BACK TO OUR BEST

Subs

• Foster for Hill
• Mcloughlin for Palmer
• Stokes for Mytton
• Abbott for Halloran

A cold and frosty start to the day but we were soon warmed up by pure footballing and passionate display from our lads.  The desire was there for all to see against Cadbury and the challenge for the players was to bring the same intensity into a league game.

We more than carried on from the Cadbury performance in work rate department but we added more quality to our attacking play with several crisp and swift moves taking us deep into the Halesowen half.

We stuck with the partnership of Graham and Scott that worked so well against Cadbury.  Mikey moved over to left back and Henry dropped down to the bench.  We also gave Peter a full debut in the middle of midfield at the expense of Dylan.

Halesowen probably had the best of the opening stages and they should have scored when there centre forward missed an opening goal in the 1st few minutes.  After that we settled into our shape and began to look solid at the back. 

We began to see more of the ball and some great passing moves between Matt Barber and the forwards were starting to make a difference.

Unfortunately as we were getting on top we lost Graham again to an injury.  He has had an unlucky season in that respect.  Graham’s departure meant a chance for Jack.  Jack has been with us a while now and had only been on in fits and starts.  Today was an opportunity for us to see how he has developed and whether he was a genuine competitor for a 1st team place.  Jack certainly didn’t disappoint as he went on to give a man of the match performance.

The 1st half was actually a really good game. Halesowen had two great shots superbly saved by the ever more impressive Steven Hannaford.  We had chances ourselves. Halloran was inches away from Matt’s cross and Alex had shots blocked on the line in goalmouth scrambles.  Dayle also missed a decent chance but we were starting to boss the game.

Eventually we got the goal we deserved with a move straight off the training ground.  We have a way that we are trying to play and this was the 1st time we have scored a goal from our game plan.  We try to get the ball into Alex or Mikes feet and let them bring the wide men into the game.  This worked brilliantly when Mike H superbly controlled the ball and released Matt Barber with a great volleyed pass.  Matt burst up the wing and delivered another dangerous cross.  This time Alex had more luck than before as the ball fell at his feet. Al stabbed it in and we were in front.

At half time and we had a deserved lead.

The 2nd half was much the same.  There was a intense midfield battle that we were winning well.  Peter put in an outstanding performance in the middle of the park.  He covered every blade of grass on the pitch and tackled hard throughout.  Peter’s simple passing and composure on the ball seemed to rub off on the others and as a whole we played great football from back to front.

We had more chances to kill the game off.  Dylan had gone on for Dayle and he fired a sitter over the bar.  Al and Mike still looked lively. 

As expected it got a little nervy at the end but Jacko, Jim Scott and Mike never really looked in any danger.  This defensive display was as good as we have put in this season.

The whistle went and we got the 3 points we needed and deserved.  The football we played today was on a par with the Coleshill performance.  I was delighted to see we carried the hard work over from the Cadbury game.  Next week sees Kings Heath visit us and it is a great opportunity to carry on where we have left off and secure another 3 points.

Well done to everybody.

Steve