Men's 2nd XI vs Burnt Ash (Bexley) M3

MEN’S 2ND XI

Words:           Simon Hooper

Oppo:             Burnt Ash (Bexley) 3, Home

Final Score:    W 4-3

Goalscorers:  Simon Hooper, Jonathan Kay, James Perks (2)

It was a calm Saturday at home this week for the Cliftonville 2's, but what lay ahead would be anything but calm. A grudge match with arguably the most well drilled team in the league - Burnt Ash. After a one-sided affair in the first half of the season, Ville were out for redemption.

The game commenced with high energy from both sides, with slick movement of the ball and probing half chances at both ends. The Ville defence was tested multiple times but stood strong, with Al selflessly deciding to use his head to block the ball, stopping a Burnt Ash attack in their tracks. Blood had been spilt. The battle was on.

Ash kept on pressing and won a short corner, which they promptly slotted between the keepers’ legs. 0-1. As the game progressed, it was an equal affair, with balls being fizzed across the pitch and searching running at both ends, which eventually ended in Ash finding their way into the Ville D and passing around to tuck into the Ville goal to go 2 up – Ville’s mission was starting to look like an uphill struggle.

Half time beckoned and it was time for Ville to lock in.

Responding to a rousing half time team talk, Ville pressed hard and found themselves with a short corner and the opportunity to pull one back. A smooth injection, a looping deflection from Simon's pass to the far post and a samurai style strike from JK and suddenly Ville were on the score board, hungry for more.

Ville continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded with another short. Perks stepped up and drilled the ball to bring the score level 2-2 - GAME ON.

Suddenly, Ville were on the front foot and a super slick 2-man drive up the pitch by the formidable force of the 2 Hoopers (Dave and Simon) resulted in another Ville goal, this time tucked away by Simon, that gave the home team the belief that victory was within reach. 3-2.

Burnt Ash pulled another one back, slotting a break away chance, so it all came down to final few minutes.

With tension building and the packed crowd of 3 home supporters on the edge of their seats, Hoops drove to the top the D and, with slick interplay with Seb, played a hail Mary towards the goal. With the reactions of a cat, Perks reached out for glory and deflected the ball passed the keeper. Ville had completed the task. Redemption was theirs.

MoM: Dave hoops and Perks shared the award - heroics on the pitch, gentleman off it.

DoD: captain JB - that man and his hair bands...

SQUAD:

·        John Barrett (Capt), Matthew Bates, Seb Cox, Dave Hooper, Simon Hooper, James Hughes, Jonathan Kay, Oscar Percival, James Perks, Adam Sidders, Jack Sweeney-MacQueen, Alex Taylor, David Walkom, Daniel West.