SUN
20 FEB 05
SHIRE COLTS REDS 1
FRY CLUB COLTS 1
With a strong squad of 14
players, we lined up with some key changes in defence and attack which we hoped
would prove beneficial.
The reverse fixture at home saw
us narrowly beat Shire 2-1 and we had high hopes of repeating another win.
However, despite a strong opening 5 minutes, we found ourselves a goal down
from a simple move down their right. A throw in saw the Shire forward cut in to
score past Craig Francis. Our response was to pressure the Shire goal for the
remaining 30 minutes of the first half. Our 2 wingers, Reeve Tucker and Matt Baber proved very useful on an extremely narrow pitch with
move after move involving both of them. With a very strong attack of Oli Boon and James Boulton, the
shire defence were being pulled out of position which first gave Mo Bouaziz a
great chance which crashed back off the bar. Then Matt Baber
blazed a wonderful shot across the goal which just missed the far post. James Boulton pulled a brilliant left volley on the turn just
passed the post and Oli Boon came close twice with 2
half chances. A further great effort by James Boulton
just before half time was saved very well by the Goalies left foot which
somehow meant we went into half time a goal down.
A positive talk at half time
proved decisive as from our second attack in the second half, Matt Babers’ pace gave him the edge to push the ball past the
keeper with his right foot to bring us deservedly level. The second half
developed the same as the first with wave after wave of Frys attacks. Reece
Tucker saw a volley just too late to keep on target, Jordan Knight came forward
from full back to head just over the bar and further efforts from Matt Baber and Oli Boon just wouldn’t
go in. At the other end Shire did create 2 chances. From a direct free kick,
Craig Francis plucked the ball from the top right corner of the net to make a
great save and an even better save from a corner saw the ball tipped onto the
bar and cleared for safety.
An extremely frustrating
afternoon saw large periods of dominance from Frys with some good defensive
work by captain Oli Randall
at sweeper, who had another great game, and Mo Bouaziz in the centre of midfield
who influenced large parts of our attacks.
