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)
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