|
Lakeford v Taverham – 7th March 2010
Back to the league after last week’s cup exploits, and a visit to Eaton Park for our away fixture against Lakeford. Thankfully no rain this week, in fact the sun was shining, although still bitterly cold. Injury meant no Dom, and Jack, Danny and Stevie were all struggling with illness. Will and Tom started as subs.
We kicked off, and the play was frenetic as we took our time to get to grips in midfield. However, it was us that broke first, Charlie putting Stevie through on goal, narrowly missing when well placed. Danny, Freddy, Sam & Mark were dealing comfortably with any Lakeford threat, 2 long shots sailing high and wide. We then had a throw near their box, Stevie launched one in, Jack got a flick and Brad was first to react to slot home to make it one nil. We immediately won back possession, and Jack was unlucky when challenging the keeper for a through ball. Lakeford were restricted to shooting from 30 yards, completely untroubling Oliver, or the defence. Mark was now linking well with Brad, who also looked sharp wide on the left. From a couple of corners, Charlie delivered excellent balls but yet again we could make nothing of these. Danny then won a good header when defending a rare Lakeford corner. As we broke, James combined well with Charlie who in turn found Brad. He slipped the ball inside to Jack who beat his man well but was upended, with a penalty rightly awarded. Jack strode up confidently to send the keeper the wrong way for a deserved 2 nil lead. Charlie now got into full flow, and twice sent Stevie through with lovely balls, both times Stevie just failing to hit the target with the keeper nowhere. Stevie then played Jack through, and again a well hit shot just flashed past the post. Lakeford continued to shoot from way out, not for one minute causing us any alarm. As the half drew to a close, another superb set piece from Charlie saw the keeper make a point blank save from Reuben, but yet again we reacted quickly, Brad again knocking in the rebound to put us 3 goals up.
Half-time:- 0-3.
They kicked off, and immediately tried to find their speedy striker, who they had brought on for the second half. Although quick, he also reverted to shooting from way out – unless one dipped late there was no way they would trouble Oliver, who yet again was having a quiet afternoon. Sam and Mark continued defending well, and also got forward whenever possible. Danny and Freddy were very comfortable in the middle, with Charlie and James dominating midfield. Stevie and Reuben were working hard, whilst Jack was clearly struggling but soldiering on manfully. Play developed into a midfield battle, as although we continued to play, Lakeford had tightened up defensively. They had their share of possession, but still insisted on the long range shooting strategy, not hitting the target very often. We brought Will on for Stevie who had run himself ragged whilst ill, and he slotted in well on the right, linking with Reuben and Sam. From a rare Lakeford break, they won a corner which was headed goal-wards where Oliver managed to push upwards, with the striker heading over under pressure from Oliver – the first time they had had a half-chance even from anywhere near our box. We then got a grip once again, and played some good football, but with Jack struggling didn’t create too much second half. Our final change saw Tom come on at centre half, Danny pushing into midfield, and James earning a well-deserved rest. As play fizzled out, Oliver made his one and only real save of the afternoon, comfortably tipping wide a shot from an angle, with the resultant corner coming to nothing. Another game over, another welcome victory, and another clean sheet. Full-time:- 0-3.
Man of the Match:- Brad Aldous.
Jex v Taverham – 14th March 2010
A dry and bright but windy day saw us travel to Thorpe High for our away fixture against Jex. It was a struggle to field a fit eleven players again this week, although Dom was back following his lay off due to a back injury. The situation worsened when Oliver took a blow to the face during the warm up, and was unable to play. Will manfully took the gloves to deputise. This meant James was our only sub.
We kicked off with the wind behind us, and it was clear this would be a big factor in the game. Both teams were trying to play, but the bumpy surface and wind made this difficult. Jex were looking to get their speedy forward away at every opportunity, but Dom and Freddy were coping with well. Charlie and Danny were battling hard in midfield, and Reuben and Jack were working well up front. We were first to threaten, a lovely Charlie free-kick seen late by the keeper but scrambled clear. From the corner we again failed to connect. After a rare long shot from Jex, which was safely gathered by Will, he launched a long, wind-assisted kick down field. Jack read it well, the ball sailing over the defence, but the keeper just got to the ball first. A lovely move down the left saw Mark feed Brad who did well to earn another corner. This time, Charlie’s excellent knock in was headed home by Reuben for a 1 nil lead. This inspired us to attack again, and Jack brought a good save out of the keeper following good work from Danny and Reuben. Charlie was then desperately unlucky to see his long-range free-kick smack the inside of the post with the keeper well beaten, Jack only just too high with a clever follow-up. We needed to capitalise on this good spell with the elements in our favour, but just couldn’t get a second goal. Mark then beat his man and fed Brad who played the ball to Jack. He turned well and slipped Reuben in, but with just the keeper to beat failed to score. At the other end, Jex were finding it hard against the wind to get near our box, resorting mainly to long shots. Will was largely untroubled, but doing well in a strange role. As the half drew to a close, we still pressed for the security of a second goal. A shot from Stevie was well blocked, and again Jack reacted first. He turned tight on the goal line, and played a brilliant cross into the middle where Brad looked destined to head home, but somehow the Jex defender got there first to clear his lines. Half-time:- 0-1.
Jex kicked off, and immediately broke down the left where Sam did well to make a decisive tackle. Jack was looking very isolated up front, with three Jex defenders in close attention at all times. Stevie and Mark were both clearly struggling, so changes needed to be made, but this was difficult with only one substitute. After a couple of long range efforts had gone high, Jex played a long ball over our defence where Dom looked to have the situation covered. However, the forward showed good speed and strength to get to the ball first, and lobbed high for the equaliser. We were now under a bit of pressure, Jex getting forward too easily, although not really forcing Will to make difficult saves – his handling when required was very good. This was emphasised when he punched a far post cross clear under heavy pressure. We then made a change, bringing Freddy off, Danny dropped to centre back, with James joining Charlie in midfield. Jex were out-battling us and we needed to see if these changes would help. Although Stevie especially was struggling, he was determined to carry on. Not long after, another through ball saw Dom challenge an opponent, the result being a penalty awarded. The Jex forward stepped up and finished well to give them a 2-1 lead. We were really up against it now, with boys struggling, but it would be a test of character. Jack did well on the odd occasion we got the ball to him. He turned his marker in a wide position, cut in and crossed well where Reuben was very unlucky to see his left foot volley flash wide. This was in honesty our last real effort of the game, Jex finishing the stronger. Freddy came back on before the end, to replace Dom, who had felt his back injury flare up. Full-time:- 2-1.
Man of the Match:- Will Miller
Taverham v Sprowston – 20th March 2010
A fine Saturday morning saw us welcome Sprowston for the return league game. Again injuries meant a change of personnel – James replacing Danny in the centre of midfield, and Will on the right wing instead of Stevie who was not fit to start the game. Tom joined Stevie as sub.
We kicked off, and Charlie instantly sent Brad away down the left. He beat his man but saw his cross cut out. Will then broke free and delivered a good cross into the box which Sprowston did well to clear. We had started brightly, and after 4 minutes took a deserved lead - Sam combining with Will who then crossed, Jack challenged the keeper and reacted quickly to smash home for one nil. Sprowston were relying on getting the ball up to their big striker as quickly as they could, and this was causing the defence a few problems. We attacked again, this time Mark and Brad doing well down the left, ending with Charlie shooting just too high. Jack also flashed a shot just wide from another good team build up. After 13 minutes we doubled our lead, a good corner from Charlie headed clear to James who controlled well before firing home a lovely volley from the edge of the box. We had started well, and looked threatening going forward, but still looked apprehensive at the back. Charlie and James began to lose their grip of the midfield, and Brad was struggling with his back. Stevie, although not fully fit, replaced Brad. Sprowston now had more of the game, and from a simple through ball their attacker went between Sam & Freddy to have a free run on goal, beating Oliver and making the score 2-1. Another long ball from Sprowston saw their striker collect out wide. He faced no challenge as he cut in and hammered a superb shot into the top corner from distance, giving Oliver no chance. Sprowston were now right back in the game. We then saw Stevie do well to beat his man, and he cut in and was unlucky not to find the onrushing Will. Mark then fed Reuben, who in turn passed to Jack. Jack then played a lovely one two with Will and was unfortunate to suffer a bobble when looking likely to score for what would have been a great goal. Half-time:- 2-2.
The second half began, and it was obvious that Sprowston were looking to find their main striker at every opportunity, not surprisingly with the problems he had caused in the first half. However, we again began the half well, and from a decent move involving Mark and Reuben, Will shot home from outside the box although the keeper could maybe have done a bit better. Would this now see us push on again? Down the slope now, most of the possession was in Sprowston’s half, but still we looked decidedly shaky any time the ball went near the big attacker. Both his pace and skill were excellent, but still no tackle was made to unsettle him. A long ball into the channel saw him collect with ease, and without being tackled he shot home from an angle to draw level again. Tom was brought on to replace Freddy. Charlie and James were not winning their midfield battle at all, and time and again were outfought, leading to more pressure on our defence. From a Charlie corner, the ball was headed onto the crossbar, and somehow Sprowston then managed to clear off the line twice in quick succession despite massive pressure from us. Sprowston then broke, and the big front man yet again escaped his defenders too easily, this time unlucky to see his angled shot hit the far post. This was now anyone’s game, as despite our possession they looked dangerous on the break. With time running short, Jack broke down the right, cut in and was unlucky to see his shot just go wide of the far post. It was looking like one of those days now and more so when a looped through ball from Reuben saw Jack go clear, he beat the keeper and turned to celebrate a possible winner only to see the linesman not award the goal. A reaction from Jack, however instinctive, resulted in Freddy replacing him, with Charlie pushing up front. The rest of the game passed without incident. Full-time:- 3-3.
Man of the Match:- Mark Smith.
Thorpe v Taverham – 28th March 2010
The sun was shining for our afternoon visit to Thorpe. This was a really important game, and following our recent defeat to Jex, and draw against Sprowston, it was vital to put in a good performance. Danny was able to return after injury, with James and Reuben starting as subs.
We kicked off, and it became apparent straight away that the boys were back to their determined best. Dom & Sam looked commanding at the back, Charlie and Danny were dominating the midfield, Brad & Stevie looked dangerous out wide and Jack & Will were posing the Thorpe defence problems. Mark was foraging forward, and he played in Jack who in turn slipped the ball to Brad. Not for the first time, he outwitted his defender, and put in a telling cross where Jack was just unable to connect. Stevie then got the ball wide form a lovely Charlie ball, beat his man and again just failed to find the onrushing Will. Freddie was looking confident at right back, and he made a couple of good early tackles. Oliver was commanding his defence well, and sweeping around when necessary. We nearly took the lead when, from a long throw by Stevie, Jack flicked on and Will guided his header past the post. With Charlie and Danny continuing to win the midfield battle, the signs were good, and again Will just failed to score with his head when beating the keeper to the ball. Stevie and Jack then combined well down the right, Jack beat his marker and cracked great shot which the keeper just managed to save, the ball just evading Will who was so close to a tap in. Oliver and Freddie then combined well to thwart a rare Thorpe break. The only thing missing for us was a goal. Brad again beat his man, and crossed superbly over the keeper where the defender did really well to save a certain goal for the onrushing Will. Jack got his head to Charlie’s corner but was stretching and couldn’t quite direct it on target. Dom & Sam continued to look comfortable together, Dom back to his ball-winning best and Sam very confident in his covering. As the half drew to a close, we were unlucky to go in level, having created 3 or 4 really good chances. Encouragingly, we had restricted Thorpe to a couple of long shots. Half time:- 0-0.
Charlie continued to shine, with Danny complimenting him in midfield. We strived to get forward, the wind again making things difficult. Mark and Brad were working hard down the left, Stevie and Freddie down the right, Stevie whipping in a cross which again Thorpe defended well. Jack then received the ball in the box from a superb Charlie ball, turned his man and shot into the side netting. Dom & Sam stayed strong, Oliver collecting well anything played over the top. Stevie then fed Jack again, once more he turned and again the ball ended up just wide, this time earning a corner. Despite pressure being applied, Thorpe somehow managed to scramble the ball clear from under the bar for another corner, this one coming to nothing. Thorpe were showing a little more adventure this half, a couple of crosses flashed across our box, but no attacker was able to finish. The game was there for us to go for, and Mark and Brad combined to earn a throw in deep in their half. Stevie launched it in, Jack held the ball up well and laid back to Will who smashed home for a deserved 1 nil lead. The confidence was really pulsing through us now, and Danny almost set Jack free on goal, the defender making a last ditch effort to intercept. Charlie then won a free kick, and from 30 yards was really unlucky to see his shot smack the crossbar with the keeper beaten, Thorpe again scrambling the rebound to safety. Jack then got between two defenders strongly, this time just missing the far post from an acute angle. With time running out, we still looked strong defensively. A Thorpe corner was headed high, the ball coming back off the bar and we cleared away. We broke immediately, Charlie finding Jack wide. Jack played in Will superbly, but with a free run on goal, Will’s first touch just took him too wide. Oliver then blocked well when one on one with an attacker, after which we saw the last few minutes out comfortably to record a well-deserved, hard fought victory against a sporting Thorpe side. Full-time:- 0-1.
Man of the Match:- Charlie Gibbons.
 Back
|
