Away league match played on 22 February 2014.
Kicked off at 2:00 PM

 

The Sheffield Academicals travelled to High Green anticipating a shocking pitch but knowing they needed to carry on momentum in the league with another win. It proved to be a very tricky pitch, bobbly and sticky at the same time which meant the usual flowing Accies football was dramatically hampered.

Despite this the Accies bossed the early exchanges. Jamie was going through their strong centre midfielder like he wasn’t there and the defence were meeting and winning the early balls over the top. A nice move involving Stan and Dan on the left released Swifty into the box and his cut back dribbled across the face of the goal somehow avoiding both Daz and Matt G in the centre. 5 minutes later and it happened again, this time taking an agonising bobble. Another attack down the left saw a Dan Kav cross elude both strikers and another hideous bobble foiling Jamie as he arrived from midfield.

This summed up the pattern of play although the home side did start to produce a couple of moves down their left hand side. Fozzy was having a tremendous half mopping up with Ryan and High Green were restricted to long range efforts in the main. Stan was getting forward and Tony helped keep shape at the back. Jamie changed the formation in response to the threat from the left and brought Hodgy into the middle and put Dan out on the right. This changed the game entirely in favour of the away side as it completely nullified High Greens only attacking ideas.

Within minutes Daz put Jamie through with a great pass and he was blatantly taken out as he struck his shot, the referee giving neither penalty or goal kick. Even their players were saying it must be a corner then if it isn’t a penalty. Hodgy was bolstering the midfield and allowing Matt G to get further forward and Fozzy went on a mazy run from the back, beating several players before sliding in Matt G who had his cross blocked for a corner. Dan put the corner over to the back post and Matt headed back right across the face of goal but no Accies player was gambling for a tap in.

Half time: High Green 0-0 Accies

The second half started in much the same vein – plenty of attacking but no clear cut chances and the pitch getting even more unpredictable. It was in fact High Green that had the best chance as a corner was met powerfully and Godders pulled off a fine reaction save to keep the score level. The resulting corner had to be tipped over also as Green tried to assert some pressure. It was this moment that Jamie snapped Dan Kav out of it by pointing at him and telling him to be the match winner. The ball went down the other end and as Swifty ran into the box he had Daz and Dan next to him but went for goal, the keeper saving the shot and it span to Dan to fulfil the prophecy…… only for him to drag his shot into the side netting. Tail.

The goal arrived though and it was an extremely important one. Hodgy won the ball and burst past a couple of defenders, as he cut inside Jamie struck it almost off his toe with his left peg and it flew into the net from outside the box. The home side were deflated. Tony made way for Jacko in a reshuffle and if their centre forward was unaware of the change he knew all about it moments later as Jacko completely flattened him as he cleanly won his header after their keeper punted it out. “what the f*ck was that?” he mumbled whilst picking himself up.

The Accies were dominating totally now. Stan continued to rule the left side, Matt G, Hodgy and Jamie were first to everything in the centre, Fozzy, Jacko and Ryan cleared everything and were finding feet. Fozzy went on another good run and as he approached the box, shaped his shot for the top corner; and spanked it into the trees.

Swifty went on a strong run after picking it up deep and played a ball across the box which found Dan at the back post, he took a touch and slotted it into the far bottom corner to put the game beyond doubt. Daz was played through by Dan but the ball bobbled up as he hit it, Hodgy went on yet another run and his shot struck the post and just would not fall for Daz on the line as the defence scrambled it away for a corner. Dan’s centre was met by Ryan with a firm header but it was blocked on the line.

The Accies ran out comfortable winners in the end, but had to show nerve and resilience to get the job done.

Full time: High Green 0 - 2 Academiclals

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