TS UNITS 2 v 1 Haden Rangers
The UNITS found themselves with a rare home fixture as we welcomed table toppers Haden Rangers
Buoyed by last weeks victory Cuzer found himself with a strong looking squad but with some notable absentees and a mini-crisis at left back which Azza resolved by climbing from his sick bed as we lined up
Mozza, Clarkey, Tonka, Jamo, Azza, Coco, Jim, Leon, Baker, Lewis & Jay
Bench was Ashton, Winny, Luke, Trigger & CJ
The UNITS got off to the worst possible start when after a sloppy opening few minutes where we constantly gave the ball away Haden forced an early corner, our marking was slack resulting in Malpas towering a header goalwards, the ball was cleared off the line but was helped back to the corner taker who this time drilled in a low cross which was superbly flicked into the net by the Haden player giving Mozza no chance as we found ourselves 1-0 down within 5 minutes
We just couldn't settle early doors and Haden were playing with confidence and looking like a side topping the table but what we were doing was defending well and this meant Haden didn't get another look at our goal despite their time on the ball
20 in and we started to get going, Jay and Lewis were now asking questions of the Haden back line and Leon and Baker getting a grip on midfield, this coupled with our solid defensive work meant we started to create. Azza whipped in a delightful free kick which resulted in confusion in the Haden back line and Leon had a great chance from 10 yards out which he struck well but the visiting keeper did well to parry the ball out and it was hacked clear
Lewis then got wide and beat his man before his cross was cut out superbly by the Haden defender with Jay ready to tap home
On 30 minutes we did draw level and it was no more than we deserved, Azza's initial corner was cleared back to him and he sent over another dangerous ball, Haden couldn't clear, Jim had a goal bound shot blocked before Tonka showed good awareness to lay the ball back to Leon who this time made no mistake as he rifled home into the bottom corner from 12 yards out to make it 1-1
The momentum was with the UNITS now and Haden started to get ratty, some nasty tackles flew in but we stood up to what they had to offer and their front two were getting no change out of the excellent Jamo and Tonka and the UNITS came in at half time level
UNITS 1 v 1 Haden Rangers
After a sloppy start we grew into the game well and Cuzer reminded the lads the game was there for the taking, as it was last week v Namaste and we should go out there and look to take the initiative
We kept the same 11 but shuffled the shape to hopefully give us more options out wide
Credit to Haden as they came out flying in the 2nd half and had the lions share of possession for the opening 15 minutes or so but they never mustered an attempt on goal and we always looked dangerous on the break, only a couple of last ditch challenges stopped us getting in behind the Haden defence
On the hour mark Cuzer introduced Ashton for Jim in a like for like swap
The game was scrappy, not helped by a swirling wind, Haden were going back to front quickly but Tonka & Jamo had the better of the two forwards and we were starting to get more joy out wide ourselves when we did get on the ball
Winny replaced Jay on the 70 minute mark as Lewis went out wide
Also on 75 minutes Cuzer made the last change, Leon who once again had worked tirelessly in midfield was replaced by Trigger with Coco coming inside
On 80 minutes and the game in the balance a piece of magic won it for the UNITS, Winny did well to hold up the ball, lay it to Ashton who beat his man before clipping a lovely ball in behind the full back for Lewis to race on to, as the keeper came out to meet him from 25 yards out Pountney clinically lifted the ball over the keeper and into the net to send the UNITS wild as we fought back from a shocking start to take the lead with only 10 left
Haden now went 3 up top and even more direct but they were getting no change out of the UNITS back line, Mozza made one good catch from a dangerous looking cross and Haden forced a couple of corners which were comfortably dealt with. The referee added 4 minutes injury time but it made no difference as we remained solid and recorded a superb victory against a strong Haden outfit
FT UNITS 2 v 1 Haden Rangers
Man of the match went to Andy Baker who kept the dangerous Malpas quiet with excellent defensive midfield work and used the ball well when we were in possession
