Saturday 1st December 2007

Westonzoyland Reserves 0-3 Bridgwater Sports Colts

Team: Howes, Criddle, Walford, Savage, Hill, Curren, Selway, Frost, S. Smith, J. Gardiner, Redman

Subs: Townsend, A. Clapp & Woolridge

Scorers: Redman (2) Curren

Ratings: Howes (7), Criddle (8), Walford (7), Savage (7), Hill (8), Curren (7), Selway (7), Frost (8), S. Smith (8), J. Gardiner (8), Redman (7) Townsend (7) A. Clapp (7) Woolridge (6)

Star Man: Steve Redman

Wanker: Jamie Gardner for missing a header whilst on the goal line

Donkey: Iaine Selway for 'Pooper Scooping' before taking a corner which went out for a Goal Kick

With a desire to repeat the dominant performance, produced in their last match, but this time to ensure the accompanying 3pts, the Colts set off in a determined mood on the short trip away to Westonzoyland.

Jamie was welcomed back from injury and replaced the missing Jordan in attack.  Kev Curren, unfortunate to miss out in recent weeks, was reinstated to the starting line up at the expense of top scorer Gareth who was simply rested.  It was stated that there were a number of players in the squad who are desperate and also deserving of a starting place, but in recent weeks players were putting so much effort into their performance that it was making it almost impossible to drop them – but the management are looking for the slightest excuse!

The wet and windy conditions meant that the team would have to stick together and encourage each other when the inevitable mistakes were made – except for at the back(!), where no chances were to be taken, and early long clearances would be accepted, which may even benefit the pace of Jamie and the strength of Redders, up front.

The game started and followed a similar pattern to the previous week.  This wasn’t a bad thing, as the majority of possession belonged to the Colts, but the longer the game remained at 0-0 the more concerned the management team became. 

However, after 20mins Steve Redman settled the nerves a little, and produced a deserved goal.  A strong and determined run into the box was rewarded when one further nutmeg was too many for the defender, who lunged in and took Redders out for a certain pen.  Dusting himself down, the spot kick was then dispatched past the keeper for a 1-0 lead.

The battle of the day was in midfield, where Shane and Westonzoyland’s best player Gary Cook had a hard but fairish tussle all afternoon.  From one of these tussles a free kick was awarded to the Colts 25yrds from the centre of the goal.  Shane took the kick which hit the crossbar and shot straight up. With the keeper scrambling to his feet the ball came straight down with Jamie standing on the goal line underneath and looking certain to score.  However, the keeper just managed to stretch a hand to block the header and Jamie’s follow up turn and shot was again well saved by the keeper.

Jamie’s near misses were also to become a theme for the day!  A few minutes later he sprung the offside trap, but his lob, of the out rushing keeper, just fell the wrong side of the post and shortly after that a good snap shot on the turn was again well saved by his nemesis in goal!

Fortunately, his strike partner was enjoying a more fruitful afternoon, and just before half time he turned provider when he was found in space from a cleaver pass by Spenny.  Another strong run to the bye line ended with a cross across goal.  Although with probably a little more pace than intended, the ball flew through the air where Kev Curren, supporting the attack well, connected with his head and the ball powered in at the back post for 2-0.

The half time talk as with the previous week was about gaining some composure whilst maintaining the effort.  Also, the midfield duo of Shane and Spenny were setting the tempo of the game well, but their marauding runs, in all areas of the park, were taking some of the work load and effectiveness away from the wide men, and also leaving holes in front of our defence, allowing the dangerous opposition no.7 to comfortably receive a lot of the ball.

The second half started where the first had left off, which was good for the team but not so for Jamie, who was found on the edge of the box following some neat passing between Kev and Reds. Some cleaver footwork gained him some space to look up and spot the keeper slightly off his line, but his attempted lob went agonisingly just over the crossbar.

On the hour Westonzoyland had there best chance of the game.  A free kick was awarded 25yrds out and to the left of the goal.  A superbly struck shot was curled in at pace and was destined for the top right hand corner of the goal, but Gazza, with little to do in recent weeks, was not to be found wanting.  With a couple of hurried side steps he leapt like a Salmon to tip the ball around the post.  The horizontal fall caused some pain to his back but after receiving treatment he again stood proud under his shrine of three white sticks and a net!

It was still most likely that if more goals were to be scored then it would be by the Colts, and indeed mid way through the half Redders struck again.  This time it was following some fine passing and movement between Jamie, Kev and Shane, the later finally sending a square pass across goal for Reds to tap in, 3-0.

It was now time to reward some of the squad stalwarts.  Clappy came on for the boy-ginger, Nathan, and again put in another solid performance, and Dan Woolridge, who replaced the excellent Redders, and whose patience on the bench was almost immediately rewarded by nearly being knocked out when his head got in the way of a defensive clearance.  Olly had also been brought on at this stage, showing the strength of the bench, to replace Sav, who had picked up a knock during another solid display.

Despite these changes within the team, particularly in defence, it was good to see the same effort being employed by the substitutes, which resulted in another clean sheet away from home, and another well deserved 3pts. 

However, the biggest achievement at the moment is that the team are managing to sustain a high level of commitment, effort and desire, over a consecutive number of games.  Have they got the energy and mental strength to keep this up for ten more league games? – I think so!

Final Score:     0-3