The Sheffield Academicals continued their good form with a solid victory against a decent side in Parklands. The away side had one or two useful players and they moved the ball quickly which led to a pulsating first half played at a very high tempo.
The Accies had the first chance as within a minute Daz had been put through by Jamie and he unselfishly squared it to Swifty who took a touch round the keeper but the ball held up slightly and the covering defenders made him rush his left footed shot which went over the bar. Parklands were knocking the ball into the feet of their useful forward who was holding it well and bringing their other players into the game; albeit without creating any real chances.
The Accies were pouring forward but the final ball was lacking on several occasions. On 15 minutes they did score however when Stan put Swifty up the line with a great ball, Swifty jinked past his man and drilled it into the feet of Daz who took a terrific touch in his stride to ghost past their centre half, advance into the box then slot it into the far corner with his right foot. Great goal to get the scoring going!
A few minutes later and it was Stan again marauding up the line, he played a one-two with Jamie then put a great low ball across the box which came to Dan at the back post who drilled a low hard shot into the net at the near post. The Accies were cruising.
But their lead was pegged back a few minutes later. Dan had the ball on the right and as he was squaring it for Simon got taken out by a late challenge which the referee had his back to, the ball came to their full back who put the ball into the space behind the stranded Stan and their forward ran into the box and struck a nice finish past Godwin to reduce the arrears; much to the annoyance of the Accies players who felt the play should have been pulled back.
The game continued at a fast pace. Matt G, Simon and Jamie were controlling the midfield and Dan and Stan were getting plenty of the ball. Dan threw a quick ball in for Swifty who turned his man but struck his shot into the side netting, Simon broke into the box but his pull-back just eluded the Accies players gathering in the box. Dan put a corner in on the half hour mark which Simon attacked aggressively and Daz poked it home on the line to restore the 2 goal cushion and make the Accies look comfortable again.
Jacko and Reedy were mopping everything up at the back and Hodgy was getting forward well to support the midfield. The pace was still furious and the Accies were playing some lovely football. Another sweeping move down the right led to another corner as the half was drawing to a close. Dan whipped it in and Reedy arrived powerfully and headed it down an past the keeper; it looked like it had crossed the line as the defender scrambled it clear but Swifty was on hand to make no mistake and sweep it home.
Half time Accies 4 – 1 Parklands
The second half began at a slower pace and the game drifted as neither side really kept possession well or created much for ten minutes or so. Stan took the game by the scruff of the neck and went on a great run down the left, interplaying with Jamie and Matt G before advancing into the box, beating his man and cutting it back for Simon who shifted the ball across his body and placing it into the far bottom corner of the goal. Jacko made way for Alex at centre half and shortly afterwards Tony came on for the injured Hodgy at full back. The away side never threatened as both slotted seamlessly into the game.
The game was effectively over though even though credit goes to parklands for continuing to try and get forward; but a real lull came over both sets of players with more scrappy play and poor touches. Dan was released down the right and pulled it back to Swifty who scuffed his shot; there was a lot of time on the ball suddenly which was a stark contrast to the pace of the first half. The away side did get forward once or twice but Godwin had very little to do. As the final whistle approached Dan whipped the ball in from the corner and Jamie got a great flick to it which zipped to Daz to sweep home his deserved hat-trick and round off the scoring.
Full time- Accies 6 - 1 Parklands
