Pre-season is all about regaining fitness and touch - is it bollocks - First is First, Second is Nothing. Its good to see Joel back, Mark coming into the group and players like Glen and Neil finding their feet again but its still all about winning.
With some players occupying unusual positions and some players returning to full blown competitive games it took us a while to get going and it was Old Town that showed the earliest composure but Kim and Josh worked hard to ensure that stroking around the back four never resulted in any forward momentum. Kim's pressure nearly paid off in the 10th when he forced an opening for Jack who's thunderous volley beat the 'keeper but not the bar, Jack had a good 45 in the holding role.
Neil was flickering into form, working his own 5th minute opening which he might have toe poked home with his left foot and creating another one for Kim in the 17th when he came away with the ball in a midfield tussle. Neil, Mark and Glen put in a solid 20/25 minutes to deny Old Street control in the centre before making way for Darryl, Ollie and Sam in a total team reshuffle.
Immediately after the changes Kim and Ryan cut through them down the left, Ryan's cross was headed down by Sam to Josh who hit a wonderful controlled volley for 1-0. Five minutes later Ollie and Ryan exchanged passes, Ryan broke free on goal only to be fouled and Olli's resulting freekick rattled the bar. We were now starting to motor. In the 32nd Olli and Kim pressed as a unit - their work rate up top with Josh was fantastic - and prized a chance for Josh which the 'keeper saved at full stretch. In the 37th 8 passes were finished off with a Josh/Sam 1-2 which Josh drove just wide. They responded with a breakaway move, Gary came out and judged his angles well to get a hand to the ball at full stretch which slowed it enough for Bill to recover and clear to Ollie who broke at pace and a sweeping move was closed out with Ollie's diagonal cross to Ryan and Ryan's crisp finish beyond the 'keeper to make it 2-0. Straight from the restart Ollie and Kim hounded their defenders attempts to play it across the back and forced an error which Ollie snapped up for 3-0.
Mark, Neil and Glen rejoined the action for Kim, Joel and Bill and we mixed the pack again. It took just a minute for Sam and Ollie to force another error which Olli pounced on for 4-0. We eased off the gas and only pitch length tracking from Glen prevented an Old Town Goal. In the 56th minute we finally conceded down to a combination of over-playing at the back and a fluke rebound from Neils headed clearance. It was a shame to lose the clean sheet as a defence led by Steve, joined in rotation by Joel/Bill/Ryan/Jack /Neil were top drawer but it was the signal to up our game and Mark, Neil and Glen reasserted some physical authority in the central area before we made our final changes, Ryan, Jack and Josh making way for Kim, Joel and Bill in yet another shake up.
In the 75th minute, with a move off the training field, Garys accurate kicked clearance was headed on by Olli for Darryl to finish with a sweet volley for 5-1. We reached the half dozen when Glen went on a surging run to the bye-line and his whipped/cut back cross was netted by a defender as Mark and Neil closed in.
Hardly mentioned here was Steve who put in a commanding and assured performance at centerback - excellent and just shading MOM from several others including Ryan, Josh, Kim, Olli, - in fact just about everyone including Gary who's all round game has stepped up another notch. A very strong team performance with players supporting each other all across the pitch and playing quality football at every opportunity. We will need a bit of extra discipline in the return on Sunday when we can expect another compettive game - lets keep our feet and the football on the floor.
