Woodwork Denies Phoenix in Top of the Table Clash

British Samurai – 2 Gower Phoenix – 2



Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Dan- Dens, Treeno, Joel, Elliot – Thompo, Adam Lucas, Wall, Miles – Muffdog, Jon


Regents park played host to a top of the table thriller on Sunday in which 2nd place British Samurai kept out 3rd place Gower Phoenix in an often frantic 2-2 draw. Phoenix lined up a strong starting XI, welcoming back Muffdog and Lucas from injury. The team was bolstered by Jon overcoming a knock to the knee and Thompo playing with full fitness for the first time in months.

Samurai started well and Phoenix required a couple of last ditches tackles from Dens and new boy Joel to clear their lines against a pair of skilful, quick but slightly lightweight Samurai strikers. Gradually playmaker Lucas began to get a hold of the game and the play began to flow. Dens and Thompo linked well on the left and when the overlapping left back was brought down he curled in a free kick that Thompo headed against the crossbar, this wouldn’t be the first time that the woodwork spoiled Phoenix’s plans. However the team went 1-0 up soon after, good work from Miles on the right saw the nimble winger dart inside and play a slide-rule pass through to Thompo whose first touch took him past the keeper allowing him to finish into an open net.

Suddenly Samurai hit back and took advantage of some sloppiness in defence to hit Phoenix with a quick-fire two goal salvo. First an inability to clear from midfield allowed a deflected effort from Samurai to loop in over Dan to draw the teams level, then backing off and an inability to retain possession allowed a Samurai forward to curl a decent effort in from 25 yards, 1-2 Samurai.

Phoenix reacted well. Muffdog was running good lines and Jon Hanna came close on two occasions. Joel was clearing the Gower lines with strong passes and Lucas was bringing the ball down well, switching the play effectively. More overlapping on the left from Thompo to Dens who played in Jon into the penalty box. The burly striker then slalomed through the Samurai defence before finishing from close range to draw the scores level at 2-2. Lucas then missed a guilt edged chance that was turned away by the excellent Samurai keeper, the teams went in at ½ time with honours even.

The second half was altogether more scrappy with neither side able to impose itself in the centre of midfield, the Wall, despite being often involved in the kinetic area of the game was struggling to link play simply and gave the ball away far too often. The team was increasingly reliant on Jon Hanna’s running and strength up front combined with moments of Lucas artistry attacking from deep. Muffdog scrapped the post, Samurai missed a penalty after Dens was adjudged to have clipped a Samurai striker and Treeno, leaping like a fecund Scottish Salmon, was denied a headed effort by more excellent Samurai keeping. That the luck of the draw was against the men of the Phoenix was witnessed by another Hanna burst into the box resulting in a slammed effort against the upright. 2-2 it finished.

So Phoenix were unlucky to come away with just a point from what will be one of the hardest fixtures in the calendar. There were several positives to take from the game; Thompo was back to his effective best, Muffdog showed signs of his pre-injury self and Joel gave an assured 1st performance at the back. Still unbeaten in the league we are in good stead to continue our two pronged cup and league push towards a winning first season.


MOTM: Jon Hanna – Strong, brave and if more clinical the Phoenix could have won by a canter.