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MATCH REPORTS |
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Games played on: Tue 13th Apr 2010
| 1stXI v |
| Won |
Score: |
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Home |
| Scorers: |
Report:
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| 2ndXI v |
| Won |
Score: |
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Home |
| Scorers: |
Report:
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| 3rdXI v Old Esthameians 3rd XI |
| Won |
Score: 3-1 |
League |
Home |
| Scorers: Amato, Woods, Hunn |
Report: After Saturday’s disappointing performance and result, a quick return to action on Tuesday night gave us the chance to respond in a tough fixture against an Easthameians team going well in the league.
Maybe feeling a little sluggish from Saturday and the cross London journey on a Tuesday evening, we started the game a little off the pace. The visitors were enjoying the lion share of possession and with a strong wind blowing in our face we found it difficult to get a foothold in the match.
The whole team showed good character in a testing opening half hour or so and while in front of him everyone was putting in a hard shift, Darren Cox was called on a number of times and answered with some good reactions and important saves.
It wasn’t all one way traffic however and we created some good chances throughout the half, Mikey Cole going close after some good work down the right and Tony Hunn testing the keeper with a cheeky lob from distance.
With the half drawing to a close and the game at a stalemate, we got a free kick on the right touch line twenty yards out. Darby swung the ball to the back post where Tom got up well to nod down across goal and find big Alan in space to slot home.
One up at half time and conditions in our favour for the second period, we felt pretty confident in holding on to our lead, though there was certainly enough threat from Easthameians in the first half for us to know that it would be far from easy.
With our confidence up the second half was certainly a more even contest. While the visitors looked more of a threat through the pace and trickery of their attacking players, the hard work and determination throughout our side was proving an equal match.
Easthameians had been using the wide players to good affect all game and mid way through the half they got their reward with a penalty after a weaving run down the left.
With the scores level and both teams going for the win the match was an open affair and the game could have gone either way, everything balanced on the next goal.
Inside the last fifteen minutes Ben McMullen broke up an Easthameians attack on the half way line, carried the ball forward to start a counter playing in Sean Hill with space in front of him on the left wing. Riding the first challenge well Sean kept his balance to get to the touchline and cut the ball back for skipper McMullen who had continued his initial run into the Easthameians box. Unable to get a shot away he let the ball run through his legs hoping someone would be running on in support and sure enough there was Woodsy to come steaming in and fire past the keeper for a 2-1 lead going into the late stages of the game. A goal he deserved for his efforts.
It was never going to be a comfortable end to the game as Easthamians continued to attack at every opportunity and while Darren and the back four looked solid enough, a third goal would put the game to bed. That goal came on around 85mins and it was certainly worth the wait. The ball was worked down the right wing to Tony Hunn with his back to goal and an Easthamians defender snapping at his ankles. Shifting the ball inside and creating half a yard for him self on his favoured left foot, he let rip with a curling, dipping drive that gave the keeper no chance and found the far top corner. A goal worthy of winning any game and it ended this one as contest.
Man of the match: Darren Cox
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| 4thXI v |
| Won |
Score: |
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Home |
| Scorers: |
Report:
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| 5thXI v Southgate Olympic 6th XI |
| Lost |
Score: 1-3 |
League |
Away |
| Scorers: |
Report: Tepid. We never really got going in this game to be honest. Don't know whether that was down to fatigue for our fourth game in nine days, or what, but we were definitely not our usual selves. The oppo were afforded too much time and space, and when we had the ball we didn't seem able to keep possession for long, or create any meaningful pressure. All the goals were scored in the 2nd half, and at 2-1 down with ten minutes to go we maybe still had a chance, but couldn't raise our game. All in all a tame and disappointing defeat. Not a good way to end a great run, so let's put that right on saturday.
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