League - Sunday 24^th January

Team: Dan, Will, Harry L, Chris, Toby, David, Oliver, Harry M, Ruaridh,Simon, Jack   Subs: Lewis

Today was all about attitude and result, we needed a win to regain the league momentum that we had built up before the weather kicked in and knocked our fixtures for six.  To get the result we needed the boys to show the same attitude as last week and like that against Stoneleigh.

On a terrible pitch with a pronounced slope at one end, we proceeded to dominate the game from start to end with a good disciplined performance against quite a physical team.  We matched them for strength and our ability to knock the ball around enabled a succession of chances that could have easily seen us going in at half-time with the game comfortably won.  Most of the team had efforts on goal – Oliver, Jack, Simon, Ruaridh, David, Harry M and Lewis all had efforts that were either well saved or just wide or over the goal.

During that time T&M were confined to one shot which Dan dealt with comfortably and a defence well marshalled by Chris and with excellent performances across the line from Will, Harry L and Toby were able to deal with any threats posed comfortably.

We started the second half well when a combination of Ruaridh and Simon fed in Oliver who ran across the face of the box and twisted to drive a shot into the top left corner.  This was followed up a succession of near misses from Simon, Ruaridh, Toby and Lewis. However, the state of the pitch and the slope always meant that T&M, were they to break could pose problems and it was from one such situation where one of their players was fouled in the box and a penalty given.  This allowed T&M to level the scores somewhat against the run of play.

For about 5 minutes, the shock of conceding an equaliser when in such control seemed to affect our composure and T&M had their best spell.  However, we regained focus and the lead when a corner found Chris who headed home to make it 2-1. With the lead re-established, we then looked to extend it and David went close with a cross goal drive.  Lewis had a free-kick effort just over the bar and Simon was a constant threat. The game ended at 2-1 and a tough, well contested fixture saw Cars victorious for the third successive league game. 

A good team performance all round with notable individual displays from Harry M and Oliver in central midfield, their tenacity and ball playing gave us the bite and creativity we needed to take the game to them.  Will was outstanding at right back, maintaining the high levels of performance that he displayed against Sutton Utd in the previous week.A very impressive display that could only be improved by a few more goals.  Well done boys.

Paul Turner