The UNITS traveled to already crowned champions Oceans for a midweek game, difficult approach after the semi final win on Sunday and the final on the horizon but we picked a mixed side resting a few as we started
Chinner, Kieron, Gilo, John H, Barney, Azza, Newton, Coco, Acer, Trigger & Pountney - Subs were Si Hollick, Baker, Ginge, Stef & Eggy
We picked a bold 442 formation and tried to get at Oceans early and to be fair we started very well and were dominant in the opening 15 minutes, moving the ball well and asking questions of the Oceans backline which credit to them they were defending well
We thought we had taken a deserved lead on 20 minutes when Coco whipped in a low free kick, Acer got across his marker to side foot past the keeper but the flag went up with Acer going slightly too soon
Azza then fired over twice as we didn't make our dominance count and we were guilty of not testing the keeper enough, our best chance fell to Trigger when Pountney roasted the full back and whipped in a great cross which Trigger could only head over at the back stick from 8 yards out
Oceans had created nothing of note so far but then had a good 15 minute spell of their own which resulted in them getting 2 goals
Parker who is always a threat fired over from the edge of the box and then he got away from Kieron before rifling in a vicious cross shot which rocketed over Chinner and into the far corner
This was harsh on the UNITS but shortly after disaster struck when Price scuffed a shot from the edge of the box which Chinner let through his legs and the ball bobbled over the line as we found ourselves 2-0 down
Credit to the UNITS we dragged ourselves back into the game with a fine goal, some slick passing released Azza in the middle of the park he strode forward and slid in Pountney who raced away from the Oceans back line and calmly stroked the ball past Flowers to make it 2-1
Half Time Oceans 2 v 1 TS UNITS
Cuzer was pleased with the first half display, we were defending well and only guilty of not being slick enough in the final 3rd, the game was there for the taking could we make better decisions in the key areas
To be fair the 2nd half we were superb, from the off we played some good stuff, got both full backs forward and constantly asked questions of the Oceans back line but credit to them they defended superbly throughout
On 55 minutes Coco released Pountney for the chance of the half, he got away from Tonks, held off the defender but could only fire straight at Flowers from 18 yards out when clean through
On 60 minutes we came even closer to leveling things up Acer was put clean through by Azza and as Flowers came out to meet him he only had to lift the ball over him into the unguarded net yet managed to beat the keeper but put the ball wide of the post, a real chance
We kept coming and then Trigger got clean through, goal side of Tonks only for the centre half to make a wonder tackle in the box denying Trigger a clear sight of goal
At the other end Kieron was doing a superb job on Parker who had to go off due to a 1st half injury, Barney & John were solid and Oceans best chance was a half chance which fell to Price who headed over from a deep cross when he beat Chinner to the ball some 15 yards out
Ginge then replaced Trigger in a like for like swap as the UNITS freshened things up
We were probably enjoying 65-70% possession in the 2nd half and we kept probing but clear chances were at a premium, Coco laid back to Acer who could only shoot over from the edge of the box the Barney had a great chance from a corner but could only head over on the stretch from 8 yards out
Baker then replaced Acer as we went 4-3-3 chasing the game, Burgess fired over from 20 yards for the hosts in a rare attack, the home side now happy to play on the counter as we gambled pushing men forward however the clear chance we craved never came as Oceans shut us out
Stef came on against his old side with 5 minutes left, replacing Newts yet with the last kick of the game Price did well on the byeline and fired a ball across the box which hit John Hawthorne in the face and bobbled into the net to put an unfair reflection on the scoreline as Oceans maintained their unbeaten record recording a 3-1 victory
In a difficult fixture with a cup final on the horizon I couldn't fault the effort or application of the players, we played some good stuff at times and arguably deserved at least a point out of the game
Credit also to Oceans, to go unbeaten all season is a superb achievement and we wish them all the best in the Prem next season
Man of the match went to Barney who played from his sick bed and was superb for 80 minutes before the legs turned to jelly. Special mentions to Kieron, Azza & John Hawthorne who all played well
Cuzer
