After an absolute shocker last week by all accounts when we conceded a couple of awful goals and failed to get on the score sheet, this week couldn't have turned out more different. One of the best performances I've seen from the Lions in ages, producing some excellent team goals and backed up by stout - if at times perplexing - defending, has given us a much needed first win of the season.
Line-up:
Paige (GK)
Nick (RB), Sam (CB), Simon (CB), Ollie (LB)
Jake (RM), JP (CM ), Rafa (CM), Nathan (LM)
Ben (CF), Scott (CF)
This week saw the welcome return of Ollie and Rich and the debut of new addition to the ranks, Kieran. It also saw us start off with a 4-4-2, as opposed to our usual 4-3-3, which paid near immediate dividends.
Nathan chased down a ball to the byline and despite protestations from the opposition that the ball had actually gone out, dug out at cross that found Scott in the centre who bundled it past a defender and goalie who were still waiting for a whistle that never came. They weren't too happy as they were convinced the ball was out of play, but their own lino never flagged either. Things got worse for them when Nick and Jake combined down the right to slip a through ball up to Ben who hit an early low drive past the oncoming keeper into the bottom far corner.
Their keeper then took Ben out in the area as he ran onto a throw-in from Ollie to give us a spot-kick. Ben picked himself up and cooly dispatched the penalty to give us a 3-0 lead in no time at all. It wasn't all one-way traffic at their goal, though and we were still in the habit of giving away silly free kicks in dangerous areas. There was also a truly bizarre sequence of "defensive" headers from three Lions players in succession that all went backwards towards our own goal (under no pressure whatsoever) with the last one by Si going out for a corner. But for all that though, Royal Oak didn't have a real shot on target until they actually scored. Again it was from a corner which we just didn't deal with and paid the price with a thumping volley from close range.
So a bit of a blot before half-time but we were upbeat and knew that the next goal - as it so often is - would be crucial. That it came our way so early in the second half was our good fortune and their keeper's rotten luck. Nathan - who had an excellent game - cut in from the right and attempted a little sidefoot dink into the area for someone to run onto. It was a nice idea but didn't really come off as it was far too close to the keeper right on his line. Except he somehow managed to let it squirm through both his hands and legs for our fourth goal. Awful moment for him and one that Royal Oak as a whole struggled to recover from. After that we took hold of the game and played some truly impressive football.
Nathan got his second after Scott chased down the ball and after being forced wide by the keeper had the presence of mind to fire a pass across the goal. Ben cleverly dummied a shot to allow Nathan to meet the ball with a firm drive into the bottom corner. After plenty of chances came and went for us, including a trademark shot from outside the area by Ollie which crashed against the bar, Ben completed his hat-trick after another fine team move. Scott then got his second after a through ball from Kieran (I think) which he smashed into the top of the goal despite the keeper getting a hand to it.
So an outstanding team performance with telling contributions from everyone on the pitch - hopefully, this is where our season starts and we can start picking up the points.
