Old Whitgiftian AFC

Old Sedcopians V 1-5 Old Whitgiftian Reserves

(Saturday, 05 January 2008)

Redley (3), Phan, Sturdy

MATCH REPORT
by Nixie

Not yet complete...

Well, it's been 7 games - and a long time coming - for us to finally notch up our first away win of the season... and when it did finally happen, I'm glad to say that we did it in style. As an overview, this was a very good game from both sides with lots of end-to-end action. I've tried to include as much as possible, but with the best intentions this unfortunately has not been possible.

This was a very different Seds's team to the one we faced at the beginning of November with at least a half-dozen different new faces making the starting line-up.

The team talk had focussed on some of our weaker areas. I'd tried to explain to the players that in previous games if I had been a player I would not have had a lot of confidence that whenever I lost the ball that someone in the team would be determined to win it back for me and cover my mistake. This is something that I have been lucky to have in all the team's I've played for and managed... people stepping up and taking charge in all areas of the pitch.

1st HALF LINE-UP
HILLIER FERGUSON R - TRUMP - KENYON - DENISON PHAN - STAFFORD-HILL (Cpt) - DUNCAN - STURDY REDLEY - MOORE

We were very slow off the blocks and Seds easily had the better of the opening exchanges. We struggled to time our tackles, lost our shape a little, but mostly our passing was way off mark... often giving the ball away in compromising areas. We also conceded 3 consecutive corners in the first 5 minutes, the last of which was headed just over the bar by Seds's tall centre-back.

However, this turned out to be their last and only chance of the first half, as the difference in experience and ability slowly started to tell. Key to this was the defence, where we had changed the system to give us more control and variety of play, but to work properly it relied on really good co-ordination, determination... and hard work. Richard Ferguson and Christian Denison were proper terriers and snapped at anything they came near them, allowing Richard Sturdy and Vien Phan time and (more importantly) the space to work the wings. Philip Trump was at his solid and energetic best and he marshalled those around him as well as dealing with anything that did get through. Kris Kenyon for me though was the unsung hero in this department; in his role as man-marker where he was attached at the hip to Sed's main striker throughout the game, yet gave him absolutely nothing. I know the lad as well, one of those annoying players who almost nothing for 85 minutes and then scores three goals when you least expect it. On top of this Kris was also able to help out others as needs demanded.

The pairing of Dain Duncan and skipper Chris Stafford-Hill in central midfield also worked well. Both extremely fit and the type of players who feel every bad pass or loose tackle; determined to cover everblade of grass and be at the start of each build up, they combined to cause havoc all over the pitch. The took it in turns to defend and attack, and their runs down the middle were difficult to read and even harder to stop.

The most noticeable thing for me was how quickly the partnership between Nick Moore and Darren Redley developed. Despite this being the first time they had been paired together, it looked as if they'd known each other's game for years. Nick started quite slowly... something about him being ill all week... but he slowly gathered momentum along with the rest of the team. In previous games, Daren had tended to lay off the ball when there was generally nowhere else he could go with it. This week, this was very different as he had an obvious confidence in Nick's ability... and this was reciprocated by Nick.

Richard Sturdy on the left seemed to take my team talk most on board and had an incredible amount of success every time he closed down hard on his opposite number. This resulted in that player concentrating more on Richard than his own game and his reward for this was to be substituted at half time. A bit of Deja-vu from our last meeting actually. On the far side Vien Phan made a welcome return to form and was outstanding in not only creating chances, but also following up each attack looking to capitlise on rebounds or poor clearances... and was rewarded for his efforts. Vien was another player who started slowly, but came more and more into the game.

One of Richard Sturdy's ball-winning feats was instrumental in our first goal, which came on around the 15 minute mark and followed a number of half chances and corners of our own. Having won a 50-fifty he sought out Nick Moore with an accurate pass across the area where he was unmarked at the edge of the 6 yard box, only to see him crash it against the upright. Fortunately, the rebound came back out to Vien Phan who had instinctively followed in behind and stuck it away low and hard beyond their keeper. 1-0 Whits.

View photos from this match	CLICK HERE	Photos supplied by Nixie & Alex Isthikhar

Our second came through Darren Redley... details to follow. 2-0 Whits.

Richard Ferguson was given a lot of licence to make overlapping runs and exploited the space he was given by Seds at every opportunity. On one run he collected the ball at right back and went on a surging run down the wing before cutting inside to run at goal. The opportunity to pass was unnecessary as the Seds midfield and defence parted like the Red Sea and encouraged him to take it all the way. As he approached the box he played a 1-2 with Nick and we were surprised to hear the referee blow for offside. A bit harsh maybe, but the ref was very close to the play.

Asthe half progressed, Seds kept pushing forward, and you could tell that we needed a third before half time. Darren Redley was again on hand to score... (Details to follow...). 3-0 Whits.

2nd HALF LINE-UP
HILLIER FERGUSON R (sub LOVE 45) - TRUMP - KENYON - DENISON (sub ISTHIKHAR 55) PHAN (sub FERGUSON M 60) - STAFFORD-HILL (Cpt) - DUNCAN - STURDY REDLEY - MOORE

The only change made at half-time was Adam Love (Reserve team debut) on for Richard Fergson at right back. Adam had made his Club debut in the lead-up to Xmas and I had mistakenly thought him to be a forward, but he corrected me in the warm-up. He took around 10 minutes to settle into his new team, but soon got into the swing of things and after that made some telling tackles and distributed the ball well.

The last time we played Seds, we were 5-0 up at half time and went in to cruising mode. They made a couple of changes and were a team transformed and we struggled to compete with them. The same happened again in this game and for them, the team that started the second half should have started the first as they were just so much better. They started winning challenges and putting pressure on us in key areas.

On about 50 minutes they won a free kick about 30 yards out and in directly in front of goal. Their main midfielder (who had been quiet up to that point) stepped up and scored the best deadball free-kick I've seen this season; as he hit the ball accurately and with pace over the wall and into the top left hand corner of Tim's goal. Tim went for it, but unfortunately he only made the goal look even better by doing so. 3-1 Whits.

At 3-1 we looked decidely edgy and we started to back off and drop deep, when exactly the opposite was required. In reality we continued to defend well and at one point when we appeared to be unable to get the ball out from under our feet, Seds had three continuous chances to shoot on goal only to be blocked by Kris Kenyon, Philip Trump and Christian Denison before finally being smothered by Tim. In an attempt to shore up the defence Christian made way for Alex Isthikhar, but we still struggled to get control and Seds came close with another shot from distance, only to be denied by a brilliant save from a fully stretched Tim. You could see we needed another goal to settle nerves.

On 60 minutes, fresh pace was added to the attack when Michael Ferguson replaced Vien (who had found himself drawn more and more to cover defence) on the right. A couple of driving runs from him soon had Seds pegged back again, normal service was resumed and that was how it stayed for the rest of the match.

The fourth goal came soon after; Darren Redley completed his hat-trick when he collected a good pass from Nick Moore, beat one defender before rounding the keeper and scoring from a very tight angle. 4-1 Whits. Job done!

... and as if to underline a point, 10 minutes later Nick Moore controlled the ball on the right side of the box, putting over a well timed cross to Richard Sturdy, who slotted the ball past the stranded keeper for his 8th league goal of the season. 5-1 Whits.

Seds did keep trying and late on a speculative shot from distance was again tipped around the post by Tim.

We almost made it 6, when Michael Ferguson came close from a Richard Sturdy corner. His run to the near post was met with a deft flick of the head; only to be equalled by a fine reflex save from their keeper... one of a number he made throughout the game. The rebound came out to Nick, but under pressure he was unable to convert it.

Like what you see here? Want to play? Want to become a member?	Email us

The game finished soon after...

MAN OF THE MATCH RESULT
This is a first... 3 players polled equal votes and therefore share the award. Dain Duncan collected the referee's vote, Darren Redley picked up the most players first choice votes and Philip Trump collected nearly all the 2nd choice votes. Most surprising though is that other players picked up as few votes as they did, when their performances demanded more.

Pos	Player	Ref	1st	2nd	Total
1st	DAIN DUNCAN	1	3	4	13
1st	DARREN REDLEY	-	6	1	13
1st	PHIL TRUMP	-	2	9	13
4th	TIM HILLIER	-	2	-	4
5th	KRIS KENYON	-	1	1	3
6th	NICK MOORE	-	1	-	2

<< Back to Old Whitgiftian Reserves page