Finally Out Of The Woods           Sunday 27th November 2005 ____________________________________________________________________


Andy finally had his holiday, so whilst he was in the Caribbean, the team was run by the League of Gentlemen, ably led by Mark Yeoman.

 

Game 1 - The line up was:

 

Joby

 

Mark     James

 

Ethan     Josh     Max

 

Josef

 

Rolling Subs: Joe & Callum

 

Deerswood launched into their attacks right from the start with a shot which James couldn’t quite get to and which Joby got his hand to, but was unable to stop it from going in 1-0.  We then tried some attacking play of our own with James playing a nice ball to Ethan.  They attacked down our wing, Mark defended well but was unable to stop the cross, which Joby saved.  Joby was left exposed as they surged through our team.  Joby came out to narrow the angle, but was unable to stop the ball hitting the back of the net 2-0. 

 

Josef broke away with the ball and headed for goal, but their defenders managed to get back and tackle him.  We then attacked well with a lovely ball through their defence by Max, but Ethan was just unable to get his foot to it to apply the finishing touch.  Josef shielded the ball in the corner and then managed to wriggle past the defender and put in a fine cross, but Joe was just unable to get to it.  We had an attacking throw which Ethan threw well, but no one was able to get onto it.  They broke leaving us out of position and again gave Joby no chance 3-0.  Josh won the ball well, played it through to Joe, but his shot went just wide.

 

HALF-TIME : DEERSWOOD 3     FRYS   0

 

Max crossed in a lovely ball for Joe to control.  He played it through to Ethan but his shot was blocked.  They then had a shot which skimmed across the face of the goal.  Callum then won the ball well in defence, played it out to Max and he put Joe through, but again Deerswood got back.  Some good strong play from Frys led to a shot from Joe, but their ‘keeper made the save.  We had another spell of good attacking play, slowly moving the ball up the pitch before Max finally finished it off for us 3-1.  Max then attacked again but was brought down and needed some attention.  Joe took the free-kick, over their heads but into the arms of their ‘keeper.  We attacked again and this time Joe’s shot flew across the face of the goal.  Mark threw to Josh who played it back.  Mark was tackled however and they took a shot which went just wide.  Joe was the next to be brought down.  He dusted himself off to take the kick, but again they managed to clear the ball.  Joe then took a great corner to Josh.  He played in Max, but two of their defenders got to him to clear it. 

 

FULL-TIME : DEERSWOOD 3     FRYS  

 

Man of the Match – Chosen by Sue Pike for sheer determination to score and never giving up  Max Stevens

 

Game 2 - The line up was:

 

Jamie

 

Sam B     Jack

 

Jordan     Spike     Jim

 

Sam K

 

Rolling Sub: Luke

 

The first words on the mic for this half are “Frys are really playing well!”  That’s what we want to hear.  Frys played some lovely attacking football from the half-way line, which culminated in Jim taking a shot and it ending in the back of the net 0-1.  Sam K then went on a run down the line, took a shot across the face of the goal and bounced back off of the post.  Frys then attacked strongly again and this time it was Spike who got his foot to it 0-2.  Jordan battled hard in midfield to win the ball, played it wide to Sam K and he crossed it in to Spike.  He took two shots and then Jack had a shot, but their ‘keeper managed to get to it. 

 

Sam B defended really well and launched forward with the ball.  He played it inside to Jordan whose ball down the line found Sam K.  Unfortunately, two of their defenders ganged up on him and he was dispossessed.  From that, Deerswood attacked, but Jamie was alert to it and made a great save.  Sam B again won the ball in defence and the Sam B/Jordan/Sam K combination moved the ball forwards well for the second time in the game. 

 

HALF-TIME : DEERSWOOD 0     FRYS   2

 

Almost from the kick, Sam K won the ball and went on a run leaving defenders trailing in his wake (much like the other cruiseliners behind the ‘Explorer of the Seas’ in the Caribbean!).  He closed in on the ‘keeper and then calmly slotted it through his legs to put us in the lead overall for the first time 0-3.  Sam K then tried to make it more, but the ‘keeper managed to get it this time.  Jim took a massive corner which Jordan knocked down to Sam K, but his shot was blocked.  They broke, but Jack tackled back and won it, forwards to Jordan and again onto Sam K whose shot bounced out of the ‘keeper’s hands.  Spike followed up, but his shot went just wide. 

 

Spike and Luke combined well to get it to Sam K.  He got it back to Spike, but he was pushed wide by the defenders.  The ball was then in the air and Sam K took an overhead kick, but their ‘keeper got the ball.  Jim, Luke and Sam K combined well in attack for Sam to shoot and make it 0-4.  Sam B was called upon at the back to defend and he got the ball through to Sam K who passed into Luke, but his shot was blocked.

 

FULL-TIME : DEERSWOOD 0     FRYS  

 

Man of the Match – Chosen by Keith Gratton for excellent play all game and wanting to win everything  Sam Kipling

 

OVERALL RESULT : DEERSWOOD 3     FRYS   5

 

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………………

This game was a timely reminder that it’s not just about the Green team or the Yellow.  It took the combined efforts of both teams to win this game against an opposition who were very strong in the first game but not so in the second.  A good TEAM effort.  Well done!

 

As this game finished, I was just getting up for breakfast in a Miami hotel……..