Over 35 s 1 Beachlands 2

Some neat work in midfield early on from Russell Evans saw Pete Clark and Andy Davey going close. This beachlands side looked trim and fit and it was easy to see we were not going to get it all our own way. The opposition had a couple of larger fellas in their midfield, giving them the slight aerial advantage . The ol’ saying of “a good big un will always beat a good little un” springs to mind. But what we lack in the air we make up for in mileage and run they did!

Early on Beachlands had about as much possession as ourselves but in all honesty weren’t really creating much as our defence marshalled by mark Harvey kept the opposing strike-force in check.

The only chances they had created was through our own mistakes of unnecessarily relinquishing possession in areas you just shouldn’t.

Mid-way through the first half, Beachlands knocked a long ball over the top, mopped up neatly by the Puke defence, two touches and without looking knocked the ball back to our keeper Marty Round, who unknown to the defender in question (yes me!!) had come to the edge of his box to attack the situation, the pass-back completely wrong footed him and he sprinted back to try to resolve the situation as the ball trickled over our own line, for no apparent reason we were a goal behind. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm for want of a better word.

As we gained momentum and a little more possession, we troubled the Beachlands keeper, with Davy Barnard and Robbie Leonard going close, then Russell Evans firing a shot that clipped the cross-bar from twenty-yards out. The half-time whistle blew, 1 - 0 Beachlands.

The talk at half-time was right lads, all we need to do is get hold of the ball, play it to feet and start playing football, followed by a contradictory comment of knock the ball to the pacemen in the frontline and keep the ball in there half. But then if all we had to do was get hold of the ball and play it to feet, wouldn’t we have done that from the start, or is this a new thing that just kicks in at the start of the 2^nd half??

Anyway, onwards and upwards, Beachlands started the 2^nd half the stronger and within minutes were gifted a free-kick 10 yards outside our area. Defensively we held firm as about 3 shots ricocheted of our defenders and eventually the opposing midfielder let one fly, just to the left of the outstretched hand of the Puke keeper diving to his right, 2 – 0 Beachlands.

Now for the first –time in the game we actually switched on, there was some neat football being played out of the Puke defence setting away Robbie Leonard, who in turn threaded a lovely weighted ball through to Andy Davey (who else), to round the keeper and neatly slot it home, great goal Andy, 2 – 1.

We kept applying the pressure with Robbie and Marty Mercer creating havoc in the Beachlands penalty area, not to forget Pete Clark who gave his all with some excellent dribbling down the left wing. Mark Edwards gave another strong performance at left-back under the influence of the Harvey-Meister making some great attacking runs. Not to mention Roysa who helped out the Harvey- Meister admirably. Graham helped out with a couple of good asists late on as we tried in vain to get back to level terms and Phil Taylor was influential in some of the neat football being played out of the defensive areas.

Yet again our fitness shone through over the last 20 minutes we finished stronger, had all the pressure and possession but unfortunately this week could not find the back of the net and so it finished Beachlands 2 Puke 1.

Unlucky lads, good effort by all, in all honesty I thought 1- 1 would have been a fitting result, we probably didn’t deserve to win but we certainly didn’t deserve to loose. There were some good, strong performances out there, Davy Bernard and Russell Evans covering huge mileage in the mid-field, Mark Edwards and Mark Harvey strong at the back with Robbie Leonard showing neat composure on the ball and great chasing. But for commitment, effort and attitude player of the day this week goes to our goal scorer Andy Davey.