16 MAY 2009

Game 7 - Papamoa FC v Fury 2nds.

After a disappointing late default by the oppo the previous week but beneficial 3 points and rest for some of us, well me anyway, we travelled to Te Puna confident that we could rectify last year's shocking performance and defeat.

A couple of team changes to the starting line up with Dan in up front after a stella performance at training on Thursday night,  a few players back from trips away and a couple of the older troupers still out injured. Some thoughts of tinkering with the formation but the management team decided to stick with the same 4-4-2 that had seen us rise to 2nd in the league.

Always interesting to learn that the oppo don't have a full complement to start with but after another proper Stew Woodin warm up we lined up hoping for another blistering start. And so we did, not long in to the game and our goal machine centre mid Curtis rose like a salmon to nod one in and then warmed the back of the net with a scorching volley all totally with the run of play as we attacked Fury's goal time after time. The only down side to this was Curtis spending the next 80 minutes searching for the hat trick which he deserved but sadly never completed.

We passed the ball well and found the whippet Wood brothers out wide as often as we could, Tristan hitting the target for the 2nd time this season (from 25 yards) and subsequently doubling his tally for the year and Reuben joining in the goals with a superb run down the right flank and cool as you like finish leaving the bewildered keeper with no chance. Only a couple of blemishes in the 1st half being too many wasted opportunities (both Wood brothers finding the hay field several kms behind the nets), a decent strike from their centre forward with too much time on his hands and me striking the wrong side of the post. 4-1 up at half time which really should have been more and only the 1 shot on target against us.

The 2nd half followed much of the same pattern as the first, we had so much time and space, used the ball inteligentilly and at times really carved them apart. The quality of crossing from Tristan and Stewart was the best I've seen all season with the added plus of Coach Wayne coming on to give us that bit of Scottish mastery higher up the park. Not 100% sure on the order of goals scored but Wayne raced clear and casually side footed past the keeper, Reuben couldn't help but slot home Tristans cross from 0.001 of a yard, Dan completely out foxed their defence and nut megged the keeper like a pro, Stew hammered home from an acute angle and Dan must have scored another but my memory's not what it used to be and 9 goals is a lot to remember. To be honest all the goals were really well taken and I definitely sensed the enjoyment we were all having at finally notching up the result some of our previous performances had deserved.

The only down side, and this is particularly harsh, was conceding another which meant that it was the first time this year we'd let in more than the single goal, no one at fault as their 2nd was well created and finished off. Only other points to mention/I can remember are a stunning goal line clearance from Luke racing back nigh on 30 yards to hook the ball off the line and what can only be described as a shocker from 6 yards from me which goes some way to explaining why I haven't scored in open play for several seasons (although my defence will always be that I was in shock that Wayne listened to me when I asked him to let the ball run).

Top quality defending didn't go un noticed by the way, our back 4 and Craig have so far conceded the lowest number of goals in the league this season, the midfield didn't loose a tackle all day and our attacking options all causing major issues for the oppo. We are playing well but need to keep the momentum going, continue to support each other, provide options for the player on the ball, utilise our attacking strengths and concentrate on doing the basics well.

Well done all, including the subs, and we should all be looking forward to the next game and putting pressure on the top team which we play in 2 weeks.

Final score: Papamoa 9 - Fury 2nds 2
Goals - Curtis 2, Reuben 2, Dan 2, Lucky Wayne, Stew, Tristan.
POD - tba
Booked - no one

Cheers
Simon