Evening Villagers, today we took on Division rivals for next year in our 5th pre season friendly, were on the back of two big defeats vs Lancing United (5-3) and Hangleton Sundays (7-4).
We were missing key players today in Bradley Fletcher Brett Ogle Connor Fitz Ben Griffiths Danny Allnut
But we had debuts from Mike Bunnage in goal , and Midfield tank Richard Maymon,
We started positively against a strong Hare and Hounds squad, getting the ball down and playing some very good football, Azimi went with Bennett up top over Denyer due to a previous injury.
it worked wonders, Bennett up top being an absolute menace up there with some great hold up play bringing the rest of the attacking force into the game.great flicks and a couple chances that went begging! in the end we took him off for Denyer who was the only goal scorer today with some great individual work from a pass from lower to beat the keeper one on one,
Lower who has been out of football due to a serious knee injury in the 21/22 season showed very good promise to being back to his former self , composed and controlled on the ball , but just needs to sharpen up those chances that get fired into the box!!
Leggett was in good form today , cool calm and composed, great deliveries and playing in a couple of different positions today . tackling maybe not one of his fortes after being booked for an wreck less late challenge, think hes been watching boyling to much!!
The midfield Trio played how every manager wanted , hard hitting, non stop working, second ball winners and quick football! joy to behold today, unfortunatly Brownjohn took a nasty injury to the ankle after chasing a lost cause , keeper colliding with him and landing with his full weight on his ankle, kusack brilliant also today with some hard hitting challenges and some great attacking play, just needed to get on the score sheet to round of his performance! What can i say about debutant Richard Maymon in midfield , a very good debut for any manger to watch, smashed the life out of players ( fairly) winning headers left right and center and i dont think the heat fazed him once, he covered every bit of burnt grass out on that pitch today,
Back 4 and GK today looked solid in a switch around of tactics, 6ft 4 bunnage in goal with his commanding presence, made an absolute worldy save point blank with his left arm diving to his right and spreading his body, another great debut.
the first clean sheet for the defence today and so may it continue, defence were superb with crunching tackles from the cb's, at one point i thought boyling had folded one of there players into a pretzel!! left backs and right backs mc nie and lloyd were nice and composed ( just dont let the ball bounce)
We had a few cut chances and we need to make sure were sharper to finish these but all in all the village are getting to where the manager wants them, bulked the squad , playing great football and hopefully on the way to silverware in the 22/23 season,
Onto the next Pre season Friendly
