First "Double" of the season!

The Strikers completed an emphatic "double" over the Eagles this morning! A result which was even more impressive given the team was reduced to 10 players with no substitutes available.  Great thanks go out to Nicholas Clark for ably stepping into midfield to cover for the injured Maddie Clark.

Georgia "Best" takes a shot!

The squad was mostly unchanged from last week's win, apart from Ian O'Leary playing between the sticks in the first half and Jack Kinnaman playing in an advanced midfield role.

As we were playing the Eagles again this week we knew what to expect from them and sure enough they came out strong. Our defending had to be sure footed and our attack had to make the most of the opportunities they were presented with.

Our wingers Georgia and Hadley hustled and harried and made enough space for center back Carson Anderson to steal a goal!  Rob Ewing poached another in what looked more like wrestling bout than a game of football but, as they say, "they all count"!

And then Maddie went down in a brave challenge with the Eagles strongest player. Sadly she limped off and the Strikers were down to 10!  We closed ranks and reorganized, but our ambitions of playing Mitchel and Carson up front had to be put on ice for another time.  Maddies brother Nicholas was rapidly signed up to play in midfield and Jack Kinnaman and Ian swapped positions for the second half. 3-3 at half time!

The second half produced some heroics from Jack in goal; bravely diving down to collect the ball at the feet of the Eagles centre forward. Dominic and Peyden applied themselves spectacularly in defense and Hadley surprised the Eagles with her constant running and hard play; even running off a knock she picked up to return to the game just moments later!

Rob, Charlie and Ian steadied the ship with crucial second half goals that more than made up for an uncharacteristic penalty miss.

By the end of the game the team was both exhausted and elated and ex-coach Purvines (in the crowd for his first return since retirement; and in a scene somewhat reminiscent of recent events at Old Trafford) seemed suitably impressed! 

We won't be playing the Eagles again this season. They were hard and gave us a run for our money these past two games. But that is now past, it's time to plan for our next "Double..."

Scorers:

Carson 2

Rob 2

Ian 1

Charlie 1

Champagne Moment: Ian's second half goal; struck from the edge of the area, the ball was still rising as it practically burst the net! Great way to open your account!

Fans Favourite: Dominic for his resolute, tenacious, yet clean, defending. He kept his cool and held his position throughout the game. Well played and well deserved!

"The Gaffer"

Tomorrow's Game

Great practice tonight, but a shame about the lights!  I'll check next week that we will have them on up to 7.30pm.  Tomorrow we play a Charter School Team at 10.15am.  I don't think we need to be at the pitch super early. Just make sure you're there before 10.00am.

Team News:

We played really well last week and I want to build on our success without disrupting our shape and our style too much. So, we will start out pretty much as we did last week...

However, tomorrow we will we have Ian O'Leary in the squad.  Ian likes to play in goal or as striker; an interesting combination of skills we will try to play to!  I will try both Carson and Mitchell in attacking positions during the game and I will therefore move the team around to accommodate this; Rob and George will move back in order to make space up front. Ian and Jack will share goalkeeping duties; each will have a half.  I will probably rotate substitutes; boy for boy and girl for girl.

See you tomorrow!

The "Gaffer"

Fans Favourite Award!

To be unveiled this weekend... 

the "Fans Favourite" award. 

Given to the best player as judged by supporters, family, BFFs, whatever... If you're watching the game have your say!  It's strictly non-scientifically evaluated; you vote for whomever you think deserved the most recognition in the game.

See you all at practice on Friday...
"The Gaffer"

"Strike a Light" What a Way to Start!

The season finally got underway on a glorious late summer afternoon; there was hardly a cloud in sight to distract the team from the task in hand. With just 11 players facing a mighty squad of at least 15 Charter School kids, focus was essential!

The Strikers leapt out of the blocks and before the crowd had time to settle and start their meat pies, Rob Ewing conjured up a blistering run down the left wing and produced a sure footed cross that picked out Georgia Buchanan.  She kept cool under pressure and slotted the ball home. 1-0!

Further goals were swiftly added by Rob Ewing (2), George Pratt (1) and Maddie Clark (1). By half time the Strikers were in control and winning 5-1; the threat from the Charter school nullified by some stout and resolute defending by Payden Rost, Michell Abeln, Carson Anderson and Domininc Eberhardt.

In the second half the opposition's fresh legs provided a new challenge for the team. But the Strikers weren't going to fold easily.  Rookie winger Elena Wallach got stuck in and proved to be a real handful. Charlie Flynn was a human dynamo playing at sweeper; tireless in his application and when the opposition did breach the defenses Jack Kinnaman made some crucial stops that maintained the Strikers advantage.

The final score of 8-5 was nothing less than deserved.

Scorers:
Rob Ewing (3)
Georgia Buchannan (2)
George Pratt (2)
Madelyn Clark (1)

Champagne Moment:
"Total Football".  Mitchell to Georgia, Georgia to Rob, on his left peg... goal! A thing of beauty!

See you next week... 10.15 am at NKMS, and for practice on Friday evening.
"The Gaffer"