Man of the Match: Antoine B
After a slightly nervy start, the team began to gel and create the space that we’d talked about before the match. In a rather relentless period of S Anselm’s pressure, Antonie B poked home the opener, and then stepped up to double the lead from the spot after he had been clearly fouled in the box.
There was a straight switch at half-time, with Ben E replacing Edward H in the centre of defence in a straight 4-2-4 formation, as the visitors continued to try and find space on the two wings.
The second half started in poor fashion, however, as both centre backs went walkabouts, leaving 2 unmarked Westbourne strikers to have some shooting practice and halve the deficit. This rather shook the team into action, and in particular, Lewis H.
After being told at half-time to become more involved in the game, Lewis H, one of the two midfielder, pushed forward at every opportunity and bagged a quick brace – the first, a rather scuffed shot which somehow crept over the line, and the second a clinical finish from 10 yards out.
With a 4-1 lead, it would have been easy to take the foot off the gas, but S Anselm’s continued to pressurise and create opportunities with quick interchanges of passes. Antoine completed his hat-trick and then grabbed a fourth with two more clinical finishes before the defence repeated their horror show and let Westbourne score another consolation.
With time running out, Patrick, who had given a fine display on the left wing, curled S Anselms’ 7th goal of the match into the top corner.
In a match where the defence had little to do, John W (captain) was able to move up into midfield for the latter part of the game and showed solid presence throughout. Jonathan D worked relentlessly in midfield, linking well in particular with Sebastian M. Full-backs Andrew C and Bertie S built up good partnerships with their respective wingers, and Will W in goal had very little to do apart from picking the ball out of the net a couple of times, and the odd tame save.
The match was filled with some good individual displays, but the teamwork and discipline shown by the whole group made this match a success. With a little more solidity and assurance at the back, this team has a lot more to offer this season.
JW
Posted on
Wed, January 19, 2011
by MAC