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Crossways 6 - 3 Sturminster Marshall Reserves
Stur Line-up:
1:
Joe Wood,
2:
Dave Abbott, 3:
Tommy Hawes, 4:
Scott
Bennett, 5.Matt
Saunders (capt.),
6: Luke Geddes, 7.
Tom Simmons, 8:
Matt Jones, 9.
Erkan Mete, 10.
Will Gage, 11.
Scott Thomas
Substitutes:
Jack Geddes (for Jones 75), Matt
Churm (for Geddes 60)
Goals:
Stur:
Hawes, Gage, Churm
The
conditions away at Crossways this weekend spelt out to both sets of players
early on that attractive football was not going to be easy, no more so than
when, just prior to kick off, a mixture of snow and hail stung down upon the
players.
Despite
this, both teams started strongly, Stur playing with the predominant force of
the wind. Many good passages of play were strung together despite the
conditions. However the first chance came to Crossways when a lost ball resulted
in men over for Crossways in the box; luckily the effort was blazed wide. A
great last-ditch challenge from Saunders was also important in thwarting the
home side, despite their raucous cries for a penalty.
At the other
end, some trickery from Matt Jones brought about a one on one situation;
unfortunately the midfielder could only find the side-netting. Following this
some good work from midfield ended in Erkan Mete crossing into the box, finding
Will Gage unmarked. Again exasperation showed when Gage struck the ball into the
goalkeeper who produced a good save. Moments later blinding pace from Scott
Thomas salvaged a seemingly lost cause. Thomas again found Gage in the box, only
for the teenager to slice the ball over the bar.
It seemed
that Stur were on the verge of wasting their advantage of the wind in the first
half due to these untimely misses, especially when 2 huge goal kicks from the
stand-in goalkeeper Wood (normally a midfielder) went through everyone but only
resulting in finding his opposite number. Then a corner from the right was
struck beautifully into the swirling conditions by Tommy Hawes. A clearance
inside the goal did not stop the referee giving the goal to Stur at last. 1-0.
Comically
the referee’s watch stopped on 38 minutes in this half and so the teams ended up
playing almost 55 minutes in the first half.
Half time
1-0.
The
second-half promised to show attacking, flair-filled football after the exciting
first half and did not disappoint. The first goal of this half fell to
Crossways. A surging run saw a central midfielder drive low past Wood. The same
midfielder scored a fluky cross-shot from the right wing not long after, and
soon after a Crossways striker struck home for 3-1.
Despite the
goals at the other end, Stur were really applying the pressure to the Crossways
defence. Finally a patient and beautifully crafted move from the defence through
midfield ended in Mete slotting Thomas down the right channel. Thomas then
skipped a defender to cross deep for the arriving Gage to volley home.
Against the
run of play Crossways scored two more wind-assisted goals. However the
resilience shown by Stur all over the park was admirable and really began to
show the team ethic that has often been missing through this season, although
it is clearly evident in the changing rooms!!!
Another
pacey run full of desire from Scott Thomas down the right resulted in him being
impeded by the covering Crossways sweeper. The ensuing penalty was smashed home
by the substitute Churm.
One further
goal was scored by Crossways on the break, although there was one fantastic save
made by Joe Wood in the Stur goal, finger tipping a point-blank shot around the
post. Despite the one-sided result, Stur had to be fairly pleased with a strong
attacking performance. In more favourable conditions the story of the match
could have been much different and Stur can count themselves unfortunate.
Full-time
3-6.
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