The UNITS secured a comfortable passage into the 3rd round of the Hospital Cup this morning, overcoming higher league opposition in Oceans Designs
With Turner, Jonah, Barney and Jim unavailable Chinner took his place on the bench, despite being injured as we lined up as follows:
Mala, Eggy, Darbs, Kirbs, Lacey, Coco, Taylor (c) Baker, Rook, Pountney & Marcus - Bench was Penna, Luiz, Powell and Chinner
Oceans lined up with 5 at the back and 4 in midfield to try and keep things tight early on but this just gave the initiative to the UNITS who probed for an opening from the first whistle. Rook and Pountney had already gone close before a corner was headed back by Tayl's to Darbs who scuffed his shot from 6 yards....centre halves for ya!....Pountney made no mistake with his knee from a yard to put us a goal up
It was all UNITS and only some great keeping by the Oceans keeper kept the score down, one great save in particular from Pountney who had been releases after some slick midfield play from Taylor, drew the plaudits however harshly on the keeper from the resulting Coco corner Marcus powered a far post header in from 8 yards to put the UNITS 2-0 up
It was that comfortable for the UNITS we ended up giving Oceans a sniff when Darbs attempted to head the ball back to Mala, Curtis up top for Oceans challenged with the ball ricocheting loose and he looped the ball over Mala from 20 yards to give Oceans a goal with their first meaningful attack
However, if it was the game for generosity it continued as Eggy put a diagonal ball through to Pountney, the centre half under pressure heading the ball over his onrushing keeper into the empty net to put us 3-1 up
It was no more than our first half display deserved with Baker & Taylor extremely impressive in the middle of the park. There was still time for Pountney to add his 2nd and our 4th as Mala's kick was expertly helped on by Marcus for Pountney to race clear, round the keeper and stroke home
HT UNITS 4 v 1 Oceans Design Rangers
Cuzer was impressed with the first half and the message was to continue in the same vein in the 2nd half
We took this on board as despite Oceans now putting extra men up top the UNITS just laid siege to the visitors goal, again Connolly made a string of fine saves as Coco, Rook, Taylor, Pountney & Marcus all saw good opportunities go begging
At the other end Darbs, Kirbs and Eggy were solid and Lacey was having a fine game supporting the attacks at every opportunity.
On 65 minutes we added an overdue 5th after three shots had been blocked Rook eventually set up Coco to clinical finish across the keeper from 10 yards, a returning goal for our Zimbabwean international
Shortly after Powell, Penna and Ferreira were introduced for Lacey, Marcus and Darbs
Pountney was desperate for his hat trick and had 2 shots blocked on the goal line as credit to Oceans they never stopped trying, he also hit the post and forced another fine save from the keeper as the 3rd goal for him personally just wouldn't come
Rook volleyed against the bar, Matt Powell headed just over and Taylor had a goal bound effort blocked as only over playing at times stopped the UNITS extending their lead even further
In the end a comfortable 5v1 win against Oceans, free week next week and a bye in the cup to boot!
Man of the match was a toss up between the excellent Taylor who ran the midfield on only his 2nd start and Baker who alongside Taylor was excellent and behind a lot of good UNITS play with Baker just getting the nod
