowed the CV striker to run in on goal. Ben stayed on his line and the finish was clinical 1-0.
Another failure to clear this time by Jed led to another point blank shot, but Ben was able to stop this.
Starlands then found themselves on the break and a through ball from Arran to Josh almost saw him through, but the defender marshalled him wide.He managed to pull the ball back to Oski whose shot just went over the cross bar.
A fantastic corner from Arran sailed into the box, but there was no one there?!?the ball was played back into the box by Josh and Oski found Ben P at the back...he swung his leg and the ball flew over the bar!....so unlucky.
Another CV attack was thwarted by Ben K in the Starlands goal. At times the defence were failing to do things simple...CLEAR THE BALL FIRST TIME !and MARK . Too often it was left to Marcus to chase everywhere.
Poor old Jed had to leave the field of play again early doors due to his knee injury. He sat the rest of the game out under a tree. Everyone hopes that he sorts his knee out soon and is back to his best real soon !
Jed's misfortune allowed Zak an opportunity and he came on at right back.
Ben P was unfortunate not to score shooting just wide.
CV then broke and a deflected shot gathered speed off Toms challenge and just beat Ben at the near post. He ' ll put his hands up to that one :( Sorry !
That made it 2-0, and Starlands didn't deserve that scoreline.
Marcus took a free kick which the CV keeper fumbled but no one was following in, and as the ball trickled towards goal the defender cleared it !
However, Starlands soon registered a goal from a corner to Arran , which deflected and rolled over the line 2-1.... And the boys were back in it.
Luke was playing some nice touches and passes along with Josh, but both just need to be a bit nastier ;)
Oski was working hard up front, but was forced to shoot from distance or was bustled off the ball. The team certainly missed the energy of Callum and the aggression of Kieran.
The half time whistle blew.
2-1 and it was all to play for, however....the boys were now playing into the wind and up against a team with 3 or 4 fresh subs.
It was soon 3-1 with the CV Big. No.9 smashing it into the goal.
Zak played a lovely ball through to Oski whose shot was saved.
Then Josh played some lovely step overs and 'megged' the defender before finding Oski...it was like watching Brazil ! Just in Orange.
3 became 4 became 5 became 6 as heads started to drop...and tiredness kicked in.
The game finished 6-1 and was not a true reflection of possession. In truth we were a little lightweight up front and caused ourselves problems in defence.
Plenty to work on next week....rather than just playing 5 a side?....C'mon boys you had a strong finish to the season last year - Let's have a bit of pride and effort and in turn your heads will lift , you'll smile and enjoy it...
Man of The Match was awarded to Marcus for his effort.
Also a quick congratulations to Bonita & Glynn (Jed's mom and dad) on their recent marriage.
