The UNITS traveled to Cleobury Mortimer to take on much improved Plough Dukes in their penultimate game of the Subsidiary cup knowing a win should secure them a place in the semi final We lost Leon and Gilo pre game and took 14 to the game as Cuzer lined them up Mozza, Taylor, Ryan, Tonka, Jim, Coco, Baker, Ashton, Azza, Lewis & Winny Subs were Chinner, Rob & Trigger
The conditions were atrocious howling wind and driving rain and the pitch was getting heavy early on but it had no effect on the UNITS as we tore into the home side in the opening 15 minutes We already went close twice in the opening 5 minutes before the UNITS moved the ball well in midfield, Azza picked up the ball 40 yards out and played a beautiful defence splitting to Lewis who took a great touch before sliding the ball past the home keeper to put the visitors 1-0 up
2 minutes later and it was 2-0 more quick UNITS play resulted in Lewis having a cross blocked, from the resulting corner Coco whipped in a ball and Taylor beat his man to head in at the near post to make it 2-0 15 on the clock and the UNITS pretty much ended the game as a contest, a poor kick from the home keeper found Jim just inside their half, Jim's first time ball found Pountney 30 yards out and he casually lifted the ball over the home keeper to score what was to be the first of some pretty special goals from the UNITS
Pretty much straight from the kick off however Plough Dukes got themselves a lifeline back in the game when some hesitant defending between Ryan, Tayl's and Mozza resulted in the striker nipping in and Tayl's bringing him down when stretching for the ball. The penalty was struck well but Mozza flung himself to his left to make a great one handed save and Baker cleared
In shocking conditions,kicking up the slope and into the wind the UNITS were playing some great football and just looked too slick for the home side who were full of endeavour but struggling to cope with the UNITS all over the park
Our 4th was another special goal, Coco got the ball form Mozza and motored forward, he slipped the ball to Azza just inside the Dukes half, Azza skipped past two challenges before rifling in an unstoppable shot form 30 yards whistling into the corner giving the keeper no chance 4-0
We were now creating at will and only some good goal keeping stopped up extending the lead but on 40 minutes we made it 5-0 when again some good passing resulted in Coco cutting inside the box, instead of shooting he crossed low for Winny who at the second time of asking tapped home to put the gloss on a superb 45 minutes of football for the UNITS in tough conditions
HT Plough Dukes 0 v 5 TS UNITS
Cuzer was delighted with the application showed form the lads and no changes were made and the message was very much more of the same
Credit to the home side clearly stung by the first half battering they came out with increased purpose at the start of the 2nd half and had a couple of long range efforts which Mozza dealt with well, one good save low down in the mud being a highlight.
55 minutes however and we scored the best goal of the game, Coco got the ball from Tonka still deep in the UNITS half he beat his man before accelerating at the Dukes back line with options either side of him the home defence backed off yet Coco hit a swirling dipping effort from 35 yards which whistled into the top corner giving the home keeper no change, a tremendous finish
Shortly after Trigger replaced Jim in a like for like swap and Chinner replaced Ashton
Trigger then had a great chance when being released he had Pountney & Coco square for the tap in but chose to shoot and the keeper got enough on the shot to keep it out as we kept creating
Dukes then hit the bar in their best chance of the half before back down the other end Lewis had a great chance for the hat trick from Triggers pass but the keeper made a great block from close range
Rob then replaced Winny with 25 left
On 70 minutes we made it 7-0 when Baker showed sublime skill on the edge of the box to disguise a cheeky back heel through to Taylor who skipped round the keeper and finished left footed into the bottom corner
The home side kept plugging away and scored 2 goals in the last 5 minutes but it couldn't take the gloss off an excellent mornings work for the UNITS as we ran out 7-2 winners
Man of the match went to Coco who scored a worldy of a goal and picked up three assists
