Shaken, not stirred

Shake-Shake 1 - 4 MPS Newton

We had an excellent turnout for our first spring season game against Shake-Shake, freshly promoted from division 6. The field in Dorchester was brand-new turf, and the weather, cool and sunny, was perfect for a kick-about.

We started in impressive fashion - and I don't mean our smart new outfits courtesy of Pete Bradley's MPS. In the time it's taken you to read to here (unless you're a speed reader), we were a goal up. From the kick off a few had a touch (Kirk and Pete have been claiming assists) and Karsten played a direct pass down the left to the edge of the box. Bardot ran on and hit with the ball with the outside of his right boot low into the left side of the goal.

Minutes later, the Shake-Shake 'keeper attempted to clear the ball from the edge of the area, but Andy reacted quickly and blocked the clearance. He quickly controlled the ball and placed it between the stranded keeper and an equally forlorn defender to double our lead.

Shake-Shake were playing a physical game and gave us a couple of free kicks around their penalty area. Andy hit a direct kick wide of the right post, and shortly afterwards an indirect kick was awarded twenty yards in front of goal. Steve Shea touched the ball to Pete - who's clearly been practicing his shooting - and he hit a hard, low drive into bottom corner. We were 20 minutes in and three goals to the good.

As the half progressed, Shake-Shake came into the game, and had a few long range shots on our goal. Mike was commanding in goal when more dangerous situations arose. Twice he leaped to take dangerous high balls, first using John as a landing pad, then tumbling over the back of an attacking player and landing painfully - but kept a firm hold on the ball each time.

Our fourth goal, shortly before half-time, was similar to the first. Bardot ran on to a pass down the left side and used the outside of his boot to lift the ball over the 'keeper and into the far corner of the net - he made it look so easy.

In the second half Shake-Shake started playing more and we lost the thread for long periods, expending lots of energy to win the ball only to lose it almost immediately. Our chances were few, but pretty clear-cut when they came. Ivan ran onto a low cross from the left but hit his shot off a stretching defender and out for a corner. Bardot had a chance for his hat-trick from a similar position after Christer drilled in a low cross from the left. His shot again beat the keeper but bounced off the bar.

For all their confident passing, Shake-Shake were not making good chances, and Mike Altchek was sweeping well. Eventually they did carve an opening, and when Tim's clearance didn't get past the edge of the box, a powerful shot came back between him and the stretching Kirk, leaving Mike Orscheln with no chance.

This was a strange game where we absorbed a lot of pressure and had to work hard to get the ball. When we did get it and managed to control it, though, we were ruthless - I can only recall one shot off target in the game. Four goals and, more importantly, three points in the bag.