Frys U 15's v Langton Athletic

Sunday 8th December 2002

• Mike Hughes GK
• Dan Elson LB 
• Mike McGuiness CH 
• Tom Moreton CH
•  Tom Winfield RB  

• Aaron MacFarlane RM

• Martin Gronow CM

• Dan Baker CM

• Rich Caola LM

• James Blaney F

• Lee Dark F

Subs Tony Garrett  Stuart Tucker & Jamie Dennis 

There was a chilling wind blowing across pitch 5, that being the setting for our warming performance.

     Soon after the game began we had great amounts of possession, chances and more importantly team spirit. ‘We wanted it’ we wanted it for ourselves and we wanted it for our team mates. We passed the ball; we had confidence to try skills and tricks. An excellent example being Rich Caola’s lovely 2-part step over and shot, that nearly paid off although it was agonisingly cleared off the line by an opposing defender.

      Our defence looked solid with Mike McGuiness and Tom Moreton seemingly cutting out their every attack.

       We were stunned when the first goal went in. They did not deserve it, one slip up and we’re punished. “They were lucky”. We knew it, but try as we may, we couldn’t find the illusive finish. The individual performances were brilliant “Couldn’t ask for more”. Right through the midfield the team was playing a blinder, enjoying good quality play. Good linking combinations from Martin Gronow, Dan Baker and Aaron MacFarlane led to numerous chances. Mike Hughes in goal must surely have been chilled to the bone but he dealt confidently with almost everything that was thrown at him.

       Alas, yet again two more silly goals went in and dampened our spirits. To our credit we kept plugging away right up to half time but we were never rewarded. We went into half time 4-0 down “shaken (mostly from the wind!) but not stirred.”

       As we were released back onto the pitch, hungry for goals, we pressed them back for prolonged periods with good, thought about passes. Even if they dispossessed us they never looked like penetrating our solid defence. Tom Winfield and Dan Elson, at right back and left back respectively, did a sound job of protecting our flanks, while the central midfield and defence shut out the middle.

       We were unlucky on countless occasions with good efforts from Lee Dark and Jamie Blaney and were unfortunate to concede an own goal by a player who shall remain nameless (although it was a brilliant shot!).

        Those brilliant subs suits really showed their worth on the day allowing Tony, Stuart (who it has to be said looked a bit like Michelin Man) & Jamie to enter the fray without having to use a blow torch to thaw them out first! They replaced Aaron, Rich and James but this was no reflection on the standard of their play.

        Anyway, from this performance we can take pride and self belief as everyone played their part well. “There is nothing to be ashamed of.”

The match ended in mid winter gloom but the display was illuminating. Well done.  

Result 0-5

Pitch 5

Weather: Damp air with bitterly cold breeze. Overcast with poor light.

Report by Greg Tompkins