3-2 W
Match report by Mitch Read

Saturday the 2nd of April, the 4s were playing down on the Thames against Wapping 6s looking for the 3 points, to secure their promotion into Div 2N. With a strong squad, recent form been top quality, we were feeling confident that we would secure the W.

With the warmup done, team lineup read out, we were almost ready for push back which was delayed due to knock on games before ours running late.

The game began & we kept the ball well, passing it around between the 10 outfield players, making it difficult for Wapping to get a touch. Wapping then grew into the game & they upped their tempo, becoming the team looking likely to score first, which they did. I can’t quite remember their first goal, so I can’t paint you a picture. Apologies, however, they made it 1-0 if you hadn’t guessed…

Not long after, we went back to playing the way we have been all season, pinning Wapping in their own half & then soon came our first chain of short corners. Mixing each routine up, we finally executed one of them, looking for a one two, when a loose pass fell to Mitch at left slip, slapped the ball bottom corner making it 1-1.

Still the team on the front foot, we were knocking on the door to put ourselves ahead. Pinball in the Wapping D, the ball found it’s way nicely to Kabir, who controlled it & slotted it in the Wapping goal to make it 2-1 to Southgate.

Wapping unbelievably, with a self take pushback literally after we made it 2-1, dribbled through the defence who all decided to have a mothers meeting, allowed matey boy to run & somehow make it 2-2. Closely followed the halftime whistle.

Second half began & not an awful lot happened. We continued to play keep ball, in the hope a chance would open up soon, but Wapping held their defence well. Ben BC & Lucca, passing the ball nicely between each other, eventually opened that door. Lucca receiving the ball on the left of our midfield, played a phenomenal crash ball in behind their defence to find Mitch, who got a slight touch in the D, to fire home his second & Southgate’s third of the game.

Heading towards the end of the match, everyone defending to hold on to the 3 points to send us up a league, a counter attack broke loose, with Leo sliding the ball down our right, for Ben BC to run on the end of, blitzed it all the way to their corner, holding the ball up well, he saw the arriving Mitch looking to bag his hat trick, with a lovely pass to the top D, Mitch buried his third, making sure all 3 points were coming home.

With promotion achieved, after a poor start to the season, everyone who played this season for the 4s, put in a shift, where ever they played & all contributed to what turned out to be a very competitive & enjoyable season.

MOTM was Alessandro. And DOTD, would you believe, was the scapegoat, Mitch. Think everyone got the wrong end of the stick when voting, but never mind. I hope you enjoyed the read, much love. x