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MATCH REPORTS |
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Games played on: Tue 20th Apr 2010
| 1stXI v |
| Won |
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Home |
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| 2ndXI v |
| Won |
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| 3rdXI v Old Parkonians 3rd XI |
| Won |
Score: 3-1 |
League |
Home |
| Scorers: Mays, Bonato, Jackson |
Report: Another early Tuesday evening kick-off and another chance for a quick response to a disappointing result on Saturday, this week’s visitors Old Parkonians who had beaten us earlier in the season.
Once again we had somewhat of a make shift team with injuries and availability taking their toll on our thin squad, but we had a strong starting eleven and felt confident of getting a result.
We started the match well and although it was Parkonians who were playing the better football on a difficult pitch, we looked the more threatening in a positive opening ten to fifteen minutes and had some good opportunities to open the scoring. With a clear height advantage running through our team we looked dangerous from set pieces but were unable to make the early chances count, Masey coming closest drawing a great save from the keeper down to his right.
While realising the threat of the Parkonians counter attack, we felt reasonably comfortable until one slick move opened our defence and the visitors took the lead on about twenty minutes, the Park’s striker finishing well from just inside the area.
The goal unsettled us and we found ourselves having to defend for large periods and when we did get on the ball, we gave possession away too cheaply as a result and our performance was scrappy at best, but we got to half time still very much in the game at 0-1 and there was certainly a feeling that if we could just start using the ball better in the final third we would be able to cause the Park’s defence problems.
We started the second half on the front foot and began to pressure Parkonians higher up the pitch, forcing the odd mistake and the game balanced out to a more even contest, though Park’s were still playing the better football which deserves credit on a difficult surface.
As the half developed we gradually began to take control of the game and deservedly got the equaliser just after the hour mark. The first part of the move was certainly route one, big kick from Darren clearing the Parks back four and set Masey galloping through towards the box. With a couple of defenders getting back at him and the keeper coming to close him down, everyone was expecting the big fella to get a shot away as quickly as possible. He had other ideas, selling the defenders and keeper with a couple of feints and while everyone screamed ‘hit it’ he casually waited until the last moment before slotting in with his left foot.
The goal was the shot in the arm we needed and we sensed the fight draining out of the Park’s players as we continued to press all over the pitch, though we were still very wary of the Parkonians threat going forward and our back four were brilliant when called upon.
The next goal was vital in an evenly fought contest and it came in a similar vein to the first. Another long boot from Darren bouncing on towards the Parkonians box, while the defenders looked uncertain Alex was confident and robust as he looked to pounce on any mistake and got his reward by robbing the ball and firing across the keeper to the bottom left corner.
Rather than shut up shop in to the last ten minutes we looked for a third goal which made for an open game in which both teams created chances. We continued to defend well and look dangerous on the counter and the goal that secured the three points was worthy of sealing any victory. Mikey Cole beating two Park’s defenders in a brilliant direct run down the left wing and flashing the ball back across the box as he got to the touchline to find Jackson steaming in at the back post to bundle home from a few yards out.
Man of the match: Ben McMullen (honestly it is the managers who vote for this)
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| 4thXI v |
| Won |
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Home |
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| 5thXI v |
| Won |
Score: |
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