The UNITS took on 3rd placed Taverners at South Road this morning. Cuzer only had 13 at his disposal this week due to numerous reasons and lined up
Mala, 2-TON, Danny, Eggy, Kie, Taylor, Baker, Newton, Coco, Pountney & Ginge
Subs were Acer & Cuzer
The Taverners were the only side to have beaten the UNITS in the league this season so we were keen to level the score but we knew we would have to be at our best from the off and Cuzer asked the lads for a high tempo start
To our credit we were excellent from the off, the midfield three were working their socks off and it was UNITS in the ascendency and it was no surprise after a going close on a few occasions that we took the lead after 15 minutes after some neat build up play Pountney who had their hapless left back on toast all afternoon whipped in a ball and Coco slid in and forced the ball home from 6 yards
Taverners tried hard to respond but the UNITS were in control, Coco, Ginge and Pountney all went close to extending our lead whislt at the other end Mala was a spectator as we defended well and restricted the hosts to a couple of corners and long throws which we dealt with admirably
On 30 minutes we extened our lead when again Pountney put a ball to the back stick Coco volleyed back into the danger zone and Baker stretched to divert the ball home from 8 yards to put us 2-0 to the good
As the half drew to a close Taverners had their best spell and had their only shot on target of the half when their midfielder tried to lob Mala but the ball crashed back off the crossbar with our talisman keeper beaten
The UNITS nearly got a crucial 3rd right on half time when Ginge had a shot blocked on the line with the keeper beaten
Half Time Taverners 0 v 2 UNITS
Cuzer was delighted with the first half performance, to a man the lads had took their instructions on board and were well in control of the game
It was expected that Taverners would come flying out the traps 2nd half and they did try to up the tempo but we were just winning all the battles all over the pitch and we were unlucky not to extend our lead when the keeper saved at Ginge's feet when clean through then Pountney volleyed over and Coco had a shot blocked as we continued where we left off
On 60 minutes and the UNITS in cruise control from nowhere Taverners got back into the game with their target man hit a spectacular half volley from 30 yards which whistled over Mala into the top corner, great strike
It was imperative now the UNITS dug in but Ginge restored parity only 5 minutes later when he got a goal his all round performance deserved when from a Pountney far post cross he guided the ball home from the narrowest of angles
On 70 minutes Cuzer replaced Eggy who was playing through the pain barrier and Acer replaced Ginge in like for like swaps
The UNITS were now happy to play on the break with Coco a willing outlet ball, we sat back and soaked up pressure with Taverners not testing Mala for the remainder of the game as we defended well led by the once more excellent Taylor and on the break Coco twice and Pountney went close to a more emphatic scoreline
Full Time Taverners 1 v 3 TS UNITS
Man of the match could have been one of many today but once again Newt's showed why Cuzer was so keen to sign him in the summer with another class performance in the middle of the park
