Sunday 12th January, Finchampstead Hurricanes took on Woking….the results
Welcome to the second half of the 2019-20 season. We start 2020 in 5th place and 8 games to play.
The lads were very focused on the warm up and looking sharp. The extra football over the Christmas break will have helped, but I think there are also some lads maturing in their approach. Nathan had to pull out from today’s lineup after last weeks training, Adam serves out the last game of his ban and James is still unfit to play.
Finch got off to a good start especially with the work we have done on pass and move. Woking were under a lot of pressure, particularly from Finch’s overlaps and attacking runs in behind the defence. Early shots from Ben M and Jacob didn’t find the net, Woking’s keeper able to hold onto the ball preventing the followups.
It was Alfie’s quick foot work skipping past 3 defenders in a crowded box and slipping the ball inside the near post for the opening goal. Marcus had to pull out of the game when something popped in his hip after chasing down a long ball…..initial assessment is soft tissue damage around his hip joint.
Finch won a string of corners in quick succession, Harrington poached the goal from Cam’s initial shot in the ensuing scramble. Woking were throwing numbers forward at every chance, with 4 upfront players at times. The Hurricanes were giving Woking more space so couldn’t capitalise on the reduced numbers in their midfield/defence. Jake was called into action, blocking a shot with an outstretched foot to keep the score at 2-0 for half time.
Woking came out all guns blazing in the second half, Finch starting to get tackled with the ball more as well. Woking’s pressure forced a corner and they stabbed home the ball in the penalty box scramble. The extra space Woking had gave them a shooting opportunity on the edge of the penalty box for the wonder-goal equaliser in the top corner curling away from the diving Jake.
Both teams were now chasing the next goal and the game was getting scrappy at times. Finch definitely had the better chances. Shots from Lewis B, Lewis C and Ben M. Plus Finch were repeatedly crossing the ball into the box but couldn’t get on the end of it. Woking hit the inside of the upright in another goal mouth scramble, Finch throwing bodies in the way to block the followup shot.
The Hurricanes took the lead again when Jacob picked out Ben M inside the 6 yard box. In the final seconds of the game Lewis B was on the break with the ball, outpacing the last Woking defender but was brought down before he could get clear. 3-2 the final score and it could have been a lot more on the day!! And we picked up a couple of yellow cards for kicking the ball away.
Todays win puts the lads on 13 points and 4th place above Claygate on goal difference only. Just 3 points off 3rd place Badshot. In the other league game Staines extended their top table position with a 3-2 win over Abbey Diamonds.
Next week we are away to Yateley Dragons in the SPL Cup.
