silverlion
Well-known member
A really gutsy and full on performance and a victory down to solid hard work.
The message was clear from the first whistle. Close down, get your foot in at every opportunity, deny them space and press them high. We just looked like a different side from Saturday. They did think it would just be a matter of time but we were relentless. Bit by bit they got frustrated. They tried to play out from the back but they didn’t have the quality to do it well. Twice their keeper was forced to hack it clear into touch. The third time they were not so lucky. Honeyman pressed high, stole the ball, passed it to Esse in the box who glided past two or three and hit a low shot into their bottom left corner with his right foot. The team went nuts. All that hard work paid off. They tried very hard to get back into it but we just would not give them space and time. A decent move down the left showed some good interplay between Langstaff and Emakhu but the ball went over the line for a goal kick. A few minutes later Emakhu showed some tricks down the right but his shot went for a corner which sadly, came to nothing. Just before the break Joe made a good run down the left and was absolutely clattered by their 11 who got a yellow card. Sadly the free kick came to nothing and we ended the half with our noses in front.
We took a while to get going in the second half. They were plugging away but we were in no mood to let them play. A great pass to Esse from Joe down the left saw a good cut back and fierce shot from Honeyman which was saved. A couple of minutes later a good cross from Joe found Esse on the edge of the box but his shot just curled over. It was time for fresh legs. Tom, Sav and Leonard came on for Langstaff, Joe and Massey. A few minutes after that Watmore replaced Emakhu but they still could not blow our house down.Then we decided to really bottle it up. Hutch came on for Casper, Wes moved to RB and Leonard moved into midfield. But it made no difference to them who were bereft of ideas by then and we saw out the 7 added minutes with.no drama.
Robert’s had a solid game between the sticks but he really had nothing to do and I don’t remember him making one save. Danny was feisty at RB and solid when he moved over to the left in the second half. Cooper was solid and so was Wes and Joe made some good runs down the left. Massey had a quiet but busy and effective game and Casper had some moments. Esse looked much more the part tonight and took his goal well. Emakhu had some moments and never gave up. Honeyman was all action and deserved MOM for his sheer endeavour. Langstaff was better but still not quite the threat that I had hoped for. Tom was busy, likewise Sav and Leonard. Watmore was busy and Hutch was like a solid rock.
Well if NH was looking for a reaction then he certainly got it tonight. We deserved the win and hope we draw somebody big in round two.
The message was clear from the first whistle. Close down, get your foot in at every opportunity, deny them space and press them high. We just looked like a different side from Saturday. They did think it would just be a matter of time but we were relentless. Bit by bit they got frustrated. They tried to play out from the back but they didn’t have the quality to do it well. Twice their keeper was forced to hack it clear into touch. The third time they were not so lucky. Honeyman pressed high, stole the ball, passed it to Esse in the box who glided past two or three and hit a low shot into their bottom left corner with his right foot. The team went nuts. All that hard work paid off. They tried very hard to get back into it but we just would not give them space and time. A decent move down the left showed some good interplay between Langstaff and Emakhu but the ball went over the line for a goal kick. A few minutes later Emakhu showed some tricks down the right but his shot went for a corner which sadly, came to nothing. Just before the break Joe made a good run down the left and was absolutely clattered by their 11 who got a yellow card. Sadly the free kick came to nothing and we ended the half with our noses in front.
We took a while to get going in the second half. They were plugging away but we were in no mood to let them play. A great pass to Esse from Joe down the left saw a good cut back and fierce shot from Honeyman which was saved. A couple of minutes later a good cross from Joe found Esse on the edge of the box but his shot just curled over. It was time for fresh legs. Tom, Sav and Leonard came on for Langstaff, Joe and Massey. A few minutes after that Watmore replaced Emakhu but they still could not blow our house down.Then we decided to really bottle it up. Hutch came on for Casper, Wes moved to RB and Leonard moved into midfield. But it made no difference to them who were bereft of ideas by then and we saw out the 7 added minutes with.no drama.
Robert’s had a solid game between the sticks but he really had nothing to do and I don’t remember him making one save. Danny was feisty at RB and solid when he moved over to the left in the second half. Cooper was solid and so was Wes and Joe made some good runs down the left. Massey had a quiet but busy and effective game and Casper had some moments. Esse looked much more the part tonight and took his goal well. Emakhu had some moments and never gave up. Honeyman was all action and deserved MOM for his sheer endeavour. Langstaff was better but still not quite the threat that I had hoped for. Tom was busy, likewise Sav and Leonard. Watmore was busy and Hutch was like a solid rock.
Well if NH was looking for a reaction then he certainly got it tonight. We deserved the win and hope we draw somebody big in round two.
