Match Reports for Saturday 29th November 2014

4th XI v EBOG 6th XI (Away) WON 4-1

A great team effort against a highly organised and combative EBOG side who somewhat surprisingly are bottom of the table. We began tentatively, perhaps due to the mixture of players today who had not all played together, and we welcomed Mark Guildea

to the team in central midfield. The first 20 minutes were largely dominated by EBOG, who managed a couple of efforts on goal but the magnificent Tommy Attrill between the sticks repelled everything, flipping one shot over the bar and turning another cross shot around his far post. As you might expect, the pace of Jamie Luis, and the determined play of Chris Morphites and Darragh Deering meant the oppo had to work hard to find openings, and so whilst we were under some pressure clear chances were limited. At the other end of the pitch Charlie Lord and Alex Kyriakides were constantly in motion, looking for the diagonal ball behind the defence, and on a couple of occassions Mark threaded balls to each for chances which were not taken, Alex coming closest when he clipped a shot just over the bar with the keeper beaten. It was a sign of things to come...

After a series of corners for the oppo, we did eventually concede, a decent cross being met by their nippy number 9, who looped his header over Tommy as Toone challenged for the ball and failed to connect. Minutes later the same striker was put through down the middle and it looked like we would go 2-nil down. But Mr Attrill came flying out of his goal, closed down the space and beat the onrushing striker's shot away with a flailing limb. Great save and key moment in the game as it turned out.

Half time saw us turn round 1-0 down, but we were determined to get back in the game and force the play a little more. From the off it was clear we would dominate. Suddenly Mark was dominating the middle, passing beyond the oppo defence at will, and Justin Zacharia's stardust feet were starting to shower the ball with crafty kisses, turning inside his man and playing Charlie and Alex in for decent chances. On a sticky pitch it was good football, and within 10 minutes of the restart Mark's 25 yard speculative shot was fumbled by their keeper and we were all square. Shortly afterwards Alex and Charlie saw shots saved but then a great free kick by Charlie Lord led to a scramble in the oppo six yard area, and Darragh stabbed home. 2-1 up and the wind in our sails, we began to create more chances, and when the oppo counter attacked Ross Blackmore, Chris, Darragh and Jamie made timely and determined interventions. Tommy was largely untroubled in our goal such was our dominance now. Further goals finally came via Alex and Mark, benefitting from the hard work on the wing by Wayne and we trooped off highly satisfied with the afternoon's work.