RUSTY FIVES WAKE UP A LITTLE LATE

MATCH REPORT: PAUL WHITNEY

What a glorious day at College Meadow. Blessed with sunshine and a feast of quality hockey during the day the 5s were under pressure to keep up with the positive results that had been coming in during the day.

With a slightly new line up, trying a new system and some summer cobwebs, BOE were a bit slow out of the traps. Burnt Ash however were straight on it. Well drilled with swift passing they were causing problems from the outset. They played their strikers high which left them space in the midfield to expose us. Before long BOE were 1 nil down although there was some dispute as to whether the ball travelled 5m before entering the D or 3m!! But either way they managed to get 2 strikers unmarked behind our back line.
Further onslaught occurred during the first half but gradually BOE started to settle and even the game out. Young Tom Conway pulled out some fine saves during the first half to keep us in the game but some slippery work by their striker at a short corner sent Burnt Ash into the break 2-0 up.

The team conference at half time pulled BOE into line and the second half showed a lot more promise. Jamie Cotgreave had some glugs of a golden coloured protein shake at half time which seemed to do the trick as he was a force in the second half. Paul Baker turned back the years with some classy first time touches and reliable Charlie Nelson slotted home to give us a fighting chance.

BOE became a different side. Passing and pressing and deserved the draw but alas it was not to be. Thanks to the support from the touch line. As always their comments were on point and fully appreciated !!!!

All in all a great performance and a good result against a team a league above us.
We know where we need to improve (a short corner routine would help as we had about 8 and didn't convert one) and the rest will drop into place. Excellent debuts from young Ross Ainley and Alex Muntus, welcome to the club guys.
MOTM was hotly contested as everyone put in a shift. Carney was supreme at right back (I think that he possibly borrowed Chris Halls legs for the afternoon as he did not stop running) but Tom Conway between the sticks took the honours, and happy birthday mate.

Thanks to Burnt Ash for a great game and to Seneka for keeping order. 1 more friendly before business starts proper.