Result : LOSS 2-4 vs

Match Report : Will Hargrove

HT 1-1
FT 2-4
No cards

Southgate Goals : David Wolffe, James Pinney
MOM : Neil Commons (no vote- decided by WPH)

A glorious day saw us away at The Royal masonic School for girls (which I understand was where Nigel Spencer-Knott’s mother was once at school). The “Ricky” chaps are well known to us – always a good competitive game, we’ve played them in many friendlies – good guys. As has become more usual for us we started well – the first 15 minutes or so saw us challenging the opposition goal and looking steady. With play ebbing and flowing we actually ended up conceding. But not much later we scored through a diving “Wolffie” as a short corner when a bit wrong but Samir Ahmad salvaged it and then Hargrove found Sajiv Saha who crossed doe Wolffie. Well deserved.

The half time team talk was all about moving the ball and being composed. Within 20 minutes we were 4-1 down having not really managed to do what we discussed. In honesty we were just out played and a little out muscled – no real complaints. With 6 minutes to go we scored again when a good ball to Hargrove saw him break through to the left of the circle and diving on the reverse managing to fashion a cross that James Pinney turned in. Wolffie almost got another with 2 or 3 mins to go. In honesty 4-2 was a warranted score line. A good game in good spirits and well umpired.

Neil Commons couldn’t be blamed for any of the goals and in fact kept us in the game in the first half with a series of very good saves and thoroughly deserved the MOM. On the right of defence Sajiv Saha had yet another good game, often under more pressure than usual. James Rushton was good in the middle and managed good ball pace on a slow surface. Almost perennial MOM David James was good an ever though their good attack meant he couldn’t meander forward as much as would have been useful. Simon “Oz” Bate had a good game at the left of defence sadly we couldn’t convert any of his crosses. Will Hargrove was ok in the middle of a competitive midfield. Fergus Comrie pushed had for man of the match and looks more and more composed and assured each week. Samir Ahmad had a good game and an especially good second half. Upfront space was at a bit of a premium. David Wolffe held the ball up well and scored well. Raj Saha was a problem for the oppo getting into some good positions especially on the right. Ollie Costelloe, mostly on the left in the second half made several breaks and was unlucky not to get more reward. James Pinney gave good energy and posed problems for the opposition as well as scoring. On we go!