Thornbury 2 - BUCU 3

Great win for BUCU today, though it was tough till the end. Finally starting to play the football that we know we can play and keeping it tight at the back. Was a great team performance all over the park.

We pressed well in the first half and went 3-0 up within 25 minutes. The first was a great ball through to Jeremy Young who rounded the keeper and slotted it in. The second came from a corner I think and the ball was played back in and Jack Edmondson got there ahead of the keeper to head the ball in. The third was an attack on the break with Jack again finding space on the right and slotting the ball past the keeper. From then on Thornbury came back at us and played the football that we had been expecting, with the midfield playing well.

Second half, we swtiched to a 4-5-1 and worked hard at shutting them down, which we did well. Unfortunately they scored when the ball took a change of direction just as our keeper went to clear and their blonde haired striker slotted it in. Second goal again was lucky, but good pressing, our keeper went to clear it, but it hit the blonde haired strikers body (suspicions of a handball) and he went on to slot the ball in.

We did well to close the game out, but the game got a bit heated, with the ref not really helping matters, culminating in a yellow card and quite a lengthy chat for Thornbury. Great game though and hopefully we can build on the win.

Grace Church 4 - Hayhill 7

Our goals from Jason Bates (3) and Liam Bates

Excellent first half hour for us when we went initially 2-0 then 4-2 ahead, but we fell apart a bit as the scoreline suggests! Undone again by Hayhill's intricate passing and movement through midfield to lead to another disappointing result for us. Missing a couple of key players in midfield didn't help and we didn't have a recognised goalie, but that isn't a an excuse, certainly wasn't our goalie's fault anyway!

Although the pitch was just about playable and it wasn't raining during the game, it didn't make life easy with the pitch deteriorating rapidly and the ball holding up on the rapidly appearing mud patches. Still both teams seemed to get past that hurdle ok.

On to the Shield vs Rock

Correct Eakes (scoreline and pitch comment!). Great game of football today, despite the loss. Game felt like a cup game with both teams throwing caution to the wind for virtually the whole of the second half.

SAS were ahead 3 times (1-0 SAS, 2-1 Christchurch, 3-2 SAS, 4-3 Christchurch!), but Christchurch always looked strong and eventually our lack of fitness in certain areas cost us.
We had at least 3 players, including myself, who hadn't played for between 4-8 weeks and for much of the second half we were really flagging. Substiutions were forced upon us early second half when Phil went off injured, and Luca went off ill (he was being sick just before the game!). After that we never really got our shape sorted.

Our goals from Brady, Stevo & Luca (Pen), but a lot of good performances all over the pitch. I think we should be able to take heart from the game, despite the loss.

Hilarious that the SAS game was on!

Pitch was near-perfect

VCF Santos 2 - 5 Hillfields (Friendly)

I scored for both teams today, can't complain seen as I score so rarely.

Racing Santos 3 - 2 Rock Crusaders

A good performance from Racing today, went in to half time 3-0 up having had good possession and causing Rock problems. Early second half we let in a goal on a break, then a second from a well hit direct free kick shortly after. Confidence flagged a bit, but we held it together with our keeper not having to make any real saves after that (a few times coming out to collect was all) despite Rock having the better of the ball and playing well. It is great for Racing to finally get 3 points!