First match of our second double header this season, held at Nescot Sports Ground. This ended up as a comfortable win after a poor start by our standards.
The line-up:
Phil (GK)
Adam (RB), Simon (CB), Mike H (CB), Julian (LB)
JP (RM), Danny (CM), Mike G (LM)
Jon (RF), Lee (CM), Kyle (LF)
For those that haven't been there, the sports ground is basically a hill which has a load of pitches side by side on it. The slope is considerable and whilst it means that rainwater drains off it pretty quickly, it is also quite a factor when playing on it. The first half we won the toss and kicked up the slope as previous experience taught us that going up it in the second half is simply knackering.
The other factor was the surface of the pitch which we thought was rock hard during the warm-up, as expected given the sub-zero temperature the night before. Most people started with their mouldeds including me. Big mistake. We were slipping all over the place and the only reason we didn't get punished for it was because the oppo were doing the same.
Onto the game. We started off slow and that was not just down to the conditions. We weren't winning the ball and when we did win it, we weren't keeping it. Spartans have some decent players and were threatening down the flanks and getting crosses in. I had to tip one goalbound cross/shot just over the bar early on and they were definitely creating more chances or at least half-chances than us.
Our first goal was therefore very much against the run of play. Mike G (who had an excellent day in the midfield) picked up the ball from Danny and pretty much walked through most of their defence before dispatching a low shot past the keeper. We didn't really deserve it, but we managed to protect the lead until half time, with the back four doing great work at the back snuffing out any danger.
As soon as the half time whistle went, there was the biggest rush you ever saw to change boots to studs. Dave gave us a well deserved kick up the backside and we started the second half much better.
Darren and Matt Power were on for Lee and JP respectively and both did well after being out of the side for while. Darren had a whole load of chances to add to the score, before he finally did. He got onto a long ball over the top from Mike H and rounded the keeper before finishing it off.
We were playing more to the level that we've come to expect from the last few weeks and were defensively really solid, restricting the oppo to long hopeful shots for the most part. The few times they did close in on goal, their shooting was off target anyway.
Can't remember too much about the rest of the game apart from several more missed chances by Mike G, Darren and Matt P and also Danny completely missing the ball when it was begging to be buried in the net (sorry Danny!). Darren got his second from a free kick on our left which went high but straight through the keeper's hands.
In truth we dominated the second half with a great team performance excellently marshalled by Simon that thoroughly deserved the 3 points and clean sheet.
