Playing against our old foe, The Cavalier FC, Crossblades went in to this game with a depleted side hopeful of building on a good start to pre-season 2012/13. With Hampshire missing, Jamie Bayes filled in for the Blades in goal. With Booth, Toppy, Matthews and Wright all unavailable, Jame Webb also leant his services to the Blades. Crossblades also welcomed back the enigmatic Jimmy Squire, a long tern sufferer from a niggling injury. SQUAD: Bayes, Eardley, North, Worthy, Walker, Webb, Chilton, Squire, Cole, Gilbert, Jacobi, Rowlatt, Owen, Young. Once again Tayler Worthy showed what a good signing he was, with a strong and no nonsense performance in the unfamiliar role of centre back. With Bayes controlling the back 4, it was very difficult for Cavalier to create chances, and infact by the end of this game the opposition indeed had no clear cut chances in the 90 minutes played. The ball spent most of the time in the middle of the park, with Squire picking out some clever passes and new signing Gareth Cole winning some big challenges. Despite the game being quite even, it was the Blades who created most chances with Gilbert making some dynamic runs and nearly scoring on several occassions. The 2 midfields were battling for the ball, but with neither able to gain the upper hand, the standard of play deteriorated and both sets of strikers had little to work with. The breakthrough came after good work from Chilton fed Squire. Squire played a reverse ball down the line to Webb who crossed deep in to the Cavalier box. Luke Rudman awarded a penalty after it was judged that a Cavalier player had commited a hand ball. Jacobi stepped up confidently and despatched the spot kick to give Crossblades a half time lead. The second half had the same pattern as the first half, with neither teams settling in to a rhythm. With Cavalier pushing for an equaliser, the space opened up a little and Chilton twice played in Gilbert who wasnt quite able to supply the finish. The game was eventually killed off after Chilton, Jacobi and Squire played some deft one-two's in the middle of the park and released James Webb. Webb cut in to the box and squared to Squire. Usually acustomed to finished in the top corner from 30 yards, Jimmy slotted home from 6 yards and capped a good comeback. Plenty to take forward to the next game.
