29th October 2017 KO - 10am. Piranhas step up against Notley!
Team:
1 - Charlie W 7 - Cameron M
3 - Louis F 9 - Zach L
4 - Tom A 10 - Charlie T
5 - Leo M 11 - Sam M
1 - Charlie W 7 - Cameron M
3 - Louis F 9 - Zach L
4 - Tom A 10 - Charlie T
5 - Leo M 11 - Sam M
The Piranhas found themselves without a league game this week due to their scheduled opponents being unable to field a team during the half term break. Not wanting to miss another weekend of football, a friendly was arranged at Laundry Lane with an old adversary, Notley Falcons, who play in the top division. We thought it would be a good test for the team against opposition of a good caliber.
Harry H was away on international duty this week so Tom A stepped into midfield. Louis F, who was recovering from illness started on the bench. The rest of the team had a familiar look about it in the first half.
Christian Lund kindly stepped in to referee the game and we had agreed that we would play 30 minute halves to give both teams a really good run out. Zach L was skipper for the Piranhas today and was invited to join his opposite number for a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who kicked off.
The game got underway and Notley were on the attack early and there was a moment of panic in the 1st minute as the Falcon’s striker managed to turn and fire a shot on target.
The Piranhas soon found their stride though as Leo M tried an ambitious effort in the 1st minute but his shot was dragged just wide.
In the 3rd minute, the Notley Falcons’ player managed to find a pocket of space to get a shot off but it whistled wide of the goal.
It was real end to end stuff as Cameron M also had a good effort in the 4th minute but the shot was dragged wide.
After a sustained period of pressure, Notley Falcons scored a well-deserved goal. There were no arguments about this one. Time of goal: 9 minutes.
Changes in the 9th minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Louis F replaced Cameron M.
In the 11th minute Leo M was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge.
A shot from Zach L in the 13th minute was tipped away by the Notley Falcons goalkeeper.
In the 14th minute Zach L was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge. Great tracking back.
16 minutes in, an acrobatic save was required from the Notley Falcons goalkeeper, after a Charlie T shot was heading in.
Goal for Dunmow United Piranhas. Zach L picked up the ball on the left and played a great pass into Charlie T, Charlie’s shot was saved by the advancing keeper but Charlie picked up the rebound and fired into the top corner. Goal time: 16 minutes.
Zach L tried an ambitious effort in the 17th minute but the shot was dragged wide.
Changes in the 18th minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Cameron M replaced Tom A.
In the 24th minute Sam M was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge.
Changes at half time saw Sam M go in goal and Tom A come into defence. Charlie W went into midfield.
A shot from Charlie T early in the half was tipped away by the Notley Falcons goalkeeper.
In the 31st minute, the Notley Falcons player managed to find a pocket of space to get a shot off but Sam M got down well to his right to save.
Cameron M tried an ambitious effort in the 31st minute but the shot was dragged wide.
The Piranhas went ahead when Charlie T turned on a sixpence and fired an instinctive strike outside the box in the 32nd minute. Nothing more than Dunmow deserved.
Changes in the 33rd minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Leo M replaced Charlie T.
A jinking run from Louis F in the 35th minute, almost created another opportunity for Dunmow.
In the 39th minute Tom A was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge.
Credit where credit's due, Notley Falcons continued to work tirelessly, as their player gives the keeper the eyes to put away the finish, leaving him stranded. With 39 minutes on the clock, the match could have gone either way.
40 minutes in, an acrobatic save was required from the Notley Falcons goalkeeper, after a Zach L shot was heading in.
Changes in the 42nd minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Charlie T replaced Zach L.
Disappointment was in the air for Dunmow United Piranhas, but Notley Falcons were happy with this one, capitalising on a well worked opening, they took full advantage with a superbly taken goal.
Charlie W tried an ambitious effort in the 49th minute but the shot was dragged wide.
In the 50 + 2nd minute the Notley Falcons player made a terrific last ditch challenge, a great piece of defending.
Notley Falcons scored another goal, giving the score line a rather unfair look. Time of goal: 50 + 2 minutes.
Manager Interview:
I am really proud of the whole team today for an outstanding performance against a very strong opposition. Every single player stepped up to the mark and some of the football going forward was breath-taking at times. We more than matched Notley in every area of the match, however, I think a few tired legs at the end meant we didn’t quite get the result we deserved. Ross and I couldn’t choose a MOTM today because every player was so good so we gave the award to the whole team. They have taken notice of what we have looked at on the training ground and brought it into match days.
The team still needs to work on not getting pulled out of position late in games and to not change their style when we concede.
We also had the opportunity to look at a few players in different positions today and they all performed brilliantly, giving us a selection headache!
Harry H was away on international duty this week so Tom A stepped into midfield. Louis F, who was recovering from illness started on the bench. The rest of the team had a familiar look about it in the first half.
Christian Lund kindly stepped in to referee the game and we had agreed that we would play 30 minute halves to give both teams a really good run out. Zach L was skipper for the Piranhas today and was invited to join his opposite number for a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who kicked off.
The game got underway and Notley were on the attack early and there was a moment of panic in the 1st minute as the Falcon’s striker managed to turn and fire a shot on target.
The Piranhas soon found their stride though as Leo M tried an ambitious effort in the 1st minute but his shot was dragged just wide.
In the 3rd minute, the Notley Falcons’ player managed to find a pocket of space to get a shot off but it whistled wide of the goal.
It was real end to end stuff as Cameron M also had a good effort in the 4th minute but the shot was dragged wide.
After a sustained period of pressure, Notley Falcons scored a well-deserved goal. There were no arguments about this one. Time of goal: 9 minutes.
Changes in the 9th minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Louis F replaced Cameron M.
In the 11th minute Leo M was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge.
A shot from Zach L in the 13th minute was tipped away by the Notley Falcons goalkeeper.
In the 14th minute Zach L was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge. Great tracking back.
16 minutes in, an acrobatic save was required from the Notley Falcons goalkeeper, after a Charlie T shot was heading in.
Goal for Dunmow United Piranhas. Zach L picked up the ball on the left and played a great pass into Charlie T, Charlie’s shot was saved by the advancing keeper but Charlie picked up the rebound and fired into the top corner. Goal time: 16 minutes.
Zach L tried an ambitious effort in the 17th minute but the shot was dragged wide.
Changes in the 18th minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Cameron M replaced Tom A.
In the 24th minute Sam M was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge.
Changes at half time saw Sam M go in goal and Tom A come into defence. Charlie W went into midfield.
A shot from Charlie T early in the half was tipped away by the Notley Falcons goalkeeper.
In the 31st minute, the Notley Falcons player managed to find a pocket of space to get a shot off but Sam M got down well to his right to save.
Cameron M tried an ambitious effort in the 31st minute but the shot was dragged wide.
The Piranhas went ahead when Charlie T turned on a sixpence and fired an instinctive strike outside the box in the 32nd minute. Nothing more than Dunmow deserved.
Changes in the 33rd minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Leo M replaced Charlie T.
A jinking run from Louis F in the 35th minute, almost created another opportunity for Dunmow.
In the 39th minute Tom A was called into action to pull off an excellent last ditch challenge.
Credit where credit's due, Notley Falcons continued to work tirelessly, as their player gives the keeper the eyes to put away the finish, leaving him stranded. With 39 minutes on the clock, the match could have gone either way.
40 minutes in, an acrobatic save was required from the Notley Falcons goalkeeper, after a Zach L shot was heading in.
Changes in the 42nd minute for DUNMOW UNITED PIRANHAS as Charlie T replaced Zach L.
Disappointment was in the air for Dunmow United Piranhas, but Notley Falcons were happy with this one, capitalising on a well worked opening, they took full advantage with a superbly taken goal.
Charlie W tried an ambitious effort in the 49th minute but the shot was dragged wide.
In the 50 + 2nd minute the Notley Falcons player made a terrific last ditch challenge, a great piece of defending.
Notley Falcons scored another goal, giving the score line a rather unfair look. Time of goal: 50 + 2 minutes.
Manager Interview:
I am really proud of the whole team today for an outstanding performance against a very strong opposition. Every single player stepped up to the mark and some of the football going forward was breath-taking at times. We more than matched Notley in every area of the match, however, I think a few tired legs at the end meant we didn’t quite get the result we deserved. Ross and I couldn’t choose a MOTM today because every player was so good so we gave the award to the whole team. They have taken notice of what we have looked at on the training ground and brought it into match days.
The team still needs to work on not getting pulled out of position late in games and to not change their style when we concede.
We also had the opportunity to look at a few players in different positions today and they all performed brilliantly, giving us a selection headache!
The other really pleasing aspect is how much the team are supporting and encouraging each other. The talking has gone up and there is a real positive team spirit developing which was evident when the lads were celebrating the goals together. Thanks to Christian Lund for his ‘Pierre Luigi Collina’ like refereeing display, really keeping the game moving and helping players from both sides and thanks again to new ‘unofficial’ Piranhas photographer, Richard W, for more great pics. The Piranhas’ faithful were in full voice, as always, and gave the team rapturous applause at the end of the game. Well done lads! |
Next match - Away v Wilvale (again!). KO - TBC.