DUFC Vikings vs Galleywood Falcons

The Vikings were made to work hard this week. After some cricket scores over last 3 weeks, and me feeling we are in the wrong Division, this week we welcomed Galleywood Falcons, who were a tough outfit. The fact we won convincingly made it a great Sunday for the Vikings.

We had 9 players available and with Josh, Bastien, Cullen, William and Jayden starting, we took the game to Galleywood from the start.

In warm up, I had the help of my friend and great Goal Keeper, George H , who really got the team fired up with some 1 pass and shooting skills. Thanks George. 

After an initial period of tackling and breaking down the play, Bastien found William who finished well to put us 1-0 up and deservedly so.

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Despite the lead, Galleywood, as all game were still a threat. Cullen was alert and had to shepherd the ball out on a couple of occasions, beating the opposition to teh ball.. We then had William try an audacious volley that was on target but put over by the head of a defender which was a shame - could have been goal of the month !

We got a 2nd, when Jayden was set up excellently by a pass from Cullen, Jayden controlling it calmly before William slotting home clinically. We swapped the players with Henry, Angus, Joseph and Jess replacing the starting line up. They settled in quickly and put pressure on the away side immediately. However, Galleywood came back and Angus was awesome in stopping an absolute scorcher, with Angus getting across and blocking it before it hit our target- as good as a goal Angus ! They did grab one back after some sloppy play defensively from a throw, which was a shame. 

Half time saw us 2-1 in the lead and I thought deservedly so. The Vikings had played some lovely football and could have had more. Bastien, Cullen, Henry and Angus all delivered some great defensive dutites, and with Cullens and Henry's passing, Bastien's dribbling and Angus's defensive strengths, we started many attacks from our back 2. After a loose challenge on Joseph, who was like a dynamo, he stepped up and slotted home a wonderful freekick right into the top bins ! Match of the Day special ! That gave us the impetitous to seal the win. Josh was heroic again in goal and smoothered all shots and had 2 one on ones where he saved well. 

Kicking on, saw Joseph add a second from a lovely Angus throw in. The opposition, started to get frustrated, with one of their players cynically haacking down both William and Angus. Really proud the Vikings didn't retaliate and made their play do the tallking. Really alert to the options, Angus picked out Joseph well and the rest was history as they say ! William, again up and down the park with some wonderful and unselfish play, linked up with the others. Rightly so he got his hat trick with an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net (I was shouting control it so what do I know !). 

We continued the pressure and after another poor tackle, we had a free kick from midway in their half. William wanted it but after the Burnham game, Cullen stepped up. He lauched a beautiful effort going top corner. However, goalkeeping was outstanding at he snatched it from the top bin and saved what would have been another screamer from Cullen.

We looked like we would get more, Jess continously driving forward and was unlucky with a great shot that was deflected for a corner. She had another blistering shot that hit the post - although the ref (Dan) had blown to our amusement. We had another scare near the end, but Josh stopped another one on one and we saw the game out. 

Wow , really proud of the development of the Vikings today. It was tough and probably 6 weeks ago we would have lost through a lack of focus or basics. This time we smashed it and despite some cynical tackles won through. Next week the Dunmow Rhodes Derby !