Southern League Cup Fifth Round
vs. Weymouth, 13 January 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Legg,
Maguire, Spearing,
Carroll, Al-Ziod,
Nixon, Smith, Pearson, O'Donnell, Duckett, Macey
Subs: Webb, Parker,
Day,
Clark, Jefcoate,
Barlow, McAdam, Jones, Taylor, Martin, Rae, Donaldson
They have a good team but they are starting two injured players. Will that be a bad decision? Nothing happens until 15’ but that’s just Nixon sending in a long ball without a prayer. Finally we get a lucky deflection that ultimately ends up with an easy O’Donnell score. Weymouth just got FMed. The first half ends with us having 5 shots but only 1 on target. After a few subs in the back half, Macey puts us in a more comfortable position just before 58’ off a nice O’Donnell feed up the gut. What was amazing about it was he was 1-on-5 and he still managed to score. He only falters during 1-on-1s. And just to make it funner, Duckett to Macey rears its lovely head 90 seconds into stoppage time for an Eddie brace. Maybe I’ll just call him Eddie from now on in a nod toward Iron Maiden.
POM: Daniel Duckett, (2 assists, 4 key passes, 2 chances created)
The Days Between
It’s the drawings again! In the Southern League Cup we get to host Kings Langely, two rungs above in the ladder. For the FA Vase we get to host Pickering, who are at the same level as us. They are 2nd in their league so they might present a small challenge. Things could have been worse; Dartford and Bath were in both pools.
Player Development
Another Player Development email came in, this time for Mark Nixon. In a twist though, Rutherford doesn’t assess which league he has the potential for; he believes Nixon will be as good as Ben O’Donnell. That is some high praise! I take it to mean he’ll be Premier League-worthy.
Barlow is finally well enough to start again. I have faith he’ll pick up where he left off. I also swap Webb into goal to keep his development going.
Southern League Cup Fifth Round
at Canterbury, 17 January 2018
Formation: Spade
Starting XI: Webb, Maguire, Spearing,
Carroll, Jefcoate,
Barlow,
Smith,
Pearson,
O'Donnell,
Duckett,
Macey
Subs: Webb, Parker, Day,
Clark, Al-Ziod,
Nixon,
McAdam,
Jones,
Taylor,
Martin,
Rae, Cullen
Duckett to Pearson strikes again, this time in the 14th minute. After that it’s a pretty eventless first half. Duckett and Carroll are being complacent and Macey is skying his shots and has a 6.3 rating going. They all get a scolding. It seems to work with Duckett as he gets another assist with O’Donnell’s goal. Macey still ain’t doing shit. He doesn’t improve and gets yanked at 65’. I think his problem is that he’s at 19 league goals and gets a bonus of £2,000 if he makes 20. So I guess this means he has a low Pressure rating? We get a penalty call in the 82nd minute and Nixon bounces it of the left upright. Dumbass. But two minutes later Jones sends in a high lob to a tall Rae who doesn’t botch his attempt and we seal the bishop’s fate. Barlow rated a 6.8. Well, at least he’s healthy again.
POM: Ben O’Donnell (1 goal, 4 key passes, 4 chances created)
Nixon ends the match with a 6.3 and despite having promised myself not to fine these youths, a statement must be made. I fine him and Eddie each a week and Macey’s Determination jumps up one to 19 as well as his Work Rate jumping from 12 to 13. Nixon’s Determination went from 9 to 10 but his Work Rate remained the same. Who? Hahahahaha I slay me. (At least I didn’t make another Archbishop joke!)