Finch and Burpham share the points, closing the gap on the division leaders….
Burpham were up for the game on Sunday 2nd December on the back
of last weeks 3-1 win over the Finch Sharks. The Hurricanes were fired
up after the 2-1 win away to Burpham. Burpham’s recent form has put them
on the same number of games and points as Finch. All the ingredients
for a great game at Finch!!
Finch were playing with
the wind in the first half and from the kick off it was all about Finch.
The focus in training and the warm up/briefing on playing simple
football was put into action. They were able to maintain possession
through the thirds, but couldn’t quite carry it all the way to the goal.
Adam couldn’t turn the ball home in the Burpham goal mouth and a cross
was taken off Max’s toes preventing the tap in (Darren’s photos show how
close that was). Against run of play, Burpham nicked the first goal
from a corner and subsequent scramble which Jake initially saved but
Finch couldn’t clear. Finch continued to keep the ball well and break at
speed on the counter attack. Their keeper was quick off his line and
the Finch through-balls were running too long. Meanwhile Burpham were
resorting to shooting from range. 1-0 at half time.
The
visitors were quick off the mark in the second half even though the
wind had backed off, and soon won a string of free kicks from dangerous
positions. Finch withstood the bombardment and continued to work the
ball up the pitch well, although the quality was beginning to reduce in
places. The Hurricanes had their own luck in a free kick initiated
scramble where the keeper dropped the ball onto Ollie’s head and Max
slotted it home. Both teams were going for it as the clocked ticked
down. Burpham had a shot off the upright which Alfie cleared off the
line and Jake made the diving saves to keep the lads in the game. Finch
were still looking the more threatening team, but neither team could get
the winner. 1-1 final score.
The lads are working
hard in both training and on the pitch, putting our plans into action
and playing for each other. Lots of positives to build on especially
with the current focus on “keeping it simple”. Thank you to Nick for
running the line today, Darren for the photos on facebook and to Callum
for helping out today (great to see him fully recovered and playing
football). And it was also good to see Dan back playing after his knee
injury a few weeks ago.
In the league things got
interesting today. Leaders Virginia Waters lost to struggling Abbey
Diamonds preventing them from breaking away from the top teams, so they
are now just 2 points ahead but having played an extra game. Abbey Youth
also won over Bourne, dropping them out of the top group on 9 points.
Badshot got the win against Finch Sharks putting them into the top group
on 10 points as well. Finch Hurricanes are back in 2nd place on goal
difference. But the league is incredibly tight, with the the top 6 teams
separate by just 3 points!!