Well the long awaited start of the season crept up on us this Saturday with the first game of the season at our new venue for the upcoming year at Wright Robinson College. The rain clouds soon parted just before kick off and the heavens shone down on us with a well deserved win against Droylsden Piranhas 2-1.
It will be out last season playing 7 a-side and last year with two key players leaving to play for another club we struggled sometimes to field a full squad/substitutions but this season with those players coming back as well as the addition of a player Hayley and I have been trying to sign for a few seasons we went
to the game with 11 strong players all eager to play.
A big problem last season for us was that we seem to concede in the first 5 minutes and this always put us on the back foot and it seemed like it was going to be the same again after we were caught out by not attacking the ball and they took a shot from outside the area and it went over our defenders head and Ethan
our keeper couldn’t react quick enough and it hit the roof of the net for Droylsden to go one up.
Sometimes it takes this for us to come alive and this was certainly the case, Louis and Josh at the back was playing more upfield and closer to their attackers and were more confident with the ball. George in midfield was controlling the play and winning anything in the air with his head. Matthew looked comfortable on the ball running at their defence, holding the ball and making some amazing passes to the runners on the field Nyle and Kiwi who would run through a brick wall if you ask them to. It didn’t take long for us to score a well deserved equalizer with a with a dazzling run by Matthew on the left wing showing some amazing dribbling skills with a cross on the line which took an unfortunate deflection as they tried to clear it.
We kept the pressure on them and Ethan was controlling his players on the corners and with George with his head and Louis with his blocks we were holding them at bay. And soon we went 2-1 up with a great up and over knock in by Kiwi from his trusted left foot which was turned in nicely by the top goal scorer from
last season Nyle.
Half time we made 4 subs as they were all eager to take part, Caleb, Dylan, Harry and Kobe entered the pitch for Josh, Louis, Nyle and Kiwi. This was not tactical in anyway but with a big squad this year it’s important that everyone has a fair share of football.
We were looked as strong as we did when we finished the first half and Harry made some great runs upfront but was denied a few times by their keeper who played a great game keeping his team in the game. This didn’t stop Harry trying and running onto everything that was given to him and I know he was disappointed but he shouldn’t be and I am sure the goals will come flooding in this season.
Dylan was making some great runs down the right with Kobe as his backup stopping anything in his path with some really important interceptions. Caleb was as always reading the game with some pin point passes to George in midfield carving up their midfield.
Ethan did what a keeper had to do when called upon and if their shots were not deflected by our rock solid defense he looked confident with his hands and feet in his first game of the season.
A minute to go with a loose ball to their striker and with a strong shot down to Ethan’s left hand post he was just as quick to react and got down, made himself long and with a strong hand tipped the ball round the post for a corner to keep us in the lead and secure the 3 points.
All in all a great performance against a team we haven’t played before and most of all our first win of the season with a lot of football to be played.
Mark & Hayley
