Match Report

Vets 1 V CS Azur 29 November Score 4-0.

Team: T.Sejerson, P.Wrigley, B.Morris, R.Waite, C.Ledbury, B.Lewis, F.Dehombreux, A.White, F.Harbusch, M.Gutierrez, J.Bentham. Sub: S.Shiono

A difficult game was forecast by our Captain and so it proved with a score line which was maybe a bit flattering but was also merited.

We lined up with Tommy in goal, Paul Roger and me at the back, Carl, Freddie and Brian in centre midfield and Jez on the right, Mike on the left with Tony and Frank up front.

We got off to a great start with a goal inside a few minutes. The Azur right back played a ball across their own penalty which was pounced on by Frank at the edge of the box on the right hand side. Frank showed a clever mind to square the ball back across the box rather than shooting, to Freddie who struck a sweet low volley into the corner of their net. A superb shot and well set up by Frank.

Azur responded and came at us and were closing us down well and perhaps because of this we were playing in a slightly disjointed fashion, and not stringing the passes together as we had done in some previous games. They were attacking but we were managing to keep them out and as usual Tommy’s handling in goal was magnificent as they tried some efforts from distance.

We then had another slice of good fortune when Mike pushed forward and got round the defender to home in on goal. As the goalkeeper and other defenders closed in on him at the left hand post, Mike very intelligently crossed over to the back post where Jez had made a good run and side footed home a half-volley. An extremely well taken goal.

So half time came and although we were 2 goals up Carl was still a bit cheesed off with our lack of fluency, which we all recognised was true.

The second half started and we improved a bit in our movement and passing. Freddie had to go off after being caught by a stamp on his foot, which was a blow as Freddie had been doing an excellent job in breaking down their attacks. He was replaced by Sami who proceeded to have a very positive impact by holding the ball and distributing it well.

We then scored a third, when Morris himself took the ball out of defence and pushed forward with it, as the defenders came to me I laid the ball off to Jez and carried on my run into the penalty box which acted as a distraction to the Azur defence. Jez then responded to Carl’s earlier comment “he hits great crosses we just don’t know where they are going to go…” with a peach of a cross to Frank on the far side of the penalty and Frank showed true class by taking one small touch to control it and then sending a fierce low drive past the goalkeeper. It was an extremely well worked goal (even if I do say so myself).

The third goal took some of the pressure off us but it was still an extremely competitive game with Azur still applying pressure but we were keeping them at bay.

The fourth goal was an absolute cracker from Roger who picked the ball up around the half way line and slalomed past about 3 of their players before finishing with a terrific shot which left the keeper with no chance. A great individual goal from our impeccable sweeper.

The game finished without any more incident and we were all very pleased to achieved such a score line against a good side who pushed us all the way. The main difference had been in the way that we had taken our chances and defended as a team from forwards through to the extremely hard working midfield where Carl and Brian put in another great shift with good support from Mike, Jez, Freddie and Sami and intelligent play from Tony and Frank. Roger was his usual efficient self aided by strong tackling from Paul and mindless blocking from me. The goals were all the product of clever thinking, good delivery passes/crosses and excellent finishing from all the individual scorers. No doubt we will face a tough game at their ground but a very pleasing victory against tough opposition.

MOM: B Morris