This game was played just a day after Remembrance Day and they initially wanted to stop the game at 11.00am for a minute’s silence. I was unhappy with this idea so we agreed to do it at halftime and delaying the restart by a few minutes meant that it did actually happen at 11 o’clock. It was observed impeccably by everyone on both sides.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joby

Jack Callum

Spike Josh Tom

Joe

Rolling Subs: Luke & Joel

From our kick, Tom ran forward, played a one-two with Joe and then unleashed a thunderbolt which hit the underside of the bar, down onto the line and then the spin took it out. Callum won the ball in defence and got it to Tom on the halfway line. He played it through to Josh, who hit the shot on the turn, but it was just wide. From a throw, we won it and attacked forward. Tom played the ball through to Joe and he had a shot which the ‘keeper parried and was cleared for a throw. Joe took a long throw and Jack’s header was glanced wide. Tom was fouled on the halfway line, so Joe hit a high ball into the box which Josh flicked on, but just wide. We conceded a handball about 20 yards out which was fiercely struck, but Joby got across well and palmed it behind. They attacked and Tom cleared it high to Joe just in their half. He controlled it with his chest and let it bounce, turning as he did before hitting a high shot over the ‘keeper and into the ‘net 0-1. Tom played Josh in who passed it towards the ‘keeper’s left, but he got down really well and made an excellent save. Josh took a throw on the halfway line which Tom controlled, turning to beat a defender before hitting a 20 yard scorcher giving the ‘keeper no chance, top corner of the net 0-2. Joe then got the ball wide and put over a lovely cross which Joel headed just wide.

HALF-TIME : MANGOTSFIELD 0 FRYS 2

Straight from the kick we won the ball and attacked through, but Josh’s shot came back off of the crossbar. Tom threw to Jack who went down the line and crossed in where Josh got the gentlest of touches to divert it past the ‘keeper, but again he was excellent. Tom got the ball from a corner and he came inside angling his body to shoot, but then going past players two or three times until he reached a fairly acute angle and he leathered it hard and high 0-3. Tom won the ball on the right and ran forward, right past one defender, then left inside another before hitting a high shot towards the near post 0-4. Joe was played down the line and had a high shot which the ‘keeper saved, but onto a defender’s head and in 0-5. Tom went down the line and shot for the far post which it hit and bounced back in, to where Josh had followed up to tap it in 0-6. Tom got it on the halfway line, took a few steps forward and hit a high shot which again flew into the roof of the ‘net 0-7. With five minutes to go, Tom was brought off to receive his very own rapturous applause, which was well deserved.

FULL-TIME : MANGOTSFIELD 0 FRYS 7

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for excellent play and continuous effort – Tom

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Sam B Mark

Jim Sam K Max

Chilly

Rolling Subs: Josef & James

Sam K played a team slitting pass through the team to Jim who took a brilliant touch towards the far post. It came back off of the post to where Chilly was running in, and he hit it from a yard out, only to see the ‘keeper dive across brilliantly to save it. Some great play between Sam K, Max and Chilly eventually saw a high ball played into the box to where Jim tried to get the final touch, but just missed. The ball came left about 20 yards out and Max hit a bouncing shot. The ‘keeper was unsighted by two defenders and saw it too late as it rolled into the bottom left 0-1. A good corner in from Jim was met by Sam K, but the ‘keeper made another good save to push it over. A big throw by Jim was headed on by Sam K to Chilly who got the touch towards goal, but it came back off of the post and was cleared.

HALF-TIME : MANGOTSFIELD 0 FRYS 1

Unfortunately, at this point the batteries went dead on the Dictaphone and nothing else was recorded. Two moments of note however. They won a corner which they floated into our box. We all stood around to look at it whilst their player reacted giving Jamie no chance 1-1. And then later on, we were attacking and it was cleared towards the halfway line, where it was met by Mark. Now whether he meant to shoot, or whether he meant to chip the ball back into their area is unclear. What is clear however, is that from the halfway line, his shot flew over everyone, including the ‘keeper and into the back of the ‘net 1-2.

FULL-TIME : MANGOTSFIELD 1 FRYS 2

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for a good game & great all round play – Mark

OVERALL RESULT : MANGOTSFIELD 1 FRYS 9

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………

We had drawn here last year, on a very sticky pitch. This year the conditions were similar, but we attacked, harried and passed, giving them no time on the ball, and we took our chances, some of which were superb! Two good all-round displays which show the team as still improving!