Athletic kept up winning ways with a convincing 9-1 win last weekend.It wasn’t a vintage display, but Athletic were always in control and rarely troubled.The shining highlight of the match was the stellar performance of Mortimer who broke down countless opposition attacks, always seemed to be in the right place and his ball distribution was outstanding.
The scoring was underway early in the match, Gough found Barrett who slid the ball into Babington and a ferocious shot was parried by the keeper into the path of Barrett whose follow up presented him with the ball on the six yard box and he smashed it home.
More pressure resulted in a corner, the ball was pinged in to a dangerous area and the opposition defence coped well to clear, but Babington was lying in wait to strike a magnificent shot which nearly burst the net for Athletics’ second of the game.
The third was a solo effort from Barrett.Pressuring the midfield he won the ball and drove at goal, neatly sliding the finish beyond the advancing keeper.
The fourth was a move from back to front, the signature goal for Athletic this season.Mortimer inevitably won the ball when he made a challenge, a 1-2 with Launchbury presented Mortimer the ball back in space and he found Barrett who threaded through Gough.No mistake from the Athletic big man as he hit the ball home for the fourth of the match.
The fifth was another corner, Lucas-Howells attacked the ball and it struck his body and bundled into the net.
Lucas-Howells turned provider for the sixth, he found Barrett who struck a screamer from outside the box.Hat trick.
A cheeky effort for the seventh.Barrett again pressured the defence into an error.Unable to find an angle for a shot the ball slid to Babington, who facing the wrong way, back heeled the ball into the net.
Another corner.Mortimer won the ball, found Davies who rolled it Lucas-Howells.A shot ricocheted before Barrett picked it up and found Gough who claimed his second of the day and Athletic’s eighth!
The ninth saw Lucas-Howells dance round two, find Barrett who played Babington.Babington hit a shot which deflected high into the air.Gough attempted to volley, but the first was an air shot, the ball bounced and making no mistake with his second bite of the cherry, Gough thundered the ball home.Hat trick.
A late consolation for the opposition came with nearly the last kick of the game.
The win was convincing.The performance was good.Mortimer was outstanding.On we march, with two games left prior to the Christmas break.Let’s hope the weather holds!
COYY!
