There are reasons why football is one of the world's most popular sports. Today's result was one. Football, like life, is full of ups and downs and this side, as with our hosts Elstead, has definitely had its fair share of downs! But you can't afford to give up in life and thankfully these players have never given up in football. Another important life lesson in sport, is that results are never gifted; they have to be earned. And Elstead made us work for this win.
The game started a little clumsily and it took five minutes for either side to put together a good passage of play. Loxwood created the first serious opening, but Tom Lillywhite was deemed offside with goal at his mercy. It took some wonderful individual skill to break the deadlock. Louis Horsley, playing the lone striker role, showed great skill down the left channel to weave his way past two or three Elstead players and tuck his shot past the keeper. Minutes later we were two-up. Theo Rawlins played a perfectly weighted pass for Lillywhite, who showed great composure running in on goal, to tuck his shot into the bottom-left corner. Elstead created openings but either struggled to hit the target, had passes cut out by Ollie Zeffert and Josh Arnold, or found Toby Nicholls in great form in goal. Two Elstead shots fizzed narrowly wide and over the bar from short goal-kicks before Loxwood grabbed a third. Tom Pearce pressured the Sharks defender, his poor clearance fell to Horsley who struck a first time effort looping over the keeper into the back of the net. Within five minutes, Horsley secured his hattrick. This time, his own pressure on a defender released the ball and he drilled his shot below the keeper. Toby Chandler nearly made it five with a well struck free-kick, but his shot crashed off the bar and out to safety.
Despite the comfortable half-time scoreline, Elstead had offered enough going forward to look dangerous and likely to score.
The game started a little clumsily and it took five minutes for either side to put together a good passage of play. Loxwood created the first serious opening, but Tom Lillywhite was deemed offside with goal at his mercy. It took some wonderful individual skill to break the deadlock. Louis Horsley, playing the lone striker role, showed great skill down the left channel to weave his way past two or three Elstead players and tuck his shot past the keeper. Minutes later we were two-up. Theo Rawlins played a perfectly weighted pass for Lillywhite, who showed great composure running in on goal, to tuck his shot into the bottom-left corner. Elstead created openings but either struggled to hit the target, had passes cut out by Ollie Zeffert and Josh Arnold, or found Toby Nicholls in great form in goal. Two Elstead shots fizzed narrowly wide and over the bar from short goal-kicks before Loxwood grabbed a third. Tom Pearce pressured the Sharks defender, his poor clearance fell to Horsley who struck a first time effort looping over the keeper into the back of the net. Within five minutes, Horsley secured his hattrick. This time, his own pressure on a defender released the ball and he drilled his shot below the keeper. Toby Chandler nearly made it five with a well struck free-kick, but his shot crashed off the bar and out to safety.
Despite the comfortable half-time scoreline, Elstead had offered enough going forward to look dangerous and likely to score.
The second half proved to be a very different proposition. Elstead took the opportunity to change their keeper and the switch seemed to bring renewed purpose to the side. They grew into the game and had a couple of shots that were well handled by Nicholls. Loxwood tried to impose themselves back on the game and found openings down the left with Chandler and right with Pearce, but were unable to create a solid opening. Horsley had a shot well saved before Elstead grabbed a goal back. Elstead won the ball, drove forward and a neat cross found their striker unmarked to slam the ball home. Five minutes later and the Sharks scored a second with a fine effort from the edge of the box that found the top corner. Minutes later they nearly had a third. Good play down the right, a fine cross and fine finish, but the striker's goal was ruled out for offside. It was a lucky let-off.
With the match now in the balance, the Tigers woke up. Arnold, Lillywhite and Pearce linked up well to become a real threat down the right and Chandler broke through on goal, but his shot was well saved. The game became end-to-end and Elstead forced several corners, which Loxwood defended well to clear, while Pearce and Lillywhite both had efforts saved as the clock ran down.
The final whistle came with a mix of relief and jubilation. It was a first win for these lads in the absence of a Lion and demonstrates just how far they've come. And all the more gratifying that they've worked hard in training and overcome disappointment to seal it. A great life lesson.
Team: Toby Nicholls, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Theo Rawlins, Toby Chandler, Tom Lillywhite, Tom Pearce, Louis Horsley.
Goals: Louis Horsley (3), Tom Lillywhite.
MOM: Tom Pearce
With the match now in the balance, the Tigers woke up. Arnold, Lillywhite and Pearce linked up well to become a real threat down the right and Chandler broke through on goal, but his shot was well saved. The game became end-to-end and Elstead forced several corners, which Loxwood defended well to clear, while Pearce and Lillywhite both had efforts saved as the clock ran down.
The final whistle came with a mix of relief and jubilation. It was a first win for these lads in the absence of a Lion and demonstrates just how far they've come. And all the more gratifying that they've worked hard in training and overcome disappointment to seal it. A great life lesson.
Team: Toby Nicholls, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Theo Rawlins, Toby Chandler, Tom Lillywhite, Tom Pearce, Louis Horsley.
Goals: Louis Horsley (3), Tom Lillywhite.
MOM: Tom Pearce
