| Match Report |
2020 has started well. A full squad travelled to Thurlow to play our postponed game from the first half of the season. We lined up with Patrick and our captain for the day, Flynn, protecting Joseph, a midfield of Rhys (left), Alex (centre) and Henry (right) and Ollie leading the line. After 9 minutes the midfield were swapped with Alfie, Samuel and Albie respectively. We were playing on what was a small pitch and for no discernible reason it favoured Thurlow in the first half. We played very well though and, whilst largely playing on the break, we were able to take the lead when Henry played a well weighted through ball to Ollie. The Goalkeeper came out to intercept, but Ollie dribbled past him and rolled the ball into an empty net. Despite good possession, Thurlow were largely unable to create good openings and we played some lovely passing football, in particular from Joseph to Patrick and Flynn and through the midfield or straight to Ollie. Nevertheless, Thurlow were able to peg us back before the break when a cross shot fortunately found its way into the goal. The second half saw Joseph in goal, Alex and Rhys in defence, Flynn (left), Patrick (centre) and Ollie (right) and Henry leading the line. After 8 minutes the midfield were swapped with Samuel, Albie and Alfie respectively. We largely dominated the half, not least because of the excellent holding midfield positions adopted by Patrick and Albie. The wide midfielders did well to support Henry in attack and this saw Henry again feed Ollie, whose first shot was blocked before he rifled the rebound into the top right hand corner. Thurlow breaks were few and far between, but one saw a shot take a wicked bounce in front of Joseph and the ensuing goal mouth scramble saw the scores levelled again. We weren’t to be denied though and Samuel played a nice pass into Henry, who showed off his dribbling skills to beat a couple of players before firing a shot into the roof of the net. The pick of the goals then followed, when Joseph started a quick counter by playing the ball to Alex, who in turn played a lovely pass in front of Alfie on the right wing. Alfie turned and run took the ball down the wing before firing in a low cross for Henry to side foot into the net and score a great team goal. A deflected Thurlow cross reduced the deficit and made for a nervous last 2 minutes (although, as the first half, this ended up being extended by 5 minutes and saw time for Patrick (left midfield), Ollie (right midfield) and Flynn (who swapped with Henry) to again enter the fray). We completed the victory though and whilst the teams were evenly matched it was fully deserved. All of the players were fantastic and any one of them could have been awarded player of the match. Alex, Patrick, Henry and Ollie had particularly strong cases, but it was awarded to Flynn who made some great tackles and interceptions, showed his usual silky skills and played some great passes - in other words a good all-round performance.
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