Back On Track

Finally, after weeks of waiting, we got back on the pitch and back to winning ways. It's lovely being top of the league but the frustration at not playing, the fear the good momentum built over recent months slipping away, the boredom of Sunday afternoon's doing something else.... was proving hard to bear. So we got exactly what we needed: a cup game.

Let's get the obvious bit out of the way first, we won 13-1 with goals scored by Will, Ben, Adam, Josh, James, Luke, Fyn, Jack and Michael. But we also missed a load more and whether that's down to a bad bounce, a rubbish ball, or a slight panic in front of goal, we have to learn to be more decisive and more clinical with our finishing. We made plenty of chances and looked very good in patches. But, we rushed it a bit too much, we hoofed it forward when we should have played it square. The patience and intelligence we wanted wasn't there. Maybe it was inevitable against opposition a couple of leagues below us and a match after weeks of inaction? When the floodgates opened, all the boys wanted to rush in and score. Full credit to Crowmarsh Tigers however, for never losing heart in filthy conditions and scoring an excellent goal.

There are many positives to take forward as we enter this crucial part of the season. Will showed once again he knows where the goal is and scored two very nice individual goals and got in the right areas to finish the other two. Fyn has new scoring boots and continued to play the spaces between attack and midfield with intelligence and insight. Ben too, bagged a brace but was even more effective opening up the midfield with his slide rule passing. Michael from full back continues to dominate and threaten. Rory, Josh, Jack and Toby held a high defensive live and look an imposing four at the back. Out wide, Doddie dazzles with his touch and vision whilst Luke and Adam threaten the full backs, find space in the final third and are never afraid to go for goal. Joseph adds muscle and tempo in midfield and James brings the audacious flicks and tricks into tighter areas to make space for the runners. Add in Harry who is an able and willing deputy in goal and never flinches playing out and you have someone who offers the squad strength in depth. Throw in Henry and his excellent keeping and Nathan's goals, speed, strength and attacking nous and it soon becomes obvious: we have a chance this season, we have no reason to fear anyone, we control our own destiny.

So let's take the win and move on. Let's show the rest of the league in these remaining fixtures what we are capable of. There is not a single boy in this squad the coaches would be without. We have the talent... it's now all about the desire to play football the way we know we can.

Player of the Week: it was too cold to hang around so it went to everyone.