The First Team made it eight wins out of eight in all competition in a tight affair with Welshpool Town FC.
Considering we are on a good run we started this game very flat and let the visitors dictate the tempo in the opening exchanges. Goal keeper Adam Jones was never tested early on but Welshpool had more of the ball with us looking to hit them on the counter attack. After 20 minutes “The Gaffer” dropped Brendan Hackett into midfield and put Rob Snedden as striker, this immediately worked as we began to get on top.
Besides a Snedden long range effort I don’t think either side looked like scoring and I don’t remember either keeper having to make any saves of note in the opening 40 minutes.
In the 41st minute we were awarded a corner which Hackett whipped in and winger Adi Lawford glanced a header past the visitors keeper. 1-0.
The lead lasted all of 3 minutes, a ball crossed into the box was finished by “Town” striker Will Thomas although for the first time in my life I was asked by one of our players to put it down as an own goal off him. He was man marking him throughout so maybe that has something to do with it! And I quote “He’s not having it, it came off my a***” so it’s an OG”!
Ht 1-1.
The second I would describe as a niggly affair, it was stop start and again a half of very few chances, captain Jordan Baker had to come off at half time and had been replaced by Danial Elvestad.
We saw much more of the ball throughout the second half and seemed to be getting corner after corner but nothing to trouble the Welshpool keeper and the same up the other end I don’t remember “Jonah” making a save except for a few punches from crosses.
16 year old Harry Hooper replaced Lawford and made some good runs down the right with his pace and made a few good crosses into the box but we just couldn’t get anyone on the end of them.
With 5 minutes to go a the referee awarded a free kick to us about 40 yards out and if i’m honest I don’t really know what for. The influential Hackett crossed it into the box where top scorer Jack Biggs bundled the ball over the line, the keeper tried pushing it out but it was clearly a good two foot over the line.
We saw out the last few minutes with Welshpool more intent on arguing with the referee about the free kick awarded leading up to the goal than trying to get an equaliser. To be fair I wouldn’t have been happy if the shoe had been on the other foot, otherwise I thought the referee had a good game.
Ft 2-1
This wasn’t our greatest performance but we did have players missing which showed with us having two 16 year olds on the bench but we still managed to grind out a result. Our attacking players always get the headlines but today I thought our defence was solid all game. We talked about the threat of Will Thomas and and besides his goal or (Steves back sides goal) he was very well which is no mean feat because I rate him as one of the best players in the league.
Sponsors man of the match was Steve Goodwin.
Team –
Adam Jones, Jordan Baker(c)(Danial Elvestad), Matt Croose, Steve Goodwin, Jake Atkinson, Adi Lawford(Harry Hooper), Brendan Hackett, Jack Biggs, Matt James, Tom James, Rob Snedden, Matty Tong.
Top scorer Jack Biggs who netted the winner with Brendan Hackett behind him.
Winger Adi Lawford who opened the scoring from a corner.
Both managers looking on.
The free kick for the winning goal.