Gower Allstars vs Music Choice - 21st Oct - MATCH REPORT

· Concern for the Gowers at the outset – with no proper goalkeeper, and 3 of the 4 defenders under 5”5, with Massimo at right back, having not played 11 aside for 10 years, and Chittenden joining Glyn at centre back for first ever time.
· Fears put to rest in the opening minutes, when it became clear that man for man, the Allstars were a class above their opposition.
· Outstanding first half performance at left midfield from Dave Botterill, continually opened up Music Choice, who simply couldn’t cope with his pace and skill.
· Chances came a plenty throughout first half, but Gowers simply couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.
· Duggan in goal, generally not troubled at all for 45mins, due to solid defence for all the back four.
· Both Kelly and Medley especially missed several good chances.
· Eventually deadlock broken on 35 mins, by Botterill who finished with a difficult looping header.
· Relief.
· 2nd half – same as first – with chance after chance coming Gowers way.
· Durrant having good success down the right, creating for the front two.
· More chances spurned – after some wonderful moves, which should have doubled the lead, but the goals simply weren’t coming.
· Concern for Gowers the longer the game went on – as Music Choice came more into the game, believing they could snatch a freak goal.
· Nerves put to rest when Massimo combined down the right, beat a couple of men, and struck with his left foot, only for it to hit Medley’s adam’s apple (!) and deflect into the net, on 75 mins. Class.
· 2-0 Relief for the Allstars.
· That was, until a ball over the top from Music Choice winger, found striker 3 yards offside, leaving him in one on one with Duggan. 2-1 with 7 mins to go.
· Tense last few minutes. Mitchell and Ricky battled excellently keeping the momentum going forward and away from our goal.
· Final minutes, corner from Durrant, somehow found its way through the crowd, to Kelly on the edge of the box, who walloped a perfect strike with outside of his boot into the top corner.
· 3-1 – Game over.
· Should have been 12-1 honestly. Must get our finishing right if we want to win this league. We need to take every opportunity, especially against the better teams. Nevertheless, the Gower Allstars winning streak marches on with 5 wins on the trot, and we find ourselves top of the league, with just over a third of our league games played. We can win this league. But we simply cannot afford any slip ups. Win, win, win. Its in your hands if you want it…
· MOTM = Dave Botterill, although he faded in the second half, he was simply untouchable in the first half, and justified his MOTM on that alone….