We played our first "home" game against Weston on the smart turf field at Waltham HS. The venue came complete with a crowd, admittedly for a different brand of football. Had they been watching they'd have seen an attractive game with plenty of accurate passing and patient build-ups.
The game started slowly, with neither side taking any risks. We were holding possession well, and Weston didn't see much of the ball during the opening stages, when we created some good chances. Peter had a decent shot from 20 yards that zipped past the left post. Kirk, in unfamiliar territory, ran onto an attempted clearance 20 yards from the Weston goal. Some might have taken a shot from that distance, with the ball sitting up nicely (perhaps it's what Kirk had in mind), but it looked more like a cross to the left where Paul headed into the side netting.
We finally broke through when Paul chipped the ball over the defence for Ivan to run onto on the right wing. His cross was too high for Alex in the middle but was collected by Andy on the left side of the box. He steered inside the defender, and held off continued attention as he made himself an angle. The shot was hard and low, and although the 'keeper got a hand to it he could only turn it inside the post.
When Weston did manage to come forward in numbers we were able to catch them on the break. Alex was set free on the left and as he surged toward goal he was cynically fouled; the defender was lucky to escape with a booking. We had a rare tense moment shortly afterwards when Weston were awarded a free kick in a central position 25 yards out after Mike obstructed their central midfielder. A short touch and the ball was sent over the wall and dipped, only to hit the post. The attacker running in couldn't control the rebound and shot wide and over.
Space opened up even more in the second half and we made some good chances by switching the ball from one wing to the other. Peter played Ivan in down the right wing but his outswinging cross was too close to the 'keeper with Christer running in. Peter then had a couple more twenty yard drives, both of which almost hit the target. Tom was in the action when Andy knocked in a cross from the right. He met the ball about 15 yards out and his piledriver of a shot was heading for the roof of the net when the goalie somehow managed to get his hands behind it and push it over the bar.
Weston did create some chances, but they were rare. One opportunity came when Mike slipped while chasing a Weston attacker, but Kirk got across quickly to cover and delay the attack.
Our second goal was unusual: the referee made a dubious offside decision in Weston's favour on the left, and the free-kick was quickly taken but blocked before if reached our half. A diagonal pass was played to Andy on the edge of the box (by whom, I wonder). He turned his defender, ran towards goal, took his time lining up his shot... and hit it straight down the middle. Luckily the 'keeper didn't get his body behind the ball and it slipped through his arms and into the net
This was a confident display with lots of good passing, excellent teamwork and the right result - streets ahead of the first game.
Squad: GK (name?), Mick, Mike, Kirk, Ron, Kelvin, Pap, Tom, Andy, Paul, Peter, Ivan, Victor, Joe, Steve, Christer, Alex
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