Christchurch v Highcliffe Hawks

Match Result: 5 - 4

Goal Scorers: Bradley, Sam (2), Callum (2)

Highcliffe Hawks have always proven to be a tough opponent, beating us twice last season, 3-2 & 5-1.

We got off to a good start, passing well. A ball from midfield found Lewis in the box attacking the left post. The Keeper parried away Lewis’ shot, but Callum was close on hand and buried the ball in the bottom right corner. Christchurch continued to lead the game, clearing well from the back, winning balls in midfield, gaining ground down the wings and threatening upfront. After 15 minutes played, Sam put us 2-0 up when he converted a cross from Miles on the right with a sweetly met header. A few minutes later he scored an almost identical goal supplied by Callum. Having dominated the game so far, I started to rotate subs, putting Stu into central-mid and Jack J into defense. Just before half time Highcliffe scored, as our back line got caught in possession, to put the half time score at 3-1.

At half time I made a few more substitutions, pushing Brad upfront with Callum, taking Jonathan and Lewis off for a spell. About 5 mins in Sam and Stu broke down the left wing, Stu crossed a ball in across the front of the middle of the box, which Brad managed to turn in beating his marker to the header, lobbing the Goalie. 4-1. I continued to substitute, taking off Paul, Callum and Marley in turn, hoping to rotate all players, but we started to loose the fluidity we had in mid-field in the first 20 minutes of the match and Highcliffe took advantage, beating the back line, then a hesitation from Finn led to Highcliffe scoring a second, closely followed by a third. At half time, with our initial lead and momentum I thought I could substitute and re-position key players to give everyone an equal run-out, but it quickly back-fired as Highcliffe scored an equalizer, their third in about 10 minutes. Both teams were now battling for a winner, but Highcliffe looked as if they were going to steal the 3 points from us, thankfully a failed Highcliffe attack was foiled by our back line and a long ball was hit upfield, both Lewis & Callum chased it down, but the Goalie got to it first, but under the pressure from Lewis & Callum he spilled it, Callum dribbled around him and tucked it away, putting us 5-4 up. We then had to survive the last 8 minutes or so, I moved midfield back to play defensively leaving Lewis up as a sole striker. The final whistle came and another deserved win, a let off for me (Cheers Callum!!).

Moral of the story – if it’s working like a fine, don’t mess with it!!

Man of the Match – A long deserved, Miles