Gower Phoenix 3 Northern 2

Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Greg – Dens, Treeno, Wrighty, Miles – Toby, Muffdog, Jake, Bolu – Fleshie, Jon

A rusty Phoenix side showed character and courage in winning their first game of the new league. The side started with an excellent balance of formation; Wrighty and Treeno starting together for the first time as centre-backs, the Muffdog-Jake midfield pairing and the complimentary talents of Fleshie and Phoenix player of the season Jon up front.

Phoenix showed the verve they are capable of right from the off. 5 minutes in Dens picked his brother out with a throw in, Toby spun is man and unleashed a powerful right footed shot and slammed into the net making it 1-0. Northern were playing a direct unimaginative game but they pulled one back ten minutes in when a long ball beat both centre backs and allowed their forward to slot home from the resulting one on one, 1-1.

Jon’s strength and good passing and movement from the midfield saw Northern give away a penalty as the burly striker ploughed into the penalty box. Fleshie stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way 2-1.

Calamity struck early in the second half when a Northern cross wasn’t cleared and they headed in to make it 2-2.

Phoenix never gave up. Treen and Wrighty improved as the game went on and partnerships were being forged all across the pitch, Miles and Bolu especially played some dynamic and effective passing routines and Jon Hanna was put through and just shot over.

The winning goal was a great team effort. Good work on the right unleashed Jon whose cross was perfect and met by a powerful header from Toby to make it 3-2. Although Northern pressed forward and Phoenix defended multiple corners the game was won.

So a good result and a lot of lessons learnt for the Phoenix. I feel that everyone was still fairly rusty from holidays or hangovers so there is a lot more to come from the team. Especially pleasing were the partnerships played out across the field and the individual performances of Toby and Miles.

MOTM: Toby – clinical finishes from the Torres-esq striker.