Sunday 23rd Feb, The mighty hurricanes took on Woking
It might have been the holidays or the break from football last weekend, but the lads were struggling with their focus in the warm up. A strong cross wind and bobbly pitch made for difficult conditions in the game. But they turned it around as soon as the whistle blew to start the game. Woking playing 3-4-3 against Finch’s 4-3-3 formation.
From the outset, Finch were pressing Woking hard and forcing them deep into their own half. Finch first to the ball and giving them no time to play, it was only a matter of time before Finch bagged the first goal. A hard shot from Lewis C deflected by an excellent save, the rebounding ball falling to Cam’s feet for the half volley finish into the roof of the net. 1-0
There were a string of other opportunities straight after this. Lewis B left footed shot was equalled by another excellent Woking save. Jack beat the keeper to a perfectly weighted through ball, but put the ball just wide of the post. Lewis B’s left foot was in action again, not able to keep the shot from the edge of the box down….but not far away!!
Woking started to apply their own pressure and forced quality saves from Jake. A diving save to his right to parry the ball clear from a bullet shot in the penalty box and a point-blank save inside the 6 yard box where he spread himself wide to make the block. Finch were defending well with Aaron, Alfie, Billy, Dan, Adam and Nathan delaying, dispossessing and suppressing the Woking attackers and working the ball forwards to start the next attacks.
Ben M was unlucky not to get a goal in a goal mouth scramble, initially falling on the ball when challenged by the keeper and then having his followup shot blocked by a defender. Quick combination play between Cam and Lewis B gave Lewis B the space to curl the ball with the outside of his boot into the top corner of the goal. 2-0 half time.
Lewis C had to rest due to a tight thigh muscle, so a quick shift around in the team sheet and we were back in action. Jack’s pace was causing the Woking defenders a real problem, but he couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball for his shot when Joe picked him out.
Woking were working hard to get back into the game and caught Finch on the back foot. Woking won a few corners in quick succession and managed to scramble the ball into the Finch net off Jake’s parrying clearance. 2-1
Woking were unlucky not to get the penalty for the clear push in the goal mouth and Jake was called into action again to tip a dipping Woking shot over the cross bar.
These let-offs seemed to kick start Finch’s second half performance. More quick combination passing from the back line through the midfield and to the forwards kept Woking under pressure and the chances were coming again. Lewis B forced another save from the keeper before Lewis C put Joe through on goal to extend the lead to 3-1. And Cam got a second goal from Joe’s assist in a crowded penalty area. 4-1
Jack and Lewis B chased down a long ball but the final shot went wide. Joe had a lot of joy driving the ball to the touchline for the cut-back, but the final shots missed the target. As the clock ran down, the frustrations were rising and we picked up a yellow card for a pointless offence after the whistle had stopped play. Finch definitely play better football when they don’t get involved in the on pitch bravado!!
