Post by redway on Apr 23, 2010 7:17:19 GMT
Match Report: 22nd April 2010:
Leighton United 0 v 4 NPTFC Lions
Half – Time: 0 - 1
Scorers: Matt Cullis, Liam Scott and Alex C
With games coming thick and fast now this won’t be a long report......I sense cheers!
A quick return to Leighton United after our cup victory there on Sunday and clearly confident that we could repeat the feat. Better news still was that our challengers for the League had dropped vital points and more than ever our destiny was once again in our own hands. Is anyone else suffering with a definite feeling of déjà vu at the moment?
Anyway apart from “the Banda” who is serving his one week suspension for his sending off v Moretonville, all were present and fit.
A couple of changes in personnel and switches in position from the team that started on Sunday but more rotation than anything else. What did change from Sunday was the energy levels, as from the start we got stuck into the opposition and won most of the early aerial and personal battles. The pitch was hard as they all are currently but the ball also seemed to bounce awkwardly which meant confidence in taking it down and being able to make a decent pass was absent in the main.
That is why I think we ended up for the long ball option more often than normal, as we struggled almost to a man to thread two or three passes together. There may have been an element of tension in some of that but the general air was one of confidence so signs were promising.
What we needed was an early goal and it didn’t come. We pressed and up front Liam looked very lively and at his very best. We had corners, free kick and other good positions to cross from, but our delivery wasn’t good.....at all. Our best chances came from getting Mitch and Eben away down the flanks. Eben and Liam created a great chance for Westy but his volley bit the bar and Mitch crossed for a tap in but we had all pulled off waiting a cut back.
At the defensive end it was all pretty routine which for the parents nerves was good and was credit to the back five who looked very composed. However that wasn’t going to win us the game so we press forward again and hurrah we get the breakthrough. Goal machine Matt Cullis picked up a ball on the edge of the box, previous to this he and Crox had already had a couple of sighters but this time Matt eluded the keeper and hit the net. Squawks from his no1 fan, sighs of relief elsewhere but no more than we deserved.
At the break John and Michael did have some words of encouragement and also of direction. Most importantly that we had abandoned our efforts to play football. Yes the pitch was hard and bouncy but we still had opportunities to play football but just lumped the ball forward without thought. So let’s get back to what we have been doing all season and play football....a thought to keep at the forefront of everyone’s minds as it gets to the business end of the season.
Anyway second half starts with another strong effort from the Lions. We made some decent incisions into the home defence and had a couple of good efforts. Kevin had come on and his pace and strength caused another problem for Leighton. 6 minutes into the half and controversy!!. Another Lions attack down the right and ball reaches Matt on the 18 yard box. Shot beats keeper and hits the underside of the bar...our intrepid reporter witnesses the shot bounce well over the line and spin back for a defender to clear. Unfortunately the linesman wasn’t Russian more out of breath trying to keep up with our pacy front line. He was honest that he couldn’t see and because from the resulting corner Matt managed to get in front of his marker and net with a volley I for one am willing to forgive on this occasion.
The second goal started more squawking but now we were in the driving seat. Leighton pushed men on and we did get caught just the once when we got overrun down our right and a mixture of Jack Allen and a good save by Dan stopped Leighton getting back into the game. Minutes later it was game over when from another corner Alex sent a volley goalwards....was that over the line? anyway he netted the rebound to just make sure. That was his last action of the half with “Crouchy Wheeler” moving back from his roving centre forward role into defence with Johnny where he looked a bit more comfortable.
A fourth goal well worked by Luke and Liam saw the latter stroke the ball home 10 minutes from time. After which we saw Kevin go close with a lob and Eben stand on the ball as it rebounded out. Mr Banda at this stage was almost hysterical with laughter.
Anyway game over and a solid win – just a little patience and self belief was needed.
With results going our way it was important for us to just keep our heads and deal with the job in hand, which we did. This is a team effort and again the team did what it had to do. Not everyone will play well every week but each week we see different individuals doing good solid jobs which is the way it has to be. Only important game now is Sunday away to an improving Bedford A side and a good performance please.
One last point is we have our Cup semi final draw and are away to Sundon Park Rangers.
Squad: Dan Shaw, Luke Parker, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Kevin Feldman, Mitch Tofts, Brandon Banda, Jack Allen, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Ross Wheeler, Jack Croxford, Dan Booth, and Alex Collard
Leighton United 0 v 4 NPTFC Lions
Half – Time: 0 - 1
Scorers: Matt Cullis, Liam Scott and Alex C
With games coming thick and fast now this won’t be a long report......I sense cheers!
A quick return to Leighton United after our cup victory there on Sunday and clearly confident that we could repeat the feat. Better news still was that our challengers for the League had dropped vital points and more than ever our destiny was once again in our own hands. Is anyone else suffering with a definite feeling of déjà vu at the moment?
Anyway apart from “the Banda” who is serving his one week suspension for his sending off v Moretonville, all were present and fit.
A couple of changes in personnel and switches in position from the team that started on Sunday but more rotation than anything else. What did change from Sunday was the energy levels, as from the start we got stuck into the opposition and won most of the early aerial and personal battles. The pitch was hard as they all are currently but the ball also seemed to bounce awkwardly which meant confidence in taking it down and being able to make a decent pass was absent in the main.
That is why I think we ended up for the long ball option more often than normal, as we struggled almost to a man to thread two or three passes together. There may have been an element of tension in some of that but the general air was one of confidence so signs were promising.
What we needed was an early goal and it didn’t come. We pressed and up front Liam looked very lively and at his very best. We had corners, free kick and other good positions to cross from, but our delivery wasn’t good.....at all. Our best chances came from getting Mitch and Eben away down the flanks. Eben and Liam created a great chance for Westy but his volley bit the bar and Mitch crossed for a tap in but we had all pulled off waiting a cut back.
At the defensive end it was all pretty routine which for the parents nerves was good and was credit to the back five who looked very composed. However that wasn’t going to win us the game so we press forward again and hurrah we get the breakthrough. Goal machine Matt Cullis picked up a ball on the edge of the box, previous to this he and Crox had already had a couple of sighters but this time Matt eluded the keeper and hit the net. Squawks from his no1 fan, sighs of relief elsewhere but no more than we deserved.
At the break John and Michael did have some words of encouragement and also of direction. Most importantly that we had abandoned our efforts to play football. Yes the pitch was hard and bouncy but we still had opportunities to play football but just lumped the ball forward without thought. So let’s get back to what we have been doing all season and play football....a thought to keep at the forefront of everyone’s minds as it gets to the business end of the season.
Anyway second half starts with another strong effort from the Lions. We made some decent incisions into the home defence and had a couple of good efforts. Kevin had come on and his pace and strength caused another problem for Leighton. 6 minutes into the half and controversy!!. Another Lions attack down the right and ball reaches Matt on the 18 yard box. Shot beats keeper and hits the underside of the bar...our intrepid reporter witnesses the shot bounce well over the line and spin back for a defender to clear. Unfortunately the linesman wasn’t Russian more out of breath trying to keep up with our pacy front line. He was honest that he couldn’t see and because from the resulting corner Matt managed to get in front of his marker and net with a volley I for one am willing to forgive on this occasion.
The second goal started more squawking but now we were in the driving seat. Leighton pushed men on and we did get caught just the once when we got overrun down our right and a mixture of Jack Allen and a good save by Dan stopped Leighton getting back into the game. Minutes later it was game over when from another corner Alex sent a volley goalwards....was that over the line? anyway he netted the rebound to just make sure. That was his last action of the half with “Crouchy Wheeler” moving back from his roving centre forward role into defence with Johnny where he looked a bit more comfortable.
A fourth goal well worked by Luke and Liam saw the latter stroke the ball home 10 minutes from time. After which we saw Kevin go close with a lob and Eben stand on the ball as it rebounded out. Mr Banda at this stage was almost hysterical with laughter.
Anyway game over and a solid win – just a little patience and self belief was needed.
With results going our way it was important for us to just keep our heads and deal with the job in hand, which we did. This is a team effort and again the team did what it had to do. Not everyone will play well every week but each week we see different individuals doing good solid jobs which is the way it has to be. Only important game now is Sunday away to an improving Bedford A side and a good performance please.
One last point is we have our Cup semi final draw and are away to Sundon Park Rangers.
Squad: Dan Shaw, Luke Parker, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Kevin Feldman, Mitch Tofts, Brandon Banda, Jack Allen, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Ross Wheeler, Jack Croxford, Dan Booth, and Alex Collard