Beacy 2
Afc liberal 0
What a contrast in everything we did last week to today's game, a superb 2-0 win against a side we had never beaten in a league game before. Big contributions from everyone involved today and the perfect way to end a season and a marker for next year whatever league we end up in.
This weeks squad re-enforced with the return of captain Gunnell from injury, along with Tom Rudge making his debut and mike O'connor back in the squad.
Keen to bounce back from last weeks disappointment we made a fast start with debutant tom Rudge showing why manager Gunnell has been so keen to get him involved, causing the liberal right hand side no end of problems with his tireless work rate, 8 minutes on the clock and with what actually appeared to be a liberal free kick was awarded to us, Jonny Piercey swung the ball in from the touch line, the ball was only partially cleared and fell to top scorer Ryan Coker who from 15 yards out struck a rising shot which took a small deflection before heading into the top corner leaving the keeper with no chance, perhaps some luck in both the award of the free kick and the deflection but will take it 1-0. Liberal were struggling to settle into the game and their long ball tactics were bread and butter for our defence who won almost every header all game, and in fact we could of been 2-0 up soon after the first goal, tom Rudge played a hopeful ball across the goal from out wide, Pete Ebberson who was playing effectively as a right forward gambled and his first time shot crashed against the post, unfortunately we had no-one following in for what would of been a simple tap in. Eventually liberal forced a couple of corners, and had the first of two goals disallowed for a blatant push on keeper summers. Our second goal arrived following a terrific Piercey run in which he beat 5/6 players before the ball found its way wide to Pete Ebberson, having initially looked second best to win the ball, Pete brushed aside the defender before Doing well to keep the ball in on the byline and then sent across a ball which could only be flicked to the back post where Ryan Coker was lurking back to goal, and who expertly fired the ball over his own shoulder into the net, another decent finish to add to the growing collection 2-0. Liberal again had a slightly better spell and had a further goal chalked of for a deliberate handball followed by their number 9 prosper being booked for a blatant dive. We continued to have the better of the game up to half time playing some slick football at times whilst being defensively solid.
Second half began and almost immediately a break away led by Piercey, Ebberson and Coker could of led to a third goal, unfortunately the later didn't quite hold his run long enough and when the ball was played through was in an offside position. Liberal were seeing a fair amount of the ball, but it has to be said there game plan which appeared to be long diagonal passes looking for runners in behind the defence was on the whole totally unsuccessful(you can see why it is successful most weeks, that said there one big chance of the half was excellently saved at point blank range by summers, who was having another fine game. It has to be said we had created little in the second half,
On 70 minutes Rudge who had put in a great shift was replaced by o'connor and minutes later Ebberson who was equally impressive was replaced by Roberts, who on his last appearance for the club took the armband. Neither side created much in the last twenty minutes, Although unsurprisingly the beacy two man crime wave Ryan and Shaun picked up yellow cards for dissent. With the game heading into its last few minutes Preston replaced Wingfield at right back and that was it, another season done, a highly satisfactory end to it with a 2-0 win.
Time to thank all the supporters and Dave for all his help.
Man of the match - on his debut went to tom Rudge who was superb. Any of the eleven who started made a case to win it.
Ratings
Chris summers - 8 - important save, read game well
Phil Wingfield - 8 - consistent as ever
Matt carpenter - 8 - as per phils comments
Mark Bumpstead - 8 - won everything
Matt Gunnell - 8 - as per bumps comments
Jonny Piercey - 8 - ran midfield
Jason Douglas - 8 - terrific display, puts out so many fires before they start
Shaun Coker - 8 - ran himself into the ground for the course
Pete Ebberson - 8 - class in new position
Tom Rudge - 8.5 - set the tone on debut, work rate fantastic.
Ryan Coker - 8 - won't want season to end, finishing is now coming up to the level of the worlds best player luis Suarez. Credit to the manager who stuck with him through various controversies.
Subs
Dave Roberts - 7.5 - did well
Mike o'connor - 7.5 - as per above comments
Gordon - 7 - keen to make and impression after long injury lay off
