Hatrick Heroes Power the Poly
Double Header vs Civil Service 7s 20-02-2010
Game 1.
The nines took to the field with something close to their most
regular side for the season, with the injured Rob Holmes Reed the
only conspicuous absentee.
Unsurprisingly, the high flying visitors started on the front
foot and threatened from the off. Dan though was a match for
their best early chance, making a confidence boosting block after
five minutes, and surprisingly, the deadlock was broken by a Poly
counter attack, good work from Chris setting up Grim Reaper Tom to
apply the finish.
Like any team in form though, the visitors weren't going to let
a little setback upset them. Sure enough, the pressure
continued and the visitors were level within a few minutes.
Finally though the Poly started to find some rhythymn, with Mo
finding his range in a good spell on the right as we finally
exerted a bit of pressure ourselves. Shortly before half time
we got a break with a penalty given for handball. The
visitors were furious at the decision but Tom wasn't showing them
any mercy, giving the goalie no chance and the Poly a half time
lead.
In the second period the visitorS again made the running.
Dogged resistance was the order of the day, right up the street of
the re-united central midfield partnership of Ryan and Pete.
Tom H and Andy at the back kept the line well though, whilst Danny
and Chris worked tirelessly to help relieve the siege. The
shorter half began to give us hope that we could get through,
particularly when the visitors squandered a close range opportunity
on 47 minutes. The respite lasted only a few seconds though
as the ball was returned into the danger area and finished from
close range to level the scores.
A point would still have done nicely however from a tough
shift. Again as the red shirts piled forward for a winner,
Andy flew in to make what looked like a goal saving challenge on 51
minutes. Sadly it wasn't though as again the visitors took
the second bite of the cherry and turned in the resultant
corner.
Having finally got their heads in front though, Civil Service
went on the defensive for the first time in the game and Poly began
to look more dangerous than they had all game. A long run
from Tom Holmes showed the spirit. Giggsy then went close
with a near post header. Then Pete B could only manage a self
rupturing airshot after another great corner from Mo fell
invitingly. Giggsy then had another chance, forcing the
keeper to tip wide. Was that it? No, another corner,
one last chance and one man wasn't going to miss, Big Tom claiming
his hat-trick with a far post header from just a few inches
out. A hard earned point and a huge psychological advantage
for the next game.
Team
Dan B, Neal (Sweety 55), Craig, Andy, Tom H, Mo, Ryan, Pete B (Tom
G 59), Danny, Chris, Tom H.
Game 2
This game was to finish with an emphatic result for the Poly,
but like many other games, the scoreline said little about how we
got to that score. A nervous start saw the visitors bounce an
early effort off the top of Dan's crossbar and we still hadn't got
into our stride when the visitors struck on twenty minutes with
another lob, clever or lucky, that left our custodian
stranded. If it was luck then it levelled out on half time
though, as a deep cross from Mo flew over all its targets and
dipped into the back of the CS goal.
Finally in the fourth quarter of the afternoon, we took things
by the scruff of the neck. The tireless Chris threatened
first but fired wide. No matter though, Danny then stole the
show with a fine individual goal, carrying the ball from deep in
midfield, dancing around several challenges and finally finishing
from eight yards in the 34th minute. A few minutes later, a
massive block from Craig repelled the last serious attack from the
visitors. Chris then looked like he might have settled
matters but his goal was ruled offside. However, with around
ten minutes remaining, Poly did settle things in spectacular
fashion, great work from Chris in particular and later Sweety
instrumental in setting up another goal for Tom W and two for Danny
to make a fantastic second hatrick of the day.
Get In.
Men of the Match - it could really have been anybody but the two
hatrick heroes can claim the spoils this week, keep 'em coming
lads, another double header next week.