Best In The West(on) Sunday 8th January 2006 ____________________________________________________________________
Our first match after the
Christmas break, with sluggish legs, tired eyes and full bellies. But enough of the parents, the kids were here
to play. We welcomed Dan back after his
sabbatical and lined up with all 20.
Game 1 - The line up was:
Joby
Oscar Jack
Dan
Rolling Subs: Callum, Joe
& Spike
From the kick, Tom won the
ball and ran right down it to shoot but it went across the face and just
wide. Tom and Dan then combined well
with Dan battling hard to win a throw.
Tom then had another chance and it flew across the face of the
goal. We then had a free kick wide left
which Tom belted for goal, but it was deflected wide. Tom took the kick which was partially cleared
to an inrushing Jack and his stinging shot was well saved by the ‘keeper. The same followed quickly and this time
Jack’s shot curled just wide of the upright.
There was a scramble in the
middle as Dan battled for the ball. He
played it up field and through their defence which left Joe one on one with the
‘keeper. He tried to go around him but
the ‘keeper got his foot to it. It
bounced up, into Joe’s stomach and
fell in front of him, open goal, no ‘keeper 1-0. Callum tackled to stop
an attack and cleared it, but we couldn’t stop them attacking and Joby pulled
off a fine save. Spike then flew in with
a great tackle and ball forward, but Joe was outnumbered. Spike and Dan then interacted well with Dan getting the final rasping shot 2-0.
The first action of the
second half was Joby pulling off a fine point blank save as they ran through us
from the kick. Their big defenders were
intimidating, but it didn’t put off
Jack put Josh through but he was crowded out
quickly. They struck back, but Jack
stood firm. Spike then slid in to stop
an attack down the right from reaching our goal. Callum played it forward to Joe. He laid it to Josh who put Tom through and the low drive nestled
in the back of the net 3-1. They tried to strike back again, but Joby was
there with the save. Tom won the ball on
the edge of our area, ran the length of the pitch and crossed inside for Joe,
but it was just cut out.
Man of the Match –
Chosen by Dave Kipling for standing firm in the
face of an onslaught – Joe Bray
Game 2 - The line up was:
Jamie
Mark James
Luke Ethan
Jim
Josef
Rolling Sub: Sam B, Max &
Sam K
Ethan got the ball early on and headed down
the wing before crossing in a perfect ball for Josef, but his great shot was
well saved by the eight foot six ‘keeper!
Ethan then did the same again, right to the bye line, but his cross was
just beyond Josef. Mark and Jim then
combined well in defence to keep us level in the game. Mark then cleared well downfield which Ethan
latched onto. He forced his way past the
last defender, but the ‘keeper was quickly out and smothered the ball. They attacked and this time it was James who
broke up their attack. Jim then won the ball with a strong
tackle in midfield, ran through their defence and blasted it past the hand of
the despairing ‘keeper 1-0.
Jim then went down the left
wing, avoiding first one, then two scything tackles, but the third caught him,
free-kick. The opposition were milling
about getting ready when Jim saw Ethan standing alone in the middle. He passed it quickly and as the ‘keeper came
out Ethan calmly passed it back
across him into the corner of the net 2-0. Josef ran at goal again but the ball was
cleared as he tried to shoot. We battled
hard with all players trying to get the ball, but it fell kindly to them and
they gave Jamie no chance 2-1. Josef played a great ball through to Luke,
whose battling for the ball won us a corner.
The corner was cleared and they broke away, leaving Jamie to stop them
with a great save. James won the ball in
defence, got it to Max and he ran up field.
His ball inside found Sam K, whose first time shot hit the
cross-bar. It came down and as Max tried
to get it, the ‘keeper bent over to pick it up and knocked Max flying with his
backside – he was a BIG ‘keeper!
They attacked early, threatening to score, but
Jamie flew out and blocked it. Max battled
down by the left corner flag, got the ball in to Josef at a fairly oblique angle, and He blasted it low between the
‘keeper and his near post 3-1. We had a corner which they cleared to the
half-way line and Sam B shot, the ball flying just wide. Josef then did a great header, although we’re
not sure if he meant to! A Lawrence
Weston player was then through on goal again, but Jamie came out and made
another great save. Sam K picked up the ball in our half, ran at their defence, before
burying the ball in the back of the net 4-1.
Sam had another shot, but the ten foot two ‘keeper
(he’s getting taller!) made a good save.
Max put Ethan through, but his shot just bounced out of the ‘keeper’s
hands and wide. Sam K then went wide and
crossed in, but just too far ahead of Ethan.
The ball came out from a corner and Mark struck it well, but the ‘keeper
made another good save. Max then won the
ball in our half, played it wide to Ethan who ran down the wing and crossed in
to Sam K, and he made no mistake 5-1.
Sam K won a clearance inside
our half and suddenly it was Sam, Max and Ethan against one defender. Sam went alone, beat the defender, and with
the ‘keeper electing to stay on his line, ran in close and poked it into the corner
6-1.
Man of the Match –
Chosen by Nick Johnson for being unflappable and
solid in goal – Jamie Godwin
Two reminders. 1, Red tops are for HOME, Blue tops are for
AWAY, but please bring both in case we need to change. 2, We can get onto the training courts just
after 5.30pm and apparently can stay on until 7.30pm. I will be there for those times although if
you need to come late or leave early, that’s fine as you should still get at
least an hour, maybe more. Andy