MANAGERS MAN OF THE MATCH - BEN P
PARENTS PLAYER - JED
STARLANDS 5 - FOUR OAKS FALCONS 2
On a lovely sunny remembrance sunday starlands travelled the short distance to four oaks cricket club to play four oaks falcons.
Starlands didnt quite hit them for 6 , but it was a convincing win - and a result that pleased Rick & Rob more than the display.
The pressure had been building all week as the boys were playing a side made up of alot of the old starlands team.
Today we were able to select from a whole squad - welcoming back Jed who had been out with a potentially long term injury.
The pitch was on an amazing slope, and all the play and players seemed to congregate across the far side - the ball automatically went that way, and it was not until the second half when starlands realised that by spreading the play they could reap rewards....
A minutes silence was respected for Remembrance Sunday.
From the off - Ben P took a lovely ball in the box and tucked it in the bottom right hand corner! 1-0 and the tea ladies hadn't even set up!!!
Next Callum was through on goal - but the keeper made a good block.
A break by Falcons was intercepted by Zak and he promptly set up another attack...
Falcons then counter attacked - and the striker was 1 on 1 with Ben K - he came off his line way out of hgis box and cleared the ball.
A follow up corner was saved by Ben who set up Callum who ran the length of the pitch!...the crowd were screaming for him to pull the trigger....shoot! , but he tried to walk it in and the keeper saved. It would have been goal of the season!
From the resulting corner Aran missed an open goal...he held his head in his hands knowing he had missed out on taking another £5 er off his Dad,,,, phew said Raj.
Another starlands break and Josh played a great ball through to Oscar who hit the post!??!!
Falcons were on the break again - but the back three of Jed, Marcus and Zak were intercepting and making some timely tackles. On this occassion Jed slid in as the striker was about to shoot in the box - a terrific tackle..which in turn set up Aran on a run towards goal.
Callum eventually got his reward...set up by Oscar - no dribbling it in this time - BANG! back of the net...and 2-0
Half time came - and the tea ladies moved into action.....
The second half , the boys had the sun behind them. They started to link up nicely down the left with Jed ,Ben P and the other blondes - Callum and Oski...at times some lovely one touch football.
Kieran and Luke had both come on - and Luke battled on bravely suffering a nasty ice skating injury the previous day. Likewise Kieran had made a great effort to get to the game with his Dad,,,great commitmnent and we hope your Mum gets well soon!
Somehow starlands survived a corner - at one point I thought Ben K had sat on the ball...but it resulted in another Callum attack just shooting wide!
Then Ben P who was having an inspied game threaded a ball through to Oski who nut megged the keeper to make it 3-0.
Oski - nearly followed it up straight away but the Falcons keeper spread his wings to make another fine save,
Then a Jed pass to Zak who crossed to Oski - led to another shot...saved again! Ben P then had a shot go wide....it was like The Alamo!!
The keeper then saved what looked like a certain own goal....eventually a through ball from Callum found Oski who made no mistake ! 4-0....surely the boys were out of sight?
A foul on the edge of there box gave Falcons a direct free kick - It was hit with power and through the wall that parted like the red sea!! 4-1 the comeback was on.
Ben P had another shot,,,including an air shot and neither resulted in a goal...
Then Ben Ppassed to Oski who went to the bye line and fed Callum unmarked at the back post....5-1 a real poachers goal....and great footy!
Then Jed slid in with another tackle....not so lucky this time,,,he stopped the goal but the referee blew for a penalty. The Falcons player hit it with such venom into the bottom corner it gave Ben K no chance,,,,so 5-2 and the whistle blew.....and I'm no poet ;)
A terrific result - every boy played well - noteable performances from Ben P , Oski ,Callum and Jed, Well done and Rick & Rob were happy managers.
