Match Report by Will Hargrove
HT 1-1
FT 3-5
Southgate goals
Oliver Yaoz after a short minute 25 ish
James Marriott after a short minute 50 ish
Dan McGrath open play minute 65 ish
MVP votes
Dan McGrath 4
Aryan Chhaya 2
James RUSHTON 1
Luke Ellis 1
A break in the weather was a great relief for push back. This was a mid-table clash. The opening encounters were quite cagey and the West Herts team was clearly a unit that had played together – resembling a 40-45yr old team in general. The opposition open the scoring and then we came back shortly before half time with Oliver Yaoz following up well after a short corner. One all at the break was fair. We needed to keep the ball better.
The Second half started ok but then we conceded twice quite quickly and then again half way through the half. At 1-4 down we were really up against it. We fought back well though with Dan McGrath, our MOM, in particular doing well in midfield. We got a goal back via James Marriot again after a short (we had two shorts and scored them both) and needed another quickly, alas, the opposite happened. At 2-5 with 7 or 8 minutes to go Dan McGrath the scored a lovely, largely individual, goal.
Luke Ellis did well in goal and wore one particular strike very bravely. Across the back James Rushton, Stephen Gwynn-Jones, Aryan Chhaya and Will Roughton all did well under what was a quite aggressive press from West Herts. The defence didn’t really get enough support from the rest of the team in honesty. Across midfield Will Hargrove got caught on the ball more than usual and maybe tried to force things. Alex Prior had a good game. Oliver Yaoz’s goal was well taken but could have worked back a bit more. Dan McGrath really did add a threat and composure in equal measure. Ben Turner kindly stepped in to help across the back half of the pitch and did well. Upfront James Marriott was a threat but was well marked by the opposition. Max James looked good going forward but needed to work back more when turned over. Felix Rushton was unlucky not to get on the score sheet.
Post this game we could not be more “mid table” with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 loses, 22 goals for and 21 against! On to next week.