Another week down at Dragon's Green for the lads today.

This time back in the League Cup after last weeks County Cup match.

Poets Corner were our visitors today, someone who we have not played before so an interesting match up for us.

Setting up with a different line up to last week as rotation is kicking into gear with nearly all 20 players available. Lathir continued in goal while we stuck with the same back 4 of Charlie, Ethan, Jack and Blu. Midfield needed a shuffle with Harley on the left, JJ and Stan in the middle and Cam slotting in on the right. Liam and Sam finished our 11. Our Bench had a lot of strength with Dean, Praveen, Lewis, Freddie O and Stephen.

The boys were ready and after helping set up the pitch and goals, they looked up for it. A quick, physical start Cam asked for and the boys certainly started that way. From the off they set the pace, set the standards and worked and pressed as a team. Getting a few early chances with Liam and Sam both coming close.

Our first goal came just after the 8 minute mark with a goal kick from Lathir sent up to Liam. Liam knocked it back into JJ who held off the challenge and played it back into Blu. Blu sent a pass into Liam who turned his man before sending a brilliant through ball into the path of Sam who put on the afterburners and beat his man before finishing calmly with the outside of his right foot into the back of the net. 1-0.

We continued to press and create chances and we were getting joy down the wings with Cam and Harley working hard. Our back line were strong, getting the ball down and looking to recycle possession.

Poets were trying to get back into the game and they got the equaliser just before 20 minutes. A long free kick caused a mix up allowing their RW through clear on goal and he finished well. 1-1.

We made a couple changes at the 20 to freshen it up. Stephen in for JJ and Sam slotting back into the middle while Dean came in for Charlie with Blu moving over to RB.

The next goal came shortly after with some good work in and around the Poet box. Our first few shots were blocked but Cam picked up the ball, recycled it out to Blu who took a great shot forcing the keeper into a save, parrying it out into the middle for Stephen to react quickest and put the ball into the back of the net. 2-1.

Though we were the better side on the ball, Poets were pressing well and forced us into a mistake just before the 30 minute mark. A misplaced pass back sent the Poets LW through and finished well. 2-2.

We needed a reaction from the lads before the half and boy did they deliver. Winning a corner on the far side, it was cleared for a throw that Dean took. He put it towards Blu who won the flick on to Stephen, the ball bounced into the path of Blu and Stan with Stan popping it into the path of Blu who looked up and hit an absolute Thunderbugger into the top of the goal. 3-2.

Now if that goal wasn't good enough, the reaction right after was. The boys shot out of the blocks from centre, Liam pressed like an animal and won the ball back high, played it into Harley who told his man to Move, barging him away. Harley whipped in a cross for Stephen who bought it down and played it into Cam who flicked the ball up to himself and finished with a volley into the back of the net. 4-2

A brilliant finish to the half!

HT - TD - 4 - Poets - 2

At the half we praised the lads for their reactions from conceding and how quickly they worked to get back on top. A change at the half with Praveen coming on for Stan. The lads were challenged to step it up again in the second half.

We started the second half much like we started the first. On the front foot, Pushing for the next goal and battling well.

Our 5th goal was a brilliant bit of team work and some lovely football. Lathir played the ball out from the goal kick to Blu who played it into Ethan who played it into Cam who played it back to Blu. Blu dinked a pass into the channel for Liam, who took a touch, held off his man before playing another through ball into the run of Harley who left his man behind before finishing calmly into the far corner. 5-2.

Some more changes were made with Lewis coming on for Cam, Freddie O came on for Liam and Charlie came in for Ethan.

We continued to work hard, and create lots of chances. The lads were on form in the second half, working well, keeping the ball and battling all across the pitch.

Our next goal came from some good work down the right with Charlie putting in a great ball into the box from deep with the keeper coming out to challenge but Freddie read it well and made a move and headed the ball into the net! 6-2

Our final goal of the day came from the right side again with Charlie chasing down a ball right in the corner, winning it back and trying to play it into the middle. Poets tried to clear but Dean won the ball and sent it back into the box. Stephen pulled it down with one touch and finished into the far corner with his second touch for 7-2.

Credit to Poets as they kept going and pushed forward and were rewarded with a goal with a few minutes left after some good work from their forward. 7-3

FT - TD - 7 - Poets Corner - 3

A brilliant performance from the lads to book their place in the next round of the cup. Our matchup sees us play Division one Worthing Red which will be a great test.

Wanting to get our lads involved in the post game talk we have asked our captain Cam to give his thoughts after the game in an area i'm calling Captain's Corner -

I thought the lads played really well today against a decent poets corner side. Everybody did their bit today, battling hard, supporting each other and bouncing back after conceding. Overall top performance. - Cam

MOTM- Joint MOTM today with both Blu M & Lathir S getting matching Votes! - Blu for his goal and workrate at the back and Lathir for his Distribution and constant talking!