TS UNITS 5 v 3 Dudley Sports
The UNITS returned to league action after last weeks horror show at Fladbury. Alas we were down to the barest of bare bones for the visit of Dudley Sports, a combination of people away, injuries, work commitments and no shows left Cuzer with 12 as we lined up
Mozza Clarkey Tonka Gilo Chinner Leon Baker Si Azza Lewis & Trigger - Luke was the lone substitute
The opening exchanges were competitive but clear chances were at a premium, the games first real chance fell to Trigger who did well down the right flank but dragged his shot wide of the post
Trigger again was released by Azza shortly after and with Azza unmarked in the centre Trigger's cross was under hit allowing the recovering defender to intercept
The good early start by the home side resulted in the opening goal when again Trigger cut inside from the flank and played a ball to the on-rushing Pountney, the DS full back got into a mix up in his own box when trying to clear and Pountney showed great composure to feint the initial shot, completely fooling the keeper and stroking the ball into the unguarded net 1-0 UNITS
We were looking fairly solid and it took something special for DS to get on level terms, 25 on the clock when their wide player curled a 30 yarder over Mozza and into the top corner and DS had levelled up
The game was now end to end but the UNITS, showing a marked improvement form last week were causing the Sports back line problems and defending well, Trigger again had a half chance blocked and Azza fired wide from 20 yards, at the other end Mozza made a routine stop from a shot from the edge of the box
40 minutes on the clock and the UNITS got their noses back in front, Trigger was brought down 25 yards out and Azza stepped up to bend a superb free kick over the wall and into the corner of the net giving the visiting keeper no chance
Dudley threw men forward trying to level things up by half time but the UNITS back line, marshaled by the excellent Tonka and Gilo dealt with the threat comfortably and the home side came in 2-1 up
HT UNITS 2 v 1 Dudley Sports
The message to the lads was simple, keep the tempo and work rate and we had enough quality to get the result
As expected DS came out fired up in the 2nd half, pushing higher up the pitch they had the lions share of early possession but all the play was in front of the UNITS defence and Mozza remained largely untested
On 55 minutes the UNITS got the crucial next goal when Azza found space wide left and skinned the DS full back before whipping in a fantastic cross which curled away from the keeper and Trigger ran on to the ball at the back post and showed great technique to volley past the keeper to give the UNITS a crucial 2 goal cushion
The shape was working superbly, we carried a real threat on the counter and looked solid when not in possession, Baker, Leon and Si were all having good games and DS despite having plenty of the ball were creating little and the UNITS felt comfortable
However, in true UNITS style we manage to have a crazy 3 minute spell and from nowhere the game was all square
Firstly Chinner failed to clear his lines the ball came back into the UNITS box and then Clarkey could only hit his attempted clearance straight against Tonka, the ball looping in the air and the DS striker volleyed past Mozza from a tight angle
The equaliser had even more carnage about it when a hopeful ball over the top was swept up by Mozza coming out his area however his kick was poor only finding the Sports wide player some 40 yards from goal, with Mozza retreating he tried the long range shot and a back peddling Mozza couldn't sort his feet out and the ball went past him and into the net, from nowhere 3-3
With the momentum now fully with the visitors you feared the worst but credit to the UNITS they kept their shape and work rate and importantly did the hard yards. Sports best chance fell to their centre half up from the back from a free kick, his 10 yard header saved well low down by Mozza
On 70 minutes Luke replaced Si who had done really well on a rare start for him
Entering the last 10 minutes it was anybody's game, Azza, Lewis and Trigger all had opportunities why the lively DS sub went close on a couple of occasions
On 83 minutes Baker did well in midfield and broke at pace, running at the Sports back line, as he went to release Trigger in the box he was caught from behind and the referee pointed to the spot with the offence right on the line of the 18 yard box, from the spot kick Azza made no mistake to restore the UNITS lead
Sports now threw men forward and were playing 4 up top including their big centre half yet this left space for the UNITS on the counter and Azza picked the ball up deep in the UNITS half he released Pountney with a wonderful ball and Pountney cut inside his man and curled a superb finish past the keeper to end the visitors hopes as the UNITS showed great character to record 3 league victories on the spin
Full Time TS UNITS 5 v 3 Dudley Sports
Man of the match went to Azza who was back to his best, scoring two and creating two and causing the Sports back line all sorts of problems all morning
Next up the UNITS take on Netherton Colts Seniors of Div 1 in the last 16 of the cup
Mozza 8
Clarkey 9
Tonka 9
Gilo 9
Chinner 8
Si 8
Baker 9
Leon 8
Aaron 9*
Lewis 9
Trigger 9
Subs
Luke 8
