The Days Between
Nothing happens between the matches. I’ve pretty much stopped scouting as I’m satisfied with the roster. No Player Development emails roll in so no additional news on finding the next Wunderkind. :-(
Southern League Cup Fourth Round
at South Park, 6 December 2017
Formation: Spade (GK, DR, DC r, DC l, DL, MC r, MC l, AMR, AMC, AML, ST c)
Starting XI: Legg,
Maguire,
Day, Carroll,
Jefcoate,
Barlow,
Smith,
Pearson,
O'Donnell,
Duckett,
Macey
Subs: Webb,
Clark,
Spearing,
Parker,
Donaldson,
Nixon,
Jones,
Taylor,
Martin,
Rae
A pretty drab opening until just after 11’ when Barlow feeds Macey up the middle, who sends it in from about 15 yards out. Then 11 minutes later Smith sprints after a free ball following a free kick in our end and launches forward to the right wing, finding Pearson. His first shot is blocked but the rebound comes right back to him and he doesn’t miss the second time. On the restart South Park manage to
draw one back and the crowd finally gets
animated. Their striker splits Day and Carroll who just watched him go by. Day is definitely a liability but with him being Vice Captain I’m going to keep him the starter unless we get an absolute phenom in our Youth Intake Day. In an amazing twist of being out of position, Maguire on a counter-attack takes the ball down the right to almost the endline and sends in a beautiful cross that Barlow heads in. I would have expected that from Pearson and Macey! The Barlow-Macey link-up strikes again just before 44’ with a deep pass up the gut to a lonely Ben. At this point Barlow is rocking a 9.3 rating.
The second half is tame and by 66’ I’ve had the whole outfield switched out but for Carroll. Immediately thereafter Parker lobs a desperate one into the box, somehow finding Jones’ head for our fifth. Taylor gets in on the act in the 78th with a low cross from Rae at the left endline.
POM: Terry Barlow (1 goal, 2 assists, 4 key passes, 4 chances created, 100% tackle won ratio)
The Days Between
Our U18s continue their winning streak. Eleven games, 43 goals for, 4 goals against. Sugar Daddies are way too powerful.
FA Vase Fifth Round
at Wellingborough, 9 December 2017
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg,
Maguire,
Day,
Carroll,
Al-Ziod,
Barlow,
Smith,
Pearson,
O'Donnell,
Duckett,
Macey
Subs: Webb,
Parker,
Clark,
Spearing,
Jefcoate,
Donaldson,
McAdam,
Jones,
Taylor,
Martin,
Rae, Nixon
Well, this is a drab game with nary a chance in the first half. Everyone is off target and even Macey, left alone right in front of the goalie pings a Duckett cross off the underside of the crossbar from 4 yards out. I Assertively tell them to consolidate their feces at the half and finally the Duckett-Macey thing works 10 minutes in. Then 15 minutes later, after having swapped all the outfielders, McAdam gives us the comfort point. And another 10 goes by before Taylor seals the victory.
POM: Daniel Duckett (1 assist, 3 key passes, 2 chances created)
A strange thing happened after the game. Pearson’s agent emails me demanding a new deal for his client. Mind you, he got yanked for a 6.4 rating. And he’s under contract until 2020. To say I laughed is an understatement.
I also get an email saying that McAdam is now Natural at MC. Huzzah! Now if Smith would get his act together…