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Taverham v Lakeford – Cup Quarter Final – 7th February 2010
After a postponement due to the bad weather, it was finally time to welcome Lakeford to East Tuddenham, for our League Cup Quarter Final clash. There had been no matches played on our pitch since before Christmas, but it was still very heavy. The weather was cold and wet.
The match began with Will and Reuben playing up front – Jack starting as sub. From kick off we started well, getting the ball wide early to Brad and Stevie who both looked dangerous. Charlie fed the ball wide to Brad, who did well to earn us a corner. From a great kick by Charlie, no-one could get their head to the ball. Stevie then got to the by-line but crossed too near the keeper. Despite the heavy pitch, both teams were looking to play. Sam and Danny then combined well to send Stevie flying down the right, and his cross flew across the six yard box with no-one able to get a touch. Lakeford then broke into our half but their long shot went well wide. Not learning from that, Lakeford then broke again through the middle, and this time we were punished by a 30 yard lob which Oliver had no chance of saving. This was the first time all season we had gone a goal down, and it was up to the boys to react positively. We continued to try and play - Will and Reuben almost combining to get through on goal. Their keeper then tipped a shot over the bar from Will, and Stevie shot high when well-placed. After 25 minutes, Jack replaced Reuben, with play mainly confined to the midfield. From another dangerous corner from Charlie, Jack saw a flick cleared off the line. The half then drew to a close without any further alarms at either end. Half time:- 0-1.
Talk at half time was all about continuing as before, and being patient. From the restart we played Brad in, who again battled well to earn another corner. Another great corner, but still we could not find a Taverham head. We kept the pressure on, and from yet another Charlie corner, Jack controlled and volleyed in one movement which the defender did well to block onto the bar for another corner. This was cleared, but we attacked again, this time Charlie seeing his drive kneed onto the bar by the keeper for another corner. Again this came to nothing. From a rare Lakeford break, they went wide and eventually shot into the side netting with Oliver comfortably covering the danger. Danny won the ball in midfield, and played a short ball to Charlie who hit a glorious long ball inside the full-back to the onrushing Stevie. He in turn smacked a vicious first time cross into the area which evaded everyone, including Jack who just could not quite reach the ball for a tap in. We were having so much of the play, but could not find the back of the neck. Was it going to be one of those days? James replaced Danny in midfield, and Reuben returned up front for Will. Dom and Freddie were dealing comfortably with the Lakeford threat, with Mark and Sam getting forward at every opportunity. Oliver was now a virtual spectator, but sweeping when needed and commanding his defence well. Another good ball in from Stevie saw Reuben challenge, with Jack the first to react and slam a shot into the back of the net. Finally, we had our deserved equaliser. It was nearly all one-way traffic now, and our boys were keeping their discipline, and continuing to search for another goal. A great move between Charlie, Dom and Sam saw the ball passed to Stevie, who lobbed a dangerous looking ball into the area. Jack had peeled away from his marker, and duly headed the ball into the back of the net to put us in the lead. Lakeford tried to respond, but with the defence looking strong, and Charlie and James in midfield, there was no way back. We continued to attack, their keeper making two more good saves from Jack after good work by Mark and Brad. We comfortably saw out the remaining few minutes, and gained a much deserved win. Full time:- 2-1.
Man of the Match:- Dom Pyatt
Taverham v Diss – 14th February 2010
A bitterly cold, windless morning saw us greet Diss for our return fixture. Injuries and absence saw a major reshuffle, with Sam and Danny moving to the centre of defence and James to right back. Reuben dropped back into central midfield, with Will pushing up behind Jack.
We kicked off straight on to the attack, and the boys instinctively looked to get the ball wide to the better surface, where Brad and Stevie’s skill and pace immediately caused problems. From a lovely James pass, Stevie made ground and shot high. Then Charlie combined with Reuben, who sent a lovely ball inside the fullback to Brad, who beat another defender and crossed where Stevie again arrived late and just went too high. Charlie delivered a couple of lovely corners, the first of which saw Jack head into the side netting, the second scrambled away. From another good move involving Mark and Charlie, the ball was played to Jack who laid off for Will to strike a tremendous shot into the top corner from outside the box to make it one nil. Our opponents then enjoyed a good spell, Oliver somehow turning over a good header after good work by Diss. After weathering a brief storm, Sam and Danny gained control at the back, along with Mark and James who were both joining the attack well. Jack then cracked a long range shot against the bar, and had a free-kick well saved by the keeper, whose handling and shot-stopping were good. It was 20 minutes before we broke through again, this time Jack shooting hard and low through a crowded area, where perhaps the keeper was unsighted, for our second goal. Stevie then headed just over, and Charlie was unlucky with a shot just tipped wide by the keeper. Another lovely ball out wide by Reuben sent Stevie away, who beat his man and whipped in a cross which the onrushing Jack superbly volleyed left footed into the corner, a great team goal for number three. Jack then turned provider, whipping in a lovely far post cross which bounced high, only for Stevie to scissor kick in off the underside of the bar – a great finish to make it four. We continued to attack, but Diss held out for the whistle. Half-time:- 4-0.
We talked about maintaining shape and to keep getting wide, which the boys immediately put into action. Brad was again enjoying running with the ball, with Stevie also now coming into the game much more. Danny intercepted a through ball, and made ground before playing into Charlie, who in turn hit a delightful ball out wide for Stevie to again run forward, this time seeing his shot well saved. On the other side, Brad did similar, beating his man before crossing, but no-one able to convert. Tom came on to replace Mark, with Sam switching to left back. We continued as before, pressing for more goals. Oliver was unthreatened in our goal. Eventually persistent pressure paid off and Brad reacted quickly in a goalmouth scramble to flick in our fifth. Will then scored his second, our sixth, with a hard low finish after more good work from Reuben and Charlie in midfield. Charlie then tried his luck from distance, unlucky to just miss the angle of both post and bar. More good work from Sam and Will saw Brad sprint clear, with his shot well saved. However, Jack reacted well and slammed in a half volley from an angle for seven nil. We then put Stevie in centre midfield, moving Will out wide with Reuben having a rest, and Mark pushed up front. Mark soon saw a good effort blocked, searching for his first goal of the season.
Oliver, again talking well with little to do otherwise, threw out to Sam who immediately fed Mark, just inside his own half. He turned, beat two men and continued running with the ball. Just when you thought he would pass, he beat the final defender and now, with just the keeper to beat, coolly went round him and slid the ball into an empty net. What a way to open your account for the season! Almost immediately, Brad slammed in an excellent strike from 15 yards for our ninth. Although a bit of time remained, we were unable to score again, despite having a couple of chances, Jack memorably hammering over when well-placed. The game came to a conclusion, another 3 points from a hard fought match. Full-time:- 9-0.
Man of the Match:- Reuben Winter.
Taverham v Sprowston – Cup Semi-final – 28th February 2010
It was back to the cup again this weekend, with an eagerly anticipated semi-final against Sprowston. An early afternoon kick off was the order of the day, in absolutely atrocious weather conditions.
We kicked off into the wind and driving rain, and up the slope, but the boys were straight into attacking mode. Reuben fed Brad wide, and he made a lot of ground before a good tackle led to a corner. Charlie played a nice ball in, but this was cleared by our opponents. Sprowston then broke down their left, with their attacker cutting in, but Oliver was well positioned to scoop up the cross. He immediately set Mark away with a good throw, and he found Jack, who in turn switched play wide to Stevie. He then beat his man and crossed dangerously, where the Sprowston defence again cleared well. From another Charlie corner, Stevie rose well but headed just over. Danny & Sam looked solid at the back, with Mark again in great form. The pitch was deteriorating quickly, but both teams still tried to play football. Brad again got free and crossed along the six yard box, but no-one was there to tap in. However, eventually our pressure paid off - Danny played a lovely ball up to Jack, who shielded well and moved wide right with the ball. He got past his opponent and crossed superbly where Will rose and headed expertly into the corner for a deserved one nil lead. Despite our solid possession, Sprowston did look dangerous on the break, and Oliver saved well from a shot. The resultant corner was cleared by James. We attacked again, and this time Stevie got clear but shot wide. In the conditions this was a decent game between two evenly matched teams. As the half drew to a close, both sets of players were visibly tiring on what was a quagmire of a pitch. The Sprowston keeper saved well from Will, tipping over his shot after good play from Jack. Half-time:- 1-0.
The second half began with Freddy replacing James. We were now kicking down hill with the elements behind us, and immediately went on the attack. A cross from Stevie eluded everyone. Sprowston then attacked on the counter, but Oliver was quick to sweep round and clear. Brad and Mark then combined well down the left, with Brad pulling the ball back but the danger was cleared. We now had the lion’s share of possession, but couldn’t break the Sprowston defence for the second goal we needed. Freddy intercepted well, and then went on a mazy run, ending with a cross that was cut out. Sprowston broke, but again we defended well to prevent a shot coming in. Oliver then found Mark who yet again went on a run, playing in Brad who earned a corner. Another good ball from Charlie saw a scramble in the goalmouth which was eventually cleared. From the breakaway, Sprowston played long to their attacker who showed good strength and speed, cut in from wide and hammered into the roof of the net from 25 yards for a great equaliser, Oliver having no chance. This really was game on now. We continued to dominate possession, but too often the final ball was cut out. Jack was working hard as always, and did well to make an opening but shot high. He then broke down the left, cut in, and hammered a shot just wide. A nervous 10 minutes were looming. Sprowston, on a rare break, nearly took the lead, when the attacker got clear and tried to round Oliver who superbly won the ball to save a certain goal. We attacked again, this time Danny getting forward to hammer a long shot just wide. With time running out, Sprowston played a long ball out of defence. The attacker ran on to the ball, and hammered a fantastic shot destined for the top corner, which Oliver superbly tipped over. The corner was cleared, and the referee blew the whistle for the end of normal time. Full-time:- 1-1.
Extra time began, and Stevie was replaced by James. This was not just a footballing battle now, but a battle of wills and our boys knew they had what it took. We kicked off into the elements yet again. Play was now difficult, but it was Sprowston who threatened first when the attacker wriggled free, but under pressure from Sam shot over when well placed. We then attacked, with Charlie finding Jack well. He then turned and rifled a shot which hit the keeper then the post, earning a corner. From this, we again hit the post, this time from Will after a scramble. Sprowston then attacked, but Oliver was once again up to the task, saving comfortably. As the first period drew to a close, it was still even stevens.
We turned round, and with the wind at our back finally got on top again, play virtually confined now to the Sprowston half. From a lovely ball from Mark, Jack controlled in the area and slipped when turning. However, he was quick to his feet, and somehow slotted in from an acute angle to make it 2-1. Seven minutes remained, and Stevie came back on to replace a tired Will. Sprowston were also very tired now, and no wonder after such a tough battle. Charlie knocked in a great free-kick from which we almost scored. Reuben then had a clear chance, but missed his header from a couple of yards. Freddy then set Jack free down the right, and he did well to make ground and earn a free-kick, using up valuable time. From a final Charlie kick, Reuben was on hand to nod in our third. Almost immediately the ref blew for the end – a great result after a really good battle. All credit must go to Sprowston, not only for the part they played in a great match, but also their graciousness in defeat, players, coaches and supporters alike. Final score after extra-time:- 3-1
Man of the Match:- Oliver Inwards/Mark Smith
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