Incredibly we are already 1/3 of the way into the league season having played host to Woking Cougars on Sunday. With conditions pretty much perfect we were hoping for an entertaining game. There are some days when things just don’t click and from the start we were struggling to find any rhythm against an energetic and fired up Woking side who had come to disrupt and battle. Despite this we did create a few early chances and in the 8th minute Luca got a cross in from the right which was only half cleared to the edge of the box but Zahir’s first time shot was fired wide. 5 minutes later a corner from the left by Freddie saw Oli rise highest but his powerful header was tipped onto the bar and away to safety. Another sloppy piece of play then led to us going behind in the 15th minute when a quick break saw Dom unable to keep out a low shot from their striker. We made an early change mid way through the 1st half with Josh E coming on in place of Erim for his first league appearance of the season. Soon after we had another chance after Freddie’s cross found its way to Oli who’s touch and shot was again well saved. HT 0-1. We had a lot of puzzles to solve and a strong half time team talk saw us come out for the 2nd half knowing we had to be better. JJ replaced Josh DK at half time after Josh picked up a slight knock but had done well having earned his first start of the season. We came out with renewed desire and all of a sudden we were moving the ball better and dominating territory and possession. Zahir went close with a snap shot from an angle following a corner but could not keep it down. We made more changes on 45 minutes with James and Luke replacing Oli and Freddie. With still no breakthrough we changed formation in a bid to push on even more and Oli came on for Kris. Our pressure finally told and we equalised in the 52nd minute following a raking long ball from the right by Hayden found Mikey who nodded in from close range. With our tails up we pushed on and 3 minutes later we found ourselves in front. Following good work down the left initially from JJ and then from James, Mikey had his heels clipped in the box. Oli stepped up confidently to despatch the penalty. Straight from the restart we made it 3-1, Oli closing down the defender to win the ball back and slipping in Mikey with a great ball who finished emphatically into the roof of the net. With the game now turned on it’s head we made some more changes, Freddie replacing Zahir, Erim on for Mikey and Kris on for Luca. James then got on the scoresheet with 3 minutes to go with his first goal for the Rebels. Freddie and James linked up well down the left and James found himself on the edge of the box. A great bit of skill found him a yard and his shot found the far corner. A last minute lapse in communication saw Woking grab a consolation but the game was then over. FT 4-2. The boys found another gear in the 2nd half for a great comeback win. Dom did well and Isaac defended resolutely while Kris, Luca, Josh E, Zahir and Erim were committed and tenacious in midfield, eventually wearing down the opposition. Luke came off the bench and showed good energy. Joint MoM went to James and JJ who both came on in the 2nd half and delivered really positive contributions, JJ in defence and James in attack. A cliche but it was a game of 2 halves and credit to Woking who came with a game plan and worked hard but the Rebels showed great character to push on and get the win.
