The magic of the Cup often throws teams from different divisions against each other. A return beckons to the wonky pitch in Bracknell, where we had narrowly beaten the Bulletts in our first game of the season. This time to play the Bracknell Arrows.

Playing a team from a higher or lower division, doesn’t always run to form (ask the three teams the Falcons beat from higher divisions last season enroute to, and in, the final!!). As coaches we decide whether to mention it beforehand, we usually don’t. It can be psychologically counter-productive. Today’s opponents, Bracknell Arrows were from two divisions below. Despite this we prepared the team as we usually would to expect a tough, competitive game. Following on from a big win, such as we had last week, can sometimes lead to a less than focussed performance in the next game, so we reminded the boys, that they would have to work hard and play intelligent football again to get a result.

In the hours before the game, we lost Matthew to the dreaded lurgy (get well soon!!) so some quick re-planning was required as we had only one of our ‘recognised’ defenders! We start with Jacob in Goal, Louis and Marcus at the back, Pete as box-to-box midfielder, Stanley and Max as right and left playmakers and Eadoin as a False Nine.

Arriving at base camp in Bracknell, spirits were high. With the team in a boisterous mood in pre match training, all good fun, but Paul and I hoped that the team would get their game faces on and concentrate come kick off at 10:30.

We needn’t have worried!

The first goal in any game is always crucial, we only had to wait 3 minutes. The Falcons continued their excellent passing and decision making in the attacking diamond, that had served them so well last week. A crisp pass from Max to Stanley saw him control the ball and clip it into the bottom right corner (0-1). Three minutes later saw Max again turning provider, this time for Eadoin, who buried his shot in the bottom left corner (0-2). The attacking duo swapped roles for our third goal, Eadoin setting up Max for his first goal of the day (0-3).

The Falcons were playing well, breaking up play and winning the ball back quickly, Louis and Marcus assured in defence meaning Jacob had a quiet first quarter, Pete running the midfield and linking up with some fantastic passing play between the front three.

The second quarter we asked for more of the same. Eadoin rested, Gabriel came on to be our spearhead against the Arrows.

If we were pleased with 3 goals in the first quarter, we had 4 in the 2nd quarter! With a six-minute hat-trick from Max. Super assists from Stanley and Pete came either side of a wonderful solo goal. Max picked the ball up wide left turned and dribbled towards the goal, chipping the keeper into the top right corner (0-6). To round off the quarter Max turned provider again this time for Gabriel who skilfully turned Max’s cross into the net. (0-7)

Max was on fire and Bracknell Arrows were terrified! Falcons ended the first half seven- nil up!.

Third quarter and teams swap ends, Falcons are now playing up the mountain! It’s fair to say it took them a little while to adapt. Bracknell Arrows, whose heads, understandably had dropped a little, came out re-focussed and rejuvenated. They defended well against Falcon Attacks and for a while Louis, Stanley, Pete and Jacob had to work hard in the Falcons defence to keep them out. The Falcons were pushed back a little and were playing on the break. It was here that Chris and Gabriel combined to score, and what a goal it was!... Chris (running tirelessly on the wing all morning) dribbled the ball at speed down the left and curled in the most beautiful inch-perfect cross onto Gabriel’s head, Gabriel deftly nodded it past the on-rushing keeper. My goal of the day! (0-8)

Onto the final quarter, a bit of a reshuffle, Chris drops back to support Louis in defence, Stanley in left midfield, Gabriel right, Max and Eadoin upfront gives Pete, who’s run his socks off all game, a well-earned rest. Eadoin wins a free kick on the right about 15 yards out and takes it himself. As expected, he goes for goal, and his shot loops over the keeper, heading for the net, Marcus swoops in to make sure though, heading the ball into the back of the net! (0-9).

Scoring 10 in a match is something the Falcons have only ever done once (10-2 against Finchampstead Raiders last season) Eadoin made sure the Falcons achieved double figures. Receiving a pass from Max, he wiggled free from a couple of defenders and drilled it home from the edge of the box.

At was at this point, perhaps understandably, that the Falcons had their only lapse of concentration in the game. Failing to clear the ball from our box, from an Arrows attack from which Jacob had already made two saves, the Arrows got a consolation goal (1-10). Finally, in the last minute of the match an Eadoin through-ball put Marcus free in on goal and he calmly slotted it past the ‘keeper to retain the Falcons 10 goal advantage (1-11).

In a game so one-sided, most of the mentions go to the scorers. But at any level in the game, every successful team is built on solid defence. Louis, Marcus, Pete and Jacob were very efficient behind the main attackers today and maintained their shape and concentration throughout to fend off the Arrows when they attacked. Jacob made a couple of excellent saves which drew applause from the opposition supporters as well.

All in all a fabulous team performance from everyone, our largest ever win….The day the Falcons brought TotaalVoetball to the Bracknell foothills!

PotW - Gabriel for fab running and defending from the front, two goals, including a very deft header , could have had at least another two, too!

Match details

Match date

Sat 14 Oct 2017

Kickoff

10:30

Location

Farley Woods Community Centre

Team overview