Gatcliffe Whites vs Frenford FC
⚽️Match report from Bradley Challis⚽️
Today’s match was against one of the new teams to join the league, and this can be a hard team to gauge as new teams can pull off shock results if they turn up.
Kick off went with Frenford and the match was underway.
The Frenford boys were certainly up for it and were very composed with the ball, which was nice to see. Both teams were working hard but it seemed that we were getting out-played in a match that on current table positions would certainly have us as the favourites. The ball over the top seemed to be the tactic of choice and it was working well for the opposition. A back pass kicked out by the keeper deflected off of the Frenford attacker towards the goal line, causing a scramble in the goal mouth which ultimately saw the ball hit the back of the net.
We were 1 nil down, and deservedly so, with a first half performance similar to when we first got together. Again Frenford were on the attack and we hadn’t even had a single shot on goal, which was hard to watch considering how strong we are in attack. A ball crossed into the Gatcliffe goal area towards our centre back was handled to protect his face, and rightly so. However the ref pointed to the spot and the penalty was given. The whole of the team were shocked, and a second goal could have finished us off, with heads already dropping. Up stepped the striker precisely placing the ball on the penalty spot. The Gatcliffe keeper stood in the middle of the goal with everything to do, knowing that this shot must be saved. A well taken shot to the right hand side of the keeper would on any other day surely find the back of the net; but for the strong out-stretched hand of the diving goalie stopping the ball in its tracks and keeping us in the game. The half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough, and as the whistle was blown we needed to get composed and get our heads back in the game.
The opposition were sat admiring their first half efforts whilst we were now looking to start a fresh half erasing the last half an hour from the memory bank and looking towards a second half only a top team would be capable of.
The second half kicked off and we looked like a completely different side out there, passing, pressing and working as a unit. This bamboozled the Frenford boys and they were looking like they were giving up even with the lead. Some great breaking down the left side was causing frustration and it wouldn’t be long before we were back level. With a lovely bit of link up play we slotted a simple shot into the goal past the recently uninvolved goalkeeper and it was game on.
Gatcliffe’s spirit soon rose and we continued to put the pressure on. Soon again another attack from the left hand side saw a great individual goal from our ecstatic left midfielder who had been working so hard up and down the pitch.
With the lead now with us we were in the driving seat and just needed that one more to give us that bit of comfort, just in case. Frenfords heads had now dropped and the tides had turned. Gatcliffe were soon attacking wave after wave. Gatcliffe were now playing with a pizazz, passing in little triangles and showing why we are sat at the top. Our last goal blasted past the keeper to seal the deal. It was yet again taken well by our left mid who was now on a high and playing fearlessly, running through the opposition as if they weren’t even there.
The whistle blew for the end of the match and although the first half was, let’s say ‘strange’. we had maintained our current unbeaten run of games.
Well done boys, you showed spirit to come back today, but let’s try not to get ourselves in these positions. because we are now playing well enough not to ? Bradley Challis.
Score 3-1: Ronnie x1 Tyrell x2
Man of the match- Tyrell (below).
