Falcons hunt down the Wolves at the Rec.

Falcons 3 Wolves 0

27 Pickrell
54 OG
65 Makepeace (Brown)

A really good team performance from the Falcons, on a hot day at Broom Road Rec!

We hosted Berks County Wolves in our first home match of the season this morning, another new team that we’ve not played before. So, unsure what to expect.

We started well, taking the game to the Wolves from the outset. Offensively we had a number of early attempts, with efforts from Eadoin and Chris going just wide or over.

Defensively we were strong throughout, but especially our back three who patrolled the back line excellently today.
Max opened the scoring after 27 minutes, a ball played through the Wolves back line (Let me know who provided the assist, one of the few I missed!!) saw Max through to a 1-on-1 with the keeper. Max placed his shot gently past the keepers outstretched dive. (1-0)

A deserved lead as by this point Falcons were clearly on top, but it was just a slender lead
that we took into the break at half-time.

In the second half Wolves came out with a bit more about them, but failed to really get in behind our defence. Meanwhile the Falcons were looking dangerous at the other end. It fell apart for the Wolves after 54 minutes. Their right back, under pressure from Liam, played a
no-look ball back to his own ‘keeper, unfortunately, he had moved and the ball trickled into his own net. (2-0)

The opposition coach didn’t take kindly to the goal being applauded, but I think this was just a catalyst for his own frustration as he had been loudly berating his own team for almost an hour at this point. Personally, I don’t understand this negative approach to coaching, but we
all have our own ‘styles’ I guess.

From my point of view, this event just perfectly illustrates the value of pressuring the opponent into a mistake, from which we can benefit, let’s do more of that in future games and see what happens!

After this Falcons were clearly on top, but both teams were feeling the heat of what was a very hot day for a football match. We continued our heroics in defence, Finn, Frankie, Nathan and Cameron closing down the opposition and dealing with through balls excellently with great anticipation, pace, and where needed, putting their body on the line (Nathan!)Our midfield players did a great job at defending high up the field too, something we have been asking for, winning that ball back early and turning over possession was good today, Gabriel, Jack, Liam, Alastair, Stanley and Eadoin all put in a real shift too.

Our strikers had a couple more chances, a shot from Marcus just wide, and efforts from Chris and Eadoin too, but our third goal came from Stanley five minutes before the end. After some good work from Eadoin on the left, he crossed to Stanley coming in on the right, who took it
well to score his second of the season. (3-0).

After this, with the game effectively won, I was hoping for a clean sheet, something of a rarity at this level of football, and we got that too. Our first clean sheet since 3rd April against Hawley Youth Colts, who coincidentally, we play next week!

Final shout-out goes to Alastair and Max who both did a great job in goal today. Thank you and well done. Get well soon Archie!!

COYF!!
Phill