Bardwell Blockade

A brilliant defensive performance? Yes. Playing on the back foot? No, not really. Bardwell had some good players and were particularly strong down the right but we actually grew stronger as the game developed and managed to defend a lead for 55 minutes of play, something we've not done before. What was the secret? Commitment, determination and a willingness to challenge hard and strong. A team performance typified by the excellent Henry in goal, the magnificent Josh at the back and Ben taking (and dishing out) the punishment in midfield.

For the last few weeks we've implored the boys to challenge in the air and fight for the second ball on the ground. We worked on this in training and prior to kick off and it was wonderful to see the boys do this. Two headers in particular stand out, headers from boys not renowned for their heading: Ben in the dying seconds from a corner and a magnificent leap by Harry to arch his neck and take the ball from the giant number 3.

Due to a lack of availability there was a slight reorganisation in the set up with James going right, Harry dropping to full back, Jack in midfield and Will wide left. The changes paid dividends from the start with Will tearing down the flank and setting up a corner from which Josh poked home a goal. Cumnor played an expansive game with Doddie looking excellent as playmaker. Rory too drove his players on but slowly, Bardwell came into it especially down our left where Adam and Will were involved in a real tussle. One attack from the flank saw the Bardwell 17 hit a vicious swerving shot which Henry, unsighted to the last milli-second, managed to save by diving low to the left. Amazingly, Henry then got up to block the rebound. Brilliant keeping.

In the second-half the game turned into a real dogfight with chances limited for both teams. Fyn almost got a shot away as the boys shouted penalty and despite our tireless number 9 working hard, the ball didn't quite break for him. The best bit of play in the second-half (apart from the heroic blocks, tackles and headers) came from Will and Adam who put a scintillating move together up the flank before Adam was denied by a very good interception. Will too also knocked in a searing cross from right on the byline.

With 11 players available each boy had to dig deep. Jack, pushed out right, was a willing worker and Ben was involved in some real rough and tumble. We're not famed for our physicality but against Bardwell, we showed we could mix it with the best of them.

1- 0. A truly superb result and here's to a big unbeaten run to the end of the season.

Player of the Week: a very difficult choice but in the end, it came down to Henry, Josh and Doddie with Doddie shading it. Just.