The UNITS travelled to Stourbridge Rangers as the games kept coming thick and fast. We had a few missing but still managed a strong 16 as we lined up: Tom, Jay, Gilo, Sean, PT, Barney, Azza, Ashton, Newt, Pountney and Seeks. Subs were Ben, Si, Jim, DJ and Trigger.
The UNITS started the game really bright and took the game to SR from the off, with Azza pulling the strings in midfield and Gilo and Jay exploiting the width it was no surprise when we took the lead on only 5 minutes, Azza released Jay down the right who skinned the full back and pulled the ball back with Newt's getting on the ball to poke home from 6 yards to give the UNITS a flying start. We were moving the ball around superbly and looking solid, we were a threat every time we went forward and you felt another goal was coming yet on 15 minutes SR got themselves level, their striker had a chance which Tom saved moment earlier but this time some indecision between Sean and Azza let their bloke nick in and cross the shot came in which hit the bar, then Tom on the back and as he recovered to claw off the line Chunk flagged to signal the goal as SR levelled up.
It was tough on the UNITS as we were playing some good stuff and front to back we looked the better side but naturally this gave SR the lift and the game became more balanced. Pountney, Seeks and Ashton all went close as we started to get back on top but on 30 minutes we did re-take the lead, Azza clipped the ball forward to Seeks who held up the ball for Lockhart to run onto and drill home from 20 yards with the aid of a slight deflection. We could have added another before half time, PT going close from a corner, Azza firing wide and Jay having a goal bound shot blocked as we came in 2-1.
HT SR 1 v 2 UNITS
Cuzer congratulated the boys on what was a superb 45 minutes of football and the only disservice was the score line didn't do our dominance justice. SR always remained a threat with the quality they have up top so the next goal was crucial, Sean Barney and Tayl's were defending well though and Tom had a couple of routine efforts to deal with as we kept asking the questions. Seeks then went close from the edge of the box after good work from Pountney but Seeks wasn't to be denied his goal when Taylor found some space in the middle of the park after a UNITS free kick was cleared and he played in a lovely weighted ball for Seeks to accelerate away and finish clinically into the bottom corner 1-3. It was no more than the UNITS deserved and we quickly made it 4-1 when Jay who moments before had missed a great headed chance made no mistake from a Pountney pull back.
Jay was then replaced by DJ, Jay having a fine game and working his socks off down the right flank. On 65 minutes the game seemed dead and buried when after more good UNITS approach play a low ball in by Seeks was poked home by Newt's for his second of the game as the performance got the goals we deserved. On 70 minutes Ben replaced Gilo in a like for like swap. We then seemed to really take our foot off the gas and SR sensed this as they got on top, one high ball into our box wasn't dealt with and the loose ball was slammed home, 15 left 5-2. We were a constant threat on the break, Lewis having his best game for ages and Seeks always a danger yet SR were now seeing more of the ball, Barney making one great saving challenge before Paul was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul, which looked outside the box, but the penalty was given only for Tom to make a fine save to his right and make a great block from the follow up as the UNITS escaped what might have been an uncomfortable last 10 minutes or so. Trigger then replaced Seeks who once again had given his all and despite a few alarms the UNITS saw out the game for what was an important win after a couple of stumbles of late.
Some excellent performances today, especially Lewis, Newt and Azza yet Jay was superb with his energy down the right and he gets MOM.
Next up we have another tough league game against a solid Chainwire team who make you work for everything.
