A sunny and warm Saturday afternoon kick off saw the Reds take on Castlecliff Braves in the 3rd round of the Charity Cup. A full team card for the Reds was a welcome sight. Pete Kinnerley returned in goal after 6 weeks out with broken ribs. The Reds tried something a little different with 3 at the back, being Jamie Wilsher, Mark Allan and Brad Muirhead. Scott Allan played in front of them with the ever reliable Kane Thomas and Geoff Smith in the centre of the park. James Yates and Peter Ellicott out wide , Regan Leslie and Tarf Pohio up front. A bench of Mike Hogan, Richard Pole, Alex Battersby, Gerry O'Donnell and Sam O'Leary provided depth and impetus when required.
The talk before the game was about stressing the importance of being strong in the tackle and getting to the ball first. In the previous fixture against Braves the Reds were disappointing, lacking urgency and getting beaten physically. This game proved to be different. The Reds started well, passing the ball and finding space. Braves were put under a lot of pressure, but the Reds didnt manage to get a decent chance on goal. Despite this they continued to work hard and the first goal came. A lovely ball was floated in to the box and Smith outjumped his opponent powering home a header. Braves were back on level terms after a scrappy goal was bundled in to the net despite valiant defence. Half time was 1 all.
After sluggish start to the second half, it was much the same story, with Reds attacking, Braves hanging on and trying to strike on the counter attack. The Reds had an attacking free kick just outside of the box, but the chance was wasted. The ball was struck directly in to the wall, fell to a Braves player who smashed it forward. The Braves striker outsprnted the Reds defence to put his team in front. Braves 3 goal was much the same, long ball through, outmuscling a young Red before scoring. The Reds never gave up however. The team spirit, which is coming to the fore more and more, help spur the Reds on. Hogan was finding acres of space on the left, Yates on the right. They scored the goal of the game if not the season soon after. A free kick was taken by Allan Jr, who passed short to Wilsher, nice passing evoled between him, Allan snr, Yates and Pohio before Yates put a beautiful cross in to find an unmarked Smith who headed home his second. 2 late shouts for penalties fell on deaf ears, despite contact being made in both attempts to tackle. The Reds piled on the pressure with a late chance to Allan snr skimming the top of the bar. The last play of the game saw a perfectly weighted through ball from Hogan put leading goal scorer Ellicott one on one with the keeper. The Braves keeper kept out his attempt at slipping the ball passed him.
A vexing result, the Reds played some good footie, and Braves considered themselves lucky. Perhaps a lesson for the promising young Reds defence, they were caught too square on both second half goals. They needed to be a little more staggered, and make sure that the first man gets to the ball first. not that any one man was a fault. A little more patience in attack is also required. Keep the width to stretch the opponents defence, but rather than smashing a cross in, look up and pick a pass. With a fixture against Thirstys this week it will be a chance to continue with the patient build up and early passing the Reds have been working on. Remember you dont have to score with every attack. Tire out the opposition by making them work hard chasing our ball movement and the gaps will come in the second half.
MOM
3- Geoff Smith
2- Jamie Wilsher
1- Mike Hogan
Mentioned in depatches
James Yates, Tarf Pohio, Kane Thomas, Pete Kinnerley, Gerry O'Donnell, Pete Ellicott, Sam O'Leary, Alex Battersby, Scott Allan
