Ole Cumnor

Since the start of the season we've been drumming into the boys some basic football truths.

1. Pass and move
2. Don't do too much on your own
3. Keep the ball on the grass
4. Be patient
5. Talk to each other

Yesterday, against Ardley… the boys put a big tick against 4 of those truths. Maybe (with the exception of both Harrys) the rest of the boys will use their voices next week?

In all fairness, they were superb against Ardley who were, for large sections of the game, reduced to chasing shadows. We started with Nathan and Harry S on the bench bringing Tom into centre-half to partner the reborn Fyn. Charlie and Toby offered solid, no nonsense defending at full back. Adam and Doddie instructed to torment and tease out wide whilst Joseph and Kyle told to keep the engine ticking over. Ben, nursing a bashed up knee, was joined by Finlay up front. Nathan was given a watching brief to see how he could harm the defence when he came on.

From the first whistle, Cumnor played football. There were neat little touches, triangles, lay offs, pick ups and players working the ball from side-to-side. Mostly, the boys were composed, not rushing or panicking, trusting their teammates in posession. Ardley have some excellent players, especially at the back, but Finlay was finding lots of space in dangerous areas. Growing in confidence he hit a shot from distance which the Ardley keeper unfortunately fumbled. 1-0.

The longer the half wore on the more accomplished we grew. Charlie had a great game on the flank linking up with Doddie. Tom was a real imposing presence at the back. Ben battled with his injury and would have kept going but it was wise to bring Nathan on despite finding himself with a bloodied nose minutes later. We went in 1-0 up but were completely in control.

In the second-half, Will - fresh from his rugby exploits - came on and smashed the ball into the back of the net with his first touch of the game (as he does). Then Cumnor went into overdrive. The realisation of how good these boys actually are, hit them. Whether it was Toby staying focussed and disciplined, Adam's dead-ball delivery, Joseph's desire, Kyle's neatness and work rate, the trickery of Will and Doddie… we have genuine footballing talent throughout the squad. Nathan, bloodied but not broken, terrified the Ardley defence racing at them, forcing them backwards. Twice on one raid he could have gone down but he didn't, he stayed on his feet and set up Harry S who made the perfect box run to score. 3 - 0. 

There could have been more goals… Will did something mind-boggling to make space but lashed the ball over the bar with his wrong foot. Fyn, yet again outstanding, hit the angle from 25 yards and Adam hit a screamer from even further out that just shaved the bar.

The boys were challenged as well to maintain a clean sheet for the first time in months. And they did. Despite Tom doing his best to jinx it by saying we're not going to concede just as Ash hit the bar.

We know when we've seen good football and we saw good football yesterday against a really good team. Dane said: 'it was like watching Barcelona' and even Doddie Snr was impressed. And how often does that happen?

Player of the Week: outstanding all round with special mentions to Charlie, Fyn and Fynlay but POW is Kyle for an excellent all round display.