No Half Term Hangover

Another Sunday morning and another stern test of our credentials against Haddenham Youth.

We started the game in our usual formation with Oliver Foster in goal, Jacob Oliver, Aqib Zahir and Igor Chrzanowski in defence, Harry Grantham, Joshua Harrison, Charlie Davis and Andrew Carr across the midfield and Elliott Behan alone up front.

With nine players on the subs bench we were always going to have plenty of options to ensure our legs remained fresher than those of the opposition throughout.

What a start of the game we made! We went one nil up when Elliott Behan picked the ball up on the left just inside the opposition half and the proceeded to travel almost 3/4s of the length of the field to slide the ball in at the far post. Elliott then added our and his second with a thunderous strike from the edge of the area. Two very different but equally as brilliant goals from a very talented footballer playing a year above himself.

What then followed was 10 minutes of madness as the midfield and defence all fell asleep to allow Haddenham to score two in quick succession.

Changes were then made with Nathan Bosworth and Ben Philbey coming on in defence and Kaelin Shaw coming on.

All credit to the boys as they responded to their 10 minutes of madness by getting themselves back in front thanks to skipper Andrew Carr.

A few more changes were made at half time with Charlie Davis moving back to the point of the defensive triangle (a position from which he is capable of controlling matches) and Joshua Cotton and James Gibson joining the game.

What then followed was 10-15 minutes of exceptional football that secured the result for us. A 4-2 lead was taken when Joshua Cotton's goal bound shot was prodded home by James Gibson. A wonderful cushioned header from James Gibson was then turned home by Andrew Carr to make it five before Joshua Harrison broke free of the visiting defence to expertly lob the outrushing goalkeeper to make it six.

Our seventh goal was a sublime long range finish into the top right hand corner of the goal by Andrew Carr to complete his hat-trick.

Further changes were made with Jack Rollins coming on in defence to ensure we didn't suffer from tiredness in that area of the pitch, Toby Clark coming on to sure things up in the middle of the park, Nelson Nkanzei came on in replace of Andrew Carr on the left and looking very effective when running at opposition defenders and Alex Marrannino coming on in centre midfield for his debut.

Haddenham added two consolation goals at the game neared its conclusion but by this point we had done enough to secure a positive result.

All in all another great team performance in which everyone contributed and I had no choice but to award four man of the match awards:-

Andrew Carr for his hat-trick;
Igor Chrzanowski for a wonderfully solid and mature display at the back;
James Gibson for the impact he had on the game when coming on at half time and
Kaelin Shaw - last season's goal machine now proving a reliable and consistent player in the middle of the park.

Next up a tough trip to Thame Youth on Sunday afternoon. Everyone needs to be up and ready for this one!