What a great way to end our first season, bringing the curtain down with another win. We didn't quite hit the heights of last week and had to work hard for this result against a much improved Coulsdon team who we beat 5-1 earlier in the season.
It took us a while to get going in the first half and it felt from the beginning that it was going to be a close match. Both teams were evenly matched across the pitch, although it always felt as though we had more firepower and just needed to move up a gear to give us the edge.
After the first 15 minutes, we finally started to play our normal game and work hard. Unfortunately we lost Michael to a foot injury after he'd played through the pain so we had to make adjustments. Henry moved into the central defensive role and Daniel came on. We started to press and Sam, having come on for Max, got onto the scoresheet with a neatly taken finish with 10 minutes of the first half remaining. Pressure eased.
We knew we had to keep that level of intensity in the second half and we did, having more of the game, getting forward and creating chances. When Coulsdon did get forward we didn't allow them time to pose a serious threat and Dominic was not called into action too many times.
We made the game more comfortable when Ryan got our second following one of his familiar runs and another well taken finish. That's a fair few for the season Ryan! Max nearly got on the scoresheet but couldn't quite get his feet to the ball when in a good scoring position, but he was in the place a striker should be. (You have to be there to miss them as the cliché goes!). With a little under 10 minutes to go, Dominic gave Luke the gloves and showing how versatile he is, immediately made an impact with some bursting runs down the left - he looked determined to score and duly obliged with a crisp finish to wrap the game up 3-0. Overall, a very pleasing performance, and good to carry on the winning feeling.
Again, great performances all over the pitch. Freddie was everywhere as usual as was Ryan working so hard. Our back three with Henry taking centre stage with, at varying times, Luke, Sam (who also had a run up front) and Daniel were very strong and organised.
More great celebrations at the end as we secured 3rd place in this Trophy play-off game. It was also our first clean sheet, back to back win and a double over Coulsdon so there was lot's to celebrate. The boys really deserved their medals!
Star Player was Henry. A strong disciplined performance throughout the whole match when the team needed him. Well done Henry another fine display to go with last week's.