After a 17-0 cup victory last weekend, this was likely to be a far more evenly matched game against the current league leaders. Mychett came out of the blocks fast, with the left winger causing early problems for Shinfield. Within 2 minutes, Mytchett had taken the lead and continued to cause problems on the wings.
It didn’t take long for Shinfield to level the spoils after one of our boys was fouled in the box. Casey stepped up to slam the penalty deep into the right corner. 1-1
But Mychett weren’t having any of it and a lofted shot was not cleared by Shinfield and Mytchett punished the mistake by scoring. 1-2. Pete needed to change strategy and showed his managerial prowess by executing a quick shuffle of the defence to try and counter the fast wingers. It appeared to work. Shinfield went on the offence and grabbed a flurry of goals.
First a trademark Casey corner was taken first time by Aidan right in front of goal to level the scores again. 2-2. Then Tom gets a lucky break on the right, outpaces the defender and with the goalkeeper coming off his line, Tom toe-punts the ball from long range to find the corner of the net. 3-2
With Mytchett now not getting much of a look-in due to our effective re-arranged defence, Luke finds himself in space way outside the area and launches a long high shot which sails into the top corner giving the Mytchett goalkeeper no chance. 4-2.
Then some respite for Mytchett as they are awarded a penalty for a push in the area. They stepped up to reduce the deficit. 4-3.
Back down the other end, James attempted a long shot, which the goalkeeper could only pat down into the path of a waiting Charlie. He took the opportunity quickly. 5-3
Charlie then gets a 2nd opportunity when a long ball from Casey was handled badly by the keeper, Charlie was on hand again but this time slipped it past the post.
The final goal of the half saw a repeat of Aidans goal with a Casey corner falling nicely for Johnnie in front of goal. Johnnie stabbed it home to send Shinfield into half-time with a 6-3 lead.
The second half was more of the same. Good passing from Shinfield and our defence snuffing out any danger to give Lewis a relatively quiet day.
It didn’t take long for another Casey corner to drop in front of the goal. A mad scramble for the ball but Charlie get a foot on it to stab it home. 7-3.
Then Luke pushes the ball wide on the right to Tom who pushes a lovely forward ball to Ellis who runs onto it and finishes it tidily. 8-3
After an early good start, Mytchett could match our excellent passing and penetrating attacks. One chance did fall to them when a solid long shot was superbly saved by Lewis. Luke in the thick of it again as he takes on three players in midfield then pumps a lovely long ball to Aidan in lots of space. Aidan calmly runs at goalkeeper and slips it competently past him to make the score 9-3.
And that’s how it finished. A very competent display by Shinfield in all areas of the pitch. This game was a showpiece for the talents of our excellent coach, Pete. The training on Thursdays is clearly starting to pay off as the boys are now really starting to look for each other and anticipate runs. Plus, Petes swift actions early in the first half to re-arrange the players had a dramatic effect on the danger from the opposition. A great game to watch and so good to see the players really starting to play as a team.
Well done boys
Scorers: Aidan (2), Charlie (2), Casey (Pen), Tom, Luke, Ellis, Johnnie
Man of Match: Lewis and Vinay
Regards
Chris Starke