Not quite the Idyllic-end-of-summer conditions for our first game at home with the fine rain. Everything was soaked in minutes!! But the Large Leas was in excellent condition, the rain making the ball skid away. My team sheet dissolved before the game started.
We had 16 fit players going into the game today with
Alfie, Ben A and Nathan returning to action after resting up last week.
Teddington has a single sub on their travels and were playing in their
white away kit.
We set up the team in 4-4-2 to
provide more coverage for the width of the Large Leas and more focus up
front. And once the game settled down, our training on possession from
the last few weeks was being used on the pitch. The lads made good use
of the new FA law change about receiving the goal kick in the penalty
box, creating space further up the pitch.
Teddington
were a physical team with good possession skills of their own. Their
defensive line was very strong too….making it hard for Finch to create
the space and opening behind their lines. Both teams were challenging
and pressing, the Hurricanes looking like the stronger team at times.
But Teddington were getting close, especially on the back of a series of
fouls given away. Jake was on his toes coming out for every long ball
played through.
Unfortunately Nathan and Ben A had to come off early, one for a pull to his leg and the other for studs into the ankle.
The
first goal came from Lewis C playing a perfectly weighted ball through
to Jack, who drove into the box and fired home his shot. By now the game
was becoming very stretched front-to-back, with Finch keeping the ball
deep in their own half but the strikers staying up on the defenders.
Finch
1-0 up at half time. Interesting half time talk, with the lads all
wanting to switch to 4-3-3 to strengthen the centre mid and give another
attacking player up top, sacrificing some of the wide play. So we made
the switch and assigned new roles. The main instructions were to keep
the ball, release it quickly and to shorten the field. Its good to see
the lads starting to take ownership for some of the decisions now….they
have plenty of opinions, thats for sure!!
Finch came
very close to doubling their lead in the first few minutes with a cross
into the 6 yard box, the final touch taking the ball high over the
cross bar. But it was quick feet and delicate control from Cameron that
got the next goal, skipping past a number of the Teddington player
challengers, a quick 1-2 with Lewis B on the edge of the box and left
foot shot into the net.
Teddington conceded a
penalty from Harrington’s shot onto an outspread arm. Aaron stepped up
to take the penalty, but his penalty was saved by the keeper.
As
the game went on, both teams were giving away free kicks in dangerous
positions. But neither team could capitalise on their chances. Finch
defending well and in numbers. Teddington went down to 10 men when one
of their players received a 2nd yellow card for kicking out at Adam.
Finch kept the attacking pressure on and the clean sheet, final score 2-0.