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2 Mar 2008: Crawley Panthers 0:5 Grasshoppers March 3, 2008

Posted by editor in : Uncategorized , trackback

This performance underlined just how important confidence is to a team.  With three wins in the last four games, 13 goals scored and 4 conceded, we have developed a winning habit, together with the individual and collective confidence which comes with winning.  Crawley Panthers finished third in this league last year, but with a very similar squad this year, for whatever reason they have struggled much as we have.

 

 

 

Looking at the early exchanges, there was little between the teams.  They had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half and bombarded our defence with long balls, while we found it difficult to work the ball out of own half.  They attacked us down both wings and had a number of players with pace and skill.

 

 

 

Keeping faith with the players who had performed so well in the last few games, the starting line up was the same as last week, with the exception of J-P coming back into the centre of defence and Callum joining Ryan and Matt on the bench. There is no doubt that the wind was crucial factor in the first half, and there was a danger of the midfield being overrun, with both Jake and Scott more attack minded and only Craig trying to hold back the tide.  With only 20 minutes on the clock, J-P pushed up into midfield and Callum came on at the back and the tide was immediately turned.  We started to attack them and deservedly took the lead through a set piece, when Nip’s well taken corner was turned in from close range by Ben, who had another excellent game up front.  We also had another great chance when J-P burst through and narrowly missed the target, possibly due to the defender desperately hanging onto his shirt with both hands, though to be fair the ref played a good advantage, as the first contact was well outside the box.

 

 

 

1-0 up at half time was a good outcome and we turned to have the wind at our backs high in confidence.  A few minutes into the second half, saw the best move of the game with the ball being worked smartly down the left, in to Craig, who cleverly turned and set up JP who drilled the ball into the net from outside the box.  You could almost see the confidence rising in the team, and failing in the opposition, who had still not done much wrong.

 

 

 

From then on, we attacked them at will.  Tom pushed forward into midfield to allow Ryan to come on at left back- not that he spent much time there.  We rampaged forward, with every player winning his personal battle.  Those players who came off to allow others on had done nothing wrong at all- it was just that everyone deserved to get in on the act.  Nip finished another good move, Ben helped himself to a second and Matt was the most popular scorer of the day, when he volleyed in from close range to round of another great move, even if he was too tired to celebrate!  Harry had one of his best games in terms of effort, and got himself into numerous excellent positions, only to be denied by a mixture of good goalkeeping and a faulty radar.

 

 

 

To be fair to

Crawley , they never stopped trying and they didn’t resort to some of the more distasteful tactics we have seen from some other teams.  It was unfortunate for them that the back four and Josh were in no mood to be trifled with and I can think of only one instance when they really should have scored, whereas we could have had double figures easily.  The rest of their attacks were ably dealt with.  It is especially pleasing to see Josh growing in stature with every game and earning another clean sheet.  He spent much of the second half patrolling the midfield 10 yards outside his area, and was quick and decisive when claiming balls which otherwise might have been difficult for us.

 

 

 

The attitude or effort of all of the 14 players involved was first class.  Everyone did their bit (and more) and showed great team spirit.  We also saw several players comfortably playing in different positions.  The referee commented to me afterwards that the players were enjoying themselves again and congratulated us on an excellent performance.

 

 

 

Goals this week for Ben (2), J-P, Nip and Matt.  MoM is a really difficult one, with everyone playing so well.  If there has to be one, then I would give it to J-P who was involved everywhere, but it could equally have gone to any of Sammy, Skelly, Tom, Nip or Ben, with everyone else also in the frame.  CRAP award this week goes to Harry, who failed to score from a hatful of chances.  On another day he would have scored six himself!

 

 

 

We are climbing up the league fast and two of the five games we have left give us the opportunity to show the top teams what we are capable of.  If I was in their shoes I would be afraid- very afraid.  Four wins out of five, 18 goals scored, 4 against.  There aren’t many teams in the league in that form!  Five games left- let’s finish on a high.

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