A bone hard pitch favoured Abacus's direct approach and made it difficult for us to move the ball quickly. We worked hard to keep the ball down and as early as the 4th minute Ollies pass into Jack bobbled up as Jack struck and his effort soared over - this was typical of what followed. Jack was switched wide right and Ollie was pushed higher up to try to use Olli's pace in behind.
In the early stages we forgot to "EARN THE RIGHT TO PLAY and rushed our play and continued to try to force openings. It took all of half an hour before the adrenalin rush subsided and our nerves settled, despite this we completly dominated the half. In the 6th Josh headed over Olli,s cross when a goal looked certain, in the 12th Kims fierce shot was spilled by the 'keeper who smothered it as Olli closed in, in the 14th and 16th Olli went 1 on 1 but hesitation follwed the awkward run of the ball and both efforts failed to net. In the 22nd Olli latched on to Chippy's freekick but his lovely volley skimmed the bar, in the 30th Olli snatched when through on goal and the shot soared over and Kim repeated the trick in the 38th and Josh got in on the act in the 40th by slotting wide.
In the 44th minute Darryl released Ollie in a central are and this time Olli struck from distance, surprising the 'keeper as the ball fizzed into the 'keeper's bottom left hand corner so we entered the break 1 nil up.
For the second period Josh and Darryl were instructed to play with greater discipline, one to sit and one to go so as to provide an extra man in the box but cover for play breaking down.
Immediately after the restart Darryl was the breaking player, he latched on to Jacks cross but headed over. We continued to dominate across the park with Darryl, Josh and Kim all going close. Around the 60th minute Lee made way for Kyle and as they tried to respond to our change Jack came on to the ball all of 40 yards out and hit a sweet half volley come volley screamer which bent into the 'keeper's top left corner leaving the 'keeper with no chance, fantastic and 2 nil up. Five minutes later a sweeping end to end move which started with Bill at right back ended with Kyle continuing his pitch length run, receiving the ball in his stride in the 18 yard box, one touch and bang his fierce drive made it 3-0.
That was the signal for Bill to make way for Nathan and for Kyle to drop in at right back to see out the game. Abacus never registered a single shot on target effort and Gary's kit was as clean as when we started.
After the game the match officials remarked that our solid defence was the foundation of our success not just on the night but across the season so far in the matches that they had officiated on. Despite the team's early nerves it was our defence which settled quickest and Ryan and Chippy were magnificent with Bill slotting in neatly all power, commitment and encouragement. In front of those three Sam turned in a disciplined sweeper display. He destroyed their runners, competed for everything in the air and was effective with his distribution earning him a MOM. We had conceded 6 goals in the 2 previous encounters with Abacus so the clean sheet was evidence of how well we defended from front to back.
The first team in 20 years and only the second in 30 years to defend the Bill Bruty - but we're not done yet, six games and 3 more trophies to go, lets have it.
