A lazy squad break in Gt. Yarmouth where we rested up, followed a healthy detox diet and had early nights paid off in full as we tore into Boca from the start. We set up in a 3-4-3 shape, dispensing with a screening player in favour of a third striker. The shape demanded early and slightly longer deliveries and lots of movement to cover ground between the stretched formation.
We looked as if were old hands at this shape as Josh, Ollie and Kim opened them up in the first minutes but the ball just wouldnt come down quickly enough for Kim to finish off the move. It was Neil who opened the scoring with a lethal near post finish from Olli's corner to make it 1-0 - been practising eh! Within a minute of the restart Neil was in at the start and finish of a sweeping move but their in form 'keeper closed him down as he went clear of the last defender. In the next 20 minutes Steve, Olii, Kim, Sam, Josh and Jack all went close. A 12 pass move which went backwards, crossfield and forward again saw Neil slip Sam in but his low drive whistled wide.
In the 25th Kyle made it 2-0 when Ollis corner ricocheted around the area before Kyle put his laces through it from 12 yards out - lovely. 5 minutes later Josh, Sam Kim and Olli worked a lovely pattern which ended with Olli finishing from close range to make it 3-0. We kept our tempo high and some quick pressing from Josh was followed by his powerful surge beyond their back line, his clipped cross was finished with a controlled close range header by Darryl to make it 4-0. Just before the interval we were made to pay for over indulging. Olli was caught trying a reverse drag back, it could have been anyone of several players, and their swift counter earned them a goal which would turn out to be only a consolation.
With a heavy program of fixtures the two subs, Glen and Lee, were introduced for the full second period with Jack and Kyle - both outstanding - making way. Sam was withdrawn to a more central area, mainly to increase possession and to reduce the offside risks of 3 playing on the shoulder. Within 10 minutes Sam had a goal disallowed but in the 12th minute he drew glorious retribution as made mugs of 4 players on a jinking run that ended with a sweet curler inside the far post 5 -1.
Boca couldnt work out the change with Sam being given acres in the hole behind the strikers, in the 14th he was behind Olli's (our second) disallowed goal and in the 16th Josh worked himself some space on the left, his cross was met on the full volley by Sam, great technique, but flew just over. In the next 10 minutes Darryl Kim and Olli all went close before Olli pressed the 'keeper into conceding possession and calmly stroked home to make it 6-1. In the 35th Boca were in melt down as they allowed Ollis inswinging corner to drift straight into the net 7-1. Straight from the restart Josh Kim and Olli worked an opening which Olli finished from close range 8-1.
In the 38th Olli and Darryl combined with some cheeky passing, Olli's scooped pass put Darryl in behind and Dazzas neat footwork produced an inch perfect cross for Kim to head home for 9-1. To round things off Lee and Steve combined on the left and this time it was Steve's neat footwork at the byline which enabled him to lay Olli in for a simple finish at 10-1.
What can we say. No bookings. No injuries. Great skills, great energy, great teamwork, 10 scored just 1 conceded. The ball was launched into orbit by a big Boca side but once we got that sucker down we showed how to play - all pass and move and good skills. We might have to be a bit tighter in the next couple of games, work harder off the ball and move it even quicker - but we will do it. 5 to go. The Association.
