Sunday December 1st saw SG Manchester, as the home team, take on Manchester Club Football II. It was an otherwise dull day at Wright Robbie and the weather was uncharacteristically calm, however the SG boys were up for causing quite a storm and keeping the pressure up on the league leaders by equalling their points tally and lessening the goal difference.
Upon kick off SG began nervously, in what is becoming almost a regular occurrence in their performances. Despite this, it was only a matter of moments before they got into their rhythm and began piling on the pressure. It wasn’t long before this pressure took its toll on the visiting team. A corner from the right side was put into the danger zone by winger Bowden, the ball was missed by all but McGuinness who pounced at the back, calmly heading into an open net. It wasn’t all good new as Marshall got injured after a collision and was replaced by Barber. With the added experience the home team managed to take a strangle-hold on the game and pushed for more goals and were soon were rewarded for their efforts. A shot from the ever-threatening Bowdon was saved by the keeper and Kim was there for the follow up, slotting neatly into the left corner. Shortly afterwards, and with a change upfront (Breeze on for Taylor-Lewis), SG were pressing again. McGuinness found himself with a second in the centre of the field and picked out an inch-perfect cross-pitch pass to Bowden who was in acres of space. The in-form winger cut inside and was able to clinically send the ball into the back of MCFII’s net. The onslaught didn’t stop after the third goal as the home team looked to reduce the goal deficit to the league leaders. SG came close to a fourth after Breeze was brought down outside of the box by a clumsy challenge. The resulting free kick was taken by McGuinness and spilled again by the keeper, once more Kim was there to take advantage but could only find the post. Undeterred by the scoreline, the away team were still looking to grab a goal back and found themselves with a corner. This was cleared by the solid SG defence and Bowden found himself in possession surrounded by the opposing team’s defence. After staying to hold the ball up, Bowden chose to run with it, rounding any would-be tackle. After a neat one-two with Breeze, Bowden was again one-on-one with the keeper and again delivered the goods for his second of the match. Minutes later SG found their fifth when Barber, strong in midfield, held off a challenge to send Breeze straight through the middle, having timed his run perfectly. The front-man calmly and coolly lifted the ball up and over the keeper which then landed neatly on the goal line in what seemed like slow motion. This fifth goal rounded off what was a dominant half for the home team who were still keen to add to their goal tally.
The second half was of a stark contrast to the first. The possession and chances, created almost solely by the home team, were now equally shared between the two clubs. Manchester Club Football II had clearly put the first half behind them and came out determined to claim a consolation. After trading possession for 15 minutes the away team’s attitude finally paid dividends as a finely worked team move resulted in them having an extra man at the far post as the ball was worked across SG’s area. Only three minutes later the ball was once again in the back of the SG net, however play was called back by the referee who’d spotted the ball had gone out of play for a throw-in. The next few chances went SG’s way but weren’t converted; McGuinness, O’Brien and Taylor-Lewis all coming close but forcing saves from MCFII’s substitute keeper. Late on in the match both teams came close: the visiting team with a shot across the face of goal and the home team letting off some threatening shots.
Despite the opposition winning the second half, the damage had been done in the first and SG Manchester walked away as 5-1 victors having shown great resolve across the pitch to keep the visitors out. Currently SG sit third in the league, the top three sharing points, but separated by a single goal. Whilst it may be possible to look back to missed chances in any of their matches, the SG lads should walk away with heads held high after keeping their consistency and claiming another victory.
COME ON SG!
