We travelled the short distance to our friends at Standground College for our first game of 2013. Knowing the Blacks quite well and keeping an eye on their results, it’s plain to see with a couple of wins under their belts they have had some great improvement.

We have had a string of great performances before Christmas, playing some truly wonderful stuff that has seen us climb the league table. So with the Christmas break done and dusted we were hopeful to continue our good run of form.

We started with Jack Roberts in goal, Callum McAuley centre-back, Riley Deadman left wing-back, with James Bulter playing on the right, Ellis Horn and Alfie Rogers were our centre mid-fielders and our lone striker was Omar Ellis.

We knew from the start formation and shape would be an issue, has we had two experienced players still on holiday, so with no subs the lads were told to support and look after each other more than ever.

Now the first half saw us with good possession, plenty of attacks, but we lacked the great team play we have built over the past few months. Powerleague play deep, bodies behind the ball and plenty of them. We were trying to go through them rather than around them with little success. It was nil-nil for most of the half. We were just a touch rusty and had forgotten our passing game. Omar was coming too deep to pick up the ball, doing the job of the mid-field and crossing good balls with no one getting into the box. This was leading to many of our chances coming from the edge of the box and nothing really clear cut. Although we played mostly in the Powerleague half, every time Powerleague’s goalie made a save our mid-field were set up to far up the pitch for the big kick out. This was taking everyone out of the game straight away, leaving Callum on his own. Thankfully Callum was having a great game and was dominating in the air and reading the play really well, this kept Powerleague pinned in their own half, there were a few chances that slipped through and Jack dealt with them well. with it still nil-nil and half time getting closer our opponents did give us a couple of scary moments, which could have seen them take the lead. With yet another attack it was left to Omar to break the dead lock and send us into a 1-0 half-time lead.

Half-time team talk was truthful, we were along way off our usual standard. It wasn’t the fact that the lads weren’t trying, you couldn’t knock them for effort, we were being just too forceful and not playing as smart as we could. Our aim was to pass the ball about a lot faster and play into space with more forward runs, so we swapped a few positions around, put Riley at centre-back, Alfie left wing-back, moving James to the right Callum centre-midfield on his own, pushing Ellis alongside Omar, who was instructed to always be around the Powerleague box.

Second half started and it took a few minutes to find our feet, we found ourselves with Omar has our last man at one point, so clear instructions were sent out and the guys started to get a grip with the task in hand. Quickly Callum put us 2-0 up, shortly followed up by Alfie. At this point the team seem to settle down and we looked more in control. Up pops Callum for his second of the half, 4-0. Ellis was pushed nearer to Omar for support and take a few bodies away from him, as he was heavily marked all game and clearly seen as a threat. Unfortunately for Omar he remained with two or three shadows for the rest of the half, this left him with just half chances, but it did leave plenty of space for Ellis to put in the teams fifth.
After more pressure we forced another corner, sent low to the near post from Ellis, Alfie arrive to slot it pass the keeper. Callum rounded of a great performance by getting his hat-trick, he really added the passing back into our game. Alfie showed some powerful runs down the left, sending in a shot that was debateable if it was going in, so was made sure by Ellis following up. Its 8-0 now and it’s has to be said it could have been twice as many if it wasn’t for the powerleague’s goalie, he was my man of the match and I sure he would be the choice of many others. On the few occasions Powerleague ventured into our half Riley and James dealt with the danger well, with Jack having a very quite half, would have liked to have got Jack out on pitch this game, but with our slow and uncomfortable start we felt it best to let the team get use to playing together again.

I’m not going to be too hard on the guys, as I said before, they all showed lots of effort and with the two week break and no training in between they looked a lot better at the end of the match and pull out a great result.

So back to training, burn off that Christmas pudding and get back up to speed, keep putting in the hard work and I’m sure our football will be flowing again.

Very pleased how you all turned your performances around and you really deserved your great start to the new year.

Well done Lads!

Go Go Pumas!