Cumnor went to Eynsham looking for a stern test... and we got one! Two games played, two victories won (2-1 and 6-1). It was difficult to write match notes in the pouring rain so here's a review of those involved.
Ed
Brilliant between the sticks, overcame the dissapointment of the firts goal mix up to put in two matchwinning saves. Received a deserved a round of applause from his grateful teammates at the end.
Rory
The Rock was solid... despite his first half mix up with Ed. Ran the game from the back, won every challenge, dealth with the very good no.9 and got his usual goal. It's official; Rory is better than Rio Ferdinand.
Ben
Took a whack on his ankle but refused to be beaten. Rose to every physical challenge and was brave and committed. Ben thrived in the mud and took his goal well in the second match. Could have got a second if he'd been a bit greedier.
Adam
Quiet in the first half but then found his confidence in the second. Worked hard up and down the flank and was unlucky not to score. Part of an amazing goaline scramble when the ball hit the post twice and was cleared off the line.
Will
He's certainly no defender and spent most of his time in the second match sprinting back into position. But we'll forgive him if he keeps playing out wide like he does. Scored a wonder goal winner, beating most of the Eynsham team before coolly sliding it in.
Fyn
Three goals again and back to his razor sharp best. Showed wonderful awareness in the tight spaces and took his first goal beautifully. He enjoyed playing wide in the second match and terrorized the Eynsham defence with his pace.
James E
Did a season's worth of running in one game. Hit some lovely little passes and flicks and took his goal well. Nice little celebration,too!
Toby
Made a telling contribution by bricking up the back with Rory. Took the captain's armband for the second game and relished the responsibility. Scored a nice goal and was unlucky not to get a second.
Matt
Loved the all-action mud and guts encounter. Broke up Eynsham attacks and looked composed on the ball. His new improved kicking technique saw him play some excellent passes.
Joe
Threw his body into every challenge and did not take a backward step. Battled hard out wide and held his position throughout. Another excellent display.
Player of the Week: for dealing with the Eynsham raiders... Rory
Monday 26 October 2009
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Everything Rosy in Garden City
A rather typical Cumnor performance: a one-sided win and a gutsy fightback.
Match One
Luckily, the boys didn't follow Dave's example of how to pass and managed to keep the ball out of some poor unsuspecting resident's cornflakes. A little pre-match riot act was read instructing our midfield to think slicker and find Fyn. They responded well.
Rory, pushed up into midfield fed Ben who found Will out wide. Will skipped past a challenge, dinked it into Fyn to score the opening goal. More good midfield work saw Rory grab the second before Will spun and knocked in the third.
Cumnor were well in control with Joe (deputising for the injured Toby) rock solid at the back. Ben, enjoying his more advanced role, still had the energy to track back and make vital tackles. Adam threatened constantly down the right and scored a cracker inside the near post. Henry could be forgiven for losing concentration but made a stunning save backpedalling and tipping the ball over.
Fyn scored his second after more midfield pressing and then a poacher's third when the goalie dropped the ball at his feet. Normal service resumed for our star striker who made way for James E. Garden City hit a consolation goal (although Henry insists it hit a Cumnor defender - or a beachball - on the way in.) With seconds left, Will knocked in Adam's cross. 7-1.
Lovely stuff Cumnor... beautiful fluid passing, a real joy to watch.
In the second match, Cumnor started well with James E linking up with Binky. However, we did start to look a bit laboured and decided tackling wasn't something we fancied doing. We won a free-kick just outside the box and there was some deliberation whether James 'Gerrard' S or James 'Ronaldo' E would take it. 'Ronaldo' got in first and sent the shot wide. With Cumnor stretched, Garden City scored and we reached half-time 1-0 down.
Second-half, changes. James S went wide right and Super Ed came into midfield to boss the game. Just like last week, he thundered forward terrifying the opposition. Suddenly, we were back in the game (thanks also to the heroics of Joe and Laurie who threw themselves into every challenge.) The game was turning into a cracker but we could have gone further behind if Ollie hadn't made a couple of spectacular saves. Then, the ball broke to James S who twisted away and fed Ed who slipped a ball to Binky to score. 1-1.
With the crowd chomping at the bit, the GC coach about to explode, Dave wondering if his ball had been returned... the ref blew the whistle. A shame, a thoroughly entertaining contest brought to an early end.
Yet again, a slow start redeemed by a gutsy fightback. Maybe next time, we'll get those early tackles in and take the lead for a change? Quicker passing, stronger tackles... the challenge has been laid down.
Player of the Week: mentions for Joe, Henry S, Ed but the unanimous winner, Fyn.
Match One
Luckily, the boys didn't follow Dave's example of how to pass and managed to keep the ball out of some poor unsuspecting resident's cornflakes. A little pre-match riot act was read instructing our midfield to think slicker and find Fyn. They responded well.
Rory, pushed up into midfield fed Ben who found Will out wide. Will skipped past a challenge, dinked it into Fyn to score the opening goal. More good midfield work saw Rory grab the second before Will spun and knocked in the third.
Cumnor were well in control with Joe (deputising for the injured Toby) rock solid at the back. Ben, enjoying his more advanced role, still had the energy to track back and make vital tackles. Adam threatened constantly down the right and scored a cracker inside the near post. Henry could be forgiven for losing concentration but made a stunning save backpedalling and tipping the ball over.
Fyn scored his second after more midfield pressing and then a poacher's third when the goalie dropped the ball at his feet. Normal service resumed for our star striker who made way for James E. Garden City hit a consolation goal (although Henry insists it hit a Cumnor defender - or a beachball - on the way in.) With seconds left, Will knocked in Adam's cross. 7-1.
Lovely stuff Cumnor... beautiful fluid passing, a real joy to watch.
In the second match, Cumnor started well with James E linking up with Binky. However, we did start to look a bit laboured and decided tackling wasn't something we fancied doing. We won a free-kick just outside the box and there was some deliberation whether James 'Gerrard' S or James 'Ronaldo' E would take it. 'Ronaldo' got in first and sent the shot wide. With Cumnor stretched, Garden City scored and we reached half-time 1-0 down.
Second-half, changes. James S went wide right and Super Ed came into midfield to boss the game. Just like last week, he thundered forward terrifying the opposition. Suddenly, we were back in the game (thanks also to the heroics of Joe and Laurie who threw themselves into every challenge.) The game was turning into a cracker but we could have gone further behind if Ollie hadn't made a couple of spectacular saves. Then, the ball broke to James S who twisted away and fed Ed who slipped a ball to Binky to score. 1-1.
With the crowd chomping at the bit, the GC coach about to explode, Dave wondering if his ball had been returned... the ref blew the whistle. A shame, a thoroughly entertaining contest brought to an early end.
Yet again, a slow start redeemed by a gutsy fightback. Maybe next time, we'll get those early tackles in and take the lead for a change? Quicker passing, stronger tackles... the challenge has been laid down.
Player of the Week: mentions for Joe, Henry S, Ed but the unanimous winner, Fyn.
Monday 12 October 2009
The Winning Run Continues
After a week away, Cumnor got back into competitive action against Enstone. The game started slowly with both teams probing down the flanks. We've concentrated recently on tackling and it was pleasing to see Binky contest every ball in midfield. Cumnor slowly got on top and forced a couple of corners. Fyn hit a low drive which the Enstone goalie saved. Moments later, Will burst into the box and was brought down by the keeper. Penalty. After an agonizing wait to see who would actually take the thing, Ben stepped up and smashed it into the roof of the net. 1-0.
Enstone got back into the game and were unlucky to go two down after conceding an own goal from a corner. Moments later, Enstone scored after a wicked shot bounced past the unlucky Ollie. From the re-start, Ben spread the ball wide Will who knocked in a great cross for Adam to score. 3-1. Rory then made it four just before half-time.
In the second-half, Henry replaced Ollie in goal. An early Cumnor attack forced a corner which just went wide. From the goal kick, the Enstone keeper hit it straight to Will who took a touch, looked up and sent a Xabi Alonso-style special in from 25 yards out. 5-1.
With the game as good as won, everyone wanted to get on the score sheet and several good positions (and chances) were wasted. When we played the 'Cumnor Way' we played well... evident in the move which saw Ben feed Will who chipped in to Fyn to just head wide. Another own goal took the Cumnor score to 6 before Fyn nabbed our 7th. With shots flying in from all angles, Will squeezed one into the top corner from the edge of the box. Enstone nearly got a second but Henry was alert and made a solid save.
A decent performance but one that could have been better if we'd remembered to play like a team.
The second game was 8-a-side on the small pitch so it was difficult to get any fluidity into the game. James S was composed at the back and made some lovely runs forward. Matt and Toby tackled hard and Henry S and Ollie marshalled the midfield well. Joe was his typically brave self and James E showed some lovely delicate touches. With Enstone driving forward Ed was kept busy in goal and was unlucky to see a shot fly past him into the net.
In the second-half, Henry went in and Ed into midfield. Suddenly, Cumnor found a more direct style and started to win the midfield battle. Toby's tackling and Ed's barrelling runs set up a chance for James E to slot the ball home. 1-1.
More pressure brought more chances and a Cumnor corner was spectacularly headed home by an Enstone defender 2-1. With time almost up, Toby unleashed a ferocious drive from 20 yards out which rattled the crossbar.
Another good win for Cumnor. We showed drive and determination and did very well to come back from a goal down.
Player of the Week: special mention to Binky, Ben and Ed but for his tackling and his attitude to his teammates, Toby.
Enstone got back into the game and were unlucky to go two down after conceding an own goal from a corner. Moments later, Enstone scored after a wicked shot bounced past the unlucky Ollie. From the re-start, Ben spread the ball wide Will who knocked in a great cross for Adam to score. 3-1. Rory then made it four just before half-time.
In the second-half, Henry replaced Ollie in goal. An early Cumnor attack forced a corner which just went wide. From the goal kick, the Enstone keeper hit it straight to Will who took a touch, looked up and sent a Xabi Alonso-style special in from 25 yards out. 5-1.
With the game as good as won, everyone wanted to get on the score sheet and several good positions (and chances) were wasted. When we played the 'Cumnor Way' we played well... evident in the move which saw Ben feed Will who chipped in to Fyn to just head wide. Another own goal took the Cumnor score to 6 before Fyn nabbed our 7th. With shots flying in from all angles, Will squeezed one into the top corner from the edge of the box. Enstone nearly got a second but Henry was alert and made a solid save.
A decent performance but one that could have been better if we'd remembered to play like a team.
The second game was 8-a-side on the small pitch so it was difficult to get any fluidity into the game. James S was composed at the back and made some lovely runs forward. Matt and Toby tackled hard and Henry S and Ollie marshalled the midfield well. Joe was his typically brave self and James E showed some lovely delicate touches. With Enstone driving forward Ed was kept busy in goal and was unlucky to see a shot fly past him into the net.
In the second-half, Henry went in and Ed into midfield. Suddenly, Cumnor found a more direct style and started to win the midfield battle. Toby's tackling and Ed's barrelling runs set up a chance for James E to slot the ball home. 1-1.
More pressure brought more chances and a Cumnor corner was spectacularly headed home by an Enstone defender 2-1. With time almost up, Toby unleashed a ferocious drive from 20 yards out which rattled the crossbar.
Another good win for Cumnor. We showed drive and determination and did very well to come back from a goal down.
Player of the Week: special mention to Binky, Ben and Ed but for his tackling and his attitude to his teammates, Toby.
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