A double Header awaited us today.

The boys were vocal during the week about how things were not quite working during the past few games and how they wanted to work together to get things back to normal and back to winning ways for a team that had been so successful over the past few years.

The boys showed a level of maturity this week as there was some departures from the team. Lewis W and Darren W made the decision it was their time to move on and the boys made sure to show a level of gratitude for the years of hard work both put into the team. All the best in the future gents!

You could tell the boys were ready to step it up today, from the moment they started warming up, the levels were a lot higher compared to recent weeks.
A few changes to last weeks line up - Oliver in net, Ethan, Cam, Toby and Dean all stayed put. Jack, Stan and Sam made up the midfield while Harley, Kieron and Stephen finished the top of the pitch. Fred's, Lewis B and Charlie were on the bench for us with Lewis & Charlie both coming back from Illness but feeling it still!

One thing we had been struggling with recently has been a slow start to the game. We have gone behind a few times in the past few games so the aim today was to go in a take the upper hand early.

This was different today and we took control of the game early on. Dominating possession, playing quick passes and getting used to the type of pitch as there were a few bobbles due to the game that was played just before ours.

We started to probe and attack down both wings with Sam, Stan and Jack sending Harley and Kieron free to get us on the front foot. We had a few sighters at goal with Harley, Sam and Kieron all getting a chance, bringing good defensive blocks or forcing the keeper into a save. Stephen stepped up for the corners and had one just wizz past the far post while his next one was just tipped over the bar by the keeper.

The pressure continued and the boys stepped it up again and the goal that we deserved came shortly after 6 minutes. We won another corner that gave Stephen the chance to whip it in again. He stepped up and sent a wicked ball all the way over to the far post and into the top corner. Straight in! 1-0 to the TD.

A deserved lead and we continued to control the game from here. Toby & Dean were locking up the Worthing Forward and Right winger while Cam and Ethan were working well together down the right hand side to nullify any danger that was coming down that side. Ethan was strong in the tackle and quick in the passes. Cam, Toby, Jack and Stan were controlling the middle of the park while Sam was creating the chances going forward. This was a really dominant first 20 minutes and one that we have missed for a few months now.

Our second goal came from a brilliant team move. We worked the ball from a throw in on the left hand side from Dean, Up to Sam, Back to Jack, Across to Toby, back to Stan, Stan over towards Ethan. Ethan held strong and played a great through ball into Sam's run before Sam beat his man and played it across to Stephen. Stephen dropped a shoulder and let the ball run across to his left foot before striking it cleanly and sending it flying past the keeper. 2-0

The boys then continued to keep the ball, working hard to see the half out and limit Worthing to long balls.

HT - Worthing United - 0 - TD - 2

At the half we had to make a few changes with Sam coming off due to a late tackle and a chunk of his shin coming off! Harley moved into the 10 while Lewis B came in on the right. The boys and Nigel were vocal in continuing the dominance and getting the 3 points in the second half.

We got the game moving again and we were getting joys down the wings keeping the ball on the floor due to the wind picking up and whipping up against us. A pass through the middle was cut out by the keeper who was quick off his line and hit a long ball to the left wing. The wind helped it massively over the top of our defence before a quick cross was hit into the danger area, Oliver came out to get the ball but the striker and Dean both slid in with the Striker knocking it out of Olivers hands before it bobbled over the line. A bit of confusing from the ref but it was forgotten as the worry was for the Striker who was down hurt. Speedy recovery to him! 2-1

From here we knew it was going to be a battle with the weather and managing the time of players out there. The boys immediately stepped up and took the game back to Worthing and kept the ball in the Worthing half as much as possible. Lewis B had to come off due to tightness in his chest so Charlie came on while Kieron needed a break due to a kick to his heel so Fred's came on for him which moved Stephen over to the Left wing.

We continued to create chances and came close a few times through Harley, Stan and Stephen while Fred's was doing well putting himself about trying to create an opening.

This second half ended up becoming a really good lesson for the boys in how to control the game, keep possession and stop any long balls in the strong winds. Ethan particularly did really well down the right hand side and worked with Cam and Charlie to keep Worthing at Bay.

The boys came close to adding another through Stephen but the keeper did well and tipped it wide for a corner.

The boys saw the rest of the remaining few minutes of the first game out and got the 3 points needed and a mental edge going into the second part of the double header.

FT - Worthing United - 1 - TD - 2

A great performance and a fantastic first half to put the boys in the drivers seat and once they got that lead it was hard to see the game going any other way.

MOTM- Ethan Poll - Easily one of Ethan's best games in a while, Dominated the right hand side, composed while also helping create our second goal and bombing forward before a disciplined and fighting performance in the second half to make sure we got the 3 points.