A first pre-season match ended
in a comprehensive victory with many
encouraging signs. Missing half a team through various commitments
from holidays to celeb(?) weddings and the fact we hadn't played as a team
since April, it took a while to get into our stride.
Playing on astroturf in rainy
conditions took us 20 minutes to adjust to and a few scares were
encountered. However the Panther kept the scores level and when
Russell put us ahead after their goalie went walkabout there was only one
winner.
Confidence gained, we started
to pass the ball short and to feet and before long Russ had added his second
from the edge of the box. 2-0 at half time.
With the opposition missing
more regulars than us the second half allowed the team to play with more
freedom. The defence was rarely tested but showed a willingness to play the
ball from the back. This was then translated into some cracking moves
further forward. Twice in five minutes this lead to the ball being worked
from defence through midfield to Gerry V out on the left. The first cross
was comfortably headed home by Luke (despite flashbacks from Man U last
season!) and the second riffled into the top corner for Russell to complete
his hat-trick. Luke went on to complete his own treble with a couple
of tidy finishes.
Although this ended as an
easy victory against a weak team plenty of good came out of the game. Scot
made some fine stops early on whilst the defence looked comfortable as a
unit and passed the ball well out of defence. The midfield and
forwards showed plenty of movement and skill and Russ & Luke can only
have benefited from a hat-trick apiece. And their best player enquired
about playing for us. Must have been impressed. #
Team: Scot Drummond, Neil
Hinty, Jim MacPherson, Leon Ashford, Dave Lawlor, Alex, Russell Stinson,
Adam Pomaro, Dave, Gerry V., Luke Pomaro.
Subs: Paul Conti, Matthew Conti.
MOM: Russell
Adam & Dave
|