50s Versus Woodchurch At Home

Hi All

Over the last few seasons we have had some very close games with Woodchurch with every match being decided by a single goal either way so we were expecting a very competitive game and so it transpired.

Woodchurch possibly started the stronger and were the quicker to get into their passing game. They were moving the ball well but not really having much penetration. We defended well and tracked our players which saw possession regular changing. We did get some joy going forward but their defending was as resolute as ours and game was being played out in the middle third.

We possibly created the better chances in the first half with Paul working their goalkeeper and Gareth and Jason also having shots from distance that were either blocked or flew just wide. Woodchurch were limited to snap shots from range with Phil and Lee both getting in solid blocks and forcing the opposition wide and away from our goal.

As the half time whistle blew we were deadlocked at nil nil. Our discussion at the break was to try and support the ball out through Gareth more and try and use the width better. Our defending had been excellent and that need to continue and we had nullified their whippet of a striker and he had not been able to use his 'speed' to get beyond us.

The second half saw us start the better. We were getting room down their flanks and Andy and Paul were seeing more ball wide. Gareth fizzed a ball wide which unfortunately took a slight defection and Paul couldn't control it and Andy was getting in behind their right sided defender and pulling the ball back into dangerous areas. Gareth and Jason both had half chances that their keeper was equal too and Jason and Andy sending low shots just wide.

Paul possibly had our best chance when lee pinged a long cross field ball into his path and he was through but their keeper pulled off another good save to keep the teams level,

Lee, unfortunately, had to be withdrawn through injury and this resulted in Rob coming on to play wide right and Paul moving back to sit in front of Phil.

We still created half chances and their keeper was certainly the busier of the two. We continued to be defensively solid and Woodchurch were limited to long range speculative shots that never really looked like troubling Paul in our goal.

Despite our best efforts, we couldn't break through and both teams held out for a hard fought draw. The final score was Canterbury 0 - 0 Woodchurch.

My thanks to every player that step on the pitch today. In much reduced temperatures, despite the sun, we gave everything. We pushed, we passed well and moved and called constantly. We worked hard for each other and there could be nothing more asked for or given by anyone.

Additionally, my thanks to Shaun who braved the elements despite the cold but was an unused substitute.

My special thanks to everyone who came out and offered the continuous encouragement from the side lines.

Congratulations to Phil who was the Player Of The Match for his control and marshalling of the defence and stoic performance at the back.

Paul