TS UNITS 1 v 5 Ocean FC
The UNITS took on old foes Oceans for their opening Premiership game at new home Wolverley High School Alas we were left thread bear again by late drop outs, injuries and credit to the 3-4 who turned up all be it with stonking hangovers In fairness Oceans had 1-2 of their better players missing but were still a formidable 11 to face as the UNITS lined up Mozza, Chinner, Gilo, Ashton, CJ, Ryan, Azza, Jim, Winny, Trigger & Lewis Subs were Si, Luke, Heath & Cuzer
The game seemed to lack intensity early on, with neither side really getting going. The pitch was in good nick and Oceans were keeping the ball better but rarely threatening and the UNITS looked solid enough but were gifting possession away too easily with sloppy passing
However on 10 minutes the visitors took the lead when a dinked ball over our defence resulted in hesitancy between the defence and Mozza and Griff nipped in to lob the ball into the net to put Oceans 1 up 5 minutes later it was 2-0 when the impressive Ocean winger was afforded way too much space, skipped a couple of tame challenges before Azza brought him down in the box, Flowers stroking home the penalty 2-0
It was all too easy for Oceans as the UNITS resorted to too many long balls, giving away possession and Lewis & Trigger were feeding on scraps as the visitors were comfortable
One raking ball from Azza resulted in the Ocean keeper doing well to save at Chinners feet before Lewis forced him into his first proper save on 25 minutes palming the ball wide for a corner
However Oceans were asking more questions and got their 3rd when CJ sold Mozza short with a backpass and Grif nipped in again to finish with ease deflating the UNITS
Jim did well to get away from the Ocean back line and forced their keeper into a good save before Oceans broke with pace on 40 minutes and with the UNITS short of bodies at the back it was all too easy for Grif to be left in acres to stroke the ball home for 4-0
The visitors could have added a couple more before half time as the UNITS came in comfortable 2nd best and 4-0 down
HT UNITS 0 v 4 Ocean
Again like last week we had surrendered the game far too easy and with a 4 goal deficit things could only get better The message was to try and play our football, pass through the midfield and make Oceans work harder with the ball CJ was injured and came off at half time to be replaced by Luke and Cuzer shuffled the pack with Si replacing Trigger
To be fair to the UNITS the 2nd half was better from the off and we almost got one back straight from the kick off. Oceans had no doubt eased off with the game won but we were 100% better in the 2nd half, people wanting the ball, moving into space and closing down when we never had the ball. On 55 minutes after a spell of pressure we finally got a deserved goal when Jim did well to retrieve a blocked shot and cross to the back post where Ashton finished from a tight angle
You wouldn't say Oceans were rattled but at least we were making a fist of it and 2 minutes later we had a great chance to make it 4-2 when the visiting keeper scuffed his clearance to Gilo and with the goal gaping and Jim square for the tap in he was caught in two minds and played the ball across the unmanned goal with Oceans able to clear Oceans then made a couple of changes and started to create more themselves, Mozza making a good save from a sweeping move before their midfielder fired wide from 18 yards out We kept going to our credit, after a good team move Lewis cut inside the box and forced their keeper into a fine one handed save, Jim was played through but Tonks did well to make a saving challenge when last man
On 80 minutes it was left to the Oceans winger to have the final say as he picked up the ball on the halfway line, skipped over 3 UNITS challenges, danced his way to the byeline before beating Mozza at the near post with a fine finish, great goal in fairness to the lad who was a constant thorn in our side all morning with his pace & trickery
We kept going till the end and at least showed we could make a fist of things with the right application, we just need to learn to start games with a better attitude & belief
Man of the match went to Lewis who held the ball up well, was always a willing runner and tried to make things happen when we finally got the ball to him
Next up the UNITS travel to Haden Rangers who surprisingly have had a slow start to the season also losing their opening two fixtures
Mozza 6 Chin 7 Gilo 7 Ryan 6 Ashton 7 CJ 6 Azza 7 Jim 7 Winny 7 Lewis 7* Trig 6
Subs Luke 7 Si 7
