CANTERBURY MARINERS WALKIN 1 vs 0 BAY CITY STROLLERS 50+

With Bay City sitting one point ahead of us but having played an extra game, this was a real six pointer. These were another team that we had historically had very close and competitive matches against and this one proved to be no different.

The game started with both teams seeing plenty of the ball but not really being able to make any real in roads towards goal. There were speculative shots from distance but both keepers were never really tested. The midfields were cancelling each other out and both defences looked comfortable.

Gareth, Jason and Andy B started to work some half chances with some quick interaction and swift passing but their keeper was equal to everything. He was certainly becoming the busier of the two keepers but Bay City still carried a threat and Paul B was called into action a couple of times when they created space to shoot.

On the whole Phil and Paul J looked comfortable in possession and were marshalling their attackers well. Bay City were playing with two at the back and three in their midfield which resulted in Jason being heavily marked but his hold up play allowed Gareth, Andy and Linden to join with us squeezing the space in between and isolating their forward.

Bay City were trying to play out and up to their forward but the ball was quite often either picked off or he had no out ball as we tracked hard and gave him no options. Paul J was putting himself around and took a heavy knock when he blocked a shot and was caught on the knee with the follow through. Within minutes he was again clattered with a swinging elbow. (He should have learned but chose to be tight and not allow the midfield players time to turn).

A very entertaining first half came to an end with the game still scoreless. Our half time talk focussed on us continuing to be tight and concentrating on getting the basics right. We highlighted that we needed to get the wider players more involved and use the width to give Jason options as we went forward. We were guilty of getting too narrow and not really stretching their defence enough.

The second half continued to follow a similar look as the first half with both teams very equal across all areas. We were, however, starting to find a little more space in the midfield as Bay City seemed to be dropping slightly deeper. We were forced into a substitution when Paul J was again clattered on the same knee that was kicked in the first half having read a through ball and moved to intercept it with Rob coming on and slotting in ahead of Phil.

Bay City were also forced into a substitution and lost their a defender with a calf injury. This change certainly allowed us to find more space as they worked out their new formation. Jason and Gareth were now able to create better chances with swift interplay but their keeper was stopping everything.

Our pressure was finally rewarded when Jason released Andy B down the left and his through ball found Gareth unmarked and clear through, He made no mistake and buried his shot high into the net and we had the lead.

We brought Paul J back on for Linden with Rob moving to play wide right. We were, however, by now on 3 non walking offences and were in jeopardy of giving away a penalty with 10 minutes left in the game. We needed to keep our discipline but also keep the ball.

We pressed high but also continued to track our men. We were stopping them in the midfield and whilst we were happy for them to have possession at the back we didn't give them an easy ball forward or space to shoot. With only minutes left, we took the ball to the corner with the view of managing the remaining time in possession. Jason, Gareth and Rob did well at winning several corners and free kicks as Bay City tried to win the ball back.

Paul J joined and drew more of their midfield in and his ball to Gareth saw several opposition players moving in to get tight but Gareth's swift turn saw him get free. His shot from an acute angle went behind off of the post but we had done enough.

As they played the ball out from their keeper, the final whistle was blown and we had the victory. Final Score Canterbury Mariners 1 - 0 Bay City Strollers.

My thanks to effort and manner that everyone gave to this game. We knew it was always going to be hard fought and we were up for the challenge from the first klick to the last. We never let our heads drop and were always looking to take the game to the opposition.

My special thanks to Mike who was an unused substitute.

Finally thank you to those that turned up to support the team and give us the encouragement to keep going from the side line.

Congratulations to Phil for his Player of the Match performance in marshalling the defence and drive from the back.

Paul