QE C vs Sunderland 3rds

Our third game of the season saw us away to the C team ‘big timers’ if that makes any sense. A tough game against a team that trains about 6 hours a day and still only managed to get in their third team. With the squad looking weakened due to the departure of the rock polishers on the geography trip (Davo, Connor and Tomo) we needed to bring in some new players to bolster the squad. We brought in Lewis Maguire who was exceptional between the sticks, Nathan Deacon who was solid at the back and Rocco Violetta which PC claimed to have signed from Serie B. With Max forgetting his speaker for the journey, the bus was a banter free zone. However we got there on time this week which makes a change. After we got changed we went onto the pitch to see their team going through a very tactical warm up led by their coach ‘Paulo Di Paul’ as PC described him. We went through our own warm up which was 90% taking free kicks and 10% stretching. PC drilled us on what he wanted out of us. We lined us as follows; Lewis, Max, Deacon, Adam, Sam, Me(C), Doug, Tom, Murphy, Jack and Harry up top.

As per usual we started sloppy and failed to make our mark on the game, we were under constant pressure due to them keeping the ball extremely well which frustrated us. Also when we got it we were failing to keep it. They were playing three in the middle who were stringing the ball from left to right leaving me and Doug virtually useless. After around 10 minutes a cross from their quick winger found the head of the striker called Curtis (great name) and we were 1-0 down. We needed a quick change of tactics and formation so we decided to go 3-5-2 with tom dropping in the middle with us. This did not however improve our game as we still continued to play poorly and in particular me who was having a shocker with my second touch being a tackle every time I got the ball. Nevertheless against the run of play we scored with a lovely back post volley from Sam. With only minutes to go in the first half we tried to hold on to a draw and this seemed likely with some great acrobatics by Lewis who was excellent. However he could do nothing to prevent their second goal which was a lovely curling effort from outside the box. Half time and we were 2-1 down.

At half time we expected a grilling from PC as we were poor, and that is what we got. All I’m saying is he told us to up our game and the rest is censored. Half time saw a massive improvement from the lads with tackles flying in and some good football being played. Also some excellent defending from Deacon, Max and Adam. Our hard work paid off soon after when a great move down the right found Sam who megged the keeper (cheeky) and then placed it in the net. 2-2. for the majority of the second half it was dull as we tried to secure a point. As the game wore on we looked as if we could nick it when we gained a free kick right on the edge in which Rocco the Italian superstar fancied but Jack claimed it for himself. “Three points to Wigan” is all I have to say about the free kick. With 5 minutes left they grabbed a lucky goal against the run of play and then went on to get a fourth at the end of the game. A terrible first half performance but a much improved effort second half well done boys.

Final result:

Sunderland 4 – QE 2  

MOM:

Sam Williams (again) 

QE A Team vs Darlo College A

On a very dull Wednesday afternoon, we travelled across town via minibus due to the poor driving standards of our lads, once transport was sorted we turned up to the ground full of optimism for the big derby. In the changing room Mark rightly pointed out that there is no banter once Denny stops talking. so after the lads got changed we went outside to warm up. A simple warm up was organised by skipper Wrighty and at 1:45 we were ready for kick off. The lineup was Jacob, Batesy, Nelly, Grocott, Bell, Maddo, Wright, Pest, Bradders, soft lad and Clarky. We dominated the opening exchanges and were clearly the more technical side and this was illustrated as Bradders turned well inside the box and finished smartly to put the Q.E boys in front. Sadly this was as good as it got and we lost control of the game after this goal and Wrighty was clocked by a cowardly off the ball incident, however he made the most of it by going down instead of fighting back and then retiring from the game, poor. They received a very controversial penalty decision for a handball incident although Belly would have done well to have got his arm out the way, just before the handball however a very late challenge was put in on Nicholson (Wrighty's replacement) however the referee did not see fit to give this a foul which mystified Mark, however the decision was made and they scored their penalty. Shortly before half time they went ahead from a sloppy corner, however that's football and you can never be happy about conceding from a set piece. Half time subs saw Westy and Batesy come off for Cookson and Hutchinson respectively, after some smart tactical changes we looked sharp again and got in a few times before Craig saw his rifling shot massively deflected by a defender to deceive their rookie looking keeper. they went on to score just after and then another two before the games end which left the score at 5-2.In the midst of these goals Grocott had to come off with concusion after another damaging elbow saw us lose another of our men, his concussion not only meant a gap in the defence but also an irritation for the subs as he repeatedly asked the score which led to decent crack on the bus back by Wrighty and Pest in particular. This concluded a disappointing day at the office but we move on and recover for the next game which hopefully isn't as physical, as the sides were well matched but aggression saw the the opposition prevail. 

Man of the match Maddo good display of skill and stamina in the centre of the park.

Cheers Denny.