ILFORD COLTS 1 Vs BUSH HILL RANGERS 6

09/01/05

This was our first match back after our Christmas break, and I asked the boys to give me a positive start to the second half of the season. We were in control of the game from kick off.  Despite creating six or seven goal scoring opportunities, Ilford kept a clean sheet until the 19^th minute when Reece and Tony combined upfront with Reece slotting home for 1-0. We continued to pile on the pressure and Reece was rewarded with his second after 24 minutes. We had possession of the ball for long periods and we passed and moved it well, our defence was working well together and looked organised with Barish taking control at the back.  Our hard work paid off again when Kielan made it 3-0 a couple of minutes before half time.

After the break Ilford came out and began to put pressure on our goal but our defence held strong being marshalled all the time by Barish who also made a few outstanding tackles to deny Ilford. For the first ten minutes of the second half possession was even, then we scored again with Kielan after 42 minutes to make it 4-0. Tony added our fifth after 50 minutes.

Our strikers were working well together today with plenty of movement off the ball to create space for each other and this movement and team work paid off when a ball from midfield to the edge of Ilford’s penalty area was dummied by Tony so Danny could run on to it and punish Ilford with a low hard shot to make it 6-0, good move, well taken.  Ilford responded with a late goal, but I think that was more down to lapse of concentration with minutes to go, rather than good play by Ilford.

Today’s Man Of The Match = Barish – strong in defence, powerful going forward, controlled aggression, never gave the ball away, always talking, everything a centre back should be!