Here we are Folks! 2025! After a brilliant 2024 the boys wanted to start the year off with a win and to helpus push on for a high finish in the league after being knocked out of the cup in the last game of 2024.

We were welcomed into 2025 with a Wet and wild game but at least the Snow that had fell yesterday evening had melted away! Good thing for 3G pitches!

After some squad moves in the Christmas break there were some changes made to the starting 11- Freddie H came back in goal, Ethan, Cam, Toby and Dean back into the defence. Jack and Stan in the Holding roles and Alafy, Stephen and Sam sitting in front of them. Kieron leading the line with Mase, Lewis B, Lewis W and Freddie O on the bench for us.

Speaking with the boys before the game, we told them to go out and dictate the play, control the ball and play at their pace and to start strong and boy did they!

Starting strong and building up from the back, the ball came from the defence and worked its way through the right side of Midfield before Sam picked up the ball and drove past 2 men and laid it into the path of Kieron. Kier had a man on his back and took an outrageous touch to give himself a yard and knocked the ball past his man and from just inside the box hit a low driven shot into the far right corner close to the post! Brilliant goal - 1 - 0

What a start and the boys continued to take the game to Hangleton from here. Now Hangleton are a great team and both of our games against them this season have been competitive and they play some really good passing football so for us to get the upper hand so early on was only going to help us in the outcome of the game.

Our Back line was dominating everything that was attempting to come through and held the line quite high with Dean, Toby, Cam and Ethan being aggressive and on the front foot winning first and second balls. Freddie H was comfortable on the ball when it was played back to him and we needed to recycle and start the attack again. Jack and Stan were all over the place covering so much ground and Sam was our Creative centerpoint!

In the first half, we came close to extending the lead with several chances coming close, including Sam, Cam, Lewis W and Kieron all trying their best to score. Our corners were causing issues in the box with both Stan and Stephen whipping in dangerous balls but they were defended well or we were just short to the ball. Just after 20 mins we made a sub with Lewis W coming in for Alafy on the left. Kieron was unlucky not to get a penalty in the first half after being cleared out but with a defender blocking the view of the ref, its a tough one to give.

HT TD - 1 - Hangleton Rangers - 0

As the whistle was blown, the rain started to kick it up a notch and the boys were quick in to listen and with another change made at the half with Mase coming in for Stephen. The boys knew they had the upper hand and wanted to capitalise on the dominance they showed in the first half.

Straight from the off, we controlled the ball and played it around before working it out to the right hand side again with Toby, Cam and Ethan playing it confidently around. Ethan picked up the ball and drove forward before pinging it into Mase. Mase and Stan worked the ball well together with Mase beating 2 players before knocking a pass through into the path of Sam, who motored his way past several defenders, leaving them in his Dust before he looked up and played a fantastic ball across the box for Kieron to finish Calmly into the bottom left corner of the net. 2 - 0

We continued to create chances but it was our defence and Midfield who were working hard and weathering the storm as Hangleton looked to get back in the game.

Our 3rd goal came from another fantastic bit of defending from a Hangleton corner, with Dean winning the ball and playing it out to Sam who collected the ball on the left hand side and once again took off like a whippet and flew past 3 defenders while holding off another one before driving into the box and hitting a great early shot past the keeper into the bottom left corner again. Clinical from Sam and another brilliant goal to add to his catalogue this season. 3 - 0

Lewis B came in for Ethan to make his first appearance after some time off with injury, Lewis W moved into the middle for Alafy to come back on and Freds came on for Kieron to close out the game.

Hangleton got a consolation that was a fantastic free kick from their defender, hitting it into the top right corner from about 35 yards out. 3-1

FT TD 3 - HANGLETON - 1

A fantastic showing from the boys today, working hard for each other all across the pitch and some absolutely clinical finishing today.

MOTM- Kieron Florimond - A brilliant performance from Kieron today who looked back to his best, Holding up the ball well and sprinkling a bit of magic when needed and linking up well with Sam. Well deserved!