CREDIT WHERE IT'S DUE - WE WERE GOOD !

Subs

• M.Barber for Stokes

• Hill for Palmer

• P.Barber for Mcloughlin

Well I hope nobody turned up late because you would have missed most of the fun.  I feel sorry for the likes of Roger and Rod who missed this game for various reasons.  They have supported the team over the years and it is a shame to miss a performance like this one.  I will do my best to give you an idea of how the game panned out within the next few paragraphs.

I think it is only too fitting to start with Thursday’s training session, as I believe that that was the beginning of what has been a good week.  I really pushed the lads hard on Thursday and put pressure on them doing high tempo ball work.  This is the type of coaching that doesn’t normally happen for a few years but I was shocked at how well the lads responded and how keen they were to take new information on board.      

On the back of last weeks 13-1 win and that training session I was left with the unenviable task of picking the team.  It’s a great problem to have when you have 12 or 13 lads playing well and pushing for places.  Jack dropped out to go to the Blues game so that just left a decision between Jim and Graham.  Jim got the nod and Graham can feel hard done by as he is playing really well.

To the game.  It was a whirlwind start and we took control within minutes.  We kept the ball really well and moved Hanbury around the pitch.  We showed great composure and the football was as good as it’s ever been.

Alex scored a typical thump from the edge of the area to continue his impressive start to the season.  Mike Halloran then came into his own and his performance throughout this game deserved the fantastic hat-trick that he got.  His 1st goal came from good work down the left and a cool finish.  The 2nd was one of the best goals we have scored. Mike Cardall headed a corner away and Halloran picked the ball up on the edge of our area.  His pass up the left found Alex and within seconds Mike was smashing us further ahead.  Great counter attacking football (Arsenal eat your hearts out).

More goals came in this early blitz.  Henry scored another great header from the deadly accurate corner from Mark.  Another corner dropped to Dayle and his shot cannoned in off Ryan and then Mark capped a wonderful 1st half performance with another cracking free-kick that their keeper found too hot to handle.

So at half time we were 6-0 up and it was 35 minutes of the best attacking football we have played.  This first half was only marred by Hanburys attempts to injure our players toward the end of the half.  Ryan copped a whack off the big defender, which should have resulted in a card.  Ryan was forced off with the injury and it was a shame as he was playing really well.

The 2nd half was more difficult going up the hill and against the wind.  We never found the levels of the 1st half but that was to be expected.  We conceded from a free kick and another goal that was taken well.  Halloran completed his hat trick by coolly taking the ball around the keeping and slotting home.  Henners continued his impressive run with another headed goal.  That’s 4 for the season for Henners and he is 2nd top scorer.

The positive aspect of the 2nd half was how we stood up to the physical battle when Hanbury tried to turn nasty.

All in all I cannot put enough emphasis on the brilliance of the 1st half performance.  We would have given anyone a run for there money in that 1st half.

Well done guys.  Let’s get our heads down again on Thursday night and be ready for the tough challenge that Coleshill are sure to bring next week.

Steve