Watching SBW Reserves nick a mid-week point off Heath caused a late tactical re-think. Steve was appointed sweeper for the day in front of a back 3 packed with power and pace. Kim and Jack were deployed as old fashioned wingers with Sam and Olli giving us pace and movement up top, in the middle Josh and Darryl were deployed as a two man pairing. Pre match instructions were simple in possession the ball was to be kept wide until the final 3rd and any ball won centrally was to be switched wide immediately.
We got off to a blistering start when 4 minutes in Sam's rapier pass cutting through their square back four, Olli gambled and was first to the ball, he kept his composure and drilled sweet and low to give us a dream start. 15 minutes later we strung 12 unbroken passes together opening them up like a can of sardines only for Olli's smart fiinish to be struck of by a marginal offside decision. The ution of the game plan was near perfect and they never tested Gary whilst at the other end Sam and Olli came agonisingly close to extending our slender lead.
We regrouped at the interval with only small readjustments needed. Steve and Chippy were asked to lower the angle of their crossfields and Kim was asked to gamble by running in behind to give an extra outlet and force the play higher up. Within a minute of the re-start it worked with Kim being played in behind and his exquisite cross was glanced home by Olli's head. At 2-0 they had to chase the game and pushed an extra man inside, we countered with Sam dropping in between Josh and Darryl. In a 5 minute spell they had two half chances, the first Gary saved well down to his left and the second Gary snuffed out with his quick feet - that was it for them.
With an extra man in the middle, when we did attack it gave us a compact shape and they struggled to clear their lines, in one period of pressure they eventually capitulated and Jack struck home from 10 yards. With 20 to go and 3-0 up Dan was introduced for Darryl who'd done his bit - Dan's fresh legs almost earned him a solo goal. 15 to go Neil came on for Olli and also came close being shut down as he pulled the trigger. Kyle made way for Bill with 10 to go and it was job done and game over but not before Kim dug out one last lungbusting run that almost earned him a Roy of The Rovers goal.
This was a tremendous, skillful and disciplined performance. We went two v three in the centre of the pitch which demanded strength and discipline from Josh and Darryl and huge efforts on the wings from Jack and Kim as they provided cover for Ryan and Kyle as well as forward targets from the back. Ryan, Chip and Kyle were all power and pace restricting Heath to very few goal attempts all dealt with by Gary who looked at his most accomplished.Steve was confident and focussed throughout, reading the game intelligently and distributing with purpose - a worthy MOM (not just from the tannoy). Up front Olli and Sams movement was mesmerising making even the crowd dizzy and their quality on and off the ball was fantastic. The players coming off the bench did their bit to shore up the team and see out the game and those that didnt make the pitch - well they did their bit before this game and there's a new season ahead!
We will think about this game another time but for now we have to turn our attention to Sunday. This, in all probability, will be a league title decider - of all the trophies this is the one that we want. It will define who, after 18 games is the best SQUAD in the league. Its demanded a huge effort and commitment to get this far - lets finish it.
