Lydney Town (0) V (3) LRFC Cougars
A lot can change in a year, last November we played Lydney and drew 1-1. In truth we battered them and drew. It was the best we had played in a long time and yet was a draw. This squad is different. It's better sure, that's easy to tell, but more importantly it's tougher.
We played in our familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. A couple of changes due to injury meant Ben slotted into centre defence alongside George, Tom starting at left back with Hercules feeling something in his knee (sandwich or something). The centre pairing were Freddie and Ryan. With Jorge up front the attacking three were Jacob, Louis and Max. On the bench; Finn, Taylor, Lewis and Hercules. The other thing with this squad is that we can change players and not disrupt the pattern of play. It's a squad game and we have a very good squad. Where we make changes it is never because someone has done something wrong, that is not what we are about, it's about rotation, keeping it fresh and protecting what we have got.
The game started with Lydney attacking very centrally, Ryan - ever bustling in the middle - was breaking up play when the ball was in the ground and, with Freddie competing for the aerial ball. There was a lot of aerial ball. It is a good job that we have learned to head the ball. The back four all winning headers and sending the ball back. We did, for a while, regress to playing the same game as Lydney. Kicking it long and high. As we started to get some control we started to get on the ball, Jacob, Louis and Max all starting to influence play and thread the ball to Jorge up front. The Lydney keeper, though,was in excellent form and thwarted Jorge on a couple of occasions. Jorge has been leading the line excellently in the last few games and is thriving as the focal point of the attack. He would get his goal that his efforts deserved late in the game.
The opening goal came from Jacob. Playing on the right of the attacking three he was starting to find space where the ball was played across from the left. The goal came from Louis linking with Jorge in the wide left. Jorge spun and from wide left played the ball so it curled over the defence and dropped in front of where Jacob was running onto. He outpaced the defender and struck a shot that was powerful enough to slip over the keepers hands and drop into the net.
1-0. It was a deserved lead as we were in the ascendency. Lydney continued to try and power through although were playing very narrow. When they did come wide Sam, Tom and Dan G were all equal to them. With 5 minutes to go to half time we scored the second goal. Tom scored it. It was an OK finish.
Lydney in a final flurry won a couple of corners that they could not capitalise on. The half finished with us leading 2-0.
We made further changes, with Jorge having come off for Taylor and Finn replacing Max we needed to sub Ben who's quad injury had resurfaced. Dan G came on in centre defence and proved what a versatile defender he is this season with a strong performance there. Winning headers and showing assured ability with both feet.
Second half and Lydney started strong. Forcing Will into the only real save of the game that he had to make. Diving full stretch to his right to palm the ball wide. With the surface as wet as it was it was no time to risk catching a ball moving at pace. Sam, in an excellent performance particularly in the second half, was on hand to complete the clearance. As the half wore on the Lydney crowd were getting quieter as a breakthrough was not forthcoming. We continued to exert control and look solid in possession. Jorge was linking with all around him with the midfield busy being destructive behind him.
It felt like we needed another goal though as, and they do say that 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline, with Lydney pressing us if it had gone to 2-1 they could have easily got their tails up. The third goal was an excellent team goal. Link up play between Freddie, Jorge and Jacob out on the right saw the latter make it to the byline. He slowed down the play then burst forward beating his defender and drawing the centre backs and keeper. With space in the middle he played the perfect cross for Jorge to finish from a yard out. At 3-0 it was game over. Lydney, to their credit, continued to try and press us but we held firm against the final aerial onslaught.
This was an excellent squad performance. The back four were solid and there was communication. Will in goal claiming the ball, George talking to his fellow defenders and Sam supporting his winger. Lewis came on late and was decisive in his defending. In front of them Ryan, Freddie and Jacob worked tirelessly to break up play and provide a creative spark. Louis playing left wing was always the outlet and plays like a proper winger. hugging the touchline and driving forward. When he crosses the ball it is delivered with real quality. In the number 10 libero role we played Max who glides through games and Finn who is very effective in a very different way. As the game wore on and his confidence grew Finn became more influential and started to get more and more involved. Taylor up front shows lovely skill and was unlucky not to score following some fine individual skills. With barely a movement (maybe he gave them the eyes?) he sent the Lydney defence the wrong way, faced with the goal and onrushing keeper he hit his shot too well and it flashed past the far post. Jorge worked tirelessly and led the line incredibly well. In full back Sam was excellent, particularly in the second half where he was able to get forward and support the attack more. Tom on the left had an excellent game and scored a goal that was a little bit meh.
Ok ok - Tom scored a worldy. From left back (he goes where he wants) he was supporting the attack, picking the ball up deep on the left he pushed it forward and hit a lovely shot that looped up then dipped under the bar and behind the keeper. No U15's keeper would have saved that. He celebrated it as only Tom could. It capped a fine display from Tom where he started to show some semblance of discipline in his role!
Motm was Jacob, this was a return to fine form. Wide right he was always available,taking on the full back and looking to make things happen. He opened the scoring, played centrally too and then set up the third.
Next up are Charlton Rovers Blues on Sunday 19/10. Momentum is building, lets keep this run going.....
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