Saturday 28th August 2010 (1 -2 WIN vs Loddiswell 2nds)

Players ratings as follows:

Rob 7
Graham 8, Rides 8, Shaun 9, Ryan 7
Nathan 7, Darren 7, Keiran 8
Hedley 7, Luke 7, Dan 7

Subs: Colin 7, Sumat 7, Craig 7

MOM: Shaun

Champagne moment: Dan Lawton for hitting the ball over the bar from 1 yard!!!

Match Report:

I must confess as I travelled to Loddiswell I feared the worst knowing they are a very difficult side to beat at their place and as their first team did not have a game I felt this would make our task even more difficult However to Loddiswell's credit it appeared they did not play any 1st teamers which was refreshing to see (if only we could say that about other teams....).

That said we would still be in for a tough game and it was essential we started off on the front foot. This we did by taking the game to Loddiswell, not giving them any time on the ball and playing some excellent stuff ourselves.

This was typified by our first goal. It was started with Graham pinching the ball in defence, combining well with Nathan and Dan Lawton who produced an excellent cross that Graham, showing great drive and determination to get into the box, met on the volley scoring past the helpless keeper. We continued playing all the football and were unlucky not to go further ahead through Dan and Luke.

The balance of the team looked good with the full backs providing width going forward, Keiran protecting the back four in his holding midfielder role and the front three constantly causing the opposition problems with their pace and movement.

We restricted Loddiswell to one decent effort in the first half, a free kick on the edge of our 18 yard box that was well saved by Rob and cleared by the defence.

Along came the second half and the message was clear at half time; continue where we left off and no repetition of last week.

To the teams credit we learned from the previous week and continued to dominate. We all thought we had doubled our lead when Hedley hit a cracking 30 yard strike that looked like it was going in the top corner, only for it to hit the bar. Dan Lawton followed up well but as he has got the champagne moment you can guess the outcome....  

However we did get our reward and scored our second with a firm shot from Hedley that took a slight deflection. A just reward for his tireless effort up front.

Loddiswell then needed to step it up if they were going to get anything out of the game and this they did by pushing players forward. They got a goal back with approx 15 minutes to go. A free kick was floated into the box, the ball seemed to hold up in the wind catching Rob in "no mans land" trying to punch clear, leaving the centre forward to flick the ball into an empty net.

Loddiswell could smell blood and put us under a lot of pressure in the last 15 minutes. However, where in the past, we may have crumbled under such pressure, the team showed great resolve and stood up to all what Loddiswell had to offer, making some great blocks, showing the desire and commitment to come away with 3 points.

A credit to all the team although a particular mention must go to Shaun and Rides at the centre of the defence who were excellent throughout. Quality!!

Also to Rob who stood in as goalie and didn't let anyone down

So a decent start to the season and we now move on to Foxhole next week who will provide another stiff test I suspect.

Finally I would like to wish Nathan well with his job in Reading. He will be a loss to the squad but hopefully he will come home regularly at weekends and be available for selection

RESERVES (1 - 4 LOSS vs Paignton Villa 2nds)

First half we dominated the game, Rainey looked fresh in his first game after a serious ass injury and Laney was sporting the whitest boots in the world.  With the son glaring off them and his bald head, you couldn't look directly at him !!  He has now taken the prize off Sav for the gayest boots.

Paignton Villa scored against the run of play off a long throw.  Sedge equalised with a neat finish after a great pass from Adam.  Second half started like the first with us camped in their half.  Then against the run of play the ball fell to Villa's number 11 and he lashed it past Cocker into the far corner from a tight angle, a well taken goal. 

We pushed for an equaliser and they scored two more goals on the break.  With us using both subs, when Kip got injured we were effectively down to 10 men.  A disappointing result after last week's great win.

MOM: Kurt Walker

Match Reports