A wet pitch greeted the Colts for this game between last year's Division 1 and Division 2 champions, but the sun was shining and the large crowd basked in the warmth.
I'm limited on time this weekend, so I'm not going to relay much in the way of individual incident. However, I can't resist but mention the moment when Will felt that Fernwood weren't getting enough shots fired off, so he saved the ball from going out for a goal kick and pushed it across his goal line. I think the opposition were as surprised as we were and Will, the athletic keeper that he is, managed to leap back and block the ball as a Fernwood player tried to poke it home, before Xander made another block and the Fernwood striker blazed it over the bar. Heart in mouth stuff!
Today was one of those days where everybody just seemed to know what was required of them. To their credit, Fernwood played a full part in a very entertaining game. They pressed and pressed but I always felt that we would not concede simply because of the attitude and work rate of the Colts today. In the first half, I did wonder if we would be able to score, as Fernwood's number 14 (who players, coaches and fans were unanimous in deciding was their Man of the Match) and his defensive colleague matched our effort. Still...0-0 at half time was satisfying and, so long as legs weren't going to tire, an equal effort in the second half was always likely to produce something.
It didn't take long for it to happen and the Colts registered their opening goal on 33 minutes when Henry's excellent workrate on the right side of midfield resulted in a slide-rul pass through to James Scott who calmly slipped the ball past the Fernwood keeper. James had covered almost every blade of grass on the pitch and continued to work that hard after his goal.
Tom had made a number of shots in the first half and he wrapped up the points for the Colts on 58 minutes when James Scott put him through after a great team move. Tom had worked really hard all game so the goal was not undeserved. Max and Jake both had a couple of shots on target, Jake showing some fine control at times that he has previously seemed reluctant to display. Max's workrate was as good as anyone's in the team right across the 60 minutes. Dylan, too showed some real effort, both in his spell up front and when he was played on the right wing (and he almost got a goal from that side).
Nobody was going to get past Xander today and James Wilson took on the responsibility of organising the defence and the midfield when Fernwood had possession. The defenders distributed the ball well from the back and most of the attacks started right back with either Will or the defence.
All in all, a fantastic game of football and really entertaining for both teams' spectators. Tons of effort and the pitch was soaked with sweat by the end! Roll on the away game at Grove next Saturday
