Arrow Upton 2000 3 v 5 TS UNITS FC
The UNITS took on Worcs Prem outfit Arrow Upton this morning, with Arrow having a good unbeaten start to the season we knew we were in for a tough mornings work The situation wasn't helped by the UNITS only having 11 players available and this included gaffer Cuzer who reluctantly had to start as we lined up Mozza, Chinner, Gilo, Clarkey, Cuzer, Luke, Azza, Lewis, Ryan, Trig & Hunter
The pitch was decent in fairness and the home side started confidently knocking the ball around well but the UNITS were keeping their shape well and a couple of routine saves for Mozza was all the first 10 minutes had to offer On the counter we were looking quite lively and a sweeping move down our left resulted in a fine gilo cross being scrambled over the bar for a corner with UNITS waiting to tap home The UNITS then had a lucky escape when the home striker hit a 20 yard half volley which cannoned back off the post and back into the arms of a grateful Mozza 20 minutes in and it was goalless the home side dominating possession but the UNITS keeping their shape well and creating good opportunities on the break, it was a shame therefore we gifted the home side the opener when Chinner got caught in two minds and tried to head the ball home to Mozza inside the 18 yard box, the ball didn't bounce as much as he expected and he lost possession & their striker squared for the other striker to tap home unchallenged To our credit we bounced back within 5 minutes, some nice interchange of passing through midfield resulted in Ryan sliding the ball to Lewis who checked inside his man and fired into the bottom corner from 25 yards 1-1 Trigger was then a whisker away from giving us the lead when again some lovely passing resulted in Ryan playing in Trig who went to curl the ball past the keeper but the ball sailed inches wide of the upright The game was now very even, Mozza made a good save low down from a shot from the edge of the box but on 30 minutes the resilient visitors took the lead. Azza had already caused carnage in the home defense with this set piece delivery and again another pin point ball found it's way to Gilo, the ball bounced up only for Gilo to acrobatically scissor kick the ball into the top corner from 8 yards, great finish This rocked the home side who clearly thought they would have too much for their stretched opponents but Luke was having an inspired game at the back and was defending solidly, as was Clarkey and we looked to hold out until half time. We had one lucky escape when their striker headed wide, unmarked from 10 yards but on 44 minutes Cuzer cleared a dangerous cross into our box with a defensive header but their midfielder ran onto the ball and spanked a 25 yard volley past Mozza and into the bottom corner to level things up on the whistle
HT Arrow 2 v 2 UNITS
Si took the reigns at half time as Cuzer tried to get some oxygen in his old mans lungs, the message was more of the same we were well in the game and had to keep passing the ball and we would create chances
Only 5 minutes into the 2nd half however the UNITS found themselves behind again, a debatable free kick was given against Gilo some 25 yards out but credit to their lad he hit a screamer into the far corner, Mozza just getting fingers to it as the home side took the lead
For the next 10 minutes the home side pegged back the UNITS, Mozza made one fine save low down as shot came through a crowd of players, some great last ditch defending, especially from an inspired Luke kept the home side at bay as you felt another goal here may have seen the tiring UNITS fall apart. However, and to our credit, we weathered the storm and started to edge back into the game, the midfield three of Lewis, Gilo & Azza were passing the ball well and we looked dangerous on the counter. Clarkey gave us fresh legs as he went wide in a re shuffle and we started to get at the home side, Hunter up top got away from the centre half in the box and shot tamely at the keeper after doing the hard work and Trigger shot wide from the edge of the box as we started to create and the home side were asking less questions On 70 minutes we leveled things up and it was a lovely team goal, Mozza rolled the ball out of defence to Luke who in turn played the ball to Gilo, Gilo played a 1-2 with Lewis who switched the play to Chinner who played the ball to Azza, Azza skinned their full back and drilled in a lovely low cross where Trigger got in front of his man and finished clinically from 6 yards as a lovely team goal resulted in us getting back on level terms
This really lifted the UNITS and we started to fancy our chances as the home side ran out of ideas, it was no great surprise when we took the lead on 80 minutes, Clarkey had volleyed over from 6 yards just moments earlier and then from an Azza cross he shot against the keepers legs but it was a case of 3rd time lucky when from the resulting Azza corner he rose highest to bullet his header into the net despite the best efforts of the defender on the line The home side as you would expect threw men forward and Ryan had to make a world class tackle in the box when their lad was threatening to burst through, they also had a header from a corner come back off the bar as we put our bodies on the line but with 3 minutes left Hunter up top was played in by Trigger and he rounded the keeper before slotting into the unguarded net to give the UNITS a 5-3 away victory with so many players missing
Man of the match went to Luke Cooper who played like a man possessed at the back, won some great tackles & headers and his distribution was considerably improved from previous weeks
Mozza 8 Chinner 8 Clarkey 9 Cuzer 7 Luke 9* Gilo 9 Lewis 9 Azza 9 Ryan 8 Trigger 8 Hunter 8
