The Blues returned to action at their home ground of Cardea - which is starting to become a bit of a fortress! The Blues achieved two new things today; one being hitting double figures for the first time this season, and two having a full squad of 15 to pick from.

Unfortunately it was Holbeach who were struggling for numbers this time, having only 8 turn up; a very familiar story for us, both last season and this season so far. Unlike some teams over the last season and a half, we were willing to match 8v8 for the first half - which is probably why we were picked for the FA fairplay tournament at the beginning of the season.

Blues started strongly 8v8, and in the first 5 minutes had created 3 chances, converting one of them. Playing with a smaller team really exposed how big the adult size pitch was and how much running is needed out there. JJ and Edgar both covered a lot of ground offensively and defensively from the off. To be fair to Holbeach’s midfield and centre backs in defence, they were very strong with and without the ball and made it very competitive in the middle of the pitch.

It was clear that pace of wingers was going to be the way to goal - like most weeks, its our plan A. Edgar, taking on two down the left, squared for JJ to have a long range effort low off the far left post. A minute later saw Tyran have a shot from distance too, deflected wide.

The 5th minute popped up and so did Tyran, to tap in another outrageous run from Edgar down the left hand side of the pitch. This is starting to become a bit of a habit now for Edgar, relishing his new role in attacking midfield. Beating several players, Edgar drove into the box and squared the ball across the box from the line for Tyran to tap in easy-peasy for 1-0.

A bit of complacency came in, and within minutes Holbeach had levelled. It was clear that not only did they have strength in the team, but also some serious pace up front. They exposed our defence down the right with pure pace, before squaring to the edge of the box to find two unmarked attackers who tapped in to equalise. Not the greatest defending from the Blues, but trying to keep a formation steady with just 7 outfield players is a task in itself.

Blues didn’t let their heads drop and went on the attack immediately through Edgar on the left; his low cross had Josh having two attempts that rebounded to the 6 yard box, with Tyran back to goal going for an acrobatic spin shot that whistled just past the top corner. On another day, JJ steaming in might have been the better option.

2 minutes later it was all happening again. JJ, solid as ever in the middle and pushing forward when he could, played a great ball over to Josh on the left who at the third time of asking whipped in a cross that had Tyran, unmarked, crashing his effort off the bar from a few yards out.

10th minute and it was time for Josh to get on the scoresheet. This time, great work from Tyran, down the left beating two and delivering low and hard across the box again for Josh to tap in for 2-1.

2 minutes later and it was all starting to come together. JJ, starting the move again after picking up the ball in his own half, confidently dribbled past a player, knocked a lovely ball down the right for Josh to charge onto. As he took on their left back, he just had the beating and all of a sudden Holbeach’s defence just opened up. A great low driven ball across field had Edgar easily first time roll the ball into the back of net past an oncoming goalkeeper rushing out.

The next 5 were competitive in the middle, with Holbeach trying several long balls through to their striker for one-on-ones. Luckily Rahim, Maxim and TJ were up to the challenge, covering each other and making last ditch, impressive challenges to sweep up any attack. Warren had done more with his feet clearing than with his hands so far.

Blues were giving back just as much as they were being given and Ari could have had 2 goals in a minute. This time Connor, entering the field with Jack, had them both causing problems down the wings. Connor beat one and clipped the ball through for Ari to charge onto, who hit the near side netting just inside the box.
Literally from the goal kick Evrian, playing in midfield, pushed up and again knocked a ball through that had a great save forced from a Deshawn shot. The corner delivered in well had Ari spinning and smashing his effort off of an angle off bar and post.

20th minute in and some nice football between Connor and Jack saw them go on an awesome run down the left, beating two, cutting into the box and looking up to see Connor unmarked again to smash in first time. 4-1.

3 minutes later saw an onslaught from Blues, pouring forward again with Connor setting up Josh to shoot into the keeper first time, and minutes later a very hard-battling Deshawn shooting wide from the angle. The Blues, if they had their shooting boots on, could have been in double figures already. Edgar was delivering corner after corner, resulting a game of ping-pong in the box and Deshawn, Josh and Alfie were swinging at balls deflecting all over the place.

The 20th minute popped up and number 2 came for Connor. A great ball from Alfie had him sprinting on and rounding the goal keeper very calmly indeed to score his second of the day. A great return to the team from Connor - a delight to see.

It must be fair that Holbeach kept going despite the score, which is great to see. They were rewarded as their speedy striker got the best of our defence again and rushed into the box from the angle. Warren came out and seemed to have saved the ball legitimately. The ref however, feeling otherwise, rewarded the penalty.
The pen was hit hard to the top corner, which saw Warren pull off an almighty save right-handed. Unfortunately the ball, not quite going over the bar, fell almost on the line next the post for an on rushing player to get to just before Warren did. 5-2.

Half time brought an end to a good old-fashioned battle – albeit a very comfortable one for the majority of the time - in the middle of the pitch.

At the start of the second half, I began drip-feeding the odd player of my full 11 squad onto the field. A decision I’d told their manager was mainly due to the fact I had my full 15 man squad here wanting to play 11 aside, and I needed them all to play. This system, though, has been used on us many times and within the rights of the game. Their manager seemed both surprised and thankful when I said we’d go toe-to-toe for the first half.

Within seconds of the second half, Ari finally netted his deserved goal. This time great work from Evrian in midfield, with him taking on 2 players on the right and getting the better of them to find Ari on the edge of the box. He had time to control, roll the ball out of his feet and hit low into the bottom corner. Another quality finish.

A minute later and Ari had 2 goals for the day after all. This time Edgar, back on, showing some real brute strength down the right hand side, delivered another great ball across goal. Pumas were queuing up at the back post, with the ball falling to Ari for another tap in and to make the score 7-2.

3 minutes later saw Deshawn battling away again, maybe being guilty of taking on too many players at a time, had two shots just wide of each post within minutes of each other.

A minute after saw Alfie getting in on the action down the left hand side, after good pressure from Maxim playing second half in midfield. Alfie, dancing past two and into the box, could only scuff his shot into the keeper’s hands.

52nd minute and Connor was linking up well in the middle from Maxim, put a great through ball through for Tyran to charge onto and away from the defence. As the keeper came out, there was no point in which I was concerned he would miss. Tyran calmly rounded the keeper, and dribbled the ball into the goal before hammering it into an empty goal. 8-2.

Holbeach were still trying to have a go, and their best player of the day was a little lad in the middle who again picked up the ball and chipped it over our defensive line for their speedy striker to hammer on to, round Warren and put into the net. 8-3

2 minutes later saw another great save from the Holbeach keeper. This time, a move down our right from Tyran saw a square ball get deflected into the box and nearly go in off Maxim. The ball, being cleared to the edge of the box, saw an awesome right-footed half-volley from Rahim, playing in the midfield, pushed brilliantly around the far right hand post.

6oth minute and it was 9 for the Blues. Rahim, battling in the midfield still, played some nice football with Evrian who found Connor on the edge of the box. Connor took one touch, looked up and smashed the ball high over the keeper into the roof of the net for a hat-trick! A very well deserved hat-trick too, from a great performance.

The last ten saw JJ have a good effort from almost the half way line, playing in defence for most of the second half. With another 2 players just one goal off a hat-trick, I had a real problem trying to rotate my players as much as possible.

With 5 minutes to go it was Jack and Flynn’s turn to return to the field. The words I was left with from Jack were, “My brother (our linesman) is here to watch me today and I want to get him a goal.”

Within seconds of being on the pitch, he picks the ball up on the left and goes on a mazy dribble, beating two defenders and cutting back into the box. With players queuing up again, Jack made the right decision and shot right-footed - hard. The keeper, only getting a hand to the ball, couldn’t stop it continuing into the roof of the goal. A great moment for Jack individually, his family and also for the team. He had deserved a goal all game after his really hard-working performance. 10-3.

The whistle blew minutes later, bringing an end to a delightful scoreline and really positive, moral-building victory – particularly after last week’s defeat! Superb stuff, Blues!

Man of the match: Connor. Hat-trick man! Awesome all round performance - great to have you back!