A creditable performance today, going down 5-1 away to Penarth A. It was always going to be a tough ask with four changes from the previous week but it was an opportunity to “blood” a couple more youngsters. With Penarth starting without a keeper, they pressed really high to keep the ball out of their half, proving really effective for them. Ironically we had suffered the same fate the previous season when the umpires insisted on starting the match before our (lost) keeper had arrived, although on that occasion we were 3-1 up before Mike Lilley appeared on the pitch – he now has a sat nav! Penarth scored a couple of early goals which we could have defended better but we pulled one back with a flowing move down the pitch – Ollie to Alex to Luke to Edd to Mark – probably 7 or 8 seconds from start to finish by the time the ball was despatched into the corner of the goal by Mark. A goal conceded from a short made it three, deflecting off Wayne’s stick into the top right corner which for some reason Toby decided not to head off the line. A better second half, particularly as the youngsters grew into the game, but nothing to show for our efforts despite lots of pressure and several short corners. Penarth showed us how to do a “no. 4” short corner to make it four and then completed the scoring when one of their players ran along the baseline unchallenged. Only 12 men today with three injuries by the end, requiring emergency measures (Winge in midfield?!). However, the 2s got promoted today, the 4s won to reach safety, the 1s won to reach the brink of promotion, so a very successful day overall. To put things in context, Penarth’s main striker is now on 40 goals for the season following his hat-trick today, rivalling Dan Lusmore for the golden stick, so no disgrace losing to Penarth. Several nominations for Man-of-the-Match including Luke, Alex, Toby, Winge and Doey, but winning with another commanding performance in midfield was Ross.
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