Witham Galacticos kept up their fine form win a fantastic performance away from home in the county cup. The only change was Aaron Williams coming in for the injured Jamie Lawes, with Charlie pushing back into the midfield and Aaron at full back.
The Galacticos started well and kept the ball superbly, the back four of Williams, Stone, Clark and Murphy were orchestrating the play with Vicarage, Yeo and Humphrey always on hand to collect and distribute accordingly. Ratcliffe, McCormack and Orr where already troubling the Kings Head back four with Ratcliffes pace and Mccormack's vision. On 14 minutes Galacticos took the lead after a well worked corner and pin point delivery from Yeo found McCormack 8 yards out to head in. The Galacticos now where in free flow stringing together pass after pass and Vicarage, Yeo and Humphrey completely bossing the midfield. On 25 minutes it was 2-0, a long kick upfield was met by a towering Murphy who headed into the patch of Yeo who drove at the heart of the Kings Head back four and from 20 yards blasted the ball into the keepers right hand corner. 3 minutes later it was nearly 3 with Orr showing his strength and going round his opponent to pick a superb 25 yard pass that found McCormack who ran into the box and agonisingly hit the post. Witham were completely dominating and having all the possession and when the Kings Head did try and find their target man up front Clark and Murphy was on hand to frustrate him and with Cannock clearly controlling the back four with his direction and sharpness coming off his line the Galacticos where unlucky not to be leading by a wider margin
HALF TIME - KINGS HEAD BADDOW 0 WITHAM GALACTICOS 2
The second half began exactly how the first half ended, Galacticos keeping the ball and the home team retreating back into their own half. It took only 4 minutes for Ratcliffe to get his goal after some great build up play between Yeo and Vicarage who delivered a perfect ball for Ratcliffe to get in behind the opponents back four and place the ball into the keepers bottom right hand corner. Minutes later Witham were harshly denied a penalty after Orr again showing some great hold up play turned his marker and was completely taken out but the ref who must have felt sorry for the demoralised opposition waved away the appeals. Then on 58 minutes the referee was in the thick of it again....Cannock claimed the ball and went to throw it out but one of the Kings Head players knocked the ball out of his hand into the path of one of his own players who blasted the ball in, the Galacticos team appealed but this was to no avail and the goal was awarded. The next 10 minutes was a bit scrappy and the dubious goal obviously affected the away side so the Galacticos manager threw on Bromley for the injured Humphreys and shortly after Jamie Adams for Orr and they slotted straight in and helped get the team back into their stride and on 71 minutes Yeo picked the ball up 25 yards out drove into the opponents box going round 2 defenders and calmly slotted him for his second of the game and extend the Galacticos lead. The Kings Head now knew there cup dream was over and was persistently fouling and on 74 minutes after a clinical foul on Orr, McCormack stepped up to score yet another screamer and get his second of the game. Kings head were now just looking for a way out of there own half and a couple of long balls found there target man but Cannock on both occasions pulled off great saves. On 83 minutes it was 6-1 and it was top goalscorer McCormack getting his hatrick smashing the ball home from 20 yards. There was still time for the substitutes to link up when Adams played a superb 35 yard crossfield ball to Bromley (who was making numerous runs behind the Kings Head back four) who was inches away from getting his first goal for the club.
It was the Galacticos best performance of the season by far and every player on the pitch played well. The defenders and goalkeeper where yet again faultless and the build up play from the midfield and front men was a joy to watch. Man of the match was very close with Ryan yet again scoring goals for fun (including a rare header!) Cannock getting stronger and stronger every week and the combination of Adam Clark and Jack Murphy at the heart of the team looking strong and dominant, but it was close between Vicarage who clearly touched the ball more than any other play on the pitch and rarely gave a pass away and Mitchell Yeo who alongside Steve controlled the midfield and found himself in the attacking third alot more, distributing the play and scoring 2 very well taken goals, but after a tough call it was Golden Boy Mitchell Yeo who knicked it.
Bring on Bocking Social next week!
