Team – Cat, Longbaldie, Abba, RSP, Trumpton, Shaggy, Robbing New Man (The Ringer)


Formation 2-3 (theoretically)
We needed to break a 5 game run without a win to secure some silverware & promotion, a win or nothing, going for broke.  
From the start we took control of the whole pitch making space for each other & using the width this formation gave us to good effect. This was best passing & moving game we have played for some time & playing 3 across midfield without a striker enabled us to break things up in midfield & initiate attacks higher up the pitch with good support & width.  
We certainly had the better of the first exchanges & created a number of decisive attacks with Steve Nic, Steve Pugh & Shaggy all making great runs into space & having good chances on goal. Even Gary threatened with one mazy run & shot & another dive into space just curling a shot round the far left post, while both Clive & Gary broke up anything that came our way with solid defending (it was great to see Clive back wearing a bumble
tee shirt & a big smile) & Barry mopped up anything that came through.
But it was still 0 0! Their keeper having made a string of outstanding saves & we began to look pensive however after 10 mins the ringer came on for Clive at right back. His presence seemed to energise us again & we set about them with renewed vigour. The ringers overhead throw in seemed to raise their suspicions about him but I think we got away with it. We went in at half time still 0 0 once again wondering what we had to do to score.
Boss Hogg changed things in the 2nd half & withdrew RSP to right back, played the ringer as ctr attacking midfield & swoped Shaggy to right & Trumpton to left. Once again we set about them, our movement & passing raised itself to new heights with the ball never still & the interplay between Shaggy, Trumpton & the ringer ripping up the opposition. Longballdie & RSP provided a base for what became almost 10 mins of continuous attacks but this was win or bust so even if we were slightly exposed Boss Hogg kept his own council. This 10 min spell was the closest this team has ever come to total football as Shaggy, Trumpton, the ringer, RSP  & even Longballdie interchanged with diagonal runs popping up all over the place receiving and laying off the ball at a speed that totally dumbfounded Phoenix.
But it was still 0 0 & their keeper continued to make inspired saves & at times our shooting threatened to break all the windows in the clubhouse. The nerves were creeping back & the monumental effort of those 10 mins was beginning to tell. Then with 6 mins of the season left Shaggy found space on the right, latched onto a great through ball & thrashed an unstoppable shot past the keeper 1 nil. The effect was immediate the heads went up & we could smell blood, more neat interplay & Trumpton crashed in a 2nd. Another neat exchange on the right and Shaggy powered in a 3rd from a narrow angle between keeper and post. Clive came on for RSP and together with the Cat they continued to tidy up at the back. Phoenix grabbed a consolation before the ringer thundered in a forth and sent the tartan army into raptures on the sidelines.
A great win, super football and now onwards to the first division.

"/> Sarum Knights 6-aside
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14/10/08  Phoenix Fire  4-1
Player
Scored etc
Barry Hughes
Chris Mills
Clive Freed
Gary Neild
Rob Newman
Steve Nicholson
Steve Pugh

Match Report

Team – Cat, Longbaldie, Abba, RSP, Trumpton, Shaggy, Robbing New Man (The Ringer)


Formation 2-3 (theoretically)
We needed to break a 5 game run without a win to secure some silverware & promotion, a win or nothing, going for broke.  
From the start we took control of the whole pitch making space for each other & using the width this formation gave us to good effect. This was best passing & moving game we have played for some time & playing 3 across midfield without a striker enabled us to break things up in midfield & initiate attacks higher up the pitch with good support & width.  
We certainly had the better of the first exchanges & created a number of decisive attacks with Steve Nic, Steve Pugh & Shaggy all making great runs into space & having good chances on goal. Even Gary threatened with one mazy run & shot & another dive into space just curling a shot round the far left post, while both Clive & Gary broke up anything that came our way with solid defending (it was great to see Clive back wearing a bumble
tee shirt & a big smile) & Barry mopped up anything that came through.
But it was still 0 0! Their keeper having made a string of outstanding saves & we began to look pensive however after 10 mins the ringer came on for Clive at right back. His presence seemed to energise us again & we set about them with renewed vigour. The ringers overhead throw in seemed to raise their suspicions about him but I think we got away with it. We went in at half time still 0 0 once again wondering what we had to do to score.
Boss Hogg changed things in the 2nd half & withdrew RSP to right back, played the ringer as ctr attacking midfield & swoped Shaggy to right & Trumpton to left. Once again we set about them, our movement & passing raised itself to new heights with the ball never still & the interplay between Shaggy, Trumpton & the ringer ripping up the opposition. Longballdie & RSP provided a base for what became almost 10 mins of continuous attacks but this was win or bust so even if we were slightly exposed Boss Hogg kept his own council. This 10 min spell was the closest this team has ever come to total football as Shaggy, Trumpton, the ringer, RSP  & even Longballdie interchanged with diagonal runs popping up all over the place receiving and laying off the ball at a speed that totally dumbfounded Phoenix.
But it was still 0 0 & their keeper continued to make inspired saves & at times our shooting threatened to break all the windows in the clubhouse. The nerves were creeping back & the monumental effort of those 10 mins was beginning to tell. Then with 6 mins of the season left Shaggy found space on the right, latched onto a great through ball & thrashed an unstoppable shot past the keeper 1 nil. The effect was immediate the heads went up & we could smell blood, more neat interplay & Trumpton crashed in a 2nd. Another neat exchange on the right and Shaggy powered in a 3rd from a narrow angle between keeper and post. Clive came on for RSP and together with the Cat they continued to tidy up at the back. Phoenix grabbed a consolation before the ringer thundered in a forth and sent the tartan army into raptures on the sidelines.
A great win, super football and now onwards to the first division.


User Comments

Great to see shaggy looking like his old self, what a difference a couple of goals makes. 

Personally, I'm looking for ward to taking on those div 1 defences in my new attacking position.

Great result boys!