The UNITS took on Colwall St James out of Worcester Division 1 in the 2nd round of the Worcs Junior Cup this morning on a damp Borrington Road pitch
With Barney injured in training on Tuesday and Kirbs away at a wedding we lined up as follows
Mala, Chinner, Lacey, Eggy, Darbs, Jim, Baker, Coco, Jonah, Matt Powell and Taylor
Subs were Penna, Ferrera, Marcus, Pountney and Ross
The Units started exceptionally well and took the lead after only 5 minutes, Matt Powell did well in the middle of the park and he released Paul Taylor inside the 18 yard box, Tayl's in turn did well to cross low to the near post where Coco got in front of his man to side foot past the Colwall keeper to put us 1-0 up
In the next 15 minutes the gulf in class was apparent was we camped in the opposition half and really should have extended our lead. Coco was having a fine game and from one run and cross set up Taylor who's shot from 7 yards was blocked, Coco himself was next to test the keeper when after beating the full back he forced a fine save at his near post from the Colwall keeper. The hapless full back then hacked Coco down right on the edge of the box and Taylor fired the resulting free kick inches over the upright with the keeper routed to the spot as time and time again we threatened to get a second our play deserved
Disappointingly we didn't add to the scoreline and then let Colwall creep back into the game as our play became sloppy and the work rate dropped, their only chance of the half was a low shot from their quick striker which was comfortably seen wide by Mala on 40 minutes but we came in at half time 1-0 up.
HT Units 1 v 0 Colwall St James
Cuzer for the 2nd week running was far from happy with how we were playing, a game which looked like it would be a case of shots in had now descended into a battle and you could see Colwall warming to the task
Again for the 2nd week running we started the 2nd half well only to concede shortly after the restart, this time a ball down the channel eluded Eggy and their nippy striker ran on to the ball and poked under Mala from a tight angle
Colwall were now playing with confidence and had two long range efforts comfortably held with Mala as the UNITS had to re-group
The UNITS re-took the lead on the hour mark when Darbs did well to keep the ball in play, helping it back into the danger zone and Coco ran onto the loose ball to drill home from 18 yards for his second of the game
Shortly after Marcus replaced Jim and Ross replaced Jonah who had picked up a knock
Thankfully the UNITS had rolled their sleeves up a bit during the 2nd period and we're asking more questions of Colwall and shortly after his introduction Marcus did well to hold up the ball and slip in Matt Powell who slid the ball under the advancing keeper to put us 3-1 up and reward himself with a goal his work rate and performance had justified.
Penna then replaced Lacey who had a much better game after last weeks below par showing
The UNITS were nowhere near the best, alas not helped by the poor pitch, yet we were comfortably on top, Taylor and Rook going close and Coco coming close to a hat trick as we should of added to the scoreline.
On 75 minutes Coco floated a fine ball to Marcus who showed good strength and awareness to bring the ball down on his chest and dispatch clinically into the bottom corner with his left peg from 16 yards to extend our lead
No further goals were added as the UNITS sealed a comfortable passage into the next round, despite not being at our best
Man of the match went to Dan Horton who had an excellent game with 2 goals and an assist to this name and was a constant menace to the Colwall back line
