The steady improvement in the 3s performances reached new levels today as we despatched Cardiff & Met C 4-1 at The Ridings. It always takes time for a new team to gel but things are beginning to look good as the understanding and positional play develops. A near flawless first half saw us look solid in defence and dangerous in attack, creating overloads all over the pitch. Having done a bit of short corner practise it was pleasing to see us take the lead through one, although the slightly squint injection wasn’t part of the plan. Ollie reacted quickly and stopped the ball himself before drilling a flick into the back of the net, just as he’d done at training. The lead was doubled as we broke down the middle of the pitch and Hobbes slipped the ball to Curtis who swept a reverse past the advancing keeper. We upped the pace even more in the second half and started ripping the Cardiff defence to bits. Alex added two more to his season’s growing tally by adopting excellent high positions, the best goal coming from a good move down the left where James burst into the D to create the extra man. We did lose our marking discipline for a ten-minute spell which gave Duncan some practise in goal and allowed Cardiff to pull a goal back. Nevertheless, we were well clear by then and finished the game strongly, running out deserved winners. The movement up front was exceptional, feeding off the midfield four who hunted in a pack, supported by the marauding full backs. Every single player got a mention in the Man of the Match discussion but just shading it with a dominant display in midfield was Ross. (If you’re reading this, Mrs Williams, club rules are that a Man of the Match is not allowed to miss the following match due to a sister’s birthday.)