The UNITS travelled to Worcester to take on Div 1 side AFC Barbrourne in the 1st round of the cup this morning
The day started as a bit of a farce as the UNITS made the early morning start on time and was at the ground and kitted up by 10am only for our hosts gaffer to over sleep and result in Barbourne having no kit, hence a 20 minute delayed kick off as we were ready to go!
With it being a cup game Cuzer shuffled the pack a little and looked at a few players in positions as we lined up
Mike, Barney, Danny, Brownie, Eggy, Hunter, Taylor, Coco, Ross, Ginge & Pountney
Subs were Chinner, Keith & Turner
We started fine playing some decent stuff and it quickly became apparent we had an edge over our opponents. Pountney was the first to threaten when played through only to drag his shot wide from 18 yards, next some fine football down our left resulted in the over lapping Danny to cut inside and force the AFC keeper to parry his shot onto the post & behind for a corner
We were looking dangerous from set pieces and Brownie rose highest on 15 minutes to bury a header and open his UNITS account
We were well on top now and AFC's attempted balls in behind were comfortably being dealt with by the UNITS backline, Ginge forced a good save from the keeper before from another Coco corner Hunter poucned on the loose ball to turn and shoot into the bottom corner
Barney then forced 2 great saves from their keeper as Mike was a mere spectator in the UNITS goal and from yet another Coco corner Ginge got a deft flick at the front post to make it 3-0 on the 35 minute mark
AFC had a decent spell just before HT and Mike made two decent saves as the UNITS took their foot off the gas a touch but we came in 3-0 to the good
Cuzer congratulated the boys on their work in the first 45 but asked them not to ease up and allow AFC into the game
Within 5 minutes of the 2nd half after some slick play down our right Ross raced into the box and was taken out by their keeper in pretty gruesome fashion, alas keeping with such fashion Pountney's tame PK was easily saved by the now excitable keeper
This raised AFC and they had their best spell of the game resulting in Mike making a good save before they got in behind after some decent play and finished well to make it 3-1
AFC now started to apply a bit of pressure but you always felt comfortable, Turner replaced Coco, Chinner replaced Barney & Keith replaced Brownie as Cuzer gave all players a run out
We were still in general control of the game and Ginge put the game beyond doubt when he ran on to a fine Pountney pass and accelerated clear before drilling past the keeper from 10 yards
The same due combined for our 5th and final goal when Pountney got away down the right before whipping in a superb cross which Ginge headed home from 8 yards to complete his hat trick
All in all a job well done for the UNITS with a decent performance to boot, man of the match went to Ginge who scored his first of hopefully many hat-tricks for the UNITS
