We Nick It! Sunday 7^th November 2004 ____________________________________________________________________

Our first return fixture of the season. They had edged us by two goals earlier in the season, had we improved enough to turn that around?

Game 1 - The line up was:

Jamie G

James B Callum

Josh Josef Tom

Sam K

Rolling Sub: Mark

Straight from the kick off and a nasty tackle on Sam incapacitated him for a while. We looked to pass the ball around and this was exemplified by Josh. St Nicks attacked but it was cleared by James. Tom then played a lovely ball through to Sam who beat the last defender but saw his shot saved by the ‘keeper. They attacked and were stopped in midfield by a strong tackle from Josh. Callum was then called into action with a good clearance. Tom chased after the ball but his shot was wide.

A strong St Nicks attack followed and neither Tom nor Callum could stop it. Jamie saved well, and followed with a big kick clearance. Josef then went on the attack but was tackled as he neared their area. James passed nicely to Josh and then neither Mark nor Callum gave up defending when we were under pressure until the ball was safely cleared. Down the other and a chance fell to Josef, but he shot wide. Tom then tackled and got the ball towards Josef, but he wasn’t able to get to it.

HALF-TIME: ST NICKS 0 FRYS 0

St Nicks attacked straight through, but Jamie’s hand turned the ball onto the post and out, Josh cleared the following shot. Callum then was alert as he stopped an attack. The ball was played through to Sam 1v1, but the defenders got back. Sam and Josh both then tussled with the Saints for the ball and Sam’s shot hit post which the ‘keeper then gathered. It was then Tom’s turn to fly in with a shot but the ‘keeper gathered it. Down the other end and Jamie’s kick out was missed by our players and a St Nicks player shot, but Jamie got back to save. Then at last the breakthrough! Tom and Sam broke, Tom shot but the ‘keeper got his fingertips to, Sam then shot but again the ‘keeper saved only to find Tom following in and this time he could do nothing 0-1. Sam was then in, one on one and then two more joined him. He was tackled but had good support though.

Sam then found himself clear through, but his shot went straight into the ‘keeper’s hands. James then played a lovely ball to Josh, but he was tackled. The ball was cleared to Tom and he passed back to Josh whose shot was never in doubt 0-2. They attacked down our right side and a clearance from Mark was met with a great header by Aimee Pike! Tom played a great ball to Sam but he shot just wide. St Nicks had a corner from which Tom ran the length of the whole pitch but shot wide. Saints attacked one last time but shot into the side netting.

FULL-TIME : ST NICKS 0 FRYS 2

Man of the Match – Chosen by Mark Yeoman for excellent play – Josef Hill

Game 2 - The line up was:

Joe B

Ethan Oscar

Max Dan Sam P

Joe C

Rolling Subs: Jordan & Jack Y

Very little happened in the first ten minutes, except that Spike ran down the right, but was tackled. Jack was soon busy with three consecutive tackles to clear the ball. Max then went on a run down the right but was tackled. Back down our end and again Jack was busy defending. We had an attack which broke down and then near the end of the half, Jack tried to break forward but was fouled.

HALF-TIME: ST NICKS 0 FRYS 0

Joe, playing with a lot of determination from the kick, hit the ball with his left foot into the right corner of the goal 0-1. Joe then passed to Dan who had a shot. A run by Ethan was only halted by a foul from which he took the free kick. Saints attacked but were repelled by a great save from Joby. It was then Oscar’s turn with some top defending. Fry’s attacked and it led to a corner, which Joe took. This led to another which Dan took. Constant pressure meant that we were awarded our third corner within a minute. Unfortunately we couldn’t score from all of the pressure. Saints then came back at us and an excellent tackle from Oscar stopped them. They continued however and a great save from Joby kept us ahead. By this time all seven players were backs to the wall defending to hold on to our slender lead.

We finally broke out with an attack down the right from Max. Then Ethan played Max in and his shot hit the post. The rebound came to Dan and his shot also hit the post. Ethan then had two shots, both blocked. We had overextended however and Saints broke. It was only a last ditch tackle from Spike that kept them out. Max broke again but was fouled. Ethan took the shot but saw it saved. Back down our end and Jack was there with a great clearing header. He was then outnumbered but managed to repel the borders. Right at the very end and Dan was taken out whilst attacking.

FULL-TIME : ST NICKS 0 FRYS 1

Man of the Match – Chosen by Maurice for excellent play – Ethan Chilcott

OVERALL RESULT : ST NICKS 0 FRYS 3

Afterthoughts………………………………………………………………

This was a team who had beaten us just two months earlier. The greatest satisfaction for me was the way that we won both games as well as not conceding a goal. Well done!