Match Report

 Merton 6s v Civil Service 8s

After 2 Games away, we return home to face a CS8s side that has been struggling for results of late, with the oppo’s kit turning up late, this did not help either as they strolled out with less than 10 minutes till kick off

The 6s however had been gearing up for the game for over an hour, getting changed in the ‘store room’ after the 4s pulled rank and nicked the changing room by the showers, the 6 squeezed in around the BBQ’s and junior kits to get ready.

With MQ in goal, only conceding 1 goal in the last 2 games and a back 4 of Kevin at left back, Scott and Darren at centre back and Matt on the right, the defence shaped up rather good

Phil T once again takes up the centre mid roll, with Aaron A as his partner, left wing is Chris O and Ricky moves out to the right wing, up front with ‘El cappo’ is Peter O, leaving Ty and Daban on the bench

With the wintery low sun across the pitch as opposed to behind a goal this week, no half advantage to either teams, CS8s kick off. The early exchanges are dominated by the 6s, with ‘Ackers’ and Phil bossing the game, Chris down the left is the early outlet, each time getting the better of the CS8s right back. The signs are there as DG and Peter link up well only for the first few shots to go wide and leave the keeper untested

DG is now becoming a target man, holding play up and using the wide men well and retaining possession for each attack, both Peter and David now finding their range and testing the keeper with long range shots.

It was only a matter of time, a cross to DG some 20 yards out and back to goal, cushions a back heel between the centre backs and into the path of Peter who calmly slots pass the advancing keeper for a well-deserved 1-0 lead

With the game heavily in 6s hands, the lead is soon doubled and once again, DG receives the ball from Phil, controls and back heels another passes to Peter who once again only has the keeper to beat for 2-0

6s in full control and any attack is dealt with by the defence and on the rare occasion, MQ is on hand to tidy up further, a quick punt to the half way line sees DG chest the ball down and lob a pass through to Peter who beats the offside trap, with the keeper off his line and choosing to close Peter down as opposed to go back, the snap shot lob just goes wide

The relentless attacks keep coming, Aaron find himself out wide and woks his way down the line, CS8’s are powerless as he ghosts round the tackles and places a peach of a 35 yard cross into the path of the sprinting Peter who gets in front of his marker, leaps and side foots the shot just over the bar, in fairness the ball did come out the low bright afternoon sun, but the frustration can be seen as Peter berates himself for the miss.

With half time approaching, Chris through ball sends Peter sprinting, with 2 defenders as company, dropping the shoulder one way, then the next, he manages to wrong foot the pair, still some 20 yards out, unleashes a shot with such pace that keeper is powerless, and can only admire as the ball goes top corner to complete a great first half hattrick

With the first half over, a quick change of personal, Ricky who sustained a foot injury in a collision makes way for Daban, and Ackers for Ty.

Civil Services take their time to restart the second half, the half time couldn’t have come soon enough for the oppo and it done them well. Now looking far move organised and with the injection of some youth, pace is the call of the day. a few warning shots go by, but the 6s are still in control, DG linking with Chris to send him down the line, and the return pass is meet with a strong side foot which tamely goes by the enar post, Peter soon find himself out wide and bearing down on goal, with either option to pass or shoot, taking the latter at such a tight angle sees the keeper hold onto the fierce shot, Daban gets in on the act with a mazy run around no less than 4 players, only to fluff his lines directly in front of goal, with no less than 3 players waiting for the pass or the shot beckoning, runs out of room as the keeper snatches the ball away from his feet

All this possession, it’s in 6s fashion to fly by the seat of their pants! CS8s break away, the speedy player manages to evade countless tackles of many descriptions before unleashing a heavy shot that MQ gets to, but squirms under his body and trickles over the line, unfortunate but to be fair, it was coming. Not learning from this, the 6s just carry on attacking, the last 10 minutes sees DG shot just go wide of the post (which Aaron celebrated thinking it was in! even the ref wasn’t too sure!!) Peter once again being foiled by the keeper on more than one occasion (could have had a second half hattrick to go with the first!) and Daban causing all sorts of trouble when he manages to get the ball out of his feet and run at the oppo like a man possessed!!

With seconds remaining, and CS8s with a corner, the ball plays pin ball between the 2 teams before falling to a player just inside the box, whos volley is so well hit the net seems to bulge out of shape, thankfully that was the last kick of the game, maybe another 10 minutes and CS8s could have pulled the game level as the 6s looked like spent force towards the end and as a result, happy with the 3-2 win

Next week, a tough away game at the Bank of England, undefeated in the league but coming off a 15-3 hammering in the LFFC cup. Can the 6s go 4 without loss?

 

MOTM: Although Peter scores a hattrick in the first half, its Phil T who takes the accolade for some great work in the middle of the park

DOTD: Unfairly, its Chris O, although had a stern game, had a couple of melts that brought a laugh to the squad….

 

Team: MQ, Dazza, Mazza, Scazza, Kezza, Chrazza, Azza, Razza, Dava, Pazza, Tazza, Dazza… and Phil!

 

Posted in Match Reports 6s