Saturday November 30th, Loxwood 5 v 0 St. Paul's Panthers
It was a frosty, cold start for this one, but this was very much a heart-warming performance and a well-deserved win with good entertainment and some physical, solid and skilful play, a hat-trick and a penalty to boot !!
As per previous weeks, the coaches moved a few things around to freshen up the squad with Tom and Neo starting upfront, and Hamish playing just behind them 'in the hole' and Liam and Ethan playing as a CDM pairing.
The game started with Loxwood starting strongly and looking bright and lively, creating some half chances. At the same time we were very solid at the back with Bubba, Harry P and Paddy shoring up the back so well that Kinley's stint in goal was a fairly quiet one. Upfront Neo looked dangerous as he had two great opportunities well saved by the St.Paul's keeper. The pattern of play took shape with Loxwood dominating the midfield with some great battling and physicality from Liam in particular, and the breakthrough came when Neo latched onto a long ball from the back and calmly slotted home. So Loxwood went in just the 1-0 up.
The second half took the same pattern with the whites picking up some loose ends after St. Paul's tried to play out from the back, and one occasion Rowan nicked the ball and fed Neo to make it 2-0. The boys were now really starting to enjoy themselves with some lovely football and following a good pass from Will, Rowan slotted home to make it 3-0, and then Neo followed that up shortly afterwards for his hat-trick. Very well deserved.
Liam continued bossing the midfield and on one occasion after a mazy run his strike went just over. This was followed by a nice interchange between Zac and Daniel who fed Hamish who went tumbling in the area and the ref had no option but to point to the spot. What a great opportunity for birthday boy Harry P and so up he stepped to calmly convert and score his first ever goal for Loxwood to make it 5-0!! All captured on the video below - well done Harry !!
Having scored 5 and with the game secure the focus for the last few minutes was to keep a clean sheet and see the game out. Apart from a free kick which sailed just over, the game came to a close with Tom in goal without Loxwood conceding. In summary then, a very convincing 5-0 win so a successful morning with a hat-trick and a clean sheet. What was noticeable was how Loxwood were able to dominate this game with their physicality combined with their free flowing style of football which is great to see.
Man of the Match this week could have gone to a number of players, obviously with Neo getting a hat-trick, but the coaches felt on balance that Liam's performance was outstanding and set the tone for the game so the award this week goes to him. Well done Spackers!!
It was a frosty, cold start for this one, but this was very much a heart-warming performance and a well-deserved win with good entertainment and some physical, solid and skilful play, a hat-trick and a penalty to boot !!
As per previous weeks, the coaches moved a few things around to freshen up the squad with Tom and Neo starting upfront, and Hamish playing just behind them 'in the hole' and Liam and Ethan playing as a CDM pairing.
The game started with Loxwood starting strongly and looking bright and lively, creating some half chances. At the same time we were very solid at the back with Bubba, Harry P and Paddy shoring up the back so well that Kinley's stint in goal was a fairly quiet one. Upfront Neo looked dangerous as he had two great opportunities well saved by the St.Paul's keeper. The pattern of play took shape with Loxwood dominating the midfield with some great battling and physicality from Liam in particular, and the breakthrough came when Neo latched onto a long ball from the back and calmly slotted home. So Loxwood went in just the 1-0 up.
The second half took the same pattern with the whites picking up some loose ends after St. Paul's tried to play out from the back, and one occasion Rowan nicked the ball and fed Neo to make it 2-0. The boys were now really starting to enjoy themselves with some lovely football and following a good pass from Will, Rowan slotted home to make it 3-0, and then Neo followed that up shortly afterwards for his hat-trick. Very well deserved.
Liam continued bossing the midfield and on one occasion after a mazy run his strike went just over. This was followed by a nice interchange between Zac and Daniel who fed Hamish who went tumbling in the area and the ref had no option but to point to the spot. What a great opportunity for birthday boy Harry P and so up he stepped to calmly convert and score his first ever goal for Loxwood to make it 5-0!! All captured on the video below - well done Harry !!
Having scored 5 and with the game secure the focus for the last few minutes was to keep a clean sheet and see the game out. Apart from a free kick which sailed just over, the game came to a close with Tom in goal without Loxwood conceding. In summary then, a very convincing 5-0 win so a successful morning with a hat-trick and a clean sheet. What was noticeable was how Loxwood were able to dominate this game with their physicality combined with their free flowing style of football which is great to see.
Man of the Match this week could have gone to a number of players, obviously with Neo getting a hat-trick, but the coaches felt on balance that Liam's performance was outstanding and set the tone for the game so the award this week goes to him. Well done Spackers!!
