The SSAFC bounced back from last week's close defeat to West Ham with a much more clincal performance winning 5-0 against our Hertfordshire friends from Watford.
The game started a bit slowly with both sides having possession but nothing really much happening in the box. Dunn dragged a shot wide & good work from Devall resulted in a shot going wide. Watford looked to attack but didnt test out Brown in goal with some shots going harmlessly over. The first real major chance when Devall was sent through and with the keeper coming out, scuffed his shot before getting taken out, from the rebound Collins should have put it away but slipped at the moment and his effort was cleared off the line. Devall's good work on the edge of the box resulted in an effort which was well saved by the Watford keeper!
It wasnt long before the SSAFC took the lead when a long ball from Brown was flicked on from Collins into the path of Carroll who's cushioned pass let Devall in who volleyed underneath the advancing keeper to make it 1-0. It became two quite quickly when good play in the midfield found Collins who took on and rounded the goalkeeper before slotting home via the aid of the Watford defender on the line, dubious but we'll give him it!
The SSAFC were starting to play with confidence and playing some neat stuff but Watford were dangerous with the long throws with some long throws being put in the SSAFC box but Rowe, Tutton & Barker cleared their lines to keep the clean sheet. The third then came when a free kick from Dunn was challenged in the air by Barker and the Watford defender and keeper with the ball being spilled by the keeper onto the Watford defender's back and rolled in.
The rest of the half was a midfield battle with both sides looking to play good football before the half time whistle came.
The second half started a bit sluggish with Watford looking to get back in the game but their efforts didnt test Brown. Deards having the first effort of the second half which went wide. The game was a real battle in the middle of the park with both sides looking to string some passes together but with no avail. Devall work rate again proving an effort which went wide and didnt test the goalkeeper. The 4th came when good defending from Wishart & Sapsed cleared up the Watford attack and gave it to Scarrott who's pass found Bell in space, which then was put through to Devall to run through and beat the keeper to the ball toepoking through his legs and rolled into the net.
The SSAFC had the goalscoring touch today despite a lack of chances but played some good football in spells playing wide and clearing up any Watford danger. The 5th came and it was that team player Casey Devall again with good footwork and his shot was saved by the keeper which was spilled to Ryan Scarrott who's touch and volley in the box flew in and made it 5-0.
The SSAFC then looked to seal a clean sheet and done so with Brown not making many saves with Watford plugging away it just didnt seem like they would get a goal back in the game with some strong SSAFC defending.
The game finished with the scoreline suggesting a one way game but it wasnt, some great finishing from the SSAFC in what was a midfield dominated battle.
Team:
Brown, Tutton, Walking, Rowe, Barker, Dunn, Collins, Deards, Poplett, Carroll, Devall
Subs: Bell, Sapsed, Wishart, Ridley, Woolf, Scarrott
