Subs

• Hill for Stanley
• M.Barber for Mcloughlin
• Stokes for Halloran
• Abbott for Palmer

It’s Cup time and a nice local away draw for us saw us visit division 5 Hampton.  Obviously there was a class difference amongst the teams and it was going to take something of a miracle to stop us progressing.

The pitch wasn’t ideal and small in size so space was always going to be a problem.

As promised we rotated the team in order to give some much important match practice to the lads who have sat it out so patiently on the subs bench.  Jack and Paul both got full matches under their belts and I was delighted with both performances.

The game started a bit messy as the lack of space seemed to make it difficult to play flowing football.  Eventually we began to see some success up the left wing with Jim and Dylan causing them major problems.

As expected the goals started to come even though the performance hadn’t really warranted it.  Mike Halloran headed in Marks corner and Paul quickly made it 2-0 when he latched on to a killer through ball from Dylan.  Halloran headed us 3-0 up from another Mark corner.  Dylan and Dayle both managed to score goals to put us 5-0 up at half time.

We changed the team around in order to allow Graham some practice as centre back and to give Matt Barber some match practice after his injury.  Ryan went up front and the 2nd half in all was much better.

Ryan has clearly been watching Real Madrid too much as he was unlucky twice with spectacular overhead volleys.  His goal deservedly came with a cracking left foot finish shortly after.

Matt Barber as usual was beating his man with ease and after a few close shaves he managed to get on the score-sheet.

The subs all went on and did really well which is encouraging.  None more so than Henner’s who has done so well to become such an aerial threat from Marks precise dead ball play.  Henner’s capped off a good display in midfield with 2 cracking headed goals.  Encouraging to see us starting to make the most of Marks great crossing ability.

We changed it around again and through Scot and Mikey Cardall in to attack.  Football is a game often about unsung heroes and they are often that for our team and it was nice for them to be able to get there names up in lights by grabbing some of the glory.  Mikey had been very solid again.  His 1st goal with his left foot was probably the goal of the match.  Although Mark’s thundering drive must have come pretty close to equalling it.

Mikey and Scott both managed to score late on, much to the delight of the rest of out team who obviously appreciate the hard work they do for the team in defence week in week out.

Positives.  Well I guess it was job done.  Paul and Jim both delivered some very good crosses crosses and Graham did his bit and gained some experience at the back.  The subs all went on and contributed and I was really impressed with Jack Foster in his 1st start for us.

Well done boys.  We have too huge league games too come so lets take the confidence forward into those games.

Steve