The UNITS took on New Inn this morning in the Kidderminster Fire Shield, some 21 days after their last competitive action
Cuzer was missing a couple but still had 15 to choose from and lined up
Mala, Eggy, Taylor, Barney, Gilo, Si Hollick, Newt, Coco, Acer, Azza & Pountney
Subs were Ross, Baker, Ginge & Kieron
The pitch at Lea Castle was looking as good as ever and both sides were keen to get the ball down and play. New Inn were quickly on the back foot though as the UNITS looked very sharp in the final 3rd both Azza and Pountney went close in the first 10 minutes but the UNITS were not to be denied on the 15 minute mark when Acer did really well down the right, skinning the full back before firing in a low cross which was almost turned home by Azza but the ball found it's way to Pountney on the back stick and he finished from a tight angle to open the scoring
New Inn looked to respond and to their credit they were playing some nice stuff through midfield yet the UNITS were breaking with clinical accuracy and creating chances at will, the new Inn keeper making a good save from Azza from an 18 yard screamer then Pountney got in behind and a combination of the defender and keeper blocked his goal bound shot
On 25 minutes some nice play through the middle resulted in Azza playing a deft reverse ball to Newton who spun his marker in the box and got clattered, Taylor stepping up and squeezing the spot kick in the bottom corner to give the UNITS a deserved 2 goal cushion
On 30 minutes however New Inn had a life line when after some pinball in the box Barney lunged in on their striker giving away a penalty yet Mala got down to his right to parry away the kick with the New Inn striker putting the rebound into orbit
New Inn finished the half well as the UNITS got a little complacent, one 30 yard strike skinning the top of the bar with Mala beaten and then their wide player pulling a shot past the post when well placed from 15 yards as the UNITS came in 2-0 up at HT
HT New Inn 0 v 2 TS UNITS
Cuzer was pleased with aspects of the 1st half showing, we created plenty of good opportunities and should have scored more goals but had got a bit sloppy in the last 10 and clearly the next goal was the crucial one
The pattern of the game pretty much remained the same throughout, New Inn were having some good possession and passing the ball well but the UNITS were creating the clear chances. Coco should have done better when again some nice link up play resulted in Coco having a shot saved from 10 yards out
Pountney stung the keepers palms from 20 yards out and then Azza broke clear and rifled in a screamer which the keeper made a fine save at full stretch palming the ball over the bar
On 60 minutes Baker replaced Si Hollick in the middle of the park in a like for like swap
Just after the hour mark the UNITS got the killer 3rd when Taylor found himself by the corner flag, he poked the ball into the area where the New Inn defender and keeper got in a right tangle allowing Acer to nip in and square the ball for Pountney who side footed home from 6 yards for his 2nd and our 3rd
Ginge then replaced Newt who had took a knock on the ankle, Ginge going up top and Azza dropping to centre mid
New Inn got a goal back on 70 minutes when their lively striker got in behind the UNITS back line and dinked the ball over Mala from 15 yards out to claw one back
The game could have got interesting quickly after when New Inn missed a sitter, from a cross their sub side footing wide from 10 yards when he should have hit the target
The UNITS were still creating plenty of chances though and scored a fine 4th goal when Azza played a ball into Ginge's feet 40 yards out, Ginge held off the defender and played a reverse ball to Azza who raced away from the New Inn back line and calmly side footed past the keeper to put the game beyond doubt
Kieron then came on for Acer who had put in a fine shift at right midfield and claimed two assists for his efforts
New Inn clawed back another with 10 left when a cross from the right came in and their striker nipped in front of Mala to poke the ball into the net
The UNITS restored the 3 goal parity almost immediately though when Ginge was released in behind the defence and forced a fine low save from the New Inn keeper but Azza was on hand to tap home the rebound for his 2nd of the game
There was still time for Pountney to miss a sitter for his hat trick, picking up a nice pass from Kieron and alone in acres he side footed wide of the post from 10 yards out
A good win for the UNITS though against decent opposition in New Inn, MOM just goes to Pountney who worked very hard both with and without the ball, defending from the front and picking up 2 goals for his efforts
