This was our first fixture of 2013 and the players certainly started the year with a bang! It was top of the league verses bottom of the league and the gulf in class was very evident. Thurrock continued their brilliant record of winning every game this season with this 12-1 win, which but for the cross-bar and goalkeeper could have a lot more! We set up today in an attacking 4-4-2 formation knowing that Brentwood would be there for the taking. After a bright start from Brentwood, helped by a little bit of nerves from us the game settled into a pattern of Thurrock attacking and Brentwood defending for the lives. Things looked a bit bleak after Tyler tweeked his hip/groin when making a clearence from his penalty area which hampered his ability to kick the ball for the rest of the game, but he soldiered on for the game. A few chances were created early on with Callum, Jack and Lewis all going close, but it took until the 12th minute before we managed to hit the back of the net. A great team move with Jack holding the ball up before sending Connor away down the right who then crossed for Lewis to turn the ball into the net. This opened the door for us to settle down and play our great passing game which was cutting Brentwood open with every attack! Jack added a 2nd in the 17th minute when he followed up on his own shot to finish at the second attempt. Lewis grabbed his second just two minutes later to make it 3-0, again assisted from Connor who had the rightback in his pocket all game! Another 15 minutes passed before we managed to score again, Gerald went on a run from defence, linked up with Connor before smashing the ball into the net to make it 4-0. Lewis completed his hat-trick in the 39th minute, tapping the ball into the net after Callum had done the hard work and crossed it right onto lewis' foot. 5-0. Connor showed his wing skill and speed when he ghosted past the defence to score a brilliant solo goal to finish the half off! 6-0 H/T Feeling confident we changed our formation set up to 3-5-2 after trying it out for the first time in training only the day before! With a few players trying a new position for the first time it was a suprise that we scored so quickly into the second half. Callum finally getting his reward for some excellent play all game latched onto a through ball from Harry and finished well to make it 7-0. Harry playing in a midfield roll then created another goal for Connor to finish off in the 47th minute. 8-0. Callum was in full flow and smashed a rocket of a shot off the underside of the bar with the keeper well beaten! Chances were coming with every attack..... the goalkeeper, was having a great game despite conceding a bag full of goals. He denied us at least another five or six goals with his heroics! Lewis playing up front with jack was not to be denied again.... he went on a run before drilling a shot into the corner of the net from just outside the box for his 4th goal and the teams 9th. 9-0. Jack made it 10-0 with a great finish after Harry (with his 3rd assist of the game) played him in with a well weighted pass. Backs to the wall for Brentwood as they defended waves of attacks! Ryan who worked hard in the middle of the pitch, watched the flight of Brads free kick from inside our half, before lifting it over the keeper for 11-0........ we waited for the promised Crouchy Robot Dance.... but he let us down! (thats one you owe us Ryan). Jack who had done well with his hold up play all game, completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute after a good team move left him with a simple finish. 12-0. More changes were made with our two strikers coming off, giving Harry and Taylor a run up front. After looking comfortable all game at the back, we had a lapse in concentration and positioning to allow Brentwood to get a consolation goal! Bang went our clean sheet. 12-1 The game was coming to a close and we were getting a little gun hoe in our attacking, but couldnt breach the goal again. Brad went close with a tradmark free kick which was saved by the keeper. Callum hit the frame of the goal again, and Taylor was unlucky not to score on two or three occasions! With the final whistle going it was a great start to the second half of the season! Keep up the good work.
Quote of the day came from a Brentwood defender at half time with the score at 6-0! "We are doing better than I thought we would!"
