Match Report

League, 2^nd March 2008

Final Result – FC Brimington 12 (Home) vs. Fairbank Rhodes FC 1 (Away)

Venue – Boundary Sports Ground, Jordanthorpe Parkway, Sheffield.

Managers View

The weather was good today mild with a strong wind, the pitch was soft but flat. We spoke about treating every game the same way and taking no one for granted if we are to realize our ambitions. Our opponents today was a team we played our first game of the season against with just 11 men due to injuries, it’s a game we won 3-1 after extra time in the league cup. The team has developed some what since then and there is a belief throughout the squad. Team formation today 4-3-3

The starting line for today's match was as follows:  

Match day reporters – Miss Kealey & James Towers

Photographers – Lawrence Wragg & Tom Simpson

First Half

The game kicked off at 10.45 am FCB got into the ascendancy immediately fashioning the first opportunity after 4 mins with Ben Leversidge making a run on the left from the back overlapping and receiving the ball on the edge of the box then running into the box before unleashing what was a tame shot that the keeper gathered easily. Moments later Kealey shoots over the bar. FCB are now starting to influence the game even at this early point. Just 9 mins in a breakthrough with Kealey receiving the ball on the edge of the Rhodes box with nowhere to go, Kealey spots Gartlan making a run on is left and delivers the ball into the space Gartlan gathers the ball at an acute angle and strikes the ball with venom across the keeper who is patrolling the near post goal 1-0 FCB view it here.

Another quick attack by Gartlan on the left tempts the Rhodes keeper off his line to the 18yd box but Gartlan’s attempt is deflected towards Kealey who leaves the ball for Taylor who is following in some 20yds out the Rhodes keeper is trying to get back on his goal line when Tailor unleashes his shot but for the crossbar being struck Taylor would have scored a superb goal. 15 mins a run on the left by Leversidge is spotted by Collier and a great pass through two Rhodes players finds Levo and he runs it into the box and from 6yds out shoots straight at the keeper who gathers once again easily. Leversidge  is our most effective attacker at this point. Crossland’s John Barnes like run through the Rhodes defence is fantastic, Crossland gathers the ball some 40 yds out and runs at the heart of the Rhodes defence skipping past two Rhodes midfielders and chipping the ball over the head of the 3^rd Rhodes players at the edge of the Rhodes box then turning a Rhodes defender before squaring the ball to Kealey who is unseen to the Rhodes defence as they concentrate on Crossland. Kealey some 4yds out misses the open goal as the Rhodes keeper is drawn towards Crossland assuming the shot was about to be unleashed by Crossland it deserved a goal bad miss by kealey.

25mins Kealey makes amends when a cross from Brooke on the right from 23 yds out after another Gartlan run across the 18yds box and a pass to Brooke. The cross is parried by the keeper but over his head to the waiting Kealey at the far post who taps it in 2-0 FCB view it here.

Another pass from Collier to Leversidge leads to another attempt at the Rhodes goal by Levo who again likes to be polite by passing the ball back to the keeper for an easy save. A Collier corner is met by Kealey unchallenged but Kealey heads over the bar should have scored! The half hour mark sees FCB have a freekick some 40yds out and central, its taken by Collier who delivers the ball towards Leversidge on the left of the Rhodes box Leversidge turns an approaching defender and passes to Gartlan in the 18yd box who cuts inside the defender but is brought down referee awards a penalty. Kealey takes the penalty and scores 3-0 FCB view it here.

FCB have controlled the game with limited opportunities to Rhodes at this point. Soon after another miss by Leversidge his 4^th of the game so far somebody please help him! Some over play by Brooke on the right of FCB defence leads to a pass that Crossland gathers then misdirects to a Rhodes player who delivers the early ball into the FCB box which is dispatched by Drayton of Rhodes 3-1 FCB.

FCB are quite disappointed with conceding the goal especially when it was a gift by us. The disappointment of conceding the goal spurred us on and an attack by Christie into the Rhodes box is stopped when Christie is brought down and another penalty is awarded  Kealey once again steps up and scores 4-1 FCB view it here.

The remaining minute sees a Gartlan run on the left beating three Rhodes players and entering the box Gartlan could have shot but chose to pass to Christie who is free on his right unmarked some 10yds out with the keeper across the goal Christie mishit the shot past the post.

Half Time

The team spoke at half time about not letting them back into the game and the early goal would dictate which way this game would take after the interval. Keep it simple we said and play our passing game with pace.

Second Half

Within one minute of the restart the perfect response when a slick passing move by Christie to Gartlan some 25yds out from the Rhodes goal followed by a Gartlan pass to Kealey who is making a run into space on the right, Kealey then comes inside of the defender and shoots with power and accuracy across the oncoming keeper some 16yds out goal 5-1 FCB.

Kealey is now on his 4^th goal after the first half hatrick this goal gives us the momentum to push on and play our game. Some 4minutes later collier receives the ball on the right and delivers the ball into the box to Gartlan but a challenge by the Rhodes defender pushed the ball out to the edge of the box but Taylor is there and strikes the ball into the bottom corner to make the score 6-1 FCB view it here.

Later an FCB corner taken by Collier is delivered into the Rhodes box and cleared but FCB soon acquire the ball again and Christie is soon making an attempt on the Rhodes goal but the shot is blocked and partially cleared to the edge of the box only for that man Taylor to follow up with a drill home from 14yds out 7-1 FCB view it here.

This is Taylor’s second goal of the game. 60 mins FCB make substitutions and Kealey is rested and Wragg comes on assuming the same position as Kealey. 5mins later and another opportunity for Christie goes begging. Then a run by Wragg on the right of attack is superb but wragg failed to deliver the cross. A substitution is made by FCB Collier is rested and Towers replaces him in midfield. 67^th minute a slick pass to Christie from Crossland finds Christie who is running into the channel Christie gathers the ball and runs towards the box from the right flank Christie looks up and sees the run of Gartlan but decides to hit across the keeper who is making his way towards him the shot is precise and Christie scores 8-1 FCB view it here.

Rhodes are all at sea at this point but are still looking for a goal themselves but some two minutes later Christie gets his second when a run by Towers on the left to the touchline who delivers a cross by cutting it back to the waiting Christie some 7yds out goal 9-1 FCB view it here.

The big man deserves this for his persistence. FCB are now buoyant and looking for more goals as Rhodes leave holes at the back as they try to reduce the deficit. 5 minutes later  Taylor gets his hatrick when a ball delivered from the left by Gartlan to the edge of the Rhodes box is dispatched by Taylor some 20yds out with venom the ball bullets into the goal 10-1 FCB view it here.

Substitution is made and Taylor is rested and Fadiga comes on in midfield. Fadiga immediately gets a chance when a Christie cross from the right is met by Fadiga in the box 6yds out but Fadiga hits it straight at the keeper. Soon after another attack by FCB on the left by Leversidge who then delivers a Cross field pass having seen Wragg free on the right, Wragg takes the ball down the right and comes inside and shoots but the keeper saves but cannot hold the ball only to parry the ball back to Wragg who cannot believe his luck he makes no mistake with his second attempt and scores 11-1 FCB view it here.

85 mins a freekick is awarded on the right side some 20yds out Crossland delivers into the box and Christie heads over the bar but is adjudged offside. A minute later a Gartlan run on the left past two Rhodes players gets him in shooting range but his shot some 17yds out goes over the bar. In the 90^th minute Rhodes still pushing for a goal FCB break with Christie and Gartlan, Christie delivering the ball to Gartlan who runs into a 1v1 with the Rhodes keeper but the shot is foiled by the keeper Gartlan reacts to the loose ball but is caught up by the Rhodes defence, but Gartlan spins onto his right foot and shoots high into the top corner with Christie trying to get a touch to claim but he fails so Gartlan gets the goal 12-1 FCB view it here.

Final score 12-1 FCB.

Summary

The team is attacking well we were superb today and we are improving all the time. Every player all 14 of them played a part in our biggest win this season Kealey was voted man of the match but it could have been a number of the players today. Leversidge and Brooke again are wingbacks in the truest form both play up front as much as the strikers. The defence although not really troubled only on a few occasions dealt with everything superbly. Credit to Rhodes they kept trying all the way to the end. Thanks to Brickmakers and all the support from our increasing numbers of supporters.

Who dares loose!

Cliff Thomas