As the cold air of late autumn took hold at Buck Park, the boys faced a well known adversary going by the name of the 'West Hove Dynamos', and sparks were certainly flying in todays matches!
The 'A's
Joe G. [GK], Fin, Alfie, Matt W., Ryan, Max B., & Nathan took to the field on the back of a run of results that saw them sorely needing a return to the form of last season. The first few minutes of the game saw both sides evenly matched as, like duelling eastern block chess masters, they calmly awaited the first false move from their opponents.
The first bit of goalmouth action saw Joe G. calmly collecting a ball from the Dynamos forward. And it was their frontline that stretched the midfield play toward the ASC area and allowed West Hove's Isaac to get in a searing shot from 20 yards [well, just outside the area] that pierced the ASC defence. A blinder. ASC 0 WHD 1
Galvanised, ASC pushed for the equaliser; Nathan seeing successive shots skim past the WHD post. The front of the midfield showed great interplay and a beautifully placed shot from Max B. was millimetres from its target. WHD really soaked up this pressure from the wounded animal called ASC; every player in black and blue pressed the boys in yellow and perhaps the save of the game came from the WHD keeper as he took a six yard blaster straight on his conk. Ouch!
As ASC pressed against the wall of black and blue, it was inevitable that breaks would be a problem. WHD turned defence into attack and once again Isaac had a great shot fly just pass the post. Of course, Joe G. had it WELL covered. ;-)
Half time: ACS Strikers 0 West Hove Dynamos 1
Gravity and the slope of the pitch came into play in the opening few minutes of the second half as both sets of players decided to have a game of 'who could get the most throw-ins'. Dogs, hot chocolate slurping parents and lazy relatives who brought deck chairs to sit on were up-ended as the midfield stood around wondering if they were going to see the ball again that day. They needn't have worried though as a swinging ball out to the right allowed Matt W. to go on an epoch making run along the top flank. Inspired by his team-mate's endeavour, Fin took the ball to the WHD byline and zinged a ball into the mixer; the WHD still soaked up the pressure like a really absorbent washing up cloth that has been injected with extra absorbency molecules [look, I'm tired].
And the opponent's defence of their lead continued as a Premier League Class through-ball [if the Premier League was populated by 8 year old boys] from Alfie split the backline in half. Once again, ASC saw their efforts come to nought as the ball went past the post. WHD's one major offensive of the half was nipped in the bud by Max B. with a sliding tackle, Moore-esque in its precision.
A fine performance from Strikers was held at bay by the continuing strong defence from their worthy opponents who were able to mount a late charge themselves. Alfie spun a ball across the face of the WHD goal which saw Nathan stretching valiantly across to tap it just past the post. Max B. saw a shot just pass over the bar, Fin had a game of 'keepy-uppy' before volleying, again just over. It was going to be one of those days.
The blow of the final whistle saw a well deserved win from the Dynamos; fantastic defending after taking their early chance handing them the spoils. Strikers can take real heart from the game and appear to have turned a corner. It's only a matter of time before the goals start flowing again!
Final score: ASC Strikers 0 West Hove Dynamos 1
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The 'B's
Once again it was left to the 'B's to restore some Buck Park pride and, my word, they delivered it in spades!
Joe W. [GK 1st half], Fin [GK 2nd half], Bill, Fraser, Joe G., Sunny, Max M., Tom & Matt S. comprised a squad looking to cheer up the Shoreham parents [even those on their deck chairs] on this cold, damp November morn.
The Near Legendary Bill [henceforth known as NLB] was first out of the blocks with a stunning left foot shot, soon followed by a blast out of defence that he decided to put his face in front of. Max M. with a lovely touch on the ball, coupled with some fine running laid an early claim to the MotM crown. Tom followed his lead and worked hard for a corner which saw Sunny hit the post from the resulting dead ball. Two minutes in and things were looking promising.
This was a WHD team, led by the talismanic James H., that had just seen their colleagues in the 'A's put in a fine display and they returned the pressure, resulting in some brave keeping from Joe W. in the ASC goal.
As the play swung into ASC'S favour, NLB was proving a real problem for the opponent's backline. Again, Joe W. was called into action and the resulting drop kick was the first of three precision touches:
1. Joe W. - drop kick
2. Tom - pass into the WHD box
3. Sunny - bottom left hand corner
ASC 1 WHD 0
The game had hardly re-started when ASC found themselves with a free kick just inside the WHD half. With a strike of almost mythical proportions, NLB slammed the ball into the WHD net. ASC 2 WHD 0
As the great Buck Park mistral pushed into the ASC backs, play turned into HD quality 'slo-mo' replays with a beautifully timed tackle by Sunny leading to ice cool defensive play from Max M.; Joe W. like a Brent goose heading ever southward across the goal to collect the ball. Matt S. sent a beautiful through ball from defence. Captain Fraser [no, not a character from 'Dad's Army' - Fraser was Captain for the match] always harrying the brave defenders from just along the Old Shoreham Road. Poetry.
Half time: ASC 2 WHD 0
Fin took over goalkeeping duties for the second half while Joe W. seized his opportunity upfront. His first action coming as WHD's steely eyed defender, Louie W. showed Joe he wasn't just along for the ride. ASC then had a period of genuinely exciting passing play with Max M. a rock at the back, holding up play and pinging a through ball into the front of midfield for Fraser to connect with and drive across the face of the goal.
WHD compiled their own passage of pressure which needed all the ASC players to get back and defend. A bit of a mix up from the corner saw the black and whites pull the lead back. ASC 2 WHD 1
Undeterred, ASC pressed again and gained a corner from the top end of the pitch. Joe W. saw his light touch sneak agonisingly past the far post. A second spell of pressure and NLB received the ball on to his left side. A mark of his millennia-straddling greatness saw a beautifully struck left foot strike into the back of the net. Honour regained. ASC 3 WHD 1
With tails up the boys pushed on and got yet another corner from the far end. A sweetly struck ball into the middle took a rebound straight on to the right foot of a waiting Joe W. who, Cantona-like, placed it into the bottom right hand corner. Game over. ASC 4 WHD 1
It could have been worse for WHD but excellent defending from Louie W. kept the score within the bounds of respectability.
As Max M. faultlessly swept up another loose ball at the back, the whistle blew marking the end of one of the 'B's finest performances since donning the yellow shirts all those months ago. A real team effort, from the coaching of Matt & Phil all the way down to the boys giving 110% on the pitch.
Final score: ASC Strikers 4 West Hove Dynamos 1
ps - is there such a thing as 110%?
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