07/11/2009 - Old Actonians 5's 2 v 0 Winchmore 4's

Home again for the 5’s this week and again the boys doing us proud by all having availability.

A couple of changes to the side this week compared to last due to players coming down which meant that the bench was very strong,

What can you say to sum the match up? ….. Smash and Grab!

The game started off with Hill surging forward and putting a lot of pressure on the defense who were looking a little on edge at the start with Yev the keeper being called into action early on with some fine Takes and 1 v 1 saves. Eventually the communication was upped with the back 4 and although Hill kept coming Actonians defense kept pushing them back.

Actonians had a very few chances in the first half but 10 mins into the fray a Winchmore Hill goal kick found the head of Mark “ The Farmyard” Farjad who directed his header over the top of the defense and into the path of James White who calmly slid the ball past their keeper for 1-0

Still the Hill pushed forwards and the defense and midfield kept pushing them back Mark V was all over the pitch putting in so many tackles and blocks I couldn’t keep up with him which, let’s face it usually isn’t hard.

At half time our keeper had kept us in the game and the boys had worked very hard to keep the score line at 1-0.

Couple of changes after half time and we were away and the bombardment continued and at most points Acton had 10 men behind the ball and playing off the back foot but still holding strong throughout the half repelling attack after attack while our forward players weren’t getting too much of the ball. Then a rare attacking throw in was directed at Mat Burgess who headed it over their defender only for the ball to fall and bounce to a perfect height and then wellied it into the far corner of the net. 2-0

Acton soaked up the pressure well and the game finished 2-0. Although the whole team put 100% effort in honorable mentions must go to Graham Atkins and Mark V while the MOM was Yevgeny for pulling out so many saves, that kind of performance gives the rest of the team confidence to go out and put the kind of battling performances that you need when your backs are against the wall . All credit to Winchmore Hill 4’s they dominated the game but didn’t put their chances away while Actonians seized their opportunities.

BIG BIG match this week vs our 4th team and the 5’s will need to pull out all the stops to get a result but I have every confidence!