Last Game of another brilliant season from the boys!

We travelled down to face a tough Patcham side who were playing their 3rd game in 4 days due to a fixtures pile up while we were playing our first game in over 3 weeks. The sun was shining and still sitting at around 23c at 7pm so we knew it would be a good contest and a test of our boys stamina, strength, determination and dedication to get the win.

We had to make a few changes with a few injuries looming in the squad (Get better soon Kieron!) but kept to our shape with the 3-4-3 to start with. Oliver in net, Dean, Cam and Toby at the back. Stan and Lewis in the middle and then Harley and Lewis B on the Wings. Our front 3 of Stephen, Sam and Dorian was the main change from the last game against Whitehawk.

Both teams started the game well with Patcham looking the sharper of the two teams. You could see they were going for a strong start and hoping they could kill the game off quickly. To begin with, we did struggle to adapt to the fast pace of the Patcham forward line and wingers with their Striker and Left winger getting a few runs off before coming close to opening the scoring but Oliver was quick out to mop up any loose balls. Toby was leading the backline well and getting them to adjust to the high balls coming through over the top. Dean was brilliant in the air and covering any passes that tried to get through.

Our midfield were battling well with Stan and Lewis W going in strong for every tackle, looking to release the speed we had going forward. Our first chance fell to Big D who beat his man, played a 1-2 with Sam and was really unlucky with the keeper pulling off a great save. Stephen came close not long after with an acrobatic effort from a D cross while Harley, Lewis B and Sam were all working hard to create chances for us.

Our deadball deliveries were causing issues for Patcham in the first half with Lewis W, Cam and Toby all sending in Long free kicks that lead to chances. The game started to get scrappy at this point with a few hefty challenges going in and our first change had to be made around 22 mins with Stan catching an elbow to the side of the head. Jack came in for Stan and Alafy came on to the right side of midfield and both got stuck in straight away.

The rest of the half become end to end but we stood firm and with Toby, Cam and Dean holding the line really well, we were able to play their striker offside meaning his chance was ruled out right before the half.

HT - PATCHAM - 0 V TDYFC - 0

What I love about this team is the boys see it as theirs and they can speak to us about what they see on the pitch and they let me have it at half time (respectfully of course). We made a few alterations to the formation and switched to a 4-4-2 with Ethan coming in at RB for Harley and Dorian pushing out to the left wing. This seemed to work straight away with the build up from the back started with Toby, Cam and Ethan playing the ball into the midfield for Alafy to drive inside and send a ball out into the run of D. Dorian beat his man before a challenge sent the ball out for the corner which we knew could create for us!

Our first goal came from this and less than 2 minutes into the second half we had the lead. Lewis W whipped in a fantastic cross from the corner and Sam rose highest to header the ball and in the panic of the delivery, the defenders were on the back foot, allowing for the ball to drop back off the defender and Sam reacted quickest and slammed it home. 0 - 1 to us!

Now one thing we have struggled with during parts of the season is staying switched on after we have scored and to be fair to Patcham they went straight at us from the kick off and drove forward. We won the high ball but knocked it down to their midfielder who took 2 touches and hit a pure strike over the diving arms of Oliver in net. 1-1.

One thing we haven't struggled with this season is playing for each other as a team. There were tackles flying in, left and right, battling for every ball, battling for every player on that pitch. When Ethan was chopped down it was great to see his team looking out for him and backing him up when the player was getting mouthy. Lewis B came in as Ethan (Who had been brilliant since coming on) had to come off and Stan came back on for Jack. Two more hefty challenges including a knee to Cam's head and a scissor tackle to Lewis B upped the intensity of the game.

Our second goal came from Cam winning the ball in the air and Alafy showing brilliant strength and skill to hold off a player and play in Lewis B with a backheel before Lewis B played a Trivela pass through into the path of Sam. Sam held of his man and went for the finish but hit the keeper before winning the rebound and finishing it into the bottom corner to put us 2-1 up.

Again we switched off from the kick off allowing the Patcham midfield to drive forward before their player looked up and hit a rocket into the top left corner. 2-2

We knew we had it in us to go out and get the win and our drive kept us going. With less than 7 minutes left of the game, the boys played some brilliant passing around the back and out into the midfield before a ball down the line into the path of Sam. Sam who has been outstanding this season, ended his season with a fantastic assist. He held off 2 players before skimming one and putting in a left footed cross into the box. Stephen peeled off his man in the middle before controlling it midair and swiveling and striking the ball into the far right hand corner on the half volley to put us 3 - 2 up.

This time the boys were ready and switched on from the kick off and won the ball before playing it out to Freddie who knocked it down for Lewis W to hit an absolute pearler of a pass out to the right wing and into the path of Harley. Harley held off his man and then left another for dust before looking up and hitting an absolute thunderbugger of a shot into the top right corner to send the boys and parents wild! 2 goals in 2 minutes to win it. 4-2

The boys knew it was then time to shut up shop and defended well with Dean pulling off a brilliant interception before being snapped on a late challenge meaning he had to come off too! Stephen slotted in at lb for the last few and every single one of the boys defended as if their lives depended on it for the final 5 minutes and with Patcham pushing OUR BOYS put their bodies on the line, throwing themselves in front of every shot, every pass, every header. Unreal! Oliver topped off a brilliant performance with a one handed diving save on a shot that looked destined for the top right corner!

FT- Patcham - 2 v TDYFC - 4

WOW what a game to end an equally incredible season from the boys! They gave everything out there, made us proud every single match. It may seem normal for this team but i promise you what they have achieved again this season, after getting promoted is special. Not many teams will do what they have and jump from Div 5 to Div 2 in less than 3 years and then to finish in the top spots, playing some brilliant football along the way, this group of boys and the parents are special. We are lucky to have them at TD.

Thank you to every one of our players for the effort, dedication and hard work they have put in this season. You have been outstanding and the coaching team are blessed to have a team like you.

MOTM - Oliver K - Some outstanding saves, quick off his line and very vocal throughout the game. Kicking was top notch and Showed fighting spirit and that bit of craziness every keeper needs at the end of the game.