|
Date: 3rd October 2010
Venue: Away – Eaton Park
Opponents: Lakeford
A windswept and drizzly Eaton Park was the venue for match day 3 for the reigning champions with the notorious Lakeford as the opponents.
We were 14 strong with Freddy back from injury going in at right back and Tommy who had done a great job last week in his absence on the bench with Will. James still out with suspension though this is his last week (hurray!) so it will be great to have him back next week.
Having signed their three best players from last season Lakeford were naturally desperate to show that with their own new signings they were a force to be reckoned with.
They started at their usual furious pace and with the usual “agricultural” challenges, but have they not learned from last year that this is just what Charlie and Danny love, and the rest of the boys just seemed to say if this is how you want to play it then bring it on. Every challenge was met head on with no prisoners being taken and we were soon in control.
Danny and Charlie were taking charge in midfield with both Steve and Brad causing their defence problems with their pace and aggressive attacking play on the wings.
Joel was roaming in the space between midfield and the forward line and getting plenty of the ball in which to work his magic.
As per usual Jack was working his butt off up front and managing to somehow put their whole back four under pressure on his own.
A good ball over the top saw Jack race away and he struck his shot cleanly and with power but the Lakeford keeper made an outstanding save to turn it round the post.
As we continued to pile on the pressure the Lakeford linesman appeared to be affected by some sort of physical tourettes in that every time the ball went in the vicinity of their penalty area his hand holding the flag would shoot up for no apparent reason. This was particularly confusing for all concerned, especially the referee who didn’t look my older than the players.
Danny was unlucky with headers from a couple of corners hitting the woodwork. Danny is looking very dangerous in the air this season and this is due according to Mark by him banging Danny’s head against the wall at home in an effort to flatten it out and make his headers more accurate.
The game continued almost completely in the Lakeford half with Freddy, Sam, Charlie and Mark dealing comfortably with the rare Lakeford attacks which basically comprised of a hopeful punt upfield.
A cross from Steve on the right saw Jack head narrowly wide and we began to think that it might be another one of those days for Jack, but oh we of little faith, a couple of minutes before half time their defender sliced the ball and Jack raced onto it and lashed it home.
Half Time Lakeford 0 – Taverham 1
We came out for the second half unchanged and started exactly as we had finished the first. Tackles were still flying in which we matched but still played our football and Lakeford were now chasing shadows.
A clipped ball down the inside right channel saw Jack race on to it but with the angle everyone thought Jack would cross the ball, everyone that is except Jack who let fly with a thunderbolt that went into the top corner.
Jack went off for a rest to be replaced by Will who came on to try and weave some of that “Miller Magic”. Joel did really well tackling the defender on the right and then cutting in and hitting a great shot. Joel was also unlucky when his clean finish was ruled marginally offside.
Freddy who had coped exceptionally well against a very physically fast and strong left wing was basically trampled underfoot and came off injured to be replaced by Tommy.
Brad went off for a breather and Jack came back on as we continued to dominate and Danny showed an excellent piece of “ball control” which left most of the male spectators wincing and Dannys voice seemed to have gone up an octave.
Olly who had barely had a save to make all game decided to entertain the crowd with a demonstration of his “trick” goal kicking. Instead of simply clearing the ball from a pass back Olly thought he would tease the onrushing forward by deliberately? slicing the clearance up into the air so that with the wind it came back to him. An impressive piece of skill.
Taverham continued to press forward and Joel received the ball in the penalty area where he went down under a clumsy challenge and we were awarded a rather fortunate penalty which Jack put away with no problem for his hat-trick.
A rare Lakeford attack saw their pacey left wing go surging through into our penalty area, but a superbly timed challenge from Mark coming in from left back averted the danger.
Joel went off and Brad came back on for the final few minutes, but the game was won and we cantered home.
A good result against a still strong Lakeford side but who can consider themselves lucky the we didn’t score more and whom we outplayed in every area of the field.
Full Time Lakeford 0 – Taverham 3
Man of the Match: Jack Garwood – A great hat trick from our striker. Remember form is temporary but class is permanent.
Date: 10th October 2010
Venue: Home – East Tuddenham
Opponents: Mulbarton
A beautiful late summers day at East Tuddenham for match day 4 against Mulbarton.
We had a full complement of 16 players available for selection with James finally finishing his ridiculously unfair suspension and Reuben back after coming to his senses and realising what he would be missing. However this does give Dave a bit of a selection headache, but we started with the same starting 11 from last week as it is difficult to justify changing a winning team.
Mulbarton although the away team turned up in their blue kit so had to play in their “McDonalds” red bibs.
Unfortunately the grass which had been lush and a bit overlong for the last home game was now looking like a meadow making running with the ball and passes along the ground extremely difficult.
From the outset the boys looked subdued and not at their usual aggressive best, this was probably due to the fact that we had played Histon Academy on the Saturday and acquitted ourselves very well, but this looked to have an adverse effect due perhaps to tiredness.
Mulbarton were another team beaten comprehensively last year but as all the boys get older and bigger and stronger these rugby type scorelines are a thing of the past.
Although far from firing on all cylinders the boys were soon on top with Jack and Joel both going close. Steve and Brad were doing well on the wings and Brad put through good balls to Jack and Joel but they were thwarted by good goalkeeping and good defending.
We continued to press and created a series of chances but none we could put away.
Mulbarton had a couple of useful players in midfield and upfront and they kept the back four on their toes but without too much stress.
Freddy made a rare journey upfield, went charging into the box and was unlucky when his shot went over.
Mark was also finding opportunities to get forward on the left interchanging with Brad.
After about half an hour Will came on for Steve, but we continued to huff and puff without much end product.
Finally the breakthrough came when Joel found some space inside the box and coolly finished past the keeper.
To most observers we seemed to be playing far too narrow with everything going down the middle and not using our strengths and exploiting their weaknesses on the wings. Dave and Mike were glad of the half time whistle so they get the boys sorted and playing the type of football we know they can.
Half Time Taverham 1 – Mulbarton 0
We started the second half unchanged but with renewed vigour with Danny and Charlie taking charge. A flick on from Jack saw Brad race through and he squared it for Joel to tap in.
Mulbarton continued to battle and sure enough they got their reward. We failed to clear the ball and it eventually fell to their striker, he struck the ball well but Olly made an outstanding one handed save down low to his right, unfortunately the came out to a Mulbarton player who had a simple tap in.
This galvanised the players and we were straight back at them. Although not our normal style a huge goal kick from Olly saw Jack race clear and finish into the corner (who needs all those silly passes?).
Will was in the zone today and skipped past a couple of Mulbarton players with footwork almost as dazzling as his earrings.
A ball through the middle to Joel saw him out strip the defender for pace and as he went round the keeper he was brought down for a stonewall penalty. For the third time this season Jack put the penalty away with no problem.
Freddy came off for James for his first start of the season. Will continued to cause the Mulbarton defence problems and after receiving the ball on the right wing he cut in beat two defenders and slotted the ball into the far corner for a brilliant solo goal.
Mulbarton to their credit didn’t give up and continued to fight and only a superbly timed last ditch tackle by Sam prevented their striker going through.
Charlie who looked to have a little knock came of for a rest and James went into centre midfield with Tommy going in at right back.
We all know how good Haggi is in the air but for some reason he decided to try and header a ball that was about 4 inches of the floor, he somehow managed to trap the ball with his head on to the ground. A strange but none the less impressive piece of skill.
With Charlie off Joel took a corner from the right wing which he arrowed right into the far post where an onrushing Jack headed home for his second hat trick in 2 weeks.
Shortly afterwards Joel picked up a knock and had to come off so Steve went back on the right and Will went up front.
Despite creating a few more chances we couldn’t increase our advantage and the game ended.
A much improved second half but overall not to our usual very high standard. But the sign of a good side is that you can win when not playing at your best.
Full Time Taverham 6 – Mulbarton 1
Man of the Match: Will Miller – Most of the time we don’t know what Will is going to do next, but then Will doesn’t know what he is going to do either, but more importantly the opposition doesn’t know what he is going to do; so keep doing it! – “It’s Miller Time!”
Date: 17th October 2010
Venue: Away – Aldiss Park, Dereham
Opponents: Dereham Town
A bright but cold morning was the setting for match day 5 against Dereham Town. The pitch at Aldiss Park was looking in excellent condition and a stark contrast to our own pitch.
Most of the parents were a little bleary eyed following the previous nights entertainment at the Taverham race night and auction which had been a great success and raised lots of money for the Holland trip with many people being very generous at the auction, none more so than Mark “The Cat" Holmes who for some bizarre reason managed to outbid himself on one auction.
This could be due to the amount of Abbotts Ale Mark had consumed but this was done purely for medicinal purposes to alleviate the pain from the serious injury Mark sustained to the fifth phalange (little finger) whilst demonstrating one handed saves to Oli at training.
We were 14 strong with unfortunately Joel ruled out for 3-4 weeks with the knock he picked up last Sunday. Reuben made his first start of the season in place of Joel and Will started in place of Brad.
From the kick off Dereham looked a quality side with several new acquisitions and in the first minute a ball over the top caught us asleep, but fortunately Oli was alert and came out to make an excellent save.
After only a few minutes Freddy whose knee was strapped up before the game had to come off and James went in at right back.
As the first half progressed we struggled to get a foothold in the game with Dereham having the majority of possession and dominating in midfield.
Oli was again called in to action saving from point blank range with his feet as the ball ricocheted around our box.
We finally started getting some possession and a cross into the area was met by Danny and headed goal ward, as we followed it up the Dereham keeper hesitated and allowed the ball to roll tamely into the net.
However our advantage was short lived and a long punt towards goal from their left back deceived Oli and bounced over him into the net. Whilst Oli will obviously be disappointed it should be said that everyone makes mistakes, it is just that for a goal keeper these are sometimes amplified. Besides the number of times that Oli has prevented certain goals with saves that no other keeper in this league could make, he is so far ahead in the plus column.
Shortly before half time Jack who had been feeling unwell came off for Brad and Will went up front with Reuben.
We now started to get on top and were in the ascendency to half time.
Half Time Dereham 1 – Taverham 1
We came out strongly at the start of the second half with Danny and Charlie in the middle of the park working well. Stevie continued to work tirelessly on the right wing and was a constant thorn in their side.
A quick move down the right hand side saw Dereham get around the back and cross the ball where their striker swept the ball home.
We came straight back at Dereham to try and get back on level terms. Jack came on for Reuben and we continued to press hard.
Dereham also pressed forward but our defence stood strong with Sam and Haggi repelling the aerial attacks. Mark loves a battle was getting stuck in with his usual vigour and James as stand in full back playing really well.
From a corner Danny leapt like a salmon and powered a header goalward but the keeper made an outstanding save and the ball broke for Dereham and they raced up the field and scored. Unfortunately that is how it goes sometimes when you almost equalise and then they score to put them two up.
The boys didn’t let their heads drop and once again pressed forward. Reuben came back on for Will as we went in search of a goal. Stevie did well on the right and put in some great crosses which didn’t quite fall for us.
Brad did well on the right beating two men and laying it through to Jack who in turn clipped the ball into the near post to Reuben he swivelled and shot the ball home at the near post.
We battled on to try and get an equaliser but without success.
A hard fought game against a very good side and considering that we had several players either unwell or carrying injuries we performed admirably. A full strength Taverham at “Fortress Tuddenham” for the return fixture will be a completely different affair and we can’t wait for that!
Full Time Dereham 3 – Taverham 2
Man of the Match – Steve Ridout: Yet again a great performance from Steve. Superb energy levels and a constant threat. It must be a nightmare being a full back marking Stevie he is just relentless.
Back
| 
