MATCH REPORT

 League Cup, 7th October 2007

Final Result – FC Brimington 4 (Home) vs Trickshots FC 3 (Away)

Venue: Boundary Social Club, Jordan-Thorpe, Sheffield.

MANAGERS VIEW

Today was the 2^nd round of the prestigious league cup the opponents being Trickshots FC. Having negotiated the first round by overcoming  fair banks Rhodes a league 2 side like ourselves  FC Brimington knew  this would be a stiffer test as our opponents today are a league 1 outfit. But our dream and ambition is to play in the final at Bramall Lane so strong mental attitude was paramount. FC Brimington being drawn at home wore our all black kit whilst Trickshots wore all red. The day was sunny with no wind strangely enough the ground was semi hard so the correct footwear would be an important factor today, Elliott Christie will no doubt testify too this week.

Team formation today 4-3-3

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

First Half 

The game kicked off at 11.01 am. We failed to acquire a referee for the game even though many phone calls and text messages were sent out, so the manager of the opposition offered to officiate. The game was pensive for the first few minutes with the early attempts on goal coming from Trickshots, Simon Newton our stand in keeper at short notice gathered them easily. We knew Simon was a keeper as well as a outfield player when we signed him but with Bridgewater injured this was to be put to the test today. Our first attempt on goal was after 3 minutes when Tom Simpson otherwise known has Simmo made a run down the left wing overlapping Gartlan and receiving the ball to deliver a cross into the box which Christie met but his shot is put wide. 11.08 we win a free-kick some 40yards out the kick is taken by Hirons who delivers into the box Christie again meets the ball this time with his head but misses the target. Christie gathers the ball some 1 minute later and shoots but misses once again. The early signs are starting to look good as Christie and I debated the studs he should use in his boots today and I recommended the mid size studs, this proved to be a major decision later.

FC Brimington are now starting to dominate the possession at this point moving the ball in triangles quite simply this leads to Bathy’ first attempt on goal at 11.10 but his shot is wide of  the mark. Both wingbacks were superb today moving up and down the wing giving us greater options when in possession. Thomas gathers the ball in one such move and progresses down the right wing he then plays a ball around the back of Trickshots defence to Christie  who shoots but wide again. The first real save Newton had to make was at 11.13 when Trickshots found themselves in a position of 1v1 when a through pass dissected our defence but Newton was out like lightening and got down early to thwart the attempt on goal. 11.14 Newton plays the ball out early to Thomas on the right who takes on the play down the wing overlapping with pace he plays a pass to Christie in the channel but Christie being identified as the danger man was followed by the Trickshots center half closely the center half was that close that he took Christie down from behind some 30 yds out on the right wing subsequently a free-kick was awarded which collier duly took. Collier delivers a  near perfect cross into the box but away from the keeper who cannot come due to the volume of players in the 6yd box bathy rose amongst all and heads the ball looping over the keepers head. goal 1-0 FCB. Bathy keeps up his impressive record having failed to score only in one game so far this season Bathy notably is our leading goal scorer at present.

FCB buoyed by this goal started to purr and the football was blissful to watch

11.16 another free-kick into the box by Hirons came to nothing. 11.17 the right side link up play is fantastic Thomas makes yet another run into the oppositions half and plays the ball inside to Collier who passes to Connor  at the side of him Gordan is spotted free on the right and the ball is delivered to him Gordon takes on the Trickshots defence with his pace and delivers a superb cross into the box which floats over Christie and bathy who are coming in through the center of the 18 yd box but Gartlan cleverly pulls away to the far post deceiving the Trickshots defence who are concentrating on Christie and bathy he meets the cross with his head but with no pressure on him he tenses up and heads wide.

This was a golden opportunity to secure our position in the first half.

But more was to come as a minute later Collier delivers a ball from his own half to Christie some 35yds out and Christie races towards the goal followed by a Trickshots centre half, at this point Gartlan is injured and off the field requiring attention, the Trickshots keeper decides to come out to cut Christies angle as he could see his defender was struggling to catch Christie but Christie held firm and struck the ball across the on coming keeper from 17yds out it flew like an exercet missile into the bottom corner of the net. Christie in recent weeks has been missing in front of goal but like Arnie Schwarzenegger he said to me “I,ll be back “ and boy he meant it. 2-0 FCB goal. 

At this point I was tending to Gartlan who was inspired by Christies strike and although his ankle was causing him pain and discomfort he wanted to continue after some treatment.  Trickshots then have a great opportunity to get a goal back when they get through after a mistake at the back to a 1v1 with Newton who comes early to kill the danger but is rounded by the Trickshots striker who then shoots but superman Dave Simpson never gave up the chase and races back towards the goal-line and the shot strikes him on the back then hits the post and goes out. we were very fortunate. 11.24 Thomas then makes another run down the right wing drawing the defender leaving space for Gordon in behind to receive a pass from Thomas but Gordons shot is off the mark. 11.29 Bathy plays a pass to Connor in the middle who delivers a pass into the run of Gartlan on the left side he gathers the ball and runs across the 18yd box drawing tackles, Thomas makes a run on the right side unmarked and demands the ball some 10yds out but Gartlan commits the keeper off his line then shoots with the outside of his left foot  into the bottom left hand corner of the net goal 3-0 FCB. This sadly was the last act for Gartlan who troubled by his ankle requested to come off 11.31. Fadiga comes on and with devastating effect he helps clear a Trickshots attack and runs the ball out from 20yds towards the half way line he then plays the pass of the match some 35yd s into Christie who moves across to the left he runs at the goal coming off the left wing he cuts across the defender and commits the keeper to leave his line Christie now finding a new sense of belief took the shot with his left foot across the keeper into the far right corner of the net. goal 4-0 FC Brimington are now on fire and the play is magnificent. Trickshots is now stretched and FCB are finding the holes in midfield Bathy plays a ball from the center to Fadiga who races towards the goal he cuts across the box and triess to find the opening he strikes but a deflection slows the pace down and the keeper gathers.

11.34 Trickshots play a long ball up field their striker some 6-7yds off side receives the ball the linesman flags for offside but the referee ignores the linesman and gives the goal

4-1 FCB. Half time

Second half

11.52 FCB awarded free-kick for a foul on Christie. 11.53 Newton makes another save from an attack. 11.54 Trickshots corner delivered in is punched away by the very impressive Newton. 11.56 some sustained pressure by Trickshots leads to another save by Newton. The keeper is now starting to be tested more frequently as Trickshots ups their game. 12.00 another shot saved by Newton. 12.02 Trickshots attack down the left side and delivers a cross into the box Thomas and collier both go for the ball and collier shoots a high ball he clears but it lands at the feet of the trickshot player who strikes and scores 4-2 FCB.

12.03 FCB tries to get into the rhythm that was sadly missing in the 2^nd half thus far with Fadiga delivering a ball into Christie in the 6yd box who in turn chests it down to Gordan some 2yds out from goal who half volleys the ball into the side netting. Gordan has not scored yet this season but has had numerous attempts like this and the lack of composure is sadly missing in the team, we needed the pendulum swinging back to our favour, this would have been the catalyst. Trickshots are now boisterous as they now believe they can come back and force extra time we start to look jaded in the middle and a change is needed as we look too cemented to the lead we have. Trickshots  have a goal kick which eludes both our center backs who are caught square and blinded by the sun “glasses dark needed” the Trickshots striker clearly wearing his glasses glides pass both and calmly puts the ball where it did not belong in the back of FCB’s net. Goal 4-3 FCB. 12.11 collier makes way for Ready who is a holding midfielder we decide to look after what we have which was a slender lead. 12.17 Christie breaks into their box but is brought down from behind the referee chose not to give a spot kick. 12.25 Gordan makes way for Maloney, Fadiga goes up front and Maloney leftwing. The remaining time was a tense affair both teams energy sapped by the unusually warm weather . FCB holds on to the lead and secures a place in the last 16  the opponents being either Oxspring Lowood premier div or Mosborough royal oak  league 1

Man of the match Simon Newton

Summary

We are starting to find the fluency but in patches less alcohol on a Saturday night will improve performance! With players returning from injury the future looks bright. Team needs to work on keeping clean sheets as the stats are not pretty reading Special thanks to fans supporters and players who turn up even when not playing Ben Leversidge, James towers, Andrew Bridgewater, Special thanks to brick makers arms for the top quality roast which is so pleasing after a tough game.

Cliff Thomas