Fortunately the rain just about kept away for the game. Badshot’s wide pitch was soft but in good condition. The grounds are getting a lot softer quickly with all the rain. Today we were missing Jake, Nathan, Adam, Jack and James, giving us just 12 players.
From the kick off it was going to be a physical game
with both teams trying to keep the ball and work it up the pitch and
both teams challenging hard for every ball. 4-3-3 again to put the extra
player in the midfield, playing downhill into the gusty wind to start
with. Although Finch were getting the runs in behind their defence
early, they weren’t able to test their keeper. Badshot got the first
goal pulling it back from the goal line for the shot from the edge of
the penalty spot.
This lifted Badshot and they put
on the pressure, forcing some passing mistakes from Finch high up the
pitch. Our lads were working very hard to press and win the ball off
Badshot too, but were getting stretched out front to back, creating 1v1s
in most positions. Badshot defended corners and free kicks, doing
enough to stop Finch hitting the target. And their 5 man defensive line
was proving hard to break through.
Badshot got their
second goal, Dan pulling off the initial save from a shot outside the
box and their striker being a little quicker to the loose ball in the
penalty box. 2-0 half time.
The wind dropped off a
little and Finch started the second half fired up with the wind at their
backs but playing uphill, keeping the ball more confidently following
the half time brief. Quicker passing and playing more compact to reduce
the 1v1s across the pitch. Badshot were on the back foot and Jacob’s
early shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the cross bar. Aaron
stepped up to take a Finch free kick just inside the halfway line, and
put the long ball over the stretching keeper and into the goal. 2-1 and
back in the game.
Both teams continued with the
physical style of football, Badshot holding the ball up well and getting
numbers forward quickly. Finch working the ball forward, making the
runs into space and winning the 1v1 battles most of the time with
determination, strength and hard work. Jacob landed hard from a Finch
corner, giving Alfie a chance to play up top. But we couldn’t quite link
up all the way through to the strikers, especially when electing to
play the ball off the floor, and Badshot were working hard to cut-out
the Hurricane’s shooting options on each attack with their numbers
getting in front of the ball quickly.
Dan made a
couple of excellent saves from Badshots longer range shooting, and even
was seen running with the ball up to the half way line. Badshot got the
next goal from a snap turn and shoot through legs, bouncing in off the
upright. As the game drew to a close, Finch were getting tired with
limited subs and the intensity of the game, but kept pushing for the
next goal right up until the final whistle. Final score 3-1 to the home
team.
Our lads showed they can step up and play
against the more physical sides, and have continued to work on their
possession based play. Just couldn’t quite get the break to grab the
equaliser when it was 2-1.
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