And so starts another tantalising season of following the mighty STC in the 2015/16 season. Along the way we expect to have tears, tears ups, celebrations and of copious amounts of beer. From Roberts moaning about doing everything for everyone, to Scott providing team fags for all and questionable smoke clouds from the Kehinde brothers, it is shaping up to be an interesting season.
So it began on a sunny Sunday morning, with a few regulars missing STC turned up with 12, well 11 for kick off as Josh, as always was late. Schnizzling his nizzle no doubt. STC started the stronger, and enjoyed the majority of possession and had a number of early sighters against what was a pretty old back line for Greenwich. Shegs could have claimed goal of the season if he had connected with an audacious volleyed attempt after an excellent deep cross from Slim. Roberts missed a couple of early chances, including 1 on 1 which he should have done better with. The oppo were being limited to the long ball game and were struggling to contain the STC machine.
25 minutes in and the breakthrough came. Sheggs received the ball in a wide position cut in and crossed to the back post from the edge of the box. Turns out it was in fact a shot that bent into the top corner via his, normally redundant, left foot. Hat off, unexpected, but a great goal.
STC continued to push, Slim dropping deep and leaving space for Roberts to maraude through the centre ably supported by the brothers out wide and Gav pushing through the middle. STC were nearly caught on the break, Bucket hands Jordan pulling off a smart, one handed save low to his left.
Soon after his introduction, Paulo Wanchop was released down the left and should have scored, but was lucky with the rebound off the post and after a short scramble, managed to back heel into the net 2-0. With STC pushing, the 3rd goal came from long ball. Lawrie won the ball at the back and launched a speculative TOE PUNT forward. On ran Roberts like a bull in a china shop and slotted in, 3-0 curler into the top corner, and a fair reflection of STC’s dominance, which should have been more but for missed chances, most notably Josh’s free header from an outswinging corner.
To their credit, Greenwich started the 2nd half the betters side, but as much as they huffed and they puffed, they could breach the bastille that was the STC backline.
In the bar after it was confirmed that the Headteacher had spoken with Scott and stated in an authoritive fashion, the 4th goal finished this. And so it was said, and so it shall be. Scott laid the ball into Slim, who held up the ball and played a return to Scott. Scott used his AMPLE frame to, what can only be described as ‘Belly Barged’, push through 2 defenders and take him to the edge of the box. Unselfishly he put in Roberts, who made no mistake, a good finish ending an excellent STC moved. 4-0 and as the Headteacher stated, game over.
Both teams started to tire and the game became stretched, but with slick passing through midfielders Paul, Gav and Scott, legs out wide in the Kehinde brothers STC started to take control. However it was Greenwich who were to get on the score sheet after all. A speculative long ball was allowed through and their forward made no mistake, 4-1.
5 mins later it was 5, Shegs again finding himself in acres of space and took his time and converted a simple chance. STC continued to push and Slim hit the post with curling effort from outside the box, Josh mishit when put through and Slim had a goal chalked off for a dodgy throw in decision. Slim the proceeded to miss 2 free headers which were surely easier to put in. Oh dear and welcome back Slim. The game petered out after that and ended 5-1.
A good work out and team performance for the first game of the season. A deserved Man of the Match award goes to Andy Lawrie, but special mention to the STC’s newest right back, Lee Roberts who looks to have made the position his own.
Roll on next week…..
