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Match Report: 13th Oct Mens 2s

Match Report: 13th Oct Mens 2s

Philippa Messenger14 Oct 2018 - 16:26
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Pace, Pride, Panic and Penalty Pandemonium!

Yateley 2-0 Andover

Yateley Men’s 2XI started the day in 2nd place, knowing any form of result could put pressure on the league leaders who had a long away trip to contend with. After last week’s effort and grit showed Yateley’s potential to battle for a result, this weekend’s game was very much about continuing the good run and keeping the unbeaten record intact.

Yateley started hard and fast, keeping to the tactics and high intensity from the previous week, dominating the game with close chances a plenty, creativity and a wrath of pressure. It was only a matter of time before Yateley scored, after Captain Phil Cundy found himself in acres of space wide on the left. He drove hard down the line and fired in a cross that flew past the last defender who could only get a glancing touch, straight to goal scorer Jim Boffin.

Jake Morgan ran the defence into a frenzy and Yateley looked dangerous at every attack, with Jim Boffin narrowly missing a handful of chances to extend Yateley’s lead. Captain Phil Cundy ran the line several times after discovering his opposing marker wasn’t bothered about marking him, winning 4 short corners in consecutive attacks. With a final run, he rounded the final defender and laid the ball back to Hedges, who passed to Jim Boffin around the keeper. A certain goal … surely? Not to be. The defender clearly blocking the ball on the line with his foot gave Yateley a penalty flick and the chance to go 2-0 up.
Captain Phil Cundy took the fate in his hands, stepping up for his first flick. High and wide, leaving Yateley disappointed that the hard effort hadn’t paid off.

Yateley piled on the pressure, only allowing Andover to aerial their way out of trouble. Eventually Andover crafted some chances of their own after holding off a bombardment of Yateley attacks.
The game was open then for the following 15 mins with both sides carving beautifully; a hole was forming in the middle of Yateley’s midfield and this tested the resilience of the Yateley defence. After making mistakes in the last game and losing 2pts, Yateley defended hard and kept the ship afloat, weathering the storm of Andover’s attacks well.

A quick attack from a fast thinking free hit allowed Yateley to break hard. Andover pedalling back began to panic. Jake Morgan tore through a withering Andover defence and laid the ball across to an open Stuart Brimble at the back post, smashing the ball into the net and securing all 3 points for Yateley. Relieved that they had scored instead of Andover, Yateley passed the ball well and held possession to close out the game. A rollercoaster game but the final result was the right one. Yateley never looked like losing but were glad to have held on for the win. If Yateley can find away to stick in more of their chances, it might make them relax that little bit more.

Unbeaten in 3 games now and with League leaders Swanage losing to 4th place Southampton it meant that Yateley Men’s 2 are now top of the league by 2 goals! Long may this good form continue.

Once again, all the youngsters that made the step up to the men’s 2XI played fantastically well. Congratulations to Ben Hopper who earnt man of the match for his incredible performance in midfield.

Further reading