This was one of the teams that had come down from the 1^st Division, so we knew we were in for a tough ride. They had recently moved pitches and were playing down in Pensford, so we had a lovely surrounding for the game, but how would we fare? Callum was unavailable due to a Karate exam being moved at the last minute from a Saturday to a Sunday. Jack’s groin was playing up from when he had injured it through a lack of a warm up from his teacher in the school team and Mark had hurt his ankle and was struggling a bit. No referee was assigned so one of their people did it.

The line up was:

Joby

Mark Tom Jack Joel

Spike Sam K Josh Max

Joe Chilly

Substitutes: Dan & Sam B

They attacked down the middle and then pushed it out to the left where it was crossed in. Tom slid in to intercept it and we all thought it was going to go for a corner. Jack however had other plans and did his best to keep it in, under pressure from an attacker. Unfortunately, as he spun to keep it in, he lost his balance and their attacker was three yards from goal on the goal-line. He hit it across goal and Joel tried to stop it, but only succeeded in turning it in 1-0. They forced a corner out on their right. They took it short and then played it back out creating a better angle from which to cross and he drove it across goal. I’m not sure whether it was Josh, Joel, Jack or whoever who got the touch, however it deflected it inside of Joby and into the net 2-0. This was after about five minutes and I have to say we looked like a team about to be annihilated! Sam K attacked down the right and was blatantly brought down just outside their area. Their linesman flagged for the foul but the ref’ ignored him. When I asked him why he said “I’m the referee”. Tom then went on a run, was clearly fouled but managed to stay on his feet and keep going, through their lines and this time he blew the whistle and brought the game back! Tom took it and it hit the wall and came back to him. He hit it high for the back post first time and their defender got his head to it, but only just, looping it backwards beyond the ‘keeper and the third own-goal went in 2-1. They fouled in our area and Tom hit it forward. It was flicked on and Josh was through, however his shot was at the ‘keeper. Joe was taken down after cutting in on a run. Tom shot high and Spike chased in, however the ‘keeper held it. He kicked it out and Tom shot again and the ‘keeper, obviously thinking it was going to go wide, let it go, however it hit the post and then bounced back into his arms! They attacked in droves and Mark got across well to get a block in, then Joby followed up with a good save. Joe got the ball and hit it into Chilly. Chilly went one-two with Josh and worked his way into the area, however a good sliding tackle dispossessed him as he went to shoot. They attacked into our box but were pushed wide and Joel went in with a great tackle to concede a corner, but it was a very good tackle.

HALF-TIME : ST ALDHELMS 2 FRYS 1

We attacked with Joe playing a great ball in for Dan but he was crowded out and they cleared it long to our end. We won the ball back and passed it around in our defending third of the pitch without really clearing the ball and we allowed them to get closer and closer to the ball. Suddenly they had it, went wide right and crossed it low, and for some reason Josh tried to do some sort of flick. He missed it completely and their attacker was two yards out leaving Joby no chance 3-1. We had a throw in but lost possession. They chipped it forward and Jack tried to head clear but only succeeded in heading it backwards and their attacker hit it past the advancing Joby 4-1. Dan went in strong for a challenge on the halfway line and won it. It bounced loose to Sam K and he was away, down the right before chipping it over the ‘keeper into the far corner of the net 4-2. Joe threw towards the box and Tom, then Sam K, both knocked it onwards before Josh had a shot which their ‘keeper pushed out for a corner. Joe took it and it came back to him at a better angle so he leathered it. It was always going wide, but it was worth the effort as if it had been on target, it would have caused the ‘keeper serious problems. Joel won the ball on the left and hit it down the line for Joe. Joe took a touch and curled a lovely ball into the middle to where Chilly was running in and he hit it first time past the ‘keeper, however the flag had gone up for offside and the goal was disallowed.

FULL-TIME : ST ALDHELMS 4 FRYS 2

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

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………

We were asleep for the first five minutes of the first half, and the first five minutes of the second half. In those ten minutes they scored all four of their goals. After that, and especially in the second half, we dominated the game and in all honesty had better possession. They took the chances that they created however and that was it!