Saturday 17th October 2015

5th XI 5-2 Win

Our fourth league match of the season and we came into the game hoping to maintain our unbeaten run. With the team we had out we opted for a 4-4-2 formation. Right from the off we stamped our authority on the game with Jazzy coming close in the first couple of minutes. We obviously had the more technically gifted players and when we decided to play football it only seemed a matter of time before we would score.

We duly went ahead when good link up play between Craig and Alex who played a ball out to Ross on the right who then pinged in a cross, and Waz hit the ball which was cleared by the defenders towards Duarte out on the left hand side of the box. D drove the the ball through his laces on the volley so sweetly into the right corner of the net. Wham! - what a goal!! 1-0 Stationers.

This should have given us the confidence to go on but instead of actually upping our game we dipped. We looked sloppy at times and instead of remaining calm and composed when on the ball, we were rushing our passes and losing possession all too easily. The chances we did create were being squandered. We ended the half 1-0 to the good. A bit of a frustrating half with ourselves to blame not going in 3 or 4 up. We seemed to miss that spark. Our little chat at half time was just to remain calm, our class would tell. No rushing and wasting anything

Second half and Ross is replaced by Nelio on the right wing. Having an immediate impact, Nelio breaks down the right and passes to Duarte who sets up Alex to slot the ball past their keeper for 2-0 the Stationers. We seemed to have the belief and began to look good as we dominated the game. A few minutes later and we win a free kick on the right. Zaf steps up with pinpoint accuracy and places into the right hand side of the goal into the net and 3-0. Zaf was replaced shortly after with Arral filling the left back position. The scoreline now reflected the true picture.

We gained our fourth goal when Alex was through and he poked home about 20 minutes in. This should have been enough for us to see the game out and enjoy the remaining 20 minutes. Far from it as AP raised their game and a big kick from their keeper with the ball in the air and a mixup between our centre backs allowed their player to strike but a good save from Masoud who parried the shot only for their player to poke it in. A bit unfortunate for us 4-1.

With 17 to go Mike D replaced Craig to shore things up in the middle of the park as we needed to tighten up a bit. They got their second goal with us not marking properly and their midfielder was allowed time to strike from about 12 yards out past our keeper 4-2.

We still had enough time to grab another goal when play was broken up in the middle of the park and the ball was given to Wais who drove with the ball, lost it and won it again to finish into the middle of the net 5-2 Stationers.

The remaining few minutes saw no more alarms at either end and the ref blew to end the game. A much needed victory to maintain our unbeaten run. Not one of our most eye catching displays. Still the character and attitude has really impressed me. Missing 4 key players this week Jacob,Gideon,Nwosu and Jamie didn't help. But no excuses we still ground out a result with probably our least convincing performance so far this season. The sign of a good team to win ugly. Good displays from Alex Kyriakides with 2 goals, creative and industrious. Zaffa akin pinpoint accuracy on set play delivery and nice goal too. Duarte Santana the catalyst for most of our attacks, always dangerous and got a wonder goal. But man of the match this week goes to Wais Akbar - not a position he is familiar with, the holding role, but got in and broke up play on many occasions, showed good workrate and was energetic throughout and his goal was the icing on the cake. Lets continue this push towards title and keep up the good work lads.COYS