The UNITS travelled to Enville this morning to take on Enville Athletic in Division 1. The UNITS squad stretched to the brink all week managed to muster 14 on the morning only Chinner failing a late fitness test and we started with
Mala Danny, Baker, Brownie, Eggy, Ashton, Newton, Coco, Pountney, Hunter & Ginge
Bench was Keith, Ross & Turner
Enville play on a massive pitch and know how to play on it yet we started well, Coco in particular getting joy down the left wing and early on he put some good balls into the box which we couldn't get on the end of
The pattern of play was set early with UNITS very much in the ascendency and Enville to their credit defending well and trying to play out from the back
Our first clear chance came on 20 minutes when after some slick interplay Hunter was released and rounded the keeper but from a tight angle shot against the base of the post. Shortly after a great ball in from Coco was glanced towards goal by Ginge yet the Enville Keeper held the ball on the line
Eggy up for a corner was next to threaten when he also had a header saved on the line by the keeper, the ball just wasn't dropping for the UNITS in the first half despite asking all the questions, Ginge did well in the area before blaxzing a yard over the upright with this time the keeper stranded
At the other end we were looking fairly solid, one run down our right resulted in their winger firing low at Mala from the byeline but that apart we kept them at bay and both sides came in 0-0 at HT
Cuzer asked the boys to be a bit more patient in our build up play as it was a little hurried and we lacked the desired quality in the first half to break them down
However it was Enville who started the 2nd half brightly and forced a couple of early corners but on 55 minutes it was the UNITS who took the lead, Pountney did well and put a dangerous ball into the 6 yard box, Ginge almost got on the end of it but Hunter made no mistake, forcing the ball over the line from a few yards out
This settled us a little and we started to move the ball better but we were pegged back on 65 minutes when a ball forward evaded the lunge of Brownie and their forward did well to get the better of Eggy and finish past Mala from 15 yards
Enville now fancied their chances and Mala made one more good save from a low shot through a crowd of players
Cuzer then shuffled the pack, putting Hunter into midfield, Pountney up top with Ginge and Ashton wide, this had an immediate impact as we started to do the simple things better, Hunter was getting on the ball and using it sensibly and Pountney had a new lease of life now playing up top as we started to turn the screw.
Brownie then picked up a knee knock and we had to re-shuffle again with Baker filling in at CH as Ross came on and went left midfield
Lewis went close twice in 5 minutes and on 70 minutes we were back in front when after some good play through midfield the ball was fed wide to Coco who whipped in a delightful cross which their full back could only head into his own net under pressure from Pountney and Ross
On 80 minutes Enville almost had a lifeline when their striker got away from Baker who pulled the player back, the referee initially giving a penalty then awarding the foul on the edge of the box after consulting the linesman, the free kick was blocked by the wall
On 83 minutes we wrapped up the game, Hunter was hacked down right on the edge of the box and Pountney's free kick was drilled low, the keeper making a good save but Ashton followed up to slam the ball home from 6 yards
Turner then replaced Coco for the final moments and we could have added to our 3 goals by the end, Ross had given us real energy and was giving their full back a torrid time, from one good run Ginge was close to finishing off the ball into the box then Newton was hacked down arguably in the area, the referee being consistent gave the free kick right on the line and this time Ashton had a pop, the ball sailing a yard over the bar
FT Enville 1 v 3 TS UNITS
All in all a decent mornings work when we were not at our best and the pitch was a bit of a leveller. Credit to Enville they are no mugs and they try to pass the ball and we've certainly faced worst sides in the league this season but it was about the important 3 league points and we managed to secure the result
Man of the match went to Hunter who worked hard and gave us that bit of extra quality when he went into midfield during the 2nd half
