We had beaten these 12-2 earlier in the season, but had they taken their chances, it could have been 12-12! This was not going to be an easy game and their recent results had been excellent.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Joby

Jack Callum

Josh Joel Tom

Joe

Rolling Subs: Dan & Luke

After a few minutes of general milling around, a long throw from Joe was knocked over his head by Josh. Their defender headed it towards goal which the ‘keeper parried. Josh struck the loose ball but another defender was on the line to clear the ball for a corner. Joe floated one in and Callum volleyed at the back post, however it was up, rather than forward and it dropped into the ‘keeper’s arms. Not much happened for a while, although Jack shot from the halfway line which Josh chased, but that was it for quite a while. Tom won the ball and played it right to Joe. He crossed it in and Josh took the ball on his cheats, but unfortunately just too close to the ‘keeper. We attacked, but they cleared long and very high, however Jack was brave and headed it back forward. A great throw from Joe was headed on by Jack. Josh tried to back-heel it towards goal, then Jack did the same, then Tom had a shot, but it wouldn’t go in, and eventually it came to the ‘keeper. Good defending by Jack saw the ball forward to Tom who in turn found Joel. His ball through to Josh was eventually laid back for Tom 20 yards out, but his low shot went just the wrong side of the post. The ball came into our area and hit Josh on the hand, definitely ball to hand, but the ref’ gave the penalty. We complained but to no avail, however Joby dived high to his right and made a great save before falling on the loose ball! Justice!

HALF-TIME : NICK WANDS 0 FRYS 0

Joe worked really hard down the line and got the ball in for Josh, but it was just too high for him. Tom won the ball 25 yards from goal and just attacked at past, gliding past four defenders before passing it just the wrong side of the right post. After numerous fouls, we finally won a free kick which Josh aimed high into their box, but their defender bravely headed it away. Tom took a corner which came out to Josh, but his high shot was well held by their ‘keeper. Luke chased a lost cause and forced a throw by their corner. Tom threw this one in and it evaded both side’s tall players and came to Dan on the back post and he lashed it high into the back of the net 0-1. We attacked again, but this time a long clearance saw them break through. Callum however raced back to make a great saving tackle. We got the ball into their area and clearly it was ball to hand again, however because of the first one, we naturally thought “penalty”, but the referee declined our appeals! The ball came loose in our area to a blue attacker, and we all thought it would be a hard shot to save, however Joel flew in out of nowhere and prevented the shot.

FULL-TIME : NICK WANDS 0 FRYS 1

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

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Sam B Mark

Spike Sam K Max

Chilly

Rolling Subs: Jim & Josef

Max won the ball from their kick, found Chilly with it who went across field to Spike. Spike beat his man with some great footwork and got the cross in, forcing the corner. Not a lot happened for a bit, however, there were nice interchanges between Spike, Sam K, Max and Chilly. They cleared one of our corners and it came to Sam B on the halfway line. He has absolutely blasted it goal-wards, however it took the slightest of deflections off of a defender, and that was enough to push it onto the post and out. Spike threw long down the line for Sam K to chase and his cross found Chilly, who forced the ‘keeper into a good save. They attacked, and Jamie got down to the ball well to make a good save. We cleared from our corner area to Chilly on his own against three. He turned and went for goal with all three around him, and was only crowded out as he was about to shoot. A big throw towards our area was headed into the box, but Jamie came out quickly to palm the ball to safety. We broke from that, however Chilly cut back onto his right to shoot, and it gave their defender enough time to get back and make the block. A corner came in to Max. He wriggled both ways to create a shooting opportunity, but it was well saved to the ‘keeper. A high corner came into our area which no one got to and their big player headed it goal-wards, but luckily it went just wide.

HALF-TIME : NICK WANDS 0 FRYS 0

Chilly won the ball, beat a defender on the turn, then went past another, but the ‘keeper made a good save from his shot. Chilly won the ball halfway and laid it wide to Max. Max returns a great ball in and Chilly calmly knocked it past the ‘keeper 0-1. The same scenario was repeated, however this time it was Spike who ran into the middle, and although he got his foot to the ball, it was just not enough and it went wide. Chilly worked hard again to win the ball and got it out to Sam K. His return ball was back to Chilly, whose first touch took it past the two defenders, and the result was never in doubt 0-2. Sam B took a great free kick into Max. He turned and played it to Sam K, who beat a defender but dragged his shot just wide. From their goal-kick, Sam K won it, battled hard, and shot hard and high from 25 yards, but the ‘keeper pushed it over with his fingertips. The game ended with great plaudits for Spike for an excellent game however…

FULL-TIME : NICK WANDS 0 FRYS 2

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

OVERALL RESULT : NICK WANDS 0 FRYS 3

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………

I knew before the kick off that this would be a hard game and so it proved to be! Nicholas Wanderers were strong, fast and well organised and we really had to work hard to win this one. The most satisfying part of the game was no goals conceded, as there won’t be many teams who can stop these from scoring some each game.

We are halfway through the League program and 11 wins and one draw from 12 is excellent. At this stage the team to watch is still St Nicks as they will be closest if they win their games in hand, however FDS have had a stunning series of results recently and are emerging as real contenders, and of course our Juniors cannot be discounted, although in terms of the league, their early season results have really put them at a disadvantage. FDS still have to play us twice and St Nicks twice, we also have to play the Juniors and St Nicks again and St Nicks have to play the Juniors twice. Most of these games will happen in April, so we could see major changes to the league in a few short weeks. All we can do is keep on winning, whilst hoping the other teams all beat each other. The fact of the matter is that another 11 wins from the next 12 will see us champions, but we have to keep a high level of play, determination and commitment. Well done.