Pride Is Stampled On Sunday 5^th February 2006 ____________________________________________________________________

Joby, Tom, Callum & Josef were all unavailable. Another team we hadn’t played before, but their results suggested that we should win as long as we went out there with the right attitude and fought hard. They wore red so it’s a good thing we had the blue kit.

Game 1 - The line up was:

Jamie

James Mark

Jim Ethan Max

Luke

Rolling Subs: Sam K & Sam B

James played a great ball forward towards Max, but he was outnumbered and the ball was cleared. James threw to Jim, onto Max and then Mark, who played it up field. It came back but Mark was there again and it went to Luke via James. A good bit of passing. They attacked strongly and Jamie came out to make a great save, injuring his knee in the process. He was soon on his toes, and had to be as they shot again. Jamie’s big kick forward was headed back. Mark cleared but they shot again, and Jamie was in the right place. Max threw the ball in and it came back to him. He shot again but across the face of the goal. They broke, and despite our defenders closing down, the shot beat Jamie 1-0. Jamie then made another great save to deny them. Jamie’s kick was long, which Sam K chased, but his shot was wide. Max then won the ball far out and shot, but it too was just wide. Sam B played it out to Max and he found Sam K. He then played a great ball through to Luke, but it was just too far ahead. They attacked again, and this time the shot hit the inside of the post and rolled across the face, eventually clearing the other post. They kept the pressure up and another ball into our area was a ball to many, and despite Jamie’s valiant efforts, it was in the back of the net 2-0. Jim then cleared well to James, who found Sam K. He played in Luke and his shot just went wide into the side netting. They tried one final attack of the half, but James was there.

Almost from the kick off, they attacked through our team and the vicious shot gave Jamie no chance 3-0. We attacked and won a free-kick just outside the area. The ref’ only pushed the wall back about three yards so Sam K had to get it over them, but it didn’t come down in time and went just over. Sam B battled hard to win the ball and got it to James. He found Sam K who held off a few challenges before threading the perfect pass through to Ethan and he calmly passed the ball past the oncoming ‘keeper 3-1. Sam K and Ethan again combined well before Ethan had a shot, but the ‘keeper made a good save. A well struck ball from one of their attackers bounced off of both posts, before Mark was able to clear. Jamie came out to make another brave save, injuring his other knee in the process, but he was able to carry on. Mark tackled well, got it to Sam K and he passed wide to Jim, but he was just crowded out.

Man of the Match – Chosen by Andy for brilliant play and good defending – Mark Gratton

Game 2 - The line up was:

Jamie

Jack Spike

Dan Josh Jordan

Joe

Rolling Sub: Oscar

From the kick off, we attacked but the ball was lost. They then battled their way through our team finally getting to Jamie and putting it past him 1-0. We came back at them and Joe crossed in. It came to Dan with an open goal, not even the ‘keeper, but he sliced the ball and it ran wide. Their forward, who was giving us a lot of trouble, battled his way through four defending players to score 2-0. They then had about four shots, but we blocked them all. They ended up shooting over. It came back in and this time Jordan was there to clear. We attacked again, and Joe got the ball. He beat one defender and then leathered it into the back of the net 2-1. Their attacker seemed to just stroll through our defence, but this time Dan was there to clear. Joe then won the ball on the halfway line and ran, leaving defenders in his wake, before burying it into the far corner 2-2. From the kick off they attacked and not one person managed to get in a tackle 3-2. They came again, but this time Oscar was there and made the telling challenge. Another dangerous ball in was headed clear by Jack. A long kick from their '‘keeper saw the ball bounce through our defence and their attacker made no mistake 4-2. Joe had a go but his shot/cross ran just wide.

It was remarked at this stage on the commentary that their number 4 seemed to run twice as fast as any other player on the pitch. That is probably why he ended the day scoring five goals. Joe attacked but his shot flew over the bar. Josh got the ball to Joe and from 20 yards he went high with power and the ball flew in giving Joe his hat-trick 4-3. Jordan played Jack in, but he was crowded out. Joe took a corner to Spike and he battled well to hold onto it. He found Jack who crossed back in, but the ‘keeper reacted quickly to get it. Their number four then ran through our defence again. Jamie kicked long but they came at us again, however Sam B and Spike combined well to stop them. From our corner they broke but luckily they ran out of pitch. They did win a corner and from that, the ball was in the back of our net 5-3. Jamie kicked long for Josh to chase, but their ‘keeper made a great save. Jack played a great ball in but their ‘keeper reacted the fastest. They then got it and counter-attacked 6-3. They tried again, but Jamie made a good save. Their number four was then one on one with Jamie and gave him no chance 7-3. Joe had one final attempt, but it hit the crossbar and went over.

What a strange game. At no point did I think that they were better than us and even at the very end, felt that we were going to comeback and win. Why didn’t we? They wanted to win more, put in more effort, ran more and never once gave up on any situation. It'’ a shame that the same couldn't be said of us. Afterwards, Maurice felt unable to say anything and I think that just about sums it up!

St Nicks next week, let’s hope for some improvement!

See the Photo Gallery for Action Shots from the match