Stout Defence Under Pressure

Wessex came into the game full of confidence having beaten Ash by a landslide last weekend, and quickly settled into pressuring the Warrior's goal. Two strikes from the Wessex no. 9 and his assist in another quickly set the tone for the match. The Warriors' usually stout defence were finding the Wessex no. 9 a bit of a handful.

Three goals down in the first quarter put the Warriors on the back foot, but a solid second quarter saw them defend well, absorbing the Wessex attack to keep the score unchanged at half time. At the other end, some quick passing links between Ethan, Isaac and Freddie were met by a very solid, strong-tackling Wessex defence. Some good skills from Freddie up the right followed by a cross to Isaac at the near post troubled the goalkeeper, but chances for the Warriors were few and far between.

The second half saw the Warriors again on the defensive with Wessex pushing hard, conceding another two goals, but Ethan making some excellent saves in between as goalie. From this point, the Warriors came back into the match with a good run and cross from Isaac up the right, and in the fourth quarter the Warriors got some result for their efforts: Isaac winning the ball in the centre, Ethan latching on to it and shooting from an acute angle on the right, the keeper not quite taking enough pace off it to keep it out. Ethan then nearly made it two goals in as many minutes with another excellent scything run through the middle and a cracking shot low to the left which the keeper just managed to turn past the post.

The Warriors started to pressure the Wessex goal in the fourth quarter with some good attacks resulting in corners and possibly a shout for a handball in the penalty area, but in the end they were up against a well-organised, hard-tackling physical Wessex squad who must be the team to beat in the division.

Goal: Ethan
Man of the match: Ethan - dominant and tireless in midfield, excellent in goal in the third quarter, scored one and nearly scored another