Scorching Performance away from Home

Another Scorching Sunday Morning and another Scorching Performance from the lads!

Changes and Rotations throughout meant we played a strong team to start but had an equally strong bench to come on when called upon.
Unfortunately after a blistering start going forward, the boys were caught out on the bouncy pitch and the ball went for a Horley Corner.
A well worked move with a flick on at the front post was met with a first time volley into the back of our net.

With 3 minutes gone you would think this would of caused our boys Heads to drop, but not this group!

Wave after Wave after Wave of attack came from TD all over the pitch and in the relentless heat the boys did not give up!

The Horley Keeper was keeping the game close and after a few close calls we were getting a lot closer to drawing level. I think it was about 4 times in the first half we hit the post and there was even a dubious not given goal with Stan hitting a shot off of both Posts that seemed to cross the line.

After the water break and a change in Center Mid with Riley and Harry coming on, this ramped up the battle a bit in midfield and we started to cause issues down the Left hand side with Riley and Mase.

Not long after this we took the lead after a fantastic run down the left by Riley and a quick 1-2 with Mase caused all sorts of problems and a shot from Riley was deflected off the keeper into the defender and rolling over the line for the equaliser. Well Deserved!

This got the boys tails up and pretty much from kick off we won the ball high in the HTFC half and played the ball out to Dorian.
Dorian turned the defender and played a neat 1-2 with Cam who chipped the ball over the top for Dorian to Run on too before holding off his man and playing a great Cross into the near post. Stan showed great determination and skill to make a fantastic run and met the ball with a first time shot that went in off the post for his first Shipley Goal! It was so great to see all the boys run over to celebrate with him too!

HT - HTFC- 1 - TDFC- 2

With the Half time team talk, The boys took the lead to start, telling us what they thought needed to change and how we could do it. Nigel then took over and got the boys riled up and ready to go for the second half.

A strong start to the second half continued where we left off in the first. Causing issues down the right and through the middle. A few changes were made and Stephen came on for Mase on the left and Lewis and Jack came back into the middle.

The boys were playing well in the heat and I think the heat may of played a factor in the next Goal. A mix up at the back allowed the Horley Striker to latch onto a loose ball and knock it in. 2-2.

Again most teams heads would of dropped with the heat and something like that happening but not our boys. This seemed to Bouy them and they continued to push forward and create chance after Chance.

A fantastic ball through a gap in the defence from Sam allowed Kieron to run through on the defence and advancing keeper. Kieron took the ball in his stride before cutting back and sending the defenders and keeper the wrong way and finishing with a lovely Chip from outside the area! 2-3 and back in the lead.

More chances came and went before a goal (Looking back at VAR- Abi's recording) was not given for Freddie after the ball crossed the line.
Again a tough one to take for the boys but they kept pushing and a few more changes were made at this point with Ethan coming in for his first game of the season and Riley and Harry Coming back on in the middle and Fred's on up top for Stan.

After a bit of aerial pinball from both defences- the ball dropped in midfield near Riley. Again, using his strength and size, he held off the HT player before knocking a great ball through to Kieron. Once again Kieron was through and this time took the ball around the keeper and back tracking defenders before rifling the ball into the back of the net with his right foot!

With the game heading to more of a basketball match with each defence trying to play the ball out of danger and long it took a bit of magic from Sam to kill the game off. A great tackle in Midfield from him and a skillful run down the right of the pitch led to him getting in the box and 1 on 1 with the keeper. His first strike was saved and bounced right back to him before Sam shot again and this time hit the back of the net! 2-5!

FT - HTFC - 2 - TDFC - 5

A fantastic performance in the heat and the boys showed great maturity throughout the game to get back into it.

MOTM- Kieron F - Non stop running and 2 brilliant finishes made it an easy choice today.

Onto next week and a tough game against Lindfield Pumas.