Barracudas travelled to Silver End for their first match of 2019, the two teams having met just once before (almost exactly a year to the day - 7th January 2018!) in what was an exciting encounter at Laundry Lane. This time around proved to be a very even contest with some excellent football played by both teams.
Captain Jack was injured in training the day before and unable to play in the match, so the armband was given to his deputy, Josh. In true captain’s style however, Jack came along to support from the sidelines and was there to help the management team during the game. Great commitment!
The match began with both sides looking to attack but defences were generally on top with neither team able to make an early breakthrough. Ollie C as main defender was having a solid game, with excellent defensive support from Ollie M, Hugo and George.
The deadlock was finally broken towards the end of the first half, when Josh played an excellent long pass through from the right hand side to the unmarked Hugo in the middle, who made no mistake, finishing low and hard past the keeper – a tidy finish!
Soon after, goalkeeper Charlie was called into action as a Silver End player finally managed to break through past the Barracudas’ back line and in a one on one, the shot was magnificently tipped round the post with a diving save to his left. Great stop!
The second half continued to be very even and in just the third minute of the second half, Silver End got themselves on the scoresheet with a finish from close range, despite a number of Barracudas’ attempts to clear the danger.
Barracudas were undeterred however, heads didn’t drop and eventually their determination paid off. Louie, with some great work in right midfield played a ball through to Josh, who ran in from the right hand side, found himself through on goal and shot low into the net, with the keeper getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out.
Barracudas finished the match strongly and a fantastic run up the left hand side from Alfie led to a well struck shot nearly resulting in a goal, but the Silver End keeper made a very good stop to keep the ball out.
At the other end, Charlie matched his first half save with an equally good one to add to his season’s portfolio of great goalkeeping!
Barracudas added another goal in the last of the regular 25 minutes in the second half - this time Josh beat a defender, cut in towards goal from the right hand side and fired low beyond the keeper – a nice run and finish.
It was a good, competitive match and a nice way to start to the New Year. The team’s passing has improved immensely this season and was particularly noticeable in this match with some excellent moves. The defending and marking is also improving all the time with less goals now being conceded compared to earlier in the season.
It was a particularly difficult decision this week regarding Man of the Match as everyone played their part. Alfie received a deserved honourable mention for his excellent workrate, his tackling and also for making some nice runs. However the Man of the Match trophy was awarded to George, who seemed to cover every blade of grass, his decision making was excellent and whose passing was once again superb.
The match began with both sides looking to attack but defences were generally on top with neither team able to make an early breakthrough. Ollie C as main defender was having a solid game, with excellent defensive support from Ollie M, Hugo and George.
The deadlock was finally broken towards the end of the first half, when Josh played an excellent long pass through from the right hand side to the unmarked Hugo in the middle, who made no mistake, finishing low and hard past the keeper – a tidy finish!
Soon after, goalkeeper Charlie was called into action as a Silver End player finally managed to break through past the Barracudas’ back line and in a one on one, the shot was magnificently tipped round the post with a diving save to his left. Great stop!
The second half continued to be very even and in just the third minute of the second half, Silver End got themselves on the scoresheet with a finish from close range, despite a number of Barracudas’ attempts to clear the danger.
Barracudas were undeterred however, heads didn’t drop and eventually their determination paid off. Louie, with some great work in right midfield played a ball through to Josh, who ran in from the right hand side, found himself through on goal and shot low into the net, with the keeper getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out.
Barracudas finished the match strongly and a fantastic run up the left hand side from Alfie led to a well struck shot nearly resulting in a goal, but the Silver End keeper made a very good stop to keep the ball out.
At the other end, Charlie matched his first half save with an equally good one to add to his season’s portfolio of great goalkeeping!
Barracudas added another goal in the last of the regular 25 minutes in the second half - this time Josh beat a defender, cut in towards goal from the right hand side and fired low beyond the keeper – a nice run and finish.
It was a good, competitive match and a nice way to start to the New Year. The team’s passing has improved immensely this season and was particularly noticeable in this match with some excellent moves. The defending and marking is also improving all the time with less goals now being conceded compared to earlier in the season.
It was a particularly difficult decision this week regarding Man of the Match as everyone played their part. Alfie received a deserved honourable mention for his excellent workrate, his tackling and also for making some nice runs. However the Man of the Match trophy was awarded to George, who seemed to cover every blade of grass, his decision making was excellent and whose passing was once again superb.