The UNITS travelled to arguably the most scenic of away day in Division One when we took on Enville Athletic. Cuzer had to do without Jim and Azza due to injury but welcomed back Newts for his first involvement of the season and with 17 at his disposal we lined up: Mala, DJ, Gilo, Taylor, Millette, Coco, Pountney, Baker, Newts, Ashton and Seekings - bench was Kieron P, Barney, Si, Acer and Trig with Chinner sitting out
Enville have had a decent start winning two out of three and on the back of two tough games they had given us last season we expected a battle. The pitch as Enville is huge and the home side lined up with a 4-5-1 formation, this ensured the opening exchanges were cagey with clear chances at a premium. You felt the UNITS were in control of the game though and on 15 minutes really should have taken the lead when after some passing across the back the ball was played to DJ who dinked a lovely 50 yard ball through to Seeks who raced away from the Enville back line and as he went to stroke the ball home it just sat up a little enabling the Enville keeper to make a fine stop from his side footed effort. The UNITS now took control of the game, we were defending solidly and the home side’s loan striker was isolated as we probed for an opening but at times we were a little hurried meaning the final ball was often over hit or not of the expected quality. Pountney fired over from the edge of the box and Ashton had a shot blocked before their keeper made another good save from a Seeks shot from a tight angle as we searched for the opening goal.
On 25 minutes we did take the lead in comical fashion, with the referee awarding a generous free kick to the home side after an alleged foul from Seeks, the centre half played the ball back to the keeper who got in a tangle, was suitably robbed by Seeks who walked the ball into the unguarded net to give the UNITS a 1-0 advantage. It was no more than we deserved and Enville were struggling to get anything going, Baker was caught in possession and their midfielder shot well wide from 25 yards and Mala claimed a couple of routine crosses as the backlash to going behind never came. On 35 minutes we got a 2nd when after a Pountney shot was parried wide, he took a quick corner to Coco who whipped in a delightful cross which their veteran centre half got the final touch on, just in front of skipper Tayl's as the ball nestled into the bottom corner, PT being awarded the goal. On 40 minutes the game was pretty much over as a contest when Ashton won a 50/50 some 25 yards out, carried the ball forward, beat a man on the edge of the box before curling a fine finish past the keeper to give the UNITS a 3-0 half time cushion.
HT Enville 0 v 3 TS UNITS
Cuzer was delighted with the first half, told the boys to relax and pass the ball more and to use the width and more goals should hopefully come. On 47 minutes Seeks beat his man down the left and when crossing was caught late, this was to be the striker’s last action due to a niggling back injury and he was replaced by Trigger. From the free kick Coco whipped in a low front post cross which evaded everybody and nestled into the bottom corner to put the UNITS 4-0 up. This really knocked the stuffing out the home side who had huffed and puffed all day but got nowhere near the UNITS goal and for the remainder of the 2nd half the UNITS moved the ball around beautifully, almost at training ground pace as we enjoyed 80 odd per cent possession and bar some wonder saves from the home keeper would have added significantly to the score line
Trigger headed over from 6 yards and was foiled by the keeper when clean through, Gilo on the overlap twice got in the box only for the keeper to make two full stretch saves pushing the ball round the post, Coco forced the keeper into a tip over and Tayl's had a header hacked off the line as it was total one way traffic. The best save was kept for DJ, who controlled and volleyed some 30 yards out, the ball curling away from the keeper and arrowing into the top corner the home side keeper pushed the ball round the post at full stretch a superb save as his skills alone kept the score down. Si Hollick and Acer replaced Newts and Ashton as the UNITS used all three subs as we ran out comfortable 4-0 winners in what was an impressive performance, some lovely controlled football especially in the 2nd half was a joy to watch all that was missing was a more flattering score line.
Man of the match went to Danny Giles who was superb both defensively and offensively as he linked up well down the left flank.
