(Report by Dan Kavanagh)
Sheffield Academicals were runaway winners against an unknown quantity in the Masons Arms. The Arms had lost a couple of games by the odd goal only and taken a point at early runners Tibshelf so it was by no means a foregone conclusion prior to kick-off.
Indeed it took 5 or 10 minutes for the Accies to settle into their stride as both teams had patchy possession in the opening exchanges; although noticeably it was the Accies that were trying to get the ball down and play whilst the Masons were generally aiming long for their useful looking forward who was dropping short to receive the ball.
On 15 minutes the Accies burst forward with a flowing move down the left. Stan found Dan Kav out wide who knocked a little ball round the corner to find the feet of Daz who returned the ball straight into Dan’s path; the latter ran into the box then cut it back for Daz who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Great move and 1-0 to the Accies. This seemed to temporarily knock the stuffing out of the Masons who couldn’t seem to cope with runners off the ball and it set a precedent for the rest of the game; the Accies confidently setting their stall out as a team capable of playing quality passing football.
Within 5 minutes it was 2-0. Daz released Swifty who beat his man for pace before smashing the ball in at the near post with his right boot. A minute or two later and it was 3-0. Another flowing move, this time down the right, saw Jamie release Hodgy with a great first time pass, Hodgy knocked it down the line for Si who had made a typical charging forward run, his ball into the box struck the hand of a despairing defender and the ref immediately pointed to the spot. Swifty’s initial kick was saved but he was on hand to poke in the rebound with his left foot and save his blushes. He should know better than to change his mind at his age.... ;-)
The Accies continued to create chances and play some great football. Stan was making some terrific runs down the left, the defence were looking solid to a man and the middle of the park was being totally controlled by Big Si and Jamie. They had to wait until 5 minutes before half time to add a fourth though, after 2 great balls into the box, first by Hodgy then by Dan Kav the away defence were desperately scrambling it out, anywhere would do; it dribbled out to Dan on the left who knocked it back to Jamie, one look up was all he needed and noticed the keeper anticipating the cross he bent a superb curling shot in at the near post from outside the box.
Tony and Batts dealt with a couple of dangerous looking balls toward the end of the half and the Accies were looking good value and solid all over the pitch.
Half time 4-0.
Facing up the hill the Accies pretty much started where they left off - pouring forward and the quality of the football was outstanding with plenty of great runs and one-touch football. Ten minutes into the half another good move down the right saw Hodgy pull the ball back to Jamie on the edge of the box who took a touch and fired a class shot low and hard across the keeper and into the far bottom corner. This was the end for the Masons. Their full back was about to cut the ribbon and announce that the flood gates were officially open by doing one of the most bizarre things anyone has ever seen in football. Moments after the fifth goal had gone in another teasing ball into the box from Dan Kav had taken a few touches on the way through but squirmed out to the far corner of the Masons penalty area. Their left full-back was sprinting toward it and winding up to either smash it over the houses for a corner or turn out at the last second as he was completely unmarked and under no pressure. For reasons that only he will know he elected to smash the ball right into the corner of his own goal. The keeper, needless to say, was taken completely by surprise; an awkward silence fell on the entire pitch. The full-back had his head in his hands. The ref had his mouth open, the only sound was their right midfielder who whispered “Bleedin’ ‘ell”.
That was literally that. Big Si threaded a ball through to Daz who hit a first time shot that wriggled under the keeper at his near post. That made it 7-0. Another terrific raking pass from Jamie found Hodgy who clipped a beautiful first time cross right onto Swiftys head who could make no mistake in recording a classical hat-trick. One right, one left and one header. He wasn’t finished there though. Big Si made it 9-0 after Daz returned the compliment and put him through with another great little flick. Bri came on for the hard working Trev who had enjoyed a no-nonsense game at right back and immediately helped further pin back a demoralised Masons outfit with some strong running.
It was Batts who recorded the milestone tenth goal after a blinding forward surge from Stan, Batts had kept pace and taken a couple of touches but it was Daz again who played the one-two with Batts who produced an angled finish with his left foot into the far bottom corner. Moments later Bri got in on the scoring action after Jamie had found him out wide right with yet another sprayed ball, he cut in and fired a lovely curling shot into the far corner with his left peg to make it 11-0. The Accies were now attacking at will and there was no sign of life in the Masons who could barely muster the energy to go through the motions. Daz put Big Si through again for him to claim his second of the game with a calm finish. Then Dan Kav beat a couple of men to run through the middle, clipping it to Swifty who produced a lovely smashed finish into the roof of the net. The scoring was rounded off by Dan, another intelligent run and nicely weighted pass from Daz found him running into the box on the left, he guided the ball in first time with his right foot, curling it round the keeper and into the far top corner.
The defence were totally solid and the keeper had commanded his area well and produced the goods on the rare moments he was called into action. A thoroughly disciplined performance with some great football sends a message out to the other teams in the league.
