Week 2 (18 Apr)
Result: Win 7-0
A great win for the boys following an up and down pre-season really shows the hard work and smart thinking put in at training over the last couple of weeks. Facing up against Normo on the hallowed turf of PHCS, it wasn’t long before some good passing along the ground set up good chances, but unfortunately we lacked the polish in front of goal. Poddy Watkins, however, filling in on the back of his game, did not, slotting our opener very neatly. Rang then boomed in an absolute stunner from wide and deep to the far post, leaving the goalie no chance and laying down an early mark for goal of the season. Their keeper then proceeded to put on a masterful show, denying Poddy twice more in the half with great saves. Half time was all about bagging out Villas, who had yet to show and will get to buy Claytons first drinks at the end of season. Second half saw us thirsty for the first goal, knowing that an early one to Normo would lift them into the match. However, after Windy and our other mids again dominated the opening minutes, Erik accidentally sent his cross into the far corner, and from the kick off Southy showed great pressure to turn over a backpass and square for Nicho to send us 4-0. With Normo down, Southy and then Poddy put another two away, with the day polished off by Clayts scoring a neat one-on-one third time round. A dominant display by our mids and forwards could not have happened without our water tight backs. Dru, Priddy, Skip and co had a great game, a clean sheet was matched with zero Normo possession inside the box, a great performance from the backs and a complete performance from the team to start the year. Let’s carry this forward and give the top 4 a real shake.
Magic Moment: Erik making the save of the year with a diving header to glance a goal-bound shot over the bar – ‘Dru, there’s no way you are scoring on my watch’. Ah, team spirit.