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Taverham v Catton – 10th April 2010
A fine Saturday morning saw us welcome Catton for the return fixture. With Sam unavailable, positional changes had to be made, and once more James was our only sub. The boys were well aware three points would give them the League title!
We kicked off up the slope, and immediately got the better of the play. Stevie started strongly, and had the measure of his full back, twice getting in crosses which were well cleared. Brad then did well down the left, and from a good pull back Will shot just wide. Dom and Danny were looking very solid in the centre of the defence, Oliver was talking well, and both Freddy and Mark were looking to join the attack at every opportunity from their full back positions. Charlie and Reuben had started well in midfield, Charlie finding Stevie who advanced, then delivered a superb cross where Reuben somehow headed wide from an unmarked position, six yards from goal. Almost immediately, after more good work from Charlie and Brad, Jack flicked onto Stevie who was six yards out and free. Stevie chose to shoot first time, again missing the target. Catton had shown nothing to this point, and it seemed just a matter of time before we went ahead. Freddy, Reuben and Stevie then combined well down the right, and from a good cross Jack was unlucky to see his volley fly just high. Again, we broke down the right, and this time Will missed with a free header from only six yards. Was it going to be one of those days? At the other end, Catton had their only shot of the half which went weakly wide. Half-time:- 0-0.
Talk at half-time was of continuing as before, and turning our dominance into goals. From kick-off, play developed into more of a midfield battle, neither side prepared to give anything away. Jack and Will continued to work hard up front with little service, whilst at the other end Oliver was still a virtual spectator, thanks to a superb defensive display. Stevie and Freddy combined well down the right, and from the cross we were just unable to get a touch into the net. Brad then did well with help from Mark, but again the cross came to nothing. Charlie then played in a lovely corner which caused alarm in the Catton defence but still no goal. Catton broke away on a very rare attack, and the forward did well to turn Dom and Danny and shoot powerfully just wide from an angle. At the other end we still had more of the possession, but were finding chances harder to come by in this half. Jack fired a free-kick over the top, and we had a couple of shots charged down. Time was ebbing away, could we find the all important winner? Mark did well, receiving the ball from Oliver and making ground before slipping a lovely ball into Brad. He in turn did superbly, beating two men and driving to the goal-line where he pulled back and found the onrushing Reuben who gleefully smashed into the top corner for a long awaited, but much deserved goal. Could we now keep our discipline for the last 5 minutes? Having looked comfortable keeping possession, a free-kick was awarded deep in Catton’s half. They broke, seeing Jack racing back making a good challenge, but also conceding a corner. The ball in was good, but neither defenders nor attackers could make contact, the ball slipping out for a goal kick. Finally, having played a long 43 minutes in the second half, the whistle blew to jubilant celebrations from the home players and supporters. The boys had made certain they were Champions of the ‘A’ league, and deservedly so after a fantastic season. Full-time:- 1-0.
Man of the Match:- The whole squad!
Taverham v Dereham – 21st April 2010
A sunny but cool evening saw us welcome Dereham for our final league game of the season. Yet again many changes were necessary, with Will playing in goal due to Oliver’s wrist injury, James starting right midfield, Stevie switching to the left, and Reuben joining Jack up front. Dereham were in need of a victory to help their chances of finishing runners-up.
We kicked off down-hill, and straightaway it was clear that the terrible playing surface would make playing good football difficult, although both teams were trying. Early on we caught their back four very square, Jack racing onto a lovely through ball from Charlie, only to pull his shot just wide – on a good surface we would have backed him to score. We then again got behind them, this time the linesman’s flag halting our progress. At the other end, the clever Dereham forward was causing problems with his movement, and after a neat one, two he also pulled his shot just wide. Mark had started well at left-back, and won a superb tackle on the edge of our box to thwart a Dereham break. He then received a good, quick throw out from Will, advanced down the left, and was unlucky to see a good cross evade everyone. Jack then again outpaced their static defence, and narrowly missed the post, although credit to the keeper for standing big and narrowing the angle. Dereham then attacked again, this time a rasping shot from an angle was well saved by Will, who palmed round for a corner which came to nothing. Jack then won a free-kick, and from an angle hit a dipper, bouncing just in front of the keeper. He held on to the ball at the second attempt, with none of out attackers near enough to tap in. Charlie then blasted over from distance. Dereham were still causing problems at our end, and although looking offside, their attacker shot wide when well placed. As half time approached, we looked as though we may rue our missed chances. However, Charlie challenged strongly 25 yards out and, unfortunately for their keeper, he allowed the ball to travel through his arms and legs for a very soft opener. Almost immediately the whistle blew. Half-time:- 1-0.
The second half began with Dereham now having the advantage of the slope, with us looking into the falling sun. Will came out and cleared well from a long through ball. Danny and Charlie were now getting more of a grip in midfield, and we were looking stronger at the back. Stevie and James had swapped wings, but were finding the pitch difficult, as was everyone. James then broke down the left, set away by a great Danny pass. He did well to make ground, and crossed nicely where Jack challenged, the ball broke to Stevie and we were unlucky not to make more of the opportunity. We then won a free-kick wide on the left. Charlie swung in a dangerous cross, Danny unsettled the keeper who took his eye off the ball, which ended up in the back of the net to make it 2 nil. Dereham still looked capable, but we were now restricting them to play outside our area. They did hit the outside of the post from a bobbled effort. Danny then set Jack free on goal, but yet again he missed narrowly when really well placed. Time was now passing, Dereham were losing their discipline, and we looked likely to go on and score more. However, one long ball undid us yet again, and their attacker ran through unchallenged to slip the ball under Will for a soft goal. From kick off, Charlie and Dom got in a muddle, and it took Will to react quickly to avert a disaster of our own making. Danny then had to come off, with Oliver replacing him, pushing up front alongside Jack, with Reuben dropping into midfield. Play became ever more scrappy, Dereham desperate for an equaliser. We had a half chance which was cleared, and then Dereham broke forward where a free-kick was awarded. The initial shot was charged down well, but from the follow up, a massive deflection saw Will completely wrong-footed for the equaliser. Dereham’s tails were up, but the rest of the game saw no further chances from either team.
Full-time:- 2-2.
Taverham v Thorpe – League Cup Final
Attleborough Town FC
9th May 2010
The final game of the season had arrived, and we prepared to take on Thorpe for the third time this season, in the League Cup Final. The boys and an army of loyal supporters made their way to Attleborough, knowing that one last great performance would see them pull off a fantastic ‘double’. A neutral referee took charge, and the weather was dry, although windy and cold.
We kicked off with the winds at our backs, and with every intention of gaining immediate control. As both teams found their feet, play was even and fiercely contested. A couple of early crosses from Thorpe’s speedy winger were cleared, whilst at the other end Stevie got past his full-back, and crossed. Both Will and Jack just failed to connect. We then won a free-kick wide on the touchline, 35 yards out. Charlie delivered a great kick at their keeper, who misjudged, with Will on hand to guide home, although Charlie was subsequently awarded the goal. We then pushed on again, and this time from a Stevie cross Jack just missed the post with a slight touch. Dom and Sam were now in control at the back, having had a tough opening few minutes, with Freddy also defending well. Mark went on a great run down the left, and crossed where again Jack shot just wide. Thorpe then counter-attacked and from a bobbly ball in from their right, we failed to clear and a striker nipped in to beat Oliver from close range for the equaliser. Thorpe were still looking long to their winger, and he was causing Mark a few problems. From another ball in, Dom challenged strongly. From the resultant corner a Thorpe player leapt well, but Oliver gathered his header confidently. Thorpe then crossed again from their right, this time Stevie blocking well with another corner for Thorpe. Oliver again saved comfortably from another Thorpe header. We continued to try and play, Brad having a run on the left, and again we were unlucky to see Stevie’s shot charged down. From the corner, Dom jumped well and headed down, but the keeper saved well. Danny then challenged well in the midfield, and Charlie smacked the loose ball in over the keepers head for a superb second for him and the team, restoring our lead. As the half wore on, James came into midfield in place of Danny, and immediately won a good tackle. He played in Will, onto Jack, and then wide to Stevie whose cross was only just too short for our onrushing forwards. Right on half-time, we won a free-kick on the half-way line. Once again Charlie delivered a superb ball into the danger zone, this time straight into the top corner for his hat-trick and our third, possibly a little flattering, but good for us nonetheless! Half-time:- 3-1.
The second half began with Reuben replacing Brad. We were now kicking into the wind, and this suited us better as the ball wasn’t running away from us. Dom & Sam were really dominating at the back now, with Thorpe not getting near our goal. At the other end, Charlie was having a superb game, and twice set Stevie away down the right with great balls. The first cross was cleared away, the second for a corner from which we couldn’t get a head to the ball. Thorpe shot wildly over from distance. James was doing well in midfield with Charlie, and he won a challenge and again set Stevie free. This time Jack got on the end of the cross, seeing his half volley go just too high. We were playing with a lot of confidence now, Oliver sweeping up any over-hit balls from Thorpe. Another attack down our right, Freddy feeding Reuben who then played a lovely through ball to Stevie, saw the cross headed out to James who hit a tremendous volley from outside the box which saw the keeper somehow make an outstanding save to deny him a certain goal. Thorpe then played a neat ball out wide and crossed, where the attacker turned and shot from close-in only for Oliver to make a great block with his legs. We then put on Tom at right back to replace Freddy, for a rare but well-timed appearance, just reward for being with us since he was 6! We continued to dominate now, Jack sending Stevie away with a superb cross-field ball over his shoulder. Stevie ran on and beat his defender, only for the keeper to block well. Almost immediately the same two combined in a similar fashion, this time Stevie seeing his cross well defended by Thorpe. At the other end, a slight mix-up saw an attacker in a great position, but he volleyed high from just outside the box, this turning out to be Thorpe’s final chance of the game. We made our final changes, Danny back on to centre half, Sam switching to left back in place of Mark, with Brad returning wide left in place of Will. We looked rock solid defensively now, Dom especially strong in the tackle and in the air. Charlie again set the play up well, and after a one two with Reuben sent a lovely ball wide to Brad. He cut in, beat his defender and was fouled. Jack blasted the resultant free kick wide. Oliver then fed Tom quickly, and he moved the ball into Charlie. Charlie then found Stevie wide, who passed onto Reuben, Jack then received the ball, and was quick and strong to cut into the box between two defenders. As he was about to shoot he was then brought down, but astonishingly the ref gave nothing. James was then penalised, harshly, for a challenge. As we waited for the kick to be taken, everybody was stunned to see the ref produce a straight red card for James – 5 minutes from the end of the game. We reshuffled, Reuben dropping into midfield, and Jack playing as our lone striker. The free-kick was easily cleared. From another Stevie cross, Reuben then turned his marker and shot in one movement, unlucky to see the ball miss the far post by inches with the keeper well beaten. At the other end, Oliver confidently controlled another loose ball, this time setting Sam away down the left. He found Charlie, who again switched play superbly. Stevie, as he had done all game, got past his full back, and this time the ball found Jack who had peeled away from his marker and gleefully, and carefully side-footed home for our fourth, and now certain victory. Despite being down to ten men for the last 5 minutes, we saw the game out comfortably. At the whistle, the boys calmly celebrated a great win, and also the second part of a well-deserved double. Full-time:- 4-1.
Man of the Match:- Charlie Gibbons.
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