The Mighty Weekenders ran out winners 3-2 over a plucky City Thirstys side looking for their first win of the season. The Weekenders went in to the game missing a few players in Peter Kinnerley, Mark Allan, Matt Jefferies and Regan Leslie. Jamie Wilsher donned the famous blue shirt and played between the sticks. Gerry O'Donnell made a welcome cameo appearance at centre back. James Yates slipped in at right fullback, with Brad Muirhead and Scott Allan filling the other 2 spots. Midfield saw the old warhorses in Kane Thomas and Geoff Smith setting their usual high work rate. Darko Mostarac is slipping slightly deeper, playing just in front of the midfield, leaving Brad Townsend or Zeb Small up front. Peter Ellicott and Tarf Pohio provided the width in attack. As there were no refs available Mike Hogan offered to ref the 1st half, with Tarf Pohio doing the second.
Weekenders played the better football throughout the game and should have won by a much more comfortable margin. However they lacked the killer instinct in the box and many chances went begging. The first goal of the game came ealy in the half, with a teasing ball whipped in by Smith that atttracted the attention of both the Thirstys keeper and Brad Townsend. Both played each other rather than the ball, which dropped beautifully to Pete Ellicott who tapped home in to an empty net. More chances came with the post and cross bar being struck. Smith headed the second goal, rising to meet an Ellicott corner and banging it in with some power. Weekenders were now cruising, but in doing so took the foot off the throat. Thirstys took advantage of a misplaced header and slipped the ball passed young Wilsher in goal. Half Time 2-1.
The second half was a similar affair to the first. Hogan came on at full back, Phil Douglas in to goal, and Wilsher to partner Allan at centre back. Brad Townsend was lost to the firsts. Weekenders played some lovely passing football. Ellicott in particular finding acres of room on the left. Cross after cross was put in to no avail. Zeb Small found himself thwarted on many occasions, with a pacey Thirstys defender shutting him down. Small perhaps would have been better off holding the ball up and waiting for support. Phil Douglas made a beautiful diving save to keep Weekenders in the lead after one of Thirstys rare raids. One golden chance fell to Ellicott whose shot was blocked by the rump of Mostarac! Again the cross bar was struck. However it was Thirstys who scored next. Weekenders had a corner, which Smith headed on the the cross bar again, the ball bounced around and after a few shots, it fell to Thirstys who counter attacked and scored off the post. Squeaky bum time! Weekenders, however, showed their team spirit. They didnt drop their heads but continued pressing for another goal. Ellicott scored it, tucking the ball inside the post to give the Weekenders a deserved 3-2 victory. Tactically Weekenders have been playing Allan in front of Wilsher, almost becoming a central midfielder, and Mostarac has positoned himself beatuifully between the oppostions back 4 and midfield, and has found plenty of space. This seems to be working well.
MOM
3- Jamie Wilsher
2- Peter Ellicott
1- Scott Allan
Mentioned in Despatches
Geoff Smith, Tarf Pohio, Kane Thomas, Phil Douglas, Darko Mostarac
Results
Collegiate 1st XI 7 v Braves 0
Collegiate 2nd XI 2 v Castlecliff 6
Hammers 1 v Cosmos 1
City Development 0 v Celtic 2
Casuals 1 v Cosmos Classics 7
