The UNITS cruised into the 2nd round of the Sunday Senior Cup as we brushed aside fellow Div 1 side West Hagley. Cuzer had 16 at this disposal this morning and shuffled things around a little bit as we lined up: Tom, Chinner, Ben, Taylor, Barney, Baker, Newton, Azza, Coco, DJ and Seeks. Subs were Ginge, Trigger, Gilo, Kie Watters and Jim.
We kicked off 10 minutes late as Hagley scrambles around to field a starting 11, the pitch was also woeful and not marked yet all we could do was look to beat what was put out in front of us. It was clear early on the UNITS held the upper hand and after a couple of early good chances we took the lead on 8 minutes when from a back pass their keeper could only clear as far as Azza some 30 yards out, he controlled the ball on his chest before kneeing the ball up and volleying over the keeper into the net, fine goal to open the scoring. On 15 minutes it was 2-0 when the UNITS played some good football down our right, Chinner and DJ linking up before DJ laid the ball off to Seeks who curled a 20 yard effort into the far corner, the Hagley keeper only managing to push the ball into the back of the net. It was all too comfortable for the UNITS and from nowhere it appeared Hagley had a lifeline when their striker some 30 yards out held off Paul and let go with an early low shot which was placed superbly past Tom and in off the far post.
For the 2nd week running we were undone with the opposition’s first serious attempt on target but the UNITS were keen to ensure it didn't have a bearing on the result this time when 5 minutes later Coco floated over a good corner and Tayl's rose highest to plant his header past the keeper to make it 3-1. The UNITS then thought they had a 4th when DJ ran from deep and finished off superbly into the bottom corner to cap off a fine team goal only for the "goal" to be wrongly ruled offside. However our 4th did come before half time when Azza found space and clipped a ball through to Seeks who volleyed superbly across the keeper from 20 yards into the far corner to make it 4-1.
HT West Hagley 1 v 4 TS UNITS
Cuzer asked the boys to maintain their levels in the 2nd half, it was a comfortable stroll but other goals were there for us should we maintain our tempo. Seeks completed a 50 minute hat trick when Chinner did well down the right, beat his man before he floated a cross into the box which came to Seeks who looped a header into the far corner, again the keeper getting a hand to it but failing to keep it out. Coco was next to notch when Baker did well in midfield, switched the play to Coco who hit a first time volley which the keeper failed to keep out at his near post. Cuzer then replaced Newts and Seeks with Kie Watters and Ginge as we changed shape. Shortly after Jim replaced Baker, Jim taking up his role in the middle of the park.
Ginge was quickly into the action and opened his account for the season when DJ burst forward and released Ginge who checked past his man in the box and finished into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Taylor then scored a screamer from 18 yards however again the UNITS were denied by an incorrect offside call with the ball coming off the Hagley defender. However, Taylor didn't have to wait long for his 2nd and the UNITS 8th when from another Coco corner Tayl's forced the ball home at the front post with a neat header. West Hagley had a chance to get a consolation goal, when Azza was adjudged to of bought down a West Hagley player in the area. But Tom guessed right and made a good save in saving the penalty. Kie Watters was then a whisker away from opening his account when Coco hung up a superb cross with his left peg Kie powering his header over from 7 yards out. It was fellow sub Jim who completed the scoring when from a Coco corner Kie Watters won the header and the ball coming back off the post, Jim seized on the loose ball and drilled home from 10 yards.
A comfortable morning’s work for the UNITS who are into round two.
Man of the match was a close one between Azza, Seeks and Barney but the award goes to Barney as he's been out for a long time and did superbly well on his return to the side.
Next up the UNITS take on Belbroughton Athletic in the last 16 of the Worcs Sun Junior Cup.
