A couple of no-shows didn't disturb the 11 who turned up to keep one hand on The Bill Bruty.
The first 20 minutes saw us dominate possession but squander chance after chance as we failed to really test the 'keeper in 4 clear one on ones. The opening goal came in the 22nd minute when Lee slipped the ball inside the closing full back before rounding him and delivering a neat low cross which Neil buried on the half volley, 1-0 and we're off. Two passages of neat exchanges between Jack and Chippy created good openings which we squandered. It took until the 35th minute for us to add a second from the penalty spot, Olli converting himself after he was upended in the box as he latched onto his own rebounded corner. Straight from the restart Chippy and Olli combined to set Neil on a driving run but the 'keeper was quick to smother the danger. The same combination freed Kyle driving from deep and he crashed a wicked drive against the bar.
In one of the moves of the game we circulated the ball front to back and left to right twice before Jack hit a pinpoint cross for Olli to head home from close range. other chances fell to Olli and Kyle but we finished the half at 3-0.
At the break we withdrew Olli and Sam to central midfield pushing Glen and Neil up top and the switch paid dividends two minutes after the restart when Neil slotted home Glens cushioned header. Jack and Lee both snatched and ballooned close range efforts but in the 49th minute we were 5-0 up as Jack rose to head home Ollies diagonal free kick. Straight from the restart Glen missed from Ollies cushioned, chipped pass and nearly 10 minutes passed before Neil headed home Ollies corner to make it 6-0 - the delivery and near post conversion were top notch.
In the last 10 minutes we added another 4 goals including 2 close range efforts from Glen after he was set up by passing interchanges betwen Olli and Jack. Sam turned provider for the last 2 goals setting up first Olli and then Chippy who swicthed with Neil for the last 10 minutes or so.
Sometimes these sorts of games can be counter productive but today it was all plusses. Our quality on and off the ball kept the need to tackle to a bare minmum so we came through injury free and Gary's clean sheet involved very little real work so his hand was rested. Although it took a little time to achieve the initial breakthrough we played with great discipline for the whole match leaving them to pick up 3 yellows.
The talking was strong and positive, we re-cylcled the ball well in all areas and weren't afraid to be patient in possession working our openings. We had 12 goals from 5 outfield players and created more than double that in chances and half chances. They scored none and had no chances - not even a corner. We kept a discipline and shape about our play both with and without the ball and our movement all over exceptional. Even though the opposition was poor there were some big performances today, Sam was outstanding especially in the second half but Kyle caught the eye today with a MOM performance, stong in the air and on the floor adding movement to simple, effective distribution - this took the pressure of Chippy and allowed us to be more composed at the back - today we built from the back time and time again.
We used the half time lead as a cushion to allow Sam and Olli to run the middle of the park and the rest of the team responded to the exercise. The time, space and movement in possession rippled through the team and the 9 second half goals were just rewards for a good team performance. We are slowly building options into how we set up as a team and we will need to stay flexible and focussed as we will meet better quality sides as progress in the 3 cups.
A different and much harder test faces us on Tuesday but one which we should welcome if we are to improve.
