A TOUCH OF CLASS

Subs

• Askey for Evans
• Twist for Matthews
• Barnes for Powell

Not Used

• Abbey
• Hay

As I have said in previous write ups, it is improvement we are looking for in the final games of the season. Well I felt today was the biggest sign that we have improved this season, particularly in recent weeks. We have won 4 out of the last 6 games now and we are finishing the season strongly.

I explained to the lads at training a month ago that you can learn as much from a successful relegation fight as you can winning a league. If you can master winning the scrappy games it can only hold you in good stead for the future. If you take a look at the Leafield away game, 3-2 and Knowle Robins at home 5-2. Our boys rolled their sleeves up and won the games because they wanted it more. Those types of performances build confidence. There were signs that we could actually play football too against Leafield at home last week and the lads built on that today with one of our better passing performances of the season.

We looked at different side to the one that lost 5-1 at Castlehurst in the cup just after Christmas.

The only change to the starting line up saw Mikey return in the back four at the expense of Niall. I would have had a tough decision to make if Sonny had put his clock forward and arrived on time but the fact he was late meant Phil kept his place on the right wing.

The warm up went well with most of the conversation consisting of the lad’s girlfriends. Niall commented on his new treadmill that he has at home and had promised that if we put him on he would show us how fit he has become over night.

The game begun on possibly the biggest pitch in our league. Extremely different from the one at the Co-Op that we have been playing on recently. I had worried how the lads would react to this as most of them had commented on it.

I didn’t have to worry for long as we settled down straight away into some lovely passing football. Henry had taken a grip of the game and his passing in the 1st 15 minutes was top class. We looked threatening every time we got the ball and it seemed only a matter of time before we scored.

Henry played another delightful ball through and Carlos got there just before the keeper before looping it over him into the empty net. A great goal after a good start.

The rest of the 1st half was much the same. Rob and Henner’s had a grip of the midfield. Carlos and Phil were looking dangerous out wide. The defence dealt with most things comfortably, particularly Dan who I thought had a very good 1st half.

More chances came and it wasn’t long before Paul had tapped us 2-0 in front with his 10th goal for us in 7 games. A fantastic achievement.

Our best 30 minutes of football was rounded of by Robert just before half time. Paul again broke through after good work by Graham. Paul delayed his shot but it didn’t matter as Rob arrived on the scene to smash us into a 3-0 with his left foot.

The lads were buzzing at half time. They were continuing where we had left off the week before and carrying on the good work from the previous 5 games. The 2nd half would be about controlling the game and doing nothing silly. We asked CJ and Dan to not get forward as much and we encouraged the lads to get Graham on the ball as he was running Castlehurst ragged.

We had a lot more defending to do in the 2nd half but boy didn’t we do it well. Scotty and particularly Michael had superb 2nd halves. I have to mention Mikey’s double block near the line toward the end. Fantastic. The midfield were tracking back and every time we cleared the danger we again looked like scoring more ourselves. Graham and Paul had more chances. Graham hit the post and there keeper made some fine saves.

We decided to introduce Dean and Lewis into the midfield as we were happy to take away what we had. They are both good defensive players and we were just happy taking no chances. Castlehurst did manage a goal which was a shame as I think Ryan and the lads deserved a clean sheet.

More goals from us put the game beyond doubt. Rob added his 7th of the season with another shot from distance. I’m delighted to see him scoring as I have nagged him a lot about getting forward this season. Paul rounded things off by finishing when clean through on goal.

James was back from his holiday and played the last 10 minutes at left back. All the subs did very well when they went on. Some of Lewis’s passing was excellent on the left side.

So a 5-1 win and we are having a great end to the season. We are now up to 7th in the league and we have moved up 5 places in recent weeks. That’s a tremendous effort from everybody. The lads have now hit the target of 12 points that I set them a while back and we still have 2 games to go. 

Lets continue the football we played today against Knowle next week and we can all enjoy having a good go at Highgate on the last game of the season.

Steve