Post by kingey on Apr 24, 2010 19:39:49 GMT
Division 3
Old Stratford 0 v 4 NPTFC Lions
Sponge Bob Square Goals
The great British weather, often an ice breaking conversation point, terrible way to start a chat up line (so I'm told!) but more accurately unpredictable at the best of times. Only 3 weeks ago I was stood in an inch of water watching the U8's team in a fantastic match at Willen but now faced a pitch that resembled an Indian cricket crease.
On arrival the square shaped goals were bemusing everybody as we discussed how Samba goal assembly is an art form only mastered by few and usually in our case Viv, Connors Mum often assembles ours before 3-4 Dad's figure out how to get them out of the bags!
Anyway it was clear that a long post had been inserted in the wrong place making the goals unusually high!
Right, match action. The first half and this is being polite, was awful! We just didn't get going at all and most of our players struggled to get hold of the ball, make decisive runs or more importantly put the ball into the square goals. Old Stratford were playing well and they threatened on more than one occasion but a combination of last ditch tackles and unlucky finishing kept our clean sheet intact.
Half time 0-0
The half time challenge today was simple "pull your fingers out and wake up"!
Connor and Alex joined the play at half time which thankfully and some would say this was managerial genius but it was more down to the determination from "Cool Hand" as we got our first goal of the game with less than a minute of the restart.
David was sent racing away down the left after receiving a ball from Skipper, he dodged inside and squared the ball which was missed by numerous flying feet but not Connor's as he whacked the ball into the square goal. The relief was evident all round.
The mood was improved only moments later as the home keeper scuffed a goal kick into Rhys' path. He looked up and punished the home team with a calm finish from outside of the box.
The turn around was impressive as we now started to put our foot on the ball, find stripy shirts with passes and keep it cool when pushed by the home team.
In a rare attack on our goal Kiron looked like a rabbit in the headlights as the tall striker ran towards him but his nimble feet cleared the danger just in time.
As the home team tired due to not having the luxury of any subs we killed the game off.
Jack bounded forward with the ball before setting Connor off down the line, as he was crowded out he just got a pass back to Basi who stepped on the nitrous into the area where he pulled the ball back to the clinical David who made no mistake with another great finish.
The home team continued to retreat as they tired in the heat with their long balls out of defence being mopped up by Alex and Lewis.
The final goal, his 19th of the season came from David as Rhys' final involvement of the game was a dash to the byline providing another pass resulting in a tap in.
The closing minutes saw the home keeper make saves from Mickey and Gurveer as he made amends for the goal kick mistake earlier.
So a better 2nd half performance was enough to clinch an 8th straight league win. At half time it didn't look likely however a win is a win so no negatives were shared afterwards.
Man of the match went to "Cool Hand" today for his important goal turning the game but overall his tenacity and determined performance playing in a position he is not used to.
The reverse fixture is to be played at Willen Road this Thursday evening in another crucial game that we can only hope ends with the same result.
Team: Kiron Das, Lewis Brewer, Jack Gardner, Basi Combes, Hamish Bull (c) Mickey Siegieda, Gurveer Barang, Rhys Clark, David Shannon, Connor Ryan, Alex King
Old Stratford 0 v 4 NPTFC Lions
Sponge Bob Square Goals
The great British weather, often an ice breaking conversation point, terrible way to start a chat up line (so I'm told!) but more accurately unpredictable at the best of times. Only 3 weeks ago I was stood in an inch of water watching the U8's team in a fantastic match at Willen but now faced a pitch that resembled an Indian cricket crease.
On arrival the square shaped goals were bemusing everybody as we discussed how Samba goal assembly is an art form only mastered by few and usually in our case Viv, Connors Mum often assembles ours before 3-4 Dad's figure out how to get them out of the bags!
Anyway it was clear that a long post had been inserted in the wrong place making the goals unusually high!
Right, match action. The first half and this is being polite, was awful! We just didn't get going at all and most of our players struggled to get hold of the ball, make decisive runs or more importantly put the ball into the square goals. Old Stratford were playing well and they threatened on more than one occasion but a combination of last ditch tackles and unlucky finishing kept our clean sheet intact.
Half time 0-0
The half time challenge today was simple "pull your fingers out and wake up"!
Connor and Alex joined the play at half time which thankfully and some would say this was managerial genius but it was more down to the determination from "Cool Hand" as we got our first goal of the game with less than a minute of the restart.
David was sent racing away down the left after receiving a ball from Skipper, he dodged inside and squared the ball which was missed by numerous flying feet but not Connor's as he whacked the ball into the square goal. The relief was evident all round.
The mood was improved only moments later as the home keeper scuffed a goal kick into Rhys' path. He looked up and punished the home team with a calm finish from outside of the box.
The turn around was impressive as we now started to put our foot on the ball, find stripy shirts with passes and keep it cool when pushed by the home team.
In a rare attack on our goal Kiron looked like a rabbit in the headlights as the tall striker ran towards him but his nimble feet cleared the danger just in time.
As the home team tired due to not having the luxury of any subs we killed the game off.
Jack bounded forward with the ball before setting Connor off down the line, as he was crowded out he just got a pass back to Basi who stepped on the nitrous into the area where he pulled the ball back to the clinical David who made no mistake with another great finish.
The home team continued to retreat as they tired in the heat with their long balls out of defence being mopped up by Alex and Lewis.
The final goal, his 19th of the season came from David as Rhys' final involvement of the game was a dash to the byline providing another pass resulting in a tap in.
The closing minutes saw the home keeper make saves from Mickey and Gurveer as he made amends for the goal kick mistake earlier.
So a better 2nd half performance was enough to clinch an 8th straight league win. At half time it didn't look likely however a win is a win so no negatives were shared afterwards.
Man of the match went to "Cool Hand" today for his important goal turning the game but overall his tenacity and determined performance playing in a position he is not used to.
The reverse fixture is to be played at Willen Road this Thursday evening in another crucial game that we can only hope ends with the same result.
Team: Kiron Das, Lewis Brewer, Jack Gardner, Basi Combes, Hamish Bull (c) Mickey Siegieda, Gurveer Barang, Rhys Clark, David Shannon, Connor Ryan, Alex King