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LAKEFORD v TAVERHAM – 1ST MARCH – CUP SEMI-FINAL
An afternoon visit to Eaton Park, for the cup semi-final against Lakeford.
Right from the kick off we went on the attack, earning an early corner which gave us good momentum. Lakeford were pinned in their own half for a long period, with our midfield looking to win the battle. Another corner was earned following a great run down the left, but it was Lakeford who were first to the ball. Jack G then hit a free kick which landed on top of the net. Totally against the run of play, Lakeford broke and scored the first goal. Encouragingly, we went straight back on the offensive, forcing more corners. Jack G sent Reuben away with a lovely cross-field ball, but he chose to pass when well placed to shoot. Finally we got the reward to our pressure – Dom playing a lovely through ball which Jack G latched onto, beating the advancing Lakeford keeper with a great finish. Almost immediately, Will challenged the keeper to a high ball, as they fell Will did really well to hit the ball towards an empty net, but the ball went agonisingly wide of the post. Unbelievably, Lakeford then broke again, and scored a second. Just when we thought we would go in at half time unlucky to be 2-1 down, worse followed. From a break down their left, a Lakeford player turned on the by-line and crossed, only to see the ball curl in off the far post. Very harsh on the balance of play. Half time 1-3.
James came on for the second half, replacing Tom. Will and Luke also swapped flanks to see if this would help. Play was really even to start, with Jack G especially looking sharp and strong, but without enough support. As our midfield tired, we looked to be in for a tough second half. Lakeford probably could have increased their lead, and although Will had a couple of good runs, it wasn’t meant to be. Tom came back on in place of Jack L, but we still didn’t manage to get enough of the ball to our forwards. Final score 1-3.
MAN OF THE MATCH:- Jack Garwood
BRESSINGHAM v TAVERHAM – 8TH MARCH
The longest journey of the season took us to Bressingham for a re-arranged fixture. It was a dry and bright day, with a strong wind.
We made a very positive start, even though the wind was against us. Any long balls from Bressingham were being dealt with by the defence. Luke and Will combined well down the right, and Jack G had a shot blocked by the keeper’s legs. A great cross from Mark saw Will unlucky to head just wide. Reuben then hit the bar from 25 yards. James was dominating the midfield, and we were using the ball well. Oliver was felled by a dangerously late challenge when collecting a high ball. Half time score 0-0.
We had a lucky escape straight from kick off when the Bressingham attacker should have done better, as we were caught napping. With the wind at our backs, play was nearly exclusively in their half. Luke was linking well with Will, and we missed a couple of chances to take the lead. However, finally Jack G latched onto a nice through ball from Dom, and lobbed the keeper to make it 1-0. Will hit the inside of the post with a great shot, whilst Jack G lobbed just over. Luke and Will then combined superbly, Will crossed to Reuben who turned well and smacked a shot onto the underside of the bar. Thankfully, Jack G was on hand to head in the rebound to make the score 2-0. We continued to play some decent football, Dom, Luke and James playing particularly well. Their keeper had a good game, and although Dom shot wide from distance, and just missed with a header from a corner, we were unable to add to our tally. Final score 2-0.
MAN OF THE MATCH:- James Smith
NORWICH UNITED v TAVERHAM – 15TH MARCH
A lovely bright day greeted us for the visit to Norwich United, and revenge was on everyone’s minds following our recent defeat.
We kicked off uphill and into the wind. Ben and Will were linking well down the right, but the final ball was lacking. The first 20 minutes were fairly even, although we looked the most likely to score. Will crossed across the face of the goal, and we had a couple of shots charged down. A great cross from Reuben ended with Jack G just failing to score with his head. At the other end, their attacker got in behind our defence, but never looked likely to hit the target. The half fizzled out. Half time score 0-0.
With the wind and the lay of the pitch now in our favour, it was important to make the most of this in the second half. The boys knew this, and from a lovely through ball from Will, Jack G ran through and calmly finished for the first goal. Almost immediately we regained possession, and this time roles were reversed, with Jack G the provider, and Will the goal-scorer. Although we continued to pressurise, Norwich United were still in the game, and a great covering challenge from Dom prevented them from getting a shot in on goal. Goal number 3 came from Reuben, who finished with his left foot after a good team build up. Luke was playing well in centre midfield, and he nearly got our forwards away a couple of times. Jack G then ran onto a long kick from Oliver, and was unlucky to see a strong drive hit the post with the keeper beaten. Final score 3-0.
MAN OF THE MATCH:- Dominic Pyatt
TAVERHAM v JEX - 29TH MARCH
The penultimate home game of the season today, saw us against Jex. It was a sunny but chilly day, and the pitch was poor.
Straight away we were on the attack, with Will putting in a cross which was just a bit too close to their keeper. A great move down the right finished with Jack G shooting over the bar from just 2 yards – the pitch surely to blame. Will then sent in another dangerous cross which managed to evade everyone. At the other end, Oliver had to pluck a couple of long shots out of the air, otherwise their attack was unable to penetrate our solid defence. Jack G smashed a volley from distance which looked a goal all the way, but it went inches wide. Oliver had to deal with a long shot which bounced awkwardly. We went straight on the attack, and following good work from Reuben, Jack G played a lovely one two with Will and was unlucky to see the keeper smother well. Dom then shot wide from distance. Half time score 0-0.
Alex and Jack L replaced Ben and Tom. From the restart we looked more in control and Will went close with a cross/shot. Mark was able to get forward more, combining well with Alex. Jex still offered no real threat. Their keeper made 2 more good saves, and twice defenders blocked goal bound shots. It really was beginning to look like one of those days, but we just had to keep plugging away. Reuben was unlucky to see the Jex keeper make another save from his volley. Alex then had a shot which went too close to the keeper. Jack L and James were now dominating the midfield, with most of the game taking place in their half. Finally, we got our reward, when Jack G made space in the box and fired in a strong left foot shot into the far corner to make it 1-0. Reuben then missed a great chance, as we continued to press for a second. We had lots of possession, but it didn’t come to anything, despite some neat build up play. With 8 minutes remaining, Jex equalised with a free header from a corner. Tom came back into central midfield to replace James. Despite working hard, another goal wasn’t to be. Final score 1-1.
MAN OF THE MATCH:- Mark Smith
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