A decent, sometimes casual performance and we deserved to win.
We started well, some good connections between the midfield and the front two who were full of running. We were well in control of it and then we gifted them a chance on four minutes. Jed came deep, hit a pass which went between Cooper and their attacker who gratefully intercepted, strode forward and smashed it past Long from 20 yards who had no chance.
It knocked the stuffing out of us for a few minutes but we got a grip of the middle and pushed forward. Dutch was crisp and firm in the tackle, Saville was getting his foot in and we pushed them back. We were playing Bradshaw as a target man and I think he only won two headers in the whole half. Benik was running the channels well and Jed was linking with Mahlon well who was bursting down the right. Our first goal came down the right. There was a decent shot which their keeper pushed away well but Molly was following up well in the box and stroked it home from 12 yards. They were on the back foot. We looked comfortable in possession and they couldn’t really make it stick. After all, they did have Marquis as their number nine! A great burst forward by Leonard led to the second goal. He pushed it to Bradshaw who had a decent strike which was blocked by their defender. It was recycled into the box and Saville beat their defender to it and poked it home for 2-0. They tried hard to get back into it but they just lacked that edge in the middle and never really threatened. By contrast we had some good movement forward. From one such attack the ball was fed to Benik down the left but he sliced his cross into the crowd. And the half ended with us in front.
They clearly didn’t see Marquis as an attacking threat and replaced him at the break with a taller target man who never really looked any better. The contest was effectively over within four minutes of the restart. There was a loose ball in the middle and Bradshaw appeared to be clattered by their number two. I didn’t see the red card pulled out but their defender ran off with his tail between his legs for an early bath. We decided that if we kept the ball then we would run out winners. We pushed the ball around, replaced Bradshaw and Jed with Mahoney and Smith and tried crosses into the box. A couple came from Mahlon which were poor but Smith did hit the post with one. Ben came on for Molly with Mahoney moving to wing back and we continued to play keep ball. They had one decent chance which Long saved well and another where a shot went over the bar. There was a pleasant moment when Williams was subbed and he got a decent applause from the faithful. The game petered out and we were worthy winners.
Long stood no chance with their goal and made a decent save near the end. He looked a standard but decent keeper and will be more competition to Bart. Mahlon ran well and looked full of energy but his crossing let him down. Leonard had a decent game and his run set up the second goal so he could have edged MOM along with Hutch who looked completely solid and reliable for ninety minutes Cooper looked solid and Molly got forward well. Dutch looked crisp in the tackle and aggressive in the middle and Saville had some good moments when he nicked the ball in the middle and started some good attacks. Jed had a poor start but looked busy and threatening. Bradshaw also looked busy but rarely a threat and Benik ran the channels well and had his threatening moments.
Mahoney looked OK and Smith was likewise. Ben hardly broke sweat but fitted in well.
All in all it was a decent performance against a side which promised a lot but delivered very little. It was good to be back and bump into Mart and Barry at the end. Our connections go back to our days on the CBL with my mate Derek over 50 years ago.
We started well, some good connections between the midfield and the front two who were full of running. We were well in control of it and then we gifted them a chance on four minutes. Jed came deep, hit a pass which went between Cooper and their attacker who gratefully intercepted, strode forward and smashed it past Long from 20 yards who had no chance.
It knocked the stuffing out of us for a few minutes but we got a grip of the middle and pushed forward. Dutch was crisp and firm in the tackle, Saville was getting his foot in and we pushed them back. We were playing Bradshaw as a target man and I think he only won two headers in the whole half. Benik was running the channels well and Jed was linking with Mahlon well who was bursting down the right. Our first goal came down the right. There was a decent shot which their keeper pushed away well but Molly was following up well in the box and stroked it home from 12 yards. They were on the back foot. We looked comfortable in possession and they couldn’t really make it stick. After all, they did have Marquis as their number nine! A great burst forward by Leonard led to the second goal. He pushed it to Bradshaw who had a decent strike which was blocked by their defender. It was recycled into the box and Saville beat their defender to it and poked it home for 2-0. They tried hard to get back into it but they just lacked that edge in the middle and never really threatened. By contrast we had some good movement forward. From one such attack the ball was fed to Benik down the left but he sliced his cross into the crowd. And the half ended with us in front.
They clearly didn’t see Marquis as an attacking threat and replaced him at the break with a taller target man who never really looked any better. The contest was effectively over within four minutes of the restart. There was a loose ball in the middle and Bradshaw appeared to be clattered by their number two. I didn’t see the red card pulled out but their defender ran off with his tail between his legs for an early bath. We decided that if we kept the ball then we would run out winners. We pushed the ball around, replaced Bradshaw and Jed with Mahoney and Smith and tried crosses into the box. A couple came from Mahlon which were poor but Smith did hit the post with one. Ben came on for Molly with Mahoney moving to wing back and we continued to play keep ball. They had one decent chance which Long saved well and another where a shot went over the bar. There was a pleasant moment when Williams was subbed and he got a decent applause from the faithful. The game petered out and we were worthy winners.
Long stood no chance with their goal and made a decent save near the end. He looked a standard but decent keeper and will be more competition to Bart. Mahlon ran well and looked full of energy but his crossing let him down. Leonard had a decent game and his run set up the second goal so he could have edged MOM along with Hutch who looked completely solid and reliable for ninety minutes Cooper looked solid and Molly got forward well. Dutch looked crisp in the tackle and aggressive in the middle and Saville had some good moments when he nicked the ball in the middle and started some good attacks. Jed had a poor start but looked busy and threatening. Bradshaw also looked busy but rarely a threat and Benik ran the channels well and had his threatening moments.
Mahoney looked OK and Smith was likewise. Ben hardly broke sweat but fitted in well.
All in all it was a decent performance against a side which promised a lot but delivered very little. It was good to be back and bump into Mart and Barry at the end. Our connections go back to our days on the CBL with my mate Derek over 50 years ago.