The Allstars were relishing the opportunity to “teach” the mouthy Groucho a footballing lesson after last weeks less than pleasing performance on the hard astro in Wapping. This week was a different story – lovely 3g astro, strong team, and all the will in the world to take 3pts and march further on to promotion.
The difference between last week, and this week, was our start. Right from the off, the Allstars took control. Duggan versus their mouthy midfielder Barny was a no contest. Give us the right surface and we outplay anyone.
5 mins gone, flick from Durrant down the middle, sends Kelly one on one, who finishes with his left foot into the back of the net.
10 mins gone, Kelly picks up the ball 35 yards out, and wallops a high top-spinning effort over the keeper into the roof of the net. Spectacular.
20 mins gone, Durrant passes neatly into space yet again, to find the striker – this time Medley, in space who finishes one on one with keeper.
3-0 20 mins gone.
Groucho didn’t know what hit them. Defensively we were superb – led by Stiefel (first game in a month) who didn’t put a foot wrong and Howard (who stepped off a 24 flight the day before) who was reliable as ever. Duggan, Street, Klinger and Durrant in midfield dominating their opposite numbers and creating multiple chances.
A fourth goal came from a fine passing move down the right, when the play was switched to the left, to find Klinger, who implemented his usual lethal dummy, sending defender the wrong way, creating the space just inside the box on his right foot, and he banged it home under the keeper. Were the defender to be at our training every week, he would have anticipated the dummy, and known that it’s literally the only one is RK’s locker…and maybe would stopped the goal. But even-so credit to him, Klinger had a quality half, playing it simple, combining with Duggan and opening their midfield up.
Just before half-time, Medley sprinted onto a ball over the top – so did their keeper and their defender who collided, leaving Medley with an empty net to tap home.
4-0 HT – annihilation. Gower really showed why they are unbeaten and top of the league by 7pts.
Second half, to their credit Groucho never gave up. They continued battling, putting pressure on the Allstars defence and even sliding in with late, illegal, crunching tackles but the back four were simply too strong – and none of their attacks came to fruition.
Duggan continued in his Carrick type role, defending and passing well. But it was clearly difficult to motivate ones-self to push on and score more, when the game was won.
And that was how it finished.
5-0 Gower Allstars.
Although not vintage stuff, this was a masterclass against a decent side, who never gave up. Powerful and clinical sums it up – lead by MOTM James Duggan, who was under pressure to perform against a feisty midfield and more than delivered.
4 league games left. Two more wins and that should be promotion.
Semi-Finals of Divisional Cup and still well in the MA Cup with an easy enough route to the semis of that. This has got the potential to be the season of all seasons. Stay focused and make it so, so that you can remember this season for the rest of your lives!
